Solid Waste Generated and Recycled

This indicator tracks the amount of solid waste generated and recycled in Washington State each year, by ton and per capita.

Solid waste includes all discards from homes and businesses, as well as waste from manufacturing, construction, and environmental cleanups. Solid wastes are either sent to a landfill, incinerated, or diverted to other uses such as recycling.

Recycling includes, but is not limited to curbside materials such as cans, bottles and newspapers; commercial recyclables such as metal and cardboard; and other recycled materials, such as construction and demolition debris, organic materials such as food and yard waste, and electronics.

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Solid Waste Generated and Recycled Data

The amount of solid waste generated in Washington State increased steadily between 1999 and 2005, leveled off and is currently decreasing. In 2009, residents and businesses in Washington generated 15 million tons of solid waste, down from 16 million tons in 2008. Materials disposed from the construction, demolition, and organics sectors declined in 2009 by more than one million tons, which is the main source of the decrease.

The amount of solid waste recycled in Washington State increased steadily between 1999 and 2006. From 2006 to 2008, there is a decrease of 890 thousand tons of material recycled and then a slight upturn in the amount recycled in 2009. Of the 15.1 million tons of solid waste generated in Washington in 2009, 7.4 million tons were recycled (54.8 percent).

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Solid Waste Generated and Recycled Data

Solid waste generated and recycled per capita (pounds per person per day) are shown above to provide a perspective on the amount of waste we produce per person in Washington. Besides what each person puts in their own personal trash at home and at work, there are other wastes associated with the goods and services we all consume. Those wastes also have an impact on the environment, energy, economy, and greenhouse gases and are tracked and shown as part of each person's impact.

Overall, the amount of solid waste generated and recycled per capita trend lines are very similar to the per ton trend lines. The per capita solid waste generated and recycled increased from 1999 until 2006, taking a slight dip in 2002. Since 2006, it has been decreasing.

The per capita data shows that solid waste generated decreased from a daily average of 13.3 pounds in 2008, to 12.4 pounds in 2009. The population increased from 6,587,600 in 2008 to 6,668,200 in 2009, or one percent, while the total waste generated per person decreased by seven percent.

This indicator has approximately a two-year time lag due to the process of gathering, compiling, and analyzing data and distributing information to stakeholders.

Why should we be concerned about how much solid waste is generated or recycled in Washington?

Solid waste represents wasted resources, energy, and money spent on goods and services that may have provided a benefit in their useful life, but ultimately end up as an environmental and economic cost.

What are the benefits of reducing the amount of solid waste generated?

Conserves valuable resources.
Saves energy.
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful environmental pollutants.
Conserves landfill space.

What are some Beyond Waste actions being taken to decrease solid waste generation or increase recycling in Washington?

Ecology and other organizations are:

Promoting product and packaging design that reduces waste.
Developing new uses and markets for recycled materials, such as paint.
Encouraging green building practices.
Encouraging government purchasing practices that are less wasteful.
Encouraging Product Stewardship.
Providing free electronic product recycling through the E-Cycle Washington Program.
Maintaining the 1-800-RECYCLE database about where to recycle in Washington.

Related Indicators

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Solid Waste Generated per dollar state GDP		Economic Value of Disposed Recyclables

Solid Waste Recycling		Waste Composition


Population With Access to Curbside Recycling

Want more information on solid waste in Washington?

For more information, contact Gretchen Newman, 360-407-6097.

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Case Study:

WSRA Recycler of the Year:
V&G Styro Recycle

“Doing the right thing
just got a little easier”

When V & G Styro Recycle started doing business, they wanted to help local communities by providing an alternative to disposing Styrofoam. They discovered that there are many misconceptions about Styrofoam, like it can't be recycled.

V & G found companies with the technology to recycle Styrofoam and inexpensive ways to divert Styrofoam from our landfills. They began providing low cost pick-up service to companies in south King and north Pierce counties, and created a free drop-off center for the public.

For these efforts, V & G Styro Recycle was awarded the 2011 Recycler of the Year Award from the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA).

WSRA Recycler of the Year Awards