America鈥檚 sustainability experts gathered Tuesday at the 2014 SXSW Eco conference in Austin, Texas, to discuss the future of the country鈥檚 evolving recycling needs. Experts and attendees brainstormed the balance of expanding American recycling with preventing contamination in the waste stream as part of the panel 鈥淩ecycling More vs. Recycling Right in America,鈥� moderated by Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA). The discussion centered on the publicly inconspicuous issue of waste stream contamination, which can reduce the efficiency and financial vitality of recycling systems. One in five Americans admit to placing items in recycling bins even if they are unsure if the item is recyclable. When contaminants such as plastic shopping bags infiltrate recycling systems, they can damage equipment and dilute the quality of recycled products, decreasing their value. 鈥淢anaging contamination in the waste stream is the central concern to improving American recycling systems,鈥� Kneiss said. 鈥淲hile strengthening recycling programs is a high priority, we also must improve the quality of recycled commodities and promote a public understanding of the economics of recycling. SXSW Eco presented an important venue to discuss these issues.鈥�
鈥淔or recycling to thrive, the concept of 鈥榳aste鈥� must shift,鈥� said Brenda Pulley, senior vice president of Recycling for Keep America Beautiful. 鈥淚t is important that we see our water bottles, our soda cans, and our cereal boxes as valuable materials that can be manufactured into new products that feed the economy. When an individual connects the dots between the empty milk jug that they recycled to the recycled plastic bench in the local park, they understand their 鈥済arbage鈥� can have another life.鈥� 聽The panel featured known experts on recycling, including H-E-B Grocery Company鈥檚 Susan Ghertner, director of environmental affairs; Phil Bresee, recycling director for the City of Philadelphia; and Brenda Pulley, senior vice president of recycling for Keep America Beautiful.聽
Bresee noted, 鈥淪XSW ECO provided a great opportunity to share some of Philadelphia鈥檚 story and perspectives with thought leaders and activists from all over the U.S. The issues we discussed aren鈥檛 just important in Austin and Philadelphia, but to recycling worldwide.鈥� The panel occurred one week after Austin expanded its Universal Recycling. Ordinance to cover an additional 1,000 businesses and residential complexes. The panel discussion was followed by an NW&RA-sponsored site-visit to Texas Disposal Systems鈥� (TDS) waste management complex. Attendees visited鈥攁mong other sites鈥攁 modernized recycling materials recovery facility, an organic composting facility and a land reclamation project, featuring an exotic wildlife preserve home to animals from six continents.
For more information, visit聽.