Introduction

More communities throughout the U.S. and Canada are successfully recovering foodservice packaging. However, the specific material and packaging types recovered vary by community and the available resources. 

As communities consider adding foodservice packaging to a curbside program, it is important to recognize the potential impact and scale. Communities generate measurable volumes of cups, containers, boxes, and paper bags each year, much of it fiber-based, that can be successfully recovered when supported by clear resident education. Even a ten percent recovery rate, which is a realistic initial goal for new materials, can translate into meaningful volumes diverted from landfills and send to a material recovery facility (MRF), reinforcing the value of including these items in recycling programs.