Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 9, 1999

99-260

Contact: Kip Eagles, recycling survey coordinator, (360) 407-6097
Caitlin Cormier, public information officer, (360) 407-6149

Market stabilization helps raise Washington's recycling rates

OLYMPIA - Washington businesses and residents slightly improved their recycling habits in 1998, although the recycling rate is still lower than the peak achieved in 1995.

According to data collected by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology), the statewide recycling rate for 1998 was 34.1 percent, up from 32.4 percent the year before.

In 1989, the Waste Not Washington Act established a 50 percent recycling goal for the state of Washington. The highest achievement so far was 39.3 percent in 1995.

Because both the level of recycling and the resale market drive the number, the market can greatly affect the rate each year. The rate in 1995 was due to unusually high commodity prices.

"Citizen recycling is getting better, but there is vast room for improvement," said Kip Eagles, Ecology’s recycling-survey coordinator.

He noted that access to recycling facilities and good education about how and what to recycle are vital to successful recycling efforts.

"Olympia and Tacoma have educated their citizens about recycling and have made it easy to do. The recycling rates in both cities, as well as amount recycled, continue to climb," said Eagles.

Education seems to be the common link among successful programs, said Eagles.

Rural counties tend to rely on drop-off boxes where residents can leave their recyclables. Washington counties have some of the best drop-off programs in the country. Urban counties, such as King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane, have well-developed curbside programs that offer greater convenience.

"Either approach can work well with adequate support and education," he added.

The Department of Ecology aids local governments’ recycling efforts by collecting data, providing technical assistance, and distributing grant money for waste management planning, program implementation, and outreach activities.

The department convened a Recycling Assessment Panel in September 1999 to identify successful recycling programs to use as examples for others; to examine how to increase markets for recycled materials; to identify ways to increase the awareness of and encourage recycling across the state; and to look for ways to expand the types of materials being recycled, including organics, agricultural waste and construction materials.

The panel will issue recommendations to the state legislature in February 2000.

"The Recycling Panel will help us determine the best way to educate the public and businesses about re-using and reducing waste and buying more recycled products at home and in the workplace," Eagles said.

He added that there are several ways the public can help raise the recycling rate:

Be aware of what is thrown away and what is recyclable. Most recycling programs will accept paper products, glass and metal cans. Some programs accept plastic.
Buy products that are easy to recycle and are made from recycled materials.
Pay attention to food purchasing and buy only what will be consumed.
Consider composting yard and garden wastes at home or participating in a yard-waste collection program where the material is collected for composting.