'This Is Excellent News': Newton's Recycling Costs Decrease

NEWTON, MA — Newton's recycling costs have have significantly decreased since the start of the pandemic, representing an increase in the value of recycled cardboard and plastics.

According to the city, recycling markets have rebounded after taking a dive when China, which had dominated the recycling market, stopped accepting materials in 2018.

To fill the gap, American companies and others around the world opened new plants. Meanwhile, the pandemic led people to rely on online shopping, increasing the demand for cardboard so that boxes could be recycled into more boxes.

When the demand for recycled items increases, the cost to process them at Newton's material recovery facility decreases, said the city. The fee to sort recycling reached a high of $88 per ton in July 2020 and dropped to $15 per ton in June 2021. In July and August, the city received recycling rebates for the first time since 2017 and anticipates a rebate in September as well.

"This is excellent news," said Waneta Trabert, Newton’s Director of Sustainable Materials Management.

About 40 percent of raw materials used in manufacturing currently come from recycled materials, making the recycling system an important part of the manufacturing supply chain.

"While the best thing for the planet is to reduce and reuse, the next best option is
recycling," said Mayor Ruthanne Fuller's office in a news release.

Newton residents are still asked to "recycle right" by avoiding putting plastic bags, black plastic food trays, food and liquids, Styrofoam, plastic utensils, paper coffee cups or paper plates, medicine bottles, wood, or paper towels, tissues, and napkins into the green cart.

Clothing, linens, and textiles also do not go in the green cart, but can be picked up via curbside service.

For more information about Newton’s recycling program, click here. Anyone with questions can email the Sustainable Materials Management Division at recycling@newtonma.gov.