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Local Government Challenges and Opportunities
Local governments could reuse and recycle much of their bulky goods by
implementing the various types of programs and activities presented in this
model.
Programs that focus solely on reuse and recycling of materials generally are
able to divert 90 percent or more of their materials from landfills.
Programs that are combined with trash cleanups are able to divert 50 to 60
percent of their materials from landfills, if well designed and operated.
A good effort to increase reuse and recycling of bulky goods would
include:
- Promoting existing reuse, thrift, repair, and salvage businesses, with
guides, listings, advertisements, and referrals.
- Separating reuse and recycling activities from trash cleanup
activities.
- Organizing community wide garage sales, rummage sales, or donations
events as part of Second Chance Week, Earth Day, and/or America Recycles
Day.
- Developing or participating in local material exchange listings.
- Adding reuse and recycling operations to the transfer station, MRF, or
landfill.
Tips for Replication
- Identify what types of reuse, thrift, repair, and salvage businesses
exist in your area, and ask them what might help them most to expand and
promote their operations.
- Identify what other communities in your area are doing for community
cleanups and build on their successes and services for reuse and
recycling.
- Require contractors that operate transfer stations and landfills to
provide reuse and recycling services (either by contract or solid waste or
local land use permit conditions).
- Establish these sites publicly or make available land (preferably at
low or no cost) for entrepreneurial reuse businesses to be located next to
transfer stations and landfill sites.
Innovations
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