[John H K]

Incorrect. Paper is a material which can be profitably recycled. See my post above.

Nope, I suspect you're not looking at WHO it is costing.

It's profitable FOR THE PAPER COMPANY because they're making more money from selling what they recycle the paper into than they're paying for the old paper coming in.

The problem is, the municipalities collecting the garbage paper to recycle are likely spending more money collecting it and sorting it than they're taking in from selling it to the paper company. This is where the money is lost and how NYC can save that much $$$ from stopping recycling.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The problem is, the municipalities collecting the garbage paper to recycle are likely spending more money collecting it and sorting it than they're taking in from selling it to the paper company. This is where the money is lost and how NYC can save that much $$$ from stopping recycling.

Our small city had its own recycling center which was enthusiastically used by all. The city eventually closed it because it was costing a fortune to operate and required a couple of full time people to manage. Now the local garbage haulers take the stuff on the same truck as the garbage, but as I said above it all gets dumped into the same hole.

[fogarty]

If someone is willing to buy recycled paper products from IP, then I suspect the market is taking care of the costs. New York City is beside the point. IP recycles paper, and makes money producing products made with recycled paper. Whether or not NYC has a system which lets the freemarket work is another issue. The fact is, recycling can work with certain products, in a free market, and IP has proven that.