Including all materials, the recycling rate was 21 percent. Fourteen of the state's 67 counties surpassed the 25 percent goal last year. Many municipalities have a separate collection for yard waste, which accounted for 18 percent of the Act 101 materials recycled last year. Most of these municipalities compost the material and make it available free of charge to residents. The success of recycling depends on the ability to sell the materials collected, manufacture new products, and sell them again to consumers.
Strong markets are essential.
To promote the development of recycling markets in Pennsylvania, the Governor's Executive Council on Recycling Development and Waste Reduction, chaired by the lieutenant governor, integrates the resources of six Pennsylvania government agencies. State technical and financial assistance targets weak markets, such as those for old newspapers, colored glass and plastics. Although Act 101 grants per se are awarded only to local governments, counties and municipalities may equip privately owned facilities to process the materials they collect. The executive council provides grants and low-interest loans to the private sector through various state programs from the state's Recycling Fund. Local government agencies, schools, colleges, universities and nonprofit emergency services are eligible to purchase these products from the state's contracts.