Residential recycling in Mid-America: The cost effectiveness of curbside programs in Oklahoma

The cost-effectiveness of recycling for achieving proposed or mandated waste reduction and recycling goals in the U.S. is open to question in states where the costs of municipal waste disposal are considerably lower than in the densely-populated eastern states. In this study, twenty-year net present value analysis was used to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of curbside recycling versus current land disposal systems in four communities in Oklahoma. Two systems were modelled: (1) a municipally-operated program and (2) a program operated by a private-sector firm under municipal contract. Results indicate that curbside recycling may be marginally cost-effective under conditions somewhat more favorable than those assumed in the base analysis. Low land disposal costs limit the impact of avoided costs on cost effectiveness. The economics of curbside recycling are more sensitive to collection costs, recycling rates, recovered materials markets and, for the contract curbside option, the magnitude of the service charge per household. Achieving state or federal waste reduction and recycling goals of 25% of the composite municipal waste stream will necessitate recycling more than the post-consumer products amenable to curbside collection. Adding programs for composting leaves and grass may yield net diversion rates approaching 20%. In many communities, however, net costs per household would increase by $1.45 to $2.85 per month for a combined yard waste and curbside program. This could exceed the public's willingness to pay for the less tangible benefits of recycling and could necessitate financial subsidies to achieve public waste reduction and recycling goals.