A. 13 In low-income developing countries, recyclable materials comprise about 15 percent of the solid waste stream. As an economy improves, residents are likely to consume more packaged goods and to generate more waste. In middle-income developing countries, recyclable materials comprise about 30 percent of the solid waste stream. In industrialized countries, recyclables comprise about 60 percent of the waste stream.

A.14 The highest recovery of recyclable materials is possible only if source separation is practiced. Source separation of recyclable materials, such as paper, glass, metal, and plastic, can lead to a reduction in the quantity of waste that the local government would have to collect and dispose. The cost of collecting recyclables door to door is typically higher than the cost of collecting solid waste, because although the same number of stops along the collection route is required, the amount of material collected for each stop is less. If the savings in disposal cost would cover the additional collection cost associated with recycling, government support for separate collection for recyclables is justifiable. Without government support, the private sector would bear the cost of recycling only those materials for which the market demand is adequate to enable profit.