Separating materials unlocks the value in discarded material streams. The principal structural questions revolve around “Who or what separates these materials, and when?” and “Where do these separated materials go, and how do they get there?” Sadly, it is still no surprise that collection is the point in the supply chain that remains the most dangerous. Bottle bills offer an effective way to manage the recovery of containers, but expanding this infrastructure imposes burdens on entities not designed to manage end-of-life products. Reuse programs are touted as a way to reduce single-use products in the market, but the system-level impacts of significant expansion of this material handling pathway have not been evaluated based on real-world experience.
The big picture
This Month in Waste
Bottle Bills: Modernization Separates the Leaders From the Laggards
Deposit return systems (DRS) remain the highest-performing container recovery tool in the U.S. Container Recycling Institute (CRI) President Susan Collins calls DRS programs the “gold standard,” with containers on deposit recycled at a 64 percent rate versus 26 percent for containers not on deposit (2021 data). The newest data shows that bottle bill programs can’t be left to coast: Connecticut’s redemption rate climbed from 65% to 92% between 2024 and 2025, while performance stayed flat across the other deposit states. Massachusetts and Michigan, which have lagged on program improvements, have dropped the most since 2019. Michigan lawmakers responded this year with a bipartisan three-bill package to strengthen consumer access to refunds and clarify retailer obligations, and in Hawaii, the deposit fund has swelled to $105 million as redemption falls, partly due to too few and inconvenient redemption centers.
Key takeaway: Deposit value and redemption convenience drive performance. Aging programs need periodic investment, and unclaimed deposits are a ready funding source for upgrades. Connecticut’s surge also carries a caution, as CRI flagged cross-border over-redemption that may be inflating the reported rate.
From SWEEP: Taking Circularity National: Truth In Labeling, A Bottle Bill And More recaps SWEEP’s webinar with Heidi Sanborn of the National Stewardship Action Council on the case for a national bottle bill.
Sources: Recycling Today ·
Resource Recycling ·
Resource Recycling ·
Container Recycling Institute
Collection Remains One of America’s Most Dangerous Jobs
BLS counted 36 fatalities among waste and recyclable materials collectors in 2024, down from 41 in 2023, and SWANA says the industry still has a long way to go. A joint NWRA and SWANA review of 469 OSHA-reported fatal incidents from 2002 to 2023 found 387 were collection-related; the most common first harmful event on routes was falling from the vehicle, followed by being struck by a non-waste vehicle. Former NWRA and SWANA safety leader David Biderman adds that distracted-driver incidents make up a small share of the 30 to 40 collection fatalities each year.
Key takeaway: Most collection fatalities involve the collection vehicle and route practices, which puts the biggest safety gains within reach of operators and the local governments that contract with them. Contract safety requirements, riding-step policies and automation investments matter as much as public “Slow Down to Get Around” campaigns.
Sources: SWANA ·
Waste Today ·
Waste Advantage
Reuse and Refill Need a Collection System, and Haulers Have a Role
Reuse is moving from niche to compliance requirement. Under California’s SB 54, minimum reductions must come from reuse and refill systems, set at 2% by 2027, 4% by 2030, and 10% by 2032, and CAA will begin setting additional source reduction targets in Washington and Minnesota. California’s needs assessments found conversion costs are significant, yet the analysis did not model the role waste haulers could play; reuse advocates say involving haulers from the design stage would reduce the upfront investment. Meanwhile, a coalition led by PR3 introduced a new “Reuse” symbol this year to help consumers recognize and trust reuse systems.
Key takeaway: Reuse runs on reverse logistics: collection, washing and redistribution. Haulers and local governments already own the routes and relationships those systems require, which makes them natural partners as producers look for ways to meet reuse targets. As with more conventional recycling programs, reuse programs should be measured and monitored to ensure they are delivering the intended environmental benefits.
Sources: Resource Recycling ·
Packaging Dive ·
Packaging Digest
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From bottle bills showing that performance depends on upkeep, to collection remaining one of the industry’s most dangerous jobs, to reuse systems needing haulers as partners, this month’s news shows separation and collection as the gates that decide how much value is actually recovered. Certifying to or participating in the development of a measurable, third-party standard defining the future of sustainable materials management can be a hedge against unanticipated change. Join SWEEP and help set the standard for what the future of waste management looks like.
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