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Economic, environmental, and social vitality

Within the Beyond Waste vision is the premise that waste reduction will result in economic, environmental, and social vitality. Four indicators related to economic vitality were examined.

Click on the charts below for details on each indicator:

 

      

           

   

The overall picture from these indicators is mostly good.

Ideally, the state would be generating less waste per dollar value of products produced. This is not yet the case with solid waste.  The good news is that less hazardous waste is produced per dollar spent on manufacturing products, and solid waste produced per dollar spent shows a recent decline.

More good news is that recyclables are worth a lot of money. The bad news is we continue to throw away valuable recyclables, about $320 million worth in 2008. These could be recycled, contributing to our state economy, creating jobs, saving natural resources, and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions from using virgin materials.

Green building continues to grow, even in the recession.  It remains a boon for our economy and for the environment.