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State Recycling Rate Hits 39.2 Percent
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. The latest figures for 1995 show a slight rise from the 1994 figures of 38 percent. The number comes from an annual survey done by the Department of Ecology. Those surveyed include local governments, haulers, recyclers, brokers and other handlers of recyclable materials. 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 and yard waste. Tacoma and Pierce County continue to lead the way with the recycling rate of 52 percent. Seattle is considered the top recycling city for its size at 43 percent.
CONTACT: Kip Eagles, (360) 407-6097 or Jerry Gilliland, (360) 407-6149
Mason County Gets Loan Of $300,000 From Ecology To Improve Sewage System
Ecology awarded a State Revolving Fund low-interest loan of $300,000 to Mason County's Water Quality Improvement Fund Project. The project will provide accessible financing to local land owners to repair failing sewage systems and implement agricultural best management practices which will benefit water quality. Best management practices is a method for preventing the amount of pollution generated in the first place.
CONTACT: Cam Meriwether, (360) 407-6554 or Mary Getchell, (360) 407-6157.
Ecology Gives Loan To Prepare A Wellhead Protection Plan In Pend Oreille County
Diamond Lake Water and Sewer District located in Pend Oreille County receives a loan of $36,750 from the Department of Ecology to prepare a wellhead protection plan. A wellhead protection plan is an instrument designed to protect the quality of a drinking water supply by defining the source of the water, identifying potential contaminants and providing for actions to prevent pollution. The plan must meet the Department of Health wellhead guidelines.
Elements of the plan will include:
CONTACT: Nancy Weller, (509) 625-5194 or Mary Getchell, (360) 407-6157.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
