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Curbside recyclable

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Definition

Can be recycled by the majority of households using curbside programs.

Overview

The availability of curbside recycling varies widely from city to city. Lumi defines curbside recyclable materials as those collected at the homes of at least 50% of the U.S. population. In the U.S., we send about 25% of all waste to recycling centers1. While most materials are technically recyclable, each story is different. Close to 90% of corrugated boxes are recycled1, but only 7% of plastic films from retail bags are recycled2.

Why choose it

Recycling extends the life of materials which spares resources and lowers the demand for virgin materials to create new products. Companies opt for curbside recyclable materials to ease the disposal burden on customers and contribute to a materials’ longevity.

Availability of Recycling Programs By US Region (% of Population)

Why not choose it

As of 2018, China and other Asian countries are no longer accepting the majority of US recyclables4, causing uncertainty about the fate of materials even after they’ve been picked up for recycling. If a company doesn’t prioritize curbside recyclability, they may be prioritizing other properties like volume or weight.

Frequently asked questions

73% of the U.S. population has access to curbside recycling3. Each of these recycling programs varies in terms of what they accept.