The organizations GreenBlue and The Recycling Partnership (“Partnership”) announced on September 23rd the release of its U.S. Community Recycling Program Acceptance Data (“Acceptance Data”).
The Acceptance Data is stated to be powered by the Partnership’s National Recycling Database.
The Acceptance Data is described as providing the most up-to-date information on which materials are accepted in recycling programs across the United States.
In describing this development, the organizations note in a September 23rd news release that:
… The U.S. recycling system is a complex network of 9,000+ separate local recycling programs that process billions of pounds of material each year. The Partnership’s National Database captures local recycling program data, representing 99% of the U.S. population, and features a set of systems, including generative AI, that tracks local changes on the acceptance of over 50 different categories of recyclables.
The Partnership states that it will publish Acceptance Data twice annually. Further, the information will be made available to brands, retailers, material producers, policymakers, and the public.
Benefits to those provided such data are stated to include:
- Increased data accuracy.
- Harmonization of definitions.
- Clearer distinctions.
- Informed decision-making.
- Deeper engagement.
The National Recycling Database is stated to collect data through:
- Direct input from community recycling program managers.
- Recycling Program Solutions Hub.
- Municipal Measurement Program.
- Automated research using website scraping, informative screenshots, and data processing.
- State organization surveys of local communities.
- Manual research to verify that material acceptance, program details, and web resources are up to date.
The National Recycling Database includes digital tools such as:
- Recycle Check Chatbot.
- Recycle Check On-Pack Labels.
- Recycling Program Solutions Hub.
- Circular Packaging Assessment Tool.
A link to the National Database and Acceptance Data can be found here.
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