Curbside Recycling Under Threat as Costs Soar

Soaring recycling costs that show no sign of slowing down are forcing cities and towns to either pay more or cut back on the service.

The two largest U.S. waste processing companies, Republic Services Inc. and Waste Management Inc., are renegotiating hundreds of contracts in the wake of new trade policies with China, which before this year was the biggest importer of recycled bottles, cans, cardboard, and other items from the U.S.

Mixed paper accounts for the largest portion of “single-stream” recycling, where paper, plastic, and metal are placed in the same bin.

Until recently, China was the ...