Recycling Rate in Washington State Holds Steady

The State of Washington’s Department of Ecology has reported that the recycling rate in the state remained at 45 percent for 2009.

According to statistics from the Department of Ecology, the municipal waste generated by residents dropped by more than 700,000 tons in 2009 from the previous year. The state attributes the drop in generation to the lingering recession.

The state reports that the overall waste diverted from disposal increased by a record 55 percent in 2009. The increase is due to an increase in the amount of construction and demolition material that is diverted from disposal sites for recycling. The Department of Ecology notes that asphalt and concrete accounted for 72 percent of the increase in diversion from landfilling.

Additionally, the data shows that recycling rates increased for organic materials such as food scraps, electronics and nonferrous metals. Materials disposed from the construction, demolition and organics sectors declined in 2009 by more than 1 million tons.

“We’re pleased to see success around those materials being recycled that are specifically targeted by our statewide solid and hazardous waste plan, Beyond Waste,” says Laurie Davies, Ecology’s Waste 2 Resources Program manager. “Our program has increasingly focused on keeping these materials out of landfills.”

While the tons collected in the recycling system remained steady, a report by Ecology in June 2010 indicates that between 5 and 20 percent of some materials may not be recycled into new products.

“This economic recession continues to be difficult for our state, and especially those struggling to make ends meet,” Davies says. “However, it has put a new emphasis on thrift, re-use and waste reduction. With continued education and innovative solutions, we hope to capitalize on this momentum, even as the economy improves.”