Publication Summary

Each ton of solid waste diverted from disposal, whether reused, recycled or composted, is one less ton of solid waste requiring disposal. The value of reusing, recycling and composting solid waste is clear when you consider the amount of disposal space required to accept that material. By implementing other waste-management strategies (as well as resource-management strategies), we reduce our dependence on incinerators and landfills. And when using recycled materials in place of trees, metal ores and minerals, there is less pressure to expand forestry and mining production. By recycling more than 475,000 tons of scrap steel in 2002, Washington′s recycling efforts reduced the need for virgin materials by twice that amount, including 596,000 tons of iron ore, 334,000 tons of coal and 29,000 tons of limestone.