I am starting a research on recycling in the US, and two of my key questions are:
1. Who owns and manages the landfills?
2. Who 'controls'the valuable garbage (aluminium and plastic)?

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 27 Jul 2006 17:38 PDT

Hi!

Isn't this a more regulatory kind of question than a business one
since you were asking of control? If control is the thing isn't this
the responsibility of government?

What specific requirements do you need for an answer?

Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 28 Jul 2006 03:17 PDT

Hello juanitoc-ga,

Landfills and recycling are two elements of the more encompassing
waste management industry. I started to research your question and I
don?t think it?s answerable without further explanation of what you?re
looking for. I?m including a couple of links to help you with scoping
out the industry. It seems the First Research Industry Profile might
provide the information you?re looking for. Please let me know if this
will be a satisfactory answer.

If you need additional information, please tell me more about the
context and background of your question and provide more detailed
parameters for what you?re looking for.

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~


http://www.firstresearch.com/IndustryProfiles/ShoppingCart.asp 
Profile Name: Waste Management 
Price   $129.00

http://www.firstresearch.com/Industry-Research/Waste-Management.html
Waste Management Industry Profile Excerpt

The private waste management industry in the US includes over 10,000
companies with combined annual revenue of $50 billion. Three national
companies, Waste Management, Allied Waste, and Republic Services
together handle more than half the solid waste generated in the US.
Beyond the top three companies, the industry is highly fragmented. A
moderate-sized company has $10 million in annual revenue.

Major services are waste collection, waste treatment and disposal,
remediation, and recycling. Waste collection accounts for about 55
percent of industry revenue, treatment and disposal for 20 percent,
and remediation for 15 percent. Small companies usually operate in
only one of these segments. Larger companies often have vertically
integrated operations that include all of these components.

==

http://www.recyclingtoday.com/pages/mediakit/coverage.asp
DELIVERING THE RECYCLING MARKET

The recycling industry consists of more than 14,000 facilities that
process material that last year had an estimated value in excess of
$30 billion.** Industry opportunities are significant ? and growing!

I believe the question is too broad to be answerable.  There are
thousands of companies in the US who own landfills and collect trash. 
Recycling is sometimes more of a city government-type thing to do, but
there are many recycling businesses also.

Thanks keystroke-ga for expanding on what I've provided. ;-)

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