United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA530-F-97-048
November 1997
http://www.epa.gov
Solid Waste and Emergency Response
&EFA Measuring
Recycling
EPA's Voluntary
Standard Method
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Benefits of Measuring
Recycling
Presenting a recycling measurement tool that:
Ensures fair comparisons of recycling
rates among states or municipalities.
Produces useful information
for planning and decision-making.
Provides accurate, up-to-date
numbers for market development.
Allows for easy data collection
from the private sector.
Saves you time and effort.
Whether you are a state
that is already measuring
recycling or you are just
starting out, you will be
thankful that there's a
resource out there to help
you, and you will be able
to learn something from it.
—Kip Eagles, Recycling Survey
Coordinator, Washington
State Department of Ecology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
developed a voluntary, standard methodology for mea-
suring recycling rates. At present, few state and local
governments define recycling in the same way, use the
same approach for measuring recycling rates, or include
the same materials in their rates. Many find it difficult
to obtain complete information from data sources to
calculate reliable rates. As a result, the benefits of mea-
suring recycling are often not fully realized. Utilizing
this methodology can help you accurately evaluate the
success of your program and ensure that your fiscal,
administrative, and planning decisions are sound.
The Methodology \
The standard methodology was developed with input
from state and local governments and the private sector.
It addresses the key issues encountered by those who
undertake recycling measurement. It is flexible and
completely voluntary.
The methodology consists of six core (required) ele-
ments and a number of recommended (flexible) elements.
For example, state
and local govern-
ments that decide
to use the method-
ology must use a
standard recycling
rate equation, a
standard scope of
municipal solid
waste (MSW), and
a standard defini-
tion of recycling.
In addition, EPA
recommends that
users adopt option-
There's no question that a
standard form would help
us with our reporting
requirements. The majority
of the municipalities that
we deal with use different
formats and have different
reporting methods. Stan-
dardizing these would def-
initely make our lives easier.
—Mike Poland, President
of Environmental
Recycling, Incorporated
(paper processor)
al survey forms for
obtaining information from various data sources, as
well as worksheets for compiling data.
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We see the methodology as
essential. We have been
pleased with every aspect—it
has worked very well for us.
—Carl Hursh, Chief of
Recycling and Markets,
Pennsylvania Deparlmenl
of Envirenmenlal Prelection
Guidance
Order Your Free
Copy Today!
copies of Measuring Recycling: A
Please send me
Guide for State and Local Governments (Document
Number EPA530-R-97-011).
Name/Title
EPA explains the methodology in detail in its guidance
document, Measuring Recycling: A Guide for State and
Local Governments. In addition to detailed information
on the core and flexible elements, the document pro-
vides "real life" examples, planning checklists, helpful
hints and tips, a recommended timeline for developing
a measurement program, a glossary of more than 100
standard terms, standard volume-to-weight conversion
factors, and other useful tools.
Translator
For states or localities that already measure recycling, EPA
also provides an abbreviated form of the methodology,
known as "the translator," for those that want to contin-
ue using their existing methods. This approach allows
states and localities to recalculate their rates according
to the EPA method. A simple worksheet included in the
guidance document walks states through these steps.
For More
Information
See our Web site at http://www.epa.gov/recycle.measure
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
Or call the EPA RCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 or
TDD 800 553-7672. In the Washington, DC, area, call
703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323-
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What do experts say about
EPA's recycling
measurement method?
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