Once at the cutting edge of the recycling revolution, the last decade has seen a precipitous drop-off in recycling in New Jersey. James M. O’Neill reports on the reasons for the decline and its effect on municipal finances.
As the first state in the nation to mandate domestic recycling twenty-five years ago, New Jersey was once at the forefront of the recycling revolution. However, while recycling efforts in other parts of the country remain strong, helped by the "robust" market for recycled products, the share of recycled waste collected in the state has dropped from 59% of all waste in 1995 to 41% of all waste in 2009.
O'Neill attributes part of the decline to the economy, "Recycling has declined locally in part because of the recent
recession. Consumers with less money translated into fewer products
purchased - and less need for containers or packing boxes. In addition,
declines in advertising meant fewer newspapers, inserts and circulars to
be recycled. Still, many items that can be recycled aren't making it into the bins."
"There's a recycling malaise. Recycling seems to have leveled off at a
time when there should be a renewed commitment," said Judith Enck, the
Environmental Protection Agency's administrator for New York and New
Jersey. "It's crazy to be burying and burning these resources."
FULL STORY: After falling behind in recycling, New Jersey looks for solutions

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform
A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.
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