10/17/2006: "State Wide, Recycling & Garbage Are Increasing"

Recycling in the state rose to 44 percent in 2005, up from 42 percent the year before; and while we are recycling more than ever, we're told by the State that we are also generating more waste than ever before.

According to new numbers compiled by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology). Almost 4-million tons of material has been recycled, and that is close to achieving a statewide recycling goal of 50 percent.

According to a recent press release, Washington sent 1.8-million dump trucks of un-recycled waste to landfills last year. What explains the increasing numbers? From 2004 to 2005, Washington's population grew an estimated 1.4 percent, according to population forecasters with the Office of Financial Management. However, the amount of garbage produced by each person in the state increased by 5.3 percent in 2005.

"These numbers tell us we're still doing a good job of putting stuff in recycle bins and buying recycled products," said Cullen Stephenson, who manages Ecology's solid-waste program. "But we still have some work to do to prevent waste from being created in the first place. That will take a shift in the way we think about products - how they are manufactured and packaged."

While gains in recycling were made across the board, the greatest increases were in metals and paper. Ecology officials say this is due to good recycling practices and better resale markets for the materials.

State law requires recycling rates for certain types of wastes be tracked, including most glass, plastic, paper and metals, and some recycling of yard debris, tires and used oil.

Other types of re-use and recycling also help to ease pressure on landfill space. They include land-clearing debris, concrete, carpet, furniture, construction and demolition debris, mattresses, batteries, paint and clothing. Coupled with the officially counted recycled items, the statewide rate of materials diverted from landfills stayed at 48 percent, the same as in 2004.

The total volume of un-recycled waste generated in the state increased from a total of 4.9-million tons in 2004 to nearly 5.1-million tons in 2005. (Washington residents produced an average of 7.9 pounds of waste per person each day in 2005, compared to 7.5 pounds a day in 2004.)

Much of that waste could have been reused or recycled, Stephenson noted.

"Generating more waste is not a new trend, but our agency is putting more thought into how we can bring those numbers down," Stephenson said.

"Some practical things people can do are buying durable products that will last and that use less packaging, composting yard and food waste, and finding opportunities to reuse materials whenever possible."

Food waste, which can be composted, makes up more than 15 percent of household garbage, and paper makes up more than 20 percent of household garbage.

Stephenson said Washington residents can also make a difference by being mindful of waste they produce away from home - when making fast-food purchases, stopping at the coffee shop or buying products at the market.

Workplaces can cut paper waste by relying more on electronic documentation and using recycled paper in copy machines and printers.

In addition to composting food scraps, other ways to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills include avoiding products with unnecessary packaging and recycling or donating the purchased item when finished using it.

A 1989 Washington state law established a statewide recycling goal of 50 percent. By contrast, the latest reported national average is 29 percent.