Beyond Waste Home > Progress Report > Eliminating Wastes and Toxics

Eliminating wastes and toxics, and using wastes as resources

A fundamental principle of the Beyond Waste vision is that the production of waste is eliminated. Waste will either not be generated, or will be recycled into new products. With a few exceptions, the waste generation and recycling indicators are going in the direction of making the Beyond Waste vision a reality.

Click on the charts below for details on each indicator:

 

      

           

       

              

Overall, recycling of most commodities in Washington State is increasing. Recycling is important to reaching the Beyond Waste vision. However, if waste generation rises faster than recycling, we will not have achieved our vision. Solid waste generation has been steadily climbing for years, though has recently leveled off.

Hazardous waste is a small percentage of the overall waste stream but is more toxic than garbage. Overall, it has been decreasing since 2000.