Waste to Wealth - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

In Depth

Pay As You Throw Pays Off for Carroll County, Md.

Neil Seldman

January 10, 2019

There is an old saying from California’s early recycling movement in the 1970s: “The hardest thing to do in recycling is to decide to recycle. After that, common sense and entrepreneurialism takes over.” READ MORE

Recycling Is the Enemy of Wasting

Neil Seldman

December 7, 2018

Recycling has long been known to be the enemy to waste management companies as it diverts materials that could be going to landfills, threatening profits and political influence. It makes sense. Landfilling waste is highly profitable, while recycling materials is READ MORE

Biggest Challenge to U.S. Recycling Isn't China

Neil Seldman

September 24, 2018

Proponents of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Paper, Products, and Packaging (PPP) are jumping on the “China Crisis” bandwagon by attempting to revive efforts to shift control over recycling from local government and existing recycling companies to statewide non-profit agencies und READ MORE

Recently Posted

Webinar: Waste Incineration: A Dirty Secret in How States Define Renewable Energy

Marie Donahue

January 10, 2019

In a recent webinar, ILSR research associate Marie Donahue shared findings from our report, Waste Incineration: A Dirty Secret in How States Define Renewable Energy, highlighting why classifying incineration as a “renewable" form of energy is problematic. Allies from GAIA, a global anti-incineration network, and the national Energy Justice Network also pr READ MORE

Pay As You Throw Pays Off for Carroll County, Md.

Neil Seldman

January 10, 2019

Recycling Updates from Around the Country

Neil Seldman

January 4, 2019

A round-up of exciting recycling initiatives in the U.S. READ MORE

Report: Waste Incineration: A Dirty Secret in How States Define Renewable Energy

Marie Donahue

December 12, 2018

Almost half of U.S. states allow energy produced by burning garbage to count toward their renewable energy requirements. In a new report, we unpack why incineration is so problematic and how communities can embrace cleaner alternatives. READ MORE