Recycling Gains Popularity in Arkansas

Recycling is gaining popularity in Arkansas and saving the state money, state Department of Environmental Quality Director Marcus Devine said recently.

Last year, Arkansans recycled almost 1.4 million tons of solid waste, equal to about 34 percent of the waste that businesses and individuals produce.

By recycling nearly a third of the state’s 4 million tons of solid waste, Arkansas saved more than $40 million in landfill disposal costs, according to the State of Recycling in Arkansas report that was released last week.

Devine said the goal is for the state to recycle 40 percent of its waste by 2005.

Devine applauded the combined efforts of citizens and communities as well as businesses for moving forward with recycling.

“Cities like North Little Rock, which recently introduced curbside recycling, are moving Arkansas in the right direction,” he said.

“More and more Arkansas businesses are realizing that recycling and reducing waste benefit the bottom line as well as the environment,” Devine said. “Recycling reduces landfill disposal costs and often earns money from the waste that are sold.”

What is not recycled, Devine said, is put in landfills at a significant cost to communities, businesses and individuals.

The ADEQ awarded almost $3.3 million in grants to 110 community recycling programs in 2002. More than $70 million has been spent since 1994 to start or enhance local recycling programs in all 75 counties.

The program has provided a direct economic benefit of more than $35.6 million, a return of $1.76 for every dollar spent, the report said. - Arkansas News Bureau