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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 1996
96-141
CONTACT:
Kip Eagles (360) 407-6097
Jerry Gilliland (360) 407-6149
State Recycling Rate Hits 39.2%
Olympia, WA -- Washington residents recycled a record 39.2 percent of solid wastes in 1995, a one percent increase over the year before and a record amount despite poor markets for recycled materials.
"All of our citizens can be proud of our state's record in this important environmental protection effort," said Washington Department of Ecology Director Mary Riveland. "Once again our state's residents are most likely the top recyclers in the nation."
The number comes from an annual survey done by the Ecology department. Those surveyed include local governments, haulers, recyclers, brokers and other handlers of recyclable materials.
The new rate compares to a 38 percent recycling rate in 1994 and a rate of 23 percent in 1987. In many major categories, residents recycle close to or more than 50 percent. These include: ferrous metals -scrap iron and steel, 74 percent (691,843 tons); newspapers, 65 percent (286,984 tons); corrugated paper - cardboard, 62 percent (480,198 tons); yard waste, 49 percent (295,915 tons); aluminum cans, 47 percent (21,213 tons); high grade paper, 46 percent (50,416 tons); mixed waste paper, 46 percent (278,371 tons); and nonferrous metals, 43 percent (31,559 tons).
Washington cities and counties now offer citizens a variety of ways to recycle, including drop boxes and curbside collection of a variety of recyclable materials. More than 100 cities and counties offer curbside collection, including a growing number offering curbside collection of yard waste.
Riveland said Washington State and Minnesota generally compete for top state recycler. Figures for Minnesota in 1995 are not available. The City of Seattle is considered the top recycling city for its size at 43 percent (not counting ferrous metals recycling which would boost its rate to 56 percent) and Tacoma-Pierce County have a recycling rate of 52 percent.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
