How Texas Can Help End America’s Trash Imports

Believe it or not, U.S. companies are spending money to import garbage. American firms have paid to bring in loads of waste – plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other recyclables – from countries like China and Mexico. They do this not for human trash, but to meet domestic demand for recycled content. Texas A&M researchers call this a “paradox of inefficiency.” With inadequate recycling and processing here, manufacturers still must get recycled plastics and metals from abroad, even while millions of tons of trash accumulate in our own state. The Mosbacher Institute at Texas A&M has proposed a solution: dramatically boost Texas’s recycling programs so that “people directly engage” in waste reduction. In other words, stop treating trash as a foreign resource and start processing it at home.

The Hidden Trash Trade

The United States used to export much of its recyclables, but after China’s 2018 ban on most scrap waste imports, the flow reversed. America is now a net importer of plastic scrap and other recyclable trash. In 2024 the U.S. imported a record 492,000 tons of plastic scrap – a 10% jump from the year before. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic – used in water bottles and soda bottles – saw a 23% surge in imports to 250,961 tons in 2024. Why? Domestic collection has stagnated. ICIS data show that sluggish PET collection, coupled with rising exports of bales of plastics to other countries, forced U.S. buyers to tap global markets for feedstock. In fact, much of that “recycled content” in American products often comes from abroad: Texas A&M’s Robertson notes that companies proudly label bottles as “made with recycled content” without saying it was imported trash.

Bales of compressed plastic bottles illustrate the scale of waste that needs recycling. In Texas in 2021, some 23.7 billion beverage containers were sold but only about 5.2 billion were recycled, meaning roughly 18.5 billion cans and bottles – almost 80% – ended up in landfills, litter or waterways.

In short, Americans throw away a mountain of material, then pay others to ship it back. Importers from Canada, Thailand, Ecuador and Japan are now major suppliers of plastic scrap to U.S. markets. Asian sources now account for 44% of U.S. PET scrap imports, up sharply in recent years. (By contrast, prior to 2018, China alone took much of America’s scrap.) For aluminum, paper and other recyclables, the pattern is similar: lack of domestic processing means more cross-border trade. This global waste shuffle has environmental risks. Much imported “recyclables” gets rejected or ends up in poorly managed dumps overseas. Columbia University experts warn that up to 70% of plastic sent abroad is unusable and pollutes communities.

Texas Today: Landfills and Recycling

Texas produces an enormous amount of waste of its own. With over 30 million residents and booming cities, the Lone Star State generated 40.1 million tons of municipal solid waste in fiscal 2023 – about 7.2 pounds per person per day. The 201 permitted Texas landfills took in all this trash. State data show Texas still has roughly 50 years of remaining landfill capacity at current disposal rates, so on paper space is ample. However, that capacity is uneven: West Texas regions hold decades more reserves than, say, parts of Central Texas. (For example, the Ark-Tex COG region has nearly 176 years of capacity, while the Concho Valley COG has only about 19 years.) Texas also has many waste processors – composters, incinerators, shredders – handling nearly 10 million tons of MSW waste in 2023.

Despite all that, Texas lags in recycling. By one estimate, Texas’s municipal recycling rate was only 22.7% in 2015, well below the ~34% national average. Even by 2023 the state’s recycling share grew only slightly. In practice, curbside recycling programs are spotty. Major cities like Dallas, Houston and San Antonio have options for homes to recycle paper, plastic and glass, but many smaller cities (Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Abilene, Amarillo, etc.) have none. Vast rural areas in North and West Texas are recycling deserts, meaning residents often have to drive many miles to a drop-off center or have no access at all. Jordan Fengel of the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling notes that Texas’s sheer size makes this a persistent problem: “Communities [in parts of Texas] have few options to participate in recycling,” he told Waste Dive.

Curbside participation is also low in places that do offer it. Traditional single-stream recycling (mixed paper and containers in one bin) often fails due to contamination or confusion. Many residents report unclear recycling guidelines, so good items end up in the landfill. The net effect: only a small fraction of potential recyclables is recovered. For example, fewer than one in five plastic water bottles in Texas is recycled. Beverage containers – already singled out by A&M researchers – exemplify the waste problem. 23.7 billion bottles and cans were sold in Texas in 2021, but just 5.2 billion were recycled, leaving 18.5 billion containers piling up.

Meanwhile, much resource value is lost. That same A&M report estimates Texas missed out on $372.6 million in scrap value in 2021 by failing to recycle metal and other materials. Economics aside, the environmental toll is plain: Texas rivers, parks and neighborhoods bear plastic and aluminum litter that local programs could have reclaimed. As local journalist Alex Egan reports, Robertson bluntly warns that the unrecycled bottles “went into our rivers, lakes, and streams, and ultimately flowing into the ocean”.

Challenges and Opportunities

Texas has unique challenges. Cheap virgin materials discourage recycling. Manufacturers often find it cheaper to use new plastics or metals rather than clean and use recycled input. That’s why, as one researcher puts it, “Americans do not recycle enough cans and bottles to meet the national demand”. Even companies that want recycled content find domestic sources lacking, so they import “trash” to satisfy green marketing. As Texas A&M’s report notes, many products brag about “recycled content” without revealing that it came from overseas waste.

Another hurdle is convenience and education. Right now, Texans often have to drive to recycling centers or sort more carefully than they used to, which can lead to low participation. If a deposit-refund law is put in place, people might need to break old habits. As Kaleb Abreha of the Mosbacher Institute cautions, “a lot of the details would have to be worked out” and confusion must be addressed. Stores and retailers also worry. Retailers may need to hold space for returned bottles, issue refunds and manage inventory. Landfill operators feel threatened, too: Texas landfill groups are influential, and they fear lost revenue if fewer bottles and cans arrive. As Robertson acknowledges, these interests can be powerful.

However, experts stress that the hurdles are surmountable. Studies find that adding a small deposit (usually 5–10 cents) to beverage prices hardly deters shoppers – sales of drinks in deposit states remain unchanged. In fact, evidence from 10 current deposit states shows much higher recycling rates: roughly 46% of plastic bottles are returned in deposit states, versus only 10% in non-deposit states. Those programs are proven to “directly engage consumers” by giving them a financial incentive. Retailers can benefit too: every bottle returned brings a customer back into the store. As Abreha notes, if someone earns a dollar in refunds, “there is a good chance they’ll spend that dollar with that retailer”.

Texas also boasts economic opportunities to offset challenges. In 2019 the state’s recycling industry already supported nearly 23,000 jobs and contributed about $5 billion to the economy. Building new recycling infrastructure and processing would create even more jobs – in collection, sorting, manufacturing and equipment. And Texas is a manufacturing and chemical hub, with many companies that could use recycled materials as feedstock (from plastics to metals). Currently over 125 Texas firms use recycled materials in their operations. Strong incentives could encourage more businesses to invest here rather than sourcing material from overseas.

Learning from Others: Deposit Laws and Infrastructure

Many success stories exist outside Texas. Ten U.S. states (e.g. Michigan, Oregon, Iowa) have long-standing deposit-refund systems (often called “bottle bills”). In these states, consumers pay a few cents extra when buying bottles and cans and get it back when they return them for recycling. Experience shows these laws dramatically boost returns. A&M researchers point out that deposit states see 40–50% more containers recycled than non-deposit states. Indeed, we recycle up to 5 times more bottles with deposits. When Europe’s northern countries added such systems, litter on streets and beaches fell sharply.

Texas has been eyeing this approach. Senate Bill 728 (2025) and House Bill 2048 (2025) both propose deposit-refund systems for beverage containers. SB 728, for example, was championed by Environment Texas and its director Luke Metzger, who testified that the law would “encourage consumers to recycle their beverage containers in order to save natural resources and preserve landfill space”. The idea already has precedent: cities like Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth report higher recycling rates for bottles and cans thanks to easier returns and outreach.

In practice, experts advise starting with a modest scope. The Mosbacher Institute brief suggests an initial focus on the most common containers (plastic soda and water bottles, aluminum cans), then scaling up. It even envisions roll-out steps: public-awareness campaigns with schools and media, building drop-off infrastructure (state grants for reverse vending machines or redemption centers), and clear lists of what qualifies. Other features could include using unclaimed deposit funds to fund programs, or giving businesses tax credits for buying domestic recycled plastic. All this would make Texas a hub for processing recyclables rather than shipping them abroad.

Beyond deposits, Texas can improve curbside recycling. Many cities are moving to cart-based curbside pickup (giving every house a large bin) which increases participation. Grants and state support (such as via the Texas RMDP recycling plan mandated by SB 649) could help smaller towns adopt carts or build regional sorting facilities. Closed Loop Partners’ recent investment in Texas recycler Balcones Resources shows private capital is also interested. More in-state Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and reprocessing plants – even chemical recyclers – would strengthen the whole chain from bin to bale.

Importantly, any new law should address retailers’ concerns. Abreha recommends involving shops as partners, not antagonists. “The single best way to increase returns is for retailers to accept returns,” he said, noting that customers already frequent stores with deposits. Pilot programs could provide free storage bins to small stores or set up centralized redemption kiosks nearby. Over time, as Texans get used to pocketing their 5¢ each, store owners will likely see it as extra foot traffic. Indeed, research cited in the policy brief finds that raised deposit costs do not hurt beverage sales.

Environmental and Economic Impact

Cleaning up our waste system has multiple payoffs. Environmental benefits are obvious: less litter on highways and beaches, fewer toxins leaking from landfills, and slower depletion of raw resources. If Texas recycles more locally, we reduce the need to mine bauxite for aluminum or drill for oil to make virgin plastic. Texas streams and the Gulf would get less plastic trash. Even reducing exports of food and beverage waste could help the state meet broader climate goals: recycling typically emits much less greenhouse gas than producing new materials.

The economic argument is strong, too. Every ounce of local recycling is a recycled dollar in Texas. A Texas A&M analysis found the state’s MSW recycling sector already exceeded a $4.8 billion economic impact in 2019, on par with major industries like petroleum. That supports jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and even green-tech startups. The proposed increase from a deposit system could multiply this. In Iowa, for example, every cent paid out in deposits is later spent in the economy when consumers use their refunds. Texas A&M notes that if a person drops off $1 worth of bottles, that dollar often becomes a dollar of local sales at the store.

On the flip side, there would be costs. Setting up a deposit system and new recycling facilities takes investment. Some rural counties and businesses might need subsidies or grants to upgrade. However, most studies find that the net economic gain outweighs the investment. Money that currently “leaks” out of Texas (paid to import scrap) would circulate within the state. Local governments could receive fees from new processors and pay less for landfill expansion. The state’s budget could gain via tax revenue from a bigger recycling industry.

Taking Action: What Texas Residents Can Do

Individuals and communities have power to advance these reforms. Here are some steps every Texan can take:

• Recycle Right and Reduce Waste: First, carefully separate recyclables at home. Rinse bottles and sort paper properly. Even without a deposit law, increased participation boosts local material supply. Cut down on disposable packaging by buying in bulk and using reusable bags, bottles and containers whenever possible.

• Support Local Programs: Many Texas cities offer free or low-cost drop-off for glass, electronics and hazardous waste. Use them. Attend community shredding/recycling events. Check if your town’s public works department has recycling goals and volunteer. In schools and neighborhood groups, organize recycling drives or “Recycling 101” sessions to dispel confusion about what can be recycled.

• Be a Voice for Change: Contact your state representative and senator. Let them know you support recycling reforms like a deposit-refund system, curbside expansion, and incentives for local processing. Write letters or emails referencing the evidence: Texas loses hundreds of millions by not recycling and gains jobs if it does. Citizens’ letters were crucial in supporting the recent SB 728 hearing. You can also sign online petitions (e.g. via environmental groups) for stronger waste laws.

• Encourage Businesses: Patronize retailers and restaurants that use recyclable packaging or take back containers. Ask local stores to support deposit collection or to stock products made from recycled materials. Employers can implement office recycling and composting (if available).

• Join or Support Recycling Alliances: The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) and groups like Environment Texas work on these issues. Volunteers can help lobby, educate or monitor city council meetings. Even something as simple as sharing recycling facts on social media raises awareness among friends.

• Stay Informed and Educate Others: Knowledge is key. Share news about Texas’s recycling challenges (for example, tell neighbors about the startling 80% of bottles thrown away). Correct myths (e.g., “it costs too much” or “the bottle bill will bankrupt stores”). Schools and churches can incorporate environmental stewardship into curricula and events.

Community volunteers collect plastic bottles at a local recycling drive in Texas. Activism at the grassroots level helps raise awareness and support for better waste policies. Experts say that giving consumers a stake in recycling (for example, small cash refunds for returns) dramatically increases participation.

Conclusion: Turning the Tide on Trash

Texas has an opportunity — some might say an obligation — to become a leader in America’s sustainable future. By embracing smarter waste management, the state can stop being a trash importer and start being a recycling powerhouse. Policy changes like a deposit-refund system (working hand-in-hand with local initiatives) would reduce litter on Texas roads, conserve resources and keep money in the local economy. Even small steps make a difference: each additional bottle recycled is one less boat of plastic from polluting our waterways, and one more dollar for a job in Texas.

The data are clear: nearly 18 billion containers end up as waste in Texas every year. But solutions exist. By following the example of other states and countries, and by uniting citizens, retailers and government, Texas can reclaim those materials. In doing so, we’d not only “end America’s trash imports,” but also spark a homegrown circular economy with environmental and economic gains. The Lone Star State’s size and innovative spirit mean Texans can lead this change: turning discarded bottles into a shining example of sustainability for the nation.

Key Takeaways:

• Waste Imports: U.S. firms are paying to import recyclables (trash) because domestic recycling supply is insufficient.

• Texas Waste Facts: In 2021 Texas sold 23.7 billion beverage containers but recycled only 5.2 billion. Texas landfills took in ~40.1 million tons of waste in 2023 (~7.2 lbs per person per day).

• Deposit-Refund Success: States with bottle bills recycle far more containers (often >45%) than states without. Texas bills (SB728, HB2048) aim to introduce this incentive here.

• Economic Impact: Recycling is big business in Texas ($4.8B–$5B industry, 17,000–23,000 jobs). Capturing wasted materials locally keeps money and jobs at home.

• What You Can Do: Sort and reduce your waste, support local recycling programs, and advocate for policies that reward recycling. Residents can contact officials, organize drives, and spread the word that every bottle saved at home reduces Texas’s “trash imports.”.

Each Texan’s action adds up. With community effort and thoughtful policy, Texas can help turn off the tap of America’s trash imports and build a cleaner, greener future at home.