Publications
Electronic versions of publications by the Container Recycling Institute are available below for no charge. If you have read one of these publications and would like to order a printed copy, please contact us. Most print versions of our publications cost $10 each. Volume discounts available.
CRI Publications
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.
Other publications of note
Beverage Containers:
Summary of the Stewardship Initiative for Minnesota and Wisconsin
| Summary of the voluntary stakeholder initiative between Minnesota and Wisconsin to achieve statewide goals of 80% beverage container recycling. The report includes information about current beverage container sales and recycling data for the state, disposal data, end market data, and summary of voluntary actions that were developed. [PDF,2MB]
Evaluating End-of-Life Beverage Container Management Systems for California
| Case studies of the beverage container deposit systems in California, Germany, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, as well as packaging systems in Ontario and Germany. [PDF,6.3MB]
Kerbside Recycling: Indicative Costs and Performance
| Analyzes single-stream, dual-stream, and curbside-sorted collection systems for cost and effectiveness. [PDF,1.45MB]
Waste and Opportunity: U.S. Beverage Container Recycling Scorecard and Report
| Rates 23 beverage companies on environmental performance. [PDF,1Mb]
2006 Edition, by As You Sow and CRI [PDF,1.24Mb]
Economic & Environmental Benefits of a Deposit System for Beverage Containers in the State of Washington
Useful cost/benefit analysis for any locality contemplating a bottle bill. [PDF,807kb]
The New York Bottle Bill Survey of February 2004
| A poll which found that the majority of New Yorkers support the bottle bill and want it expanded. Go to download form
Understanding Beverage Container Recovery: A Value Chain Assessment Prepared for the Multi-Stakeholder Recovery Project (MSRP)
n objective analysis of the state of U.S. beverage container recycling, and of the costs and success rates of various recycling systems.
Learn more
Oregon’s Bottle Bill at 30: How is it Doing?
This discussion of the Oregon bottle bill's successes and areas of improvement can be a useful tool for any state or municipality wanting to evaluate their existing deposit law or to consider passing a new one. [PDF,142kb]