The recycling market is changing. Historically, recycling programs around the country would use the sale of recycled materials to offset collection and processing costs. This allowed for the establishment of low-cost recycling programs.

Over the last two years, the recycling market has seen a significant decline in the value of recycled goods due to several factors. These include:

• new international regulations
• stricter contamination rate standards
• poor recycling practices

In response, Sugar Land is increasing educational efforts in order to help the public better understand current market issues and the effect that the new regulations have on processing recycled material.