Washington State Department of Ecology

Publication Summary

Title	2009 Washington Statewide Waste Characterization Study
Month-Year Published	June 2010
Online Availability	View this publication in Acrobat PDF format 2431 kilobytes, requires version 4.0 or later of Adobe Acrobat Reader Software get Acrobat Reader
Short Description	The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) commissioned Cascadia Consulting Group (Cascadia) to conduct a four-season municipal solid waste (MSW) characterization study during 2009–10. The purpose of this study was to support Ecology′s Beyond Waste Initiative and conduct an in-depth examination of materials and resources currently disposed throughout the state. This study incorporated three additional analysis tasks, specifically: A packaging versus product analysis which separated each of the 130 materials examined in this study�with an emphasis on paper, plastic, glass, and metal� into either packaging or product classes, when applicable, or one of six other material categories when packaging and product designations do not apply. Detailed composition results for each of the state′s six waste generation areas (WGAs)�Central, East, Northwest, Puget Sound, Southwest, and West. A supplementary analysis which combines the 10 county statewide results with prior waste composition studies carried out in three additional Puget Sound Counties. Ecology can use the data collected in this study to help municipalities as well as public and private solid waste managers design targeted recycling and diversion programs. These programs will move beyond material disposal to resource conservation and ultimately to a healthier Washington State.
Publication Number	10-07-023
Author(s)	Cascadia Consulting Group
Contact	Newman, Gretchen, (360) 407-6097
Print Availability	Not available as a printed document
Number of pages	135
Keywords	Beyond Waste, characterization, Ecology, initiative, Puget Sound, waste

This page last updated August 11, 2011

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