Publication Summary

This paper discusses ways to increase recycling of organic materials, including closed loop re-use.

This background information paper for the Beyond Waste Summary Document discusses the importance of expanding and strengthening the statewide system for closed-loop reuse and recycling of organic materials. It identifies the benefits of organic materials recycling, goals and recommendations for increasing organic materials recycling. Organic residual materials have value and can provide many benefits when safely returned to the soil. When we dispose of the material, this value is lost. As long as we continue to manage these materials as wastes, we are also wasting both economic and environmental protection opportunities. Important progress in organics recycling has been made during the past several years. The recommendations in this background paper build on past successes and leverage existing trends to make the necessary shift from viewing organic materials as wastes to an understanding of organic materials as feedstock for beneficial products.