The waste industry is driven by a handful of companies. The monopolization of the industry has created economic costs with local communities as well as the environment.

Local and state governments have the ability to create a sustainable waste system that is not tied to mega corporations, encourages competition and empowers local recycling and composting capacity by promoting public landfills; encouraging locally owned and mission-driven companies; promoting competition; mandating organic waste diversion; adopting composting; developing grant programs; instituting bottle bills; creating a comprehensive municipal solid waste strategy; and providing community education.

For example, in San Jose, CA, the state broke up a landfill monopoly and used the savings generated by increased competition to restructure its solid waste system to emphasize recycling.

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