Seattle Reports Increase in Recycling

According to the city of Seattle, its recycling ordinance, which prohibits recyclables from being disposed of as trash, is helping to increase diversion.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, approximately 95 percent of the apartments and businesses the city inspected were recycling correctly, the city reports. Of the approximately 3.9 million household garbage cans collected, only 892 were left behind for containing more than 10 percent recyclables.

Out of 5,252 apartment and condominium inspections, 297 received first-time warning notices for having too many recyclables in their garbage, and 29 received second notices. Only 19 out of 898 inspected businesses have received a warning notice, and none have received a second notice.

The city charges businesses, apartments and condominium a $50 fine upon the third infraction.

“Thanks to the citizens of Seattle, we are recycling more and throwing away less,” Mayor Greg Nickels says. “This is a key step in becoming a truly sustainable city.”

The recycling ordinance, which the Seattle City Council passed in November of 2003, was part of Mayor Greg Nickels’ 60 percent Recycling Plan, which includes several new city recycling programs to help the city reach its goal of recycling 60 percent of all its waste by 2010.

The city of Seattle was recently honored by the Solid Waste Association of North America with two Excellence Awards for public education and communications. In April, the American Forest & Paper Association named the city its 2006 “Community Recycler of the Year.”