Defining and Measuring
Solid Waste Recycling and Disposal
Illinois Indiana Michigan Minnesota Ohio Wisconsin
August 2013
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Publication No. 905Q13001
An understanding of terms, definitions and
measurement approaches used by state solid
waste recycling and disposal programs is
important for effective communication between
states and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. EPA, with assistance from the six
states in EPA's Region 5 office, prepared this
summary of definitions and measurement
approaches in each state. The following was
obtained through personal correspondence with
state solid waste program managers and research
of existing materials about each state's program.
Illinois
Terms and Definitions
Illinois' Environmental Protection Act defines
recycling, along with reclamation and reuse, as a
"method, technique or process designed to
remove any contaminant from waste so as to
render such waste reusable, or any process by
which materials that would otherwise be
disposed of or discarded are collected, separated
or processed and returned to the economic
mainstream in the form of raw materials or
products."1
The Solid Waste Management Act also offers a
definition of recycling: "The process by which
solid waste is collected, separated and processed
for reuse as either a raw material or a product
which itself is subject to recycling. . ."" It
specifically excludes "combustion of waste for
energy recovery or volume reduction."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
Illinois has no state requirement for reporting
recycling so the state does not collect recycling
tonnages or calculate a statewide recycling rate.
However, the state's Solid Waste Planning and
Recycling Act addresses recycling by Illinois
counties and municipalities. It requires most
counties and municipalities (some are subjected
to other criteria due to small population sizes) to
include a 25 percent municipal solid waste
recycling goal as part of mandatory solid waste
plans. Although the plans themselves are
mandated, the law does not require counties to
collect data to measure progress against the goal.
Until 2010, Illinois EPA asked local solid waste
coordinators to voluntarily answer a survey
requesting information on recycling efforts.
Based on the results, the agency estimated a
statewide recycling rate. The last estimate was
provided in a 2009 annual landfill capacity
report. Due to budget limitations, the voluntary
survey is no longer being conducted and the
state no longer calculates a statewide recycling
rate.
The measurement of disposed waste is addressed
by the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act,
which requires Illinois EPA to publish an annual
report "regarding the projected disposal capacity
available for solid waste in sanitary landfills."111
Since 1994, Illinois EPA has published an
annual landfill capacity report" based on
information received from landfill owner and/or
operators.
Indiana
Terms and Definitions
Indiana law defines recycling as "a process by
which materials that would otherwise become
solid waste are collected, separated or processed
and converted into materials or products for
reuse or sale."v The statute also defines waste-
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Mandatory Reporting Requirements by State
Mandatory reporting for
recyclables?
Mandatory reporting by
disposal facilities (landfills)?
Mandatory reporting by
waste-to-energy and
incinerators?
Does state calculate
recycling rate?
IL
no
yes
yes
no
IN
yes
yes
yes
no
MI
no
yes
yes
no
MN
yes
yes
yes
yes
OH
yes
yes
yes
yes - combined
reduction/recycle
rate
WI
yes - residential
only
yes
yes
no
Summary of mandatory state laws or regulations that require local governments or facilities to report
weight of recycled material or disposed waste to state solid waste agency.
to-energy facilities as those which convert "solid
waste into energy or another useful product by
incineration." Such facilities, like landfills and
incinerators, are considered "final disposal
facilities."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
Indiana has no mandated goals for recycling and
does not calculate a statewide recycling rate. All
solid waste land disposal and processing
facilities, including waste-to-energy facilities,
are required to report quarterly the origin, type,
and amount of solid waste received. Until 2008
these reports were compiled into an annual
report by Indiana Department of Environmental
Management. While the annual report is no
longer created, the quarterly reports are available
on IDEM's website.VI
Solid Waste Management Districts in Indiana
are required to report and publish the total
amount of solid waste (in tons) disposed of and
the total amount of recycling (in tons) carried
out in the district in the year for which the
district is directly responsible.
Michigan
Terms and Definitions
Michigan's Solid Waste Policy of 2007
considers recycling a component of waste
utilization. While neither term is defined, the
policy provides examples of waste reduction and
waste utilization techniques and practices to
include "on-site resource management practices
to optimize reducing waste at its source and
reusing waste without further processing;
returnable, recyclable, and/or biodegradable
packaging innovations; and beneficial waste
utilization technologies such as composting,
energy recovery and bio-gasification."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
With the exception of the Michigan Beverage
Container Act,lx which requires the reporting of
beverage containers sold and redeemed by
bottlers and distributors, Michigan has no state
requirement for reporting recycling or waste
utilization. So the state does not collect
recycling tonnages or calculate a statewide
recycling rate.
However, Michigan's Solid Waste Policy 2007
addresses recycling in municipalities. It sets a
waste utilization goal of 50 percent for
municipal solid waste - defined as both
residential and commercial waste but not
industrial - by 2015. This goal includes the
municipal solid waste recycling rate and any
other waste utilization practices. It also sets a
goal that all Michigan citizens have convenient
(curbside or drop-off locations depending on the
population) and cost-effective access to
residential recycling programs by 2012. As of
2013, 24 counties out of 83 counties have
convenient access to residential recycling
opportunities.
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With no legislative authority for Department of
Environmental Quality to collect recycling
tonnages, in 1999 the Michigan Recycling
Coalition conducted a series of surveys of local
recycling coordinators and others in the state and
estimated a statewide recycling rate for
residential, commercial and institutional
materials.x
State law requires that landfills report the
amount of waste received. This information has
been compiled into an annual report since
1996.X1 In addition, tonnage incinerated in the
state's waste-to-energy facilities is reported.
Minnesota
Terms and Definitions
Minnesota statute defines recycling as "the
process of collecting and preparing recyclable
materials and reusing the materials in their
original form or using them in manufacturing
processes that do not cause the destruction of
recyclable materials in a manner that precludes
further use." It further defines a resource
recovery system as one "used for the recovery of
materials or energy from solid waste, or for the
collection, transportation, separation, sorting,
processing or storage of solid materials which
aids in the recovery of materials or energy from
solid waste."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
Minnesota collects recycling tonnage as required
by law and calculates a statewide recycling rate.
The state's ability to measure recycling is a
result of comprehensive waste reduction and
recycling legislation in 1989 which mandates all
counties to annually report recycling, waste
generation and disposal tonnage of residential,
commercial and industrial materials. Included in
the disposal reporting are both the method of
disposal and destination of the waste material.
materials for the purpose of recovering and
reusing the materials."
Ohio is unique in that it calculates a combined
waste reduction and recycling rate rather than
simply a recycling rate. This rate is not defined,
but Ohio's Solid Waste Management Plan
explains that "the methodology for calculating
waste reduction allows solid waste management
districts to credit volume reductions due to
incinerating solid waste toward the
reduction/recycling rate."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
Ohio collects reduction and recycling data
provided by solid waste management districts to
calculate a reduction/recycling rate.
Ohio's Solid Waste Management Plan, mandated
by the passage of solid waste legislation in 1989,
requires each of the 52 solid waste management
districts to annually report the quantity of
materials (residential and commercial)
reduced/recycled. Quantities of materials
diverted from landfills can be included from
composting, land application of solid waste,
energy recovery, incineration (currently Ohio
has no operating, mixed waste incinerators) and
source reduction. The districts collect data
through a voluntary reporting system involving
contracts with haulers, processors and other
parties that handle recycled commodities.
The state's plan establishes goals for recycling at
the district level of at least 25 percent of the
solid waste generated by the residential and
commercial sector and at least 66 percent of the
solid waste generated by the industrial sector. It
does not have statewide goals for waste
reduction/recycling.
Ohio's plan also requires all disposal facilities
submit annual reports with tonnages and
destinations for the waste.
Ohio
Terms and Definitions
Ohio's Revised Code defines recycling as "the
process of collecting, sorting, cleansing, treating,
and reconstituting waste or other discarded
Wisconsin
Terms and Definitions
By statute,1 recycling is defined as "the series
of activities by which solid waste is collected,
sorted, processed and converted into raw
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materials and used in the production of new
materials." It specifically "excludes the use of
these materials as a fuel substitute or for energy
production."
Recycling and Disposal Measurements
Wisconsin collects only residential recycling
tonnage; it does not, therefore, calculate a
statewide recycling rate. Wisconsin's 1990 Solid
Waste, Reduction and Recycling Law requires
each of its 1,080 "responsible units" to collect
and report recycling information associated with
single-family and small apartment buildings but
not large apartment buildings, commercial or
industrial facilities. Materials recycling facilities
that collect from residential programs must
report amounts of both residential and
commercially collected recyclables as well as
any recyclables from local government recycling
programs.
In addition, landfills and incinerators must report
annual disposal data.
Contacts
EPA - Region 5
Susan Mooney
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
312-886-3585
mooney. susan@epa.gov
Illinois
Ellen Robinson
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
ellen.robinson@il.gov
Indiana
Tom Leas
Department of Environmental Management
tleas@idem.in.gov
Michigan
Matt Flechter
Department of Environmental Quality
flechterm@michigan.gov
Minnesota
Wayne Gjerde
Pollution Control Agency
wayne .gj erde@state .mn.us
Ohio
Ernie Stall
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
ernest.stall@epa.state.oh.us
Wisconsin
Cynthia Moore
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
cynthia.moore@wisconsin.gov
1http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=041500050K3.380
11 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp ?ActID=1588&ChapterID=36
ffi http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1588&ChapterID=36
lvhttp://www.epa. state.il.us/1 and/1 andfill-capacity
v http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/titlel3/arl l/ch2.html#IC13-l 1-2-180
http://www.in.gov/idem/5079.htm
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/titlel3/ar21/ch3.htmWIC13-21-3-13
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/DEQ-WHM-STSW-MI_SW_POLICY_198170_7.pdf
Khttp://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(wb2cli55ch4b5h45eiertrzu))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-Initiated-Law-l-of-1976
x http://www.michiganrecycles.org/index.php/measuring-recycling
X1http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3312-47581-,00.html
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=115A.03; Subd. 25b
xm https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=116F.02; Subd.6
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3736.01
^ http://www.epa.ohio.gov/Portals/34/document/general/state_plan_2009.pdf
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/544.pdf
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