RECYCLING AND REDUCING PACKAGING WASTE - HOW THE UNITED-STATES COMPARES TO OTHER COUNTRIES

This report summarizes current developments in the United States and 1 8 other industrial countries regarding packaging waste. It presents av ailable data concerning the types, amounts, and methods of managing su ch waste and provides information concerning the policies established or under consideration to reduce the amount of such waste being dispos ed. The countries discussed are all members of the Organisation for Ec onomic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In recent years, waste dis posal capacity has become more scarce in most OECD countries. As a res ult, waste management policies have focused on efforts to reduce and r ecycle major components of the waste stream. Packaging represents abou t one-third of municipal solid waste in many countries. Because of thi s, measures to reduce the amount and toxicity of packaging and to enco urage its recycling are currently being considered in at least 18 OECD countries. In addition, the EC and the Nordic Council are developing programs to address packaging on a regional basis. The report is divid ed into four main sections. Section I summarizes available information for the OECD countries. The second section discusses waste generation and recycling rates for six types of packaging material: paper, glass , metal, plastic, wood, and composites. The third section discusses ke y questions raised by the information presented in the report. The fou rth briefly discusses packaging waste issues facing the Congress. In g eneral, the report finds, other countries use less packaging than the United States, recycle more of it, and are considering policy measures stronger than the measures generally being considered in America. As noted in detail, other countries have adopted or are developing requir ements that: set mandatory requirements for packaging waste reduction; require reusable or refillable packaging; impose taxes to discourage single-use packages; prohibit the use of non-recyclable packaging, pro hibit or limit disposal of packaging, and require manufacturers of pac kaging materials to collect and recycle post-consumer waste.Perhaps th e most fundamental issue raised by these approaches is whether local g overnments will continue to bear responsibility for funding and operat ing recycling programs or whether all or some of this responsibility m ight be shifted to industry. To date, this issue has not been joined i n the Congress directly; however, there is a growing consensus in othe r countries concerning the advantages of industry responsibility.