Time to Recycle Subcommittee
In the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan for North Central Texas, the vision of success for Time to Recycle is that purchased materials are reused and recycled wherever possible, while increasing waste prevention and reduction throughout the region. In order to facilitate this effort, a “Time To Recycle” Subcommittee was formed from the Resource Conservation Council. The subcommittee is made up of local government staff, public interest organizations and private sector service providers. They strive to address current and future source reduction and recycling needs of the region by meeting periodically to discuss trends to any change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste. They advocate processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reducing the consumption of fresh raw materials, reducing energy usage, and reducing water pollution by minimizing the need for "conventional" waste disposal.
The subcommittee recognizes that regional partnerships have the potential to implement the Regional Plan more extensively than single entity projects. Cooperative efforts between local entities have the ability to reduce duplication of services and provide cost benefits through economies of scale, while maximizing waste prevention and reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts.
One of the nationwide trends that the subcommittee addressed in its meetings includes the prevention and reduction of waste through product stewardship. Nationwide, many companies are recognizing the need to make changes in product design and manufacturing in an effort to reduce waste. Not only does this trend make the company more efficient and allow them to save money, but it also reduces the amount of waste going into landfills.
Another issue focused upon by the subcommittee is the need for sustainable recyclable markets in the North Central Texas region. In order to sustain the recycling markets in the North Central Texas region, there must be an effort to maintain the commitment to continuing and expanding basic recycling collection and processing programs, which guarantee a steady supply to recycling markets.
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