Publications
Featured Publication
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CRI Letter to State of Vermont Department of Environmental ConservationMarch 2013 | CRI Commends Agency's Report: Comparison of System Costs and Materials Recovery Rates: Implementation of Universal Single Stream Recycling With and Without Beverage Container Deposits
Download PDF [PDF, 2.5MB]
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A Clean and Green Vermont 2013
February 2013 | A Special Report on the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Vermont’s Bottle Bill
Get Download Link [PDF, 1.4MB]
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CRI Letter to Hawaii Legislature in Support of of SB 1133/HB 902
March 2013 | A Letter from CRI President Susan Collins to Hawaii Legislators in support of SB 1133 and HB 902 which would expand the state’s existing beverage container recycling program to include dietary supplements, including energy drinks, such as Monster and Red Bull.
Download PDF [PDF, 238KB]
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CRI Letter to Hawaii Legislature in Support of HB 1062/SB 1271
March 2013 | A Letter from CRI President Susan Collins to Hawaii Legislators in support of HB 1062 and SB 1271 expanding the state's beverage container recycling program.
Download PDF [PDF, 236KB]
CRI Reports
A Common Theme: Single Stream Recycling
Is single-stream recycling service the salvation of all recycling programs or is there a better way forward? Our author digs into the untold story of real residue rates and a PREFERABLE METHOD to truly recycle more materials at materials recovery facilities.
Returning to Work:
Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers
December 2011 | While the recycling's impact on jobs has been the subject of several studies in recent years, Returning to Work is the first report to take into account the vital importance of material quality, throughput quantities, processing dynamics and end-user needs to analyze the net gains in domestic jobs when beverage containers are recovered through recycling.
Understanding economic and environmental impacts of single-stream collection systems
December 2009 | While single-stream recycling is more convenient for consumers and results in lower costs than other collection systems, it also results in more contamination of collected materials, lower material quality, and increased waste. Using data from industry reports and interviews with recyclers, this report that highlights the economic and environmental impacts of switching to a single-stream system.
Wasting and Recycling Trends:
Conclusions from CRI’s 2008 Beverage Market Data Analysis
January 2009 | Three pronounced trends in American beverage consumption and recycling patterns have emerged since 2000: overall sales growth, non-carbonated sales growth, and stagnating recycling rates—all of which lead to increasing wasting. Using data from the 2008 Beverage Market Data Analysis, CRI has compiled a report discussing those trends.
Water, Water Everywhere:
The Growth of Non-carbonated Beverages in the United States
February 2007 | Sales of bottled water in the U.S. are going up, up and up. In the three years between 2002 and 2005, sales doubled from from 15 billion units sold, to 29.8 billion. This is almost seven times the 3.8 billion units sold in 1997. At the same time, traditional fizzy drinks are losing market share. What does this all mean? More PET bottles produced, more wasted, and a smaller percentage recycled.
The 10¢ Incentive to Recycle
Augus 2006 | This "bottle bill primer" sets the record straight on the environmental and economic impacts of beverage container deposit systems (bottle bills), and uses documented evidence to rebut the arguments made by the anti-bottle bill, beverage industry lobby. The 10¢ Incentive to Recycle, revised with 2004 data, also contains updated facts, figures, charts and graphs.
Trashed Cans: The Global Environmental Impacts of Aluminum Can Wasting in America
June 2002 |This exciting report from CRI documents the sharp rise in aluminum can wasting over the last thirty years and draws a detailed picture of the environmental impacts of extracting energy and resources to replace wasted cans. The report presents reasons for the recent decline in aluminum can recycling rates, and offers solutions to reverse the wasting trend.
Extended Producer Responsibility - a Primer
1997 | Extended Producer Responsibility is the concept that the primary responsibility for waste generated during a product's manufacturing and after the product is discarded, is that of the producer of the product. This primer goes on to explain the ultimate goals of EPR and the different forms of EPR policies, and discusses the reasons that manufacturers are reluctant to adopt these policies.
Container and Packaging Recycling Update
Printed yearly | The Container Recycling Institute's official newsletter is filled with information about what's happening in the world of beverage packaging. Learn the status of state bottle bills and bottle bill campaigns. Find out about strides and setbacks in sustainability and recycling.
CRI Letters and briefings
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CRI Letter to State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
March 2013 | CRI Commends Agency's Report: Comparison of System Costs and Materials Recovery Rates: Implementation of Universal Single Stream Recycling With and Without Beverage Container Deposits
Download PDF [PDF, 2.5MB]
-
CRI Letter to Hawaii Legislature in Support of of SB 1133/HB 902
March 2013 | A Letter from CRI President Susan Collins to Hawaii Legislators in support of SB 1133 and HB 902 which would expand the state’s existing beverage container recycling program to include dietary supplements, including energy drinks, such as Monster and Red Bull.
Download PDF [PDF, 238KB]
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CRI Letter to Hawaii Legislature in Support of HB 1062/SB 1271
March 2013 | A Letter from CRI President Susan Collins to Hawaii Legislators in support of HB 1062 and SB 1271 expanding the state's beverage container recycling program.
Download PDF [PDF, 236KB] -
A Clean and Green Vermont 2013
February 2013 | A Special Report on the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Vermont’s Bottle Bill
Get Download Link [PDF, 1.4MB]
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Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine 2013
January 2013 | CRI's Review of Department’s Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine. Download pdf [PDF, 217 KB]
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Curbside vs Beverage Fact Sheet 2012
July 2012 | Curbside Recycling Access Rates and Beverage Container Recycling Download pdf [PDF, 246 KB]
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CRI Letter to US EPA on the Municipal Solid Waste Report
September 2011 | The US EPA recently invited the public to comment on its annual Municipal Solid Waste report. CRI submitted a number of suggestions, including several regarding the accounting for contamination in calculating recycling rates. Download pdf
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CRI Comments on “The Costs of Beverage Container Redemption in Vermont”
April 2011 | A Report by DSM Environmental Services, Inc.for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Solid Waste Program
Download pdf -
CRI Comments on Natural Logic’s White Paper on EPR for Packaging
March 2011 | Natural Logic recently produced a white paper for the Coca Cola Company that summarizes an industry policy agenda for the next generation of packaging waste management stressing the principle of extended producer responsibility or “EPR.” CRI examines the paper and analyzes some flaws in its approach. Download pdf -
Recycling and Climate Change
CRI submitted this briefing in particular to protect the Iowa deposit law from repeal. It also serves to enhance the level of understanding of beverage container recycling in the United States and the State Iowa, and to demonstrate the impact of recycling on emissions reduction and the economy. Download pdf -
Why Universal Recycling in Vermont Requires Deposit Return
February 2011 Written to bolster the argument against repealing the Vermont deposit law, this briefing explains the benefits of deposit laws and the added benefits of deposit laws in conjunction with curbside recycling. Download pdf