The article “Fluctuating prices leave recycling industry at mercy of supply and demand” (Oct. 15, TribLive) reminded me of a harsh reality: While residents in other counties can simply place their recyclables outside their homes, most Westmoreland County residents do not have that luxury. As the value of recyclable material plummets, the volume of materials recycled by residents drops as well.

In 2018, Westmoreland County recycled 16,000 tons of residential waste; 2021 only saw 13,000 tons recycled. This forces eco-conscious residents to drive miles to make a positive impact. Not everyone is willing, or able, to make that effort.

The accessibility, or lack thereof, of recycling is partially due to the heightened cost of recycling. In some cases the cost of the service is higher than the value of the material. Part of the problem is that China no longer imports American recyclables, and America got too comfortable relying on China instead of building our own recycling infrastructure.

Westmoreland County needs to increase the number of in-county facilities capable of processing numerous recyclable materials. Furthermore, companies must be pushed to use more recyclable materials in their manufacturing, which would divert waste from landfills and move us toward an economy that prioritizes reducing and reusing materials, as opposed to extracting more from our precious natural resources.

The onus has been forced onto the consumer as corporations create problems they have no intentions of resolving, but through our persistence, we can fight for recycling to be more accessible to county communities.

May Torpey

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

The writer is sustainability coordinator for Protect PT.

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