California falling short of ambitious 2020 recycling goal
California is falling short of its self-imposed recycling goal to have 75% of materials recyclable by 2020.
The most recent number from 2017 produced a 42% recycle rate, down from the peak of 50% in 2014.
“Now, whether we get there in 2020, 2025, 2030, I think it’s important to set that goal and lay out the vision where we need to go so we can set policies and enact accordingly,” CalRecycle spokesperson Lance Klug said.
Klug explained there are a variety of factors, but arguably the largest is China. Once, the country was the state's largest exporter of recycled goods, but since last year, China has been rejecting most recyclables.
“Just because it’s possible to recycle it, doesn’t mean it’s recyclable,” Klug said. “There has to be a market for that material.”
Online shopping has created an increasing problem of more packaging of paper and plastic containers.
“Plastic is absolutely the biggest problem with recycling,” said Mark Murray with Californians Against Waste. “Any plastic that has a number three to seven, we have no markets for recycling that material.”
Plastics numbered one and two, such as water and soda bottles, are optimal.
Higher numbered plastics are becoming increasingly unrecyclable. Plastics numbered three to five, such as yogurt containers, have dropped in value. Plastics numbered six and seven, such as a Keurig container, are the least desirable.
Murray said the manufacturing market has shifted in recent years to producing more plastics that are undesirable because of cost.
“We’ve shifted from very recyclable paper and glass and metal packaging to much less recyclable plastic packaging,” Murray said. “Because it’s so cheap, manufacturers are using more and more of this nonrecyclable packaging.”
The primary suggestion is geared towards consumers, to stop using one-time use plastic containers. However, Senate Bill 54 would put more pressure on companies to sell more recyclable materials.
Each city and county has their own specific recycle guidelines. The City of Sacramento, for example, still accepts plastics three through seven because at times there is a buyer -- even though it’s becoming increasingly more difficult.
The city launched the SacRecycle App on Earth Day to make the process more user-friendly.
"There have been some changes in what you can and can't recycle. It is confusing and frustrating,” said Erin Treadwell with the City of Sacramento. "We don't want residents to say, ‘Oh, it's too much work, it's too hard to recycle. I'm just going to throw everything in the garbage.’ We still need to divert from the landfill. We still need to collect recycling."
The app has a Waster Wizard so users can search through hundreds of household items to learn the proper disposal site. It also lets residents know the dates of their garbage, yard and recycle pickup days.