The Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), in partnership with RRS, shares the new report and Phase Two聽of the NYS Recycling System Needs Assessment:聽鈥淐urrent Recycling Systems in NYS: Residential, Commercial and Facilities Analysis.鈥�
This report offers the most in-depth and data-rich analysis of New York State鈥檚 recycling system to date. Covering residential and commercial services, hauler practices, local laws, facility operations, and more, this research shines a light on the real challenges and opportunities facing recycling in NYS.
Key findings from the report show:
- Strong access:聽Nearly all households in New York, 97%, have recycling services available. 87% of multi-family households have recycling services available; however, that number drops significantly when NYC is excluded, with only 48% of multi-family households having recycling services available聽statewide.
- Underfunded education: On average, municipalities invest only $1.12 per household in recycling education鈥攆ar below the recommended $10 per household.
- Lagging performance:聽Only 30% of packaging and paper products are actually being recycled in NY, despite programs being in place to capture 76% of these materials. The overall statewide recycling rate is estimated to be only 15%.
- A large and expensive system:聽New York State households pay between $12-$16聽per month ($144-$192聽annually) for recycling services, totaling聽upward of $788 million per year statewide.
These findings emphasize both the scale and complexity of New York鈥檚 recycling system as well as the urgent need for investment in education and infrastructure. Download and explore the full report to better understand the state of recycling in New York and the opportunities to strengthen access, performance, and public engagement.