New Seattle initiatives boost recycling in city

In 2003, Seattle’s recycling rate dipped below 40 percent. In 2004, the city introduced new recycling services, including commercial food waste collection, free curbside recycling for businesses and more frequent collection of yard waste. Simultaneously, it passed an ordinance prohibiting paper, cardboard and yard waste in commercial trash, and paper, cardboard and beverage containers in residential garbage. This year, the City is reaping benefits from these initiatives. Seattle residents have recycled 5.8 million more pounds of material during the first two quarters of 2005 than during the same period in 2004. In addition, commercial waste going to landfills has decreased by five percent, or about 16 million pounds, during that time, largely thanks to the free curbside recycling program (about 3,000 companies have signed up). The city’s goal is to reach a 60 percent diversion rate by 2010.

To learn more about Seattle's efforts, visit www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/Services/Recycling/index.asp.

[Source: Recycling Council of British Columbia in March 2006 WasteWatch]

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