United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-12-29 monographic deposited born digital 51 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-37 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37 P0b002ee180375726 f:d0737 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37 GAO-07-37 Conservation practices Data collection Federal legislation Federal/state relations Municipal governments Performance measures Policy evaluation Recycling Strategic planning Waste collection Waste disposal Waste management Policies and procedures Stakeholder consultations EPA Resource Conservation Challenge EPA Waste Wise Program Other Written Product A64508 Although recycling can generate environmental and economic benefits, the national recycling rate has increased only slightly since 2000, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While local governments have the primary role in operating recycling programs, EPA and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) have some legal responsibilities for encouraging recycling. GAO was asked to (1) identify key practices cities are using to increase recycling, (2) describe what EPA and Commerce are doing to encourage recycling, and (3) identify federal policy options that could help increase recycling. GAO interviewed recycling coordinators in 11 large cities about key practices and 13 additional recycling stakeholders about policy options. GAO selected both groups based on geographic representation and recycling expertise, among other factors. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37.pdf GAO-07-37 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-37 Other Written Product GAO-07-37; Recycling: Additional Efforts Could Increase Municipal Recycling; Conservation practices Data collection Federal legislation Federal/state relations Municipal governments Performance measures Policy evaluation Recycling Strategic planning Waste collection Waste disposal Waste management Policies and procedures Stakeholder consultations EPA Resource Conservation Challenge EPA Waste Wise Program