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Department of Ecology News Release - October 7, 2002
02-189
OLYMPIA - In 2001, the statewide recycling rate rose to 37 percent, up from 35 percent the year before, according to data collected by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Much of the rise is due to increased recycling of organic materials, such as wood and food waste. By contrast, the amount of newspaper, metals, plastic and glass being recycled went down.
"It's hard to be cheery about such mixed results," said Cullen Stephenson, who manages Ecology's solid-waste program.
"We are very pleased about the improvement in recycling organic wastes, because that has been particularly challenging to solve," he said. "But no one can feel good about the drop in metals and glass and other materials where we've had pretty good collection systems in place for quite awhile."
State law sets a recycling goal of 50 percent. The highest annual rate achieved so far was 40 percent in 1995. By contrast, the national average is 30 percent.
Stephenson said that generating less waste, along with recycling the wastes that are produced, saves energy, money and natural resources.
For example, it takes about 80 percent less energy to produce an aluminum can from recycled cans compared to virgin materials.
What can citizens do?
Contacts: Gretchen Newman, recycling survey coordinator, 360-407-6097
Caitlin Cormier, public information manager, 360-407-6149, or pager,
360-971-5536
For more information about recycling: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
