A dramatic slowdown in the Chinese economy has halted its construction industry and caused demand for recycled products to dry up. With prices cratering, many municipalities across the country in the United States are having to make a tough decision about whether the programs are worth saving. Advanced Disposal General Manager Steve Estes says recycling is a labor-intensive industry compared to regular trash pickup. The sorting of recycled goods has to be done manually. When the end product isn’t bringing in a reasonable price, costs overwhelm revenue. Estes believes that even if recycling continues to lose money, area residents will vote to save it.

Estes believes recycling is now part of the culture of the region.