King County, Washington, touts transfer station recycling success

King County, Washington, touts transfer station recycling success
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The Solid Waste Division of the Seattle-based King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks says it saw a 41 percent increase in recycling volumes at its transfer facilities and drop boxes in 2016 compared to 2015. The division says the increase “is the result of an expansion in the types of recyclable materials accepted; additional employees available to answer customer questions about recycling; and a jump in the number of customers who brought their sorted recyclable and compostable materials to these facilities.”

The division handled 25,560 tons of separated recyclable and compostable materials in 2016, exceeding its goal of 24,000 tons. “Employees and customers working together have made great progress toward our ultimate goal of zero waste of resources,” says Pat McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.

“The gains we made in 2016 kept valuable resources out of the landfill and put them back into the economy. By doing this, we cut greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing 7,000 vehicles from our roadways,” adds McLaughlin.

Yard waste – including branches, grass clippings, leaves, weeds and holiday trees – accounted for half of the total tons diverted from the landfill at King County facilities in 2016.

Scrap metal comprised 14 percent of the diverted tonnage, followed by clean wood (lumber, pallets and crates) at 12 percent of the total. Cardboard made up 10 percent, and an additional 12 percent of diverted recyclable materials included paper, glass bottles and jars, metal cans and plastic containers that can be commingled in designated recycling bins at division facilities.

Types of recyclable and compostable materials accepted differ by facility, and many materials can be recycled at no charge. While fees are charged for large appliances, clean wood, and yard waste, those fees are lower than the garbage fee.

The Solid Waste Division estimates 70 percent of the materials still going into landfills used by the county “could have been reused, recycled or composted,” and it urges King County residents and businesses are “to sort recyclable and compostable materials and to use the recycling services provided at King County facilities.”

More information on the program and its facilities can be found on this web page.

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Source: Recycling Today
King County, Washington, touts transfer station recycling success
<![CDATA[The Solid Waste Division of the Seattle-based King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks says it saw a 41 percent increase in recycling volumes at its transfer facilities and drop boxes in 2016 compared to 2015. The division says the increase “is the result of an expansion in the types of recyclable materials accepted; additional employees available to answer customer questions about recycling; and a jump in the number of customers who brought their sorted recyclable and compostable materials to these facilities.”   The division handled 25,560 tons of separated recyclable and compostable materials in 2016, exceeding its goal of 24,000 tons. “Employees and customers working together have made great progress toward our ultimate goal of zero waste of resources,” says Pat McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.   “The gains we made in 2016 kept valuable resources out of the landfill and put them back into the economy. By doing this, we cut greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing 7,000 vehicles from our roadways,” adds McLaughlin.   Yard waste – including branches, grass clippings, leaves, weeds and holiday trees – accounted for half of the total tons diverted from the landfill at King County facilities in…