Residential recycling programs have been around for years, but increasing public awareness of environmental responsibility provides municipalities with an opportunity to revisit their existing programs, tighten up rules and increase enforcement.

As with any recycling program, curbside recycling depends on resident cooperation. Contamination of recycling streams with garbage or non-recyclable items results in reduced efficiency and higher costs. Residents need to be encouraged to participate as partners in recycling efforts, and recycling education programs should stress the need for community support to ensure their success.

Resources:

The National Recycling Coalition is a national non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. The Coalition represents advocates from every region of the country, in every sector of the waste reduction field.

The EPA's Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) web site is a great portal to the many waste stream programs EPA has developed for cities, towns and villages. From Full Cost Accounting to Composting and Recycling, these web pages provide great ideas and detailed plans to help you manage solid waste efficiently.

The City of San Jose, California has a colorful, informative and easy-to-navigate site for their curbside recycling program.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has a nice online pamphlet with 12 tips to improve community participation.