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Department of Ecology News Release - Dec. 1, 2003
03-225
OLYMPIA - In 2002, the "official" recycling rate fell to 35 percent, down from 37 percent the year before, according to data collected by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The reduction was due to a decrease in the amount glass, paper and yard debris being recycled by citizens and industry.
However, Ecology officials say that in other ways Washington residents are doing a better job of recycling. The official recycling rate is based on a required definition set forth in state law, which specifies what types of recycling will be tracked for certain types of waste. It includes most recycling of glass, plastic, paper and metals, and some recycling of tires and used oil.
But there are other types of re-use and recycling occurring that also are easing the pressure on landfills. This includes land-clearing debris, asphalt, concrete, carpet and pads, furniture, construction and demolition debris, mattresses, batteries, ash, oil filters, paint and clothing.
The Ecology Department found that if the diverted materials not used in the recycling definition were included, the statewide rate would be around 45 percent.
"It's disappointing that the rate has fallen for some of our key indicators, but in general we feel encouraged by what we're seeing," said Cullen Stephenson, who manages Ecology's solid-waste program. "Construction and demolition materials represent a significant amount of waste, so it's great to see businesses going to greater efforts to re-use and recycle those resources - even if we can't account for it in the overall recycling rate."
Stephenson said a major portion of wood waste is being burned to create energy, but energy recovery does not fit the state's definition of recycling and, therefore, cannot be counted in the recycling rate either.
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.
During the 16 years that records have been kept, Washington residents have diverted 25 million tons of material from being disposed in landfills -- equal to a football field stacked 11 miles high.
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Media contact: Gretchen Newman, recycling survey coordinator,
360-407-6097
Caitlin Cormier, public information manager,
360-407-6149
Information about recycling:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/nav/sust.html
Options for recycling household materials:
http://1800recycle.wa.gov/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
