Innovation is also at the center of revitalizing our shared future in a sustainable economy and environment.  The National Recycling Coalition and its members and supporters are at the forefront of new and exciting approaches for recovering and reusing the many diverse and valued materials that, just a short time ago in the era of smoke stacks, were casually thrown away.  Recycling remains an evolving American success story, and with ingenuity and leadership, we continue to build our environmental future.

Innovation is all around us, in all of the elements that make up our materials recovery system.

Policy: Climate change and energy policy require us to look at the policy dynamics that are the foundation of our recycling programs.

Management:  Communities and businesses everywhere are focusing on best management practices and continuous improvement programs to ensure that recovery programs are optimized for performance and value.  Corporations world-wide have recognized that environmental sustainability, and its recycling component, are central to the corporate purpose. 

Finance:  We see the possibility for new means to finance recycling, from the proven models of PAYT, to the innovations in incentive-based recycling and the product stewardship models of e-recycling.  In addition, we see climate change as a springboard for new investment in recycling infrastructure to realize, monetarily, the energy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions of recycling. 

Technology:  To keep pace with the changing nature of our products and packages, and to establish a durable business model for materials recovery, new technology is being demanded by processors from both the public and private sector.

Education: We are learning how to better educate our citizenry, from where all recycling starts.  The time is ripe for a great national campaign of environmental awareness and consistent environmental behavior.  With innovative research and education programs, we truly can change the world, one container or newspaper at a time.