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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Recycling In: Garbage Out
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/25/2006 12:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Recycling In: Garbage Out
Actions and Survey Show Strong Support for Recycling
SEATTLE- A recent poll shows that 90 percent of Seattle residents recycle
and believe recycling is important.
“Seattle is ‘green’ and our recycling rates show it,” said
Mayor Greg Nickels. “Thanks to the citizens of Seattle we are recycling
more and throwing away less. This is a key step in becoming a truly sustainable
city.”
The city commissioned a Survey USA telephone poll of 500 Seattle residents
during the first week Seattle’s new recycling law was enforced. It found
that 82 percent of those polled were aware of the recycling requirements and,
once aware of them, 82 percent supported them.
Recycling rates are also showing the same results. In the first three weeks
of enforcement, more than 90 percent of inspected apartments and businesses
are recycling correctly. Garbage haulers and City of Seattle inspectors left
warning tags on only 258 commercial and residential garbage containers during
the first three weeks of enforcement, which began Jan. 1. Out of 450,000 household
garbage cans collected in the first three weeks of January, 203 were left behind
for having more than 10 percent recyclables in them.
“There’s still more that can be done,” said Tim Croll, solid
waste director for Seattle Public Utilities. “10 percent of apartments
and businesses have weak to non-existent recycling programs, and more than
20 percent of Seattle’s garbage is made of recyclable paper.”
Of the 575 commercial and apartment dumpsters inspected, 55 were given a first
warning notice. Under the ordinance rules, apartments or businesses will receive
$50 fines for violations after the second notice.
Enforcement of the ordinance followed a two-year education campaign. In 2005,
more than 3,000 businesses and 400 apartment buildings signed up for city recycling
services. City staff distributed more than 500,000 recycling guidelines to
businesses and residents last year.
Seattle spends $19 million each year to send more than 900 million pounds
of garbage to an Arlington, Oregon landfill. In 2005, the city’s residential
recycling program saved $4.4 million (comparing landfill costs to recycling
processing costs) by collecting and selling more than 160 million pounds of
recyclables to markets throughout the nation and the Pacific Rim. The recycled
metal, paper and plastic is made into variety of new products, including newspaper,
fleece clothing, carpet, and building materials.
Seattle’s recycling rate sank from 45 percent in 1995 to a low of 38
percent in 2003. Passage of the recycling ordinance in November 2003 by the
Seattle City Council was part of Mayor Greg Nickels’ 60 percent Recycling
Plan, which included several new city recycling programs to help the city reach
its goal of recycling 60 percent of all its waste by 2010. Officials expect
the increased recycling will save the city as much as $2 million a year and
keep future garbage bills low.
In 2005, Seattle residents recycled 5.8 million more pounds than in 2004.
The city’s 2005 overall garbage disposal tonnage was the lowest in 10
years, despite population growth.
The city offers free recycling resources to businesses, apartments and households.
Call
(206) RECYCLE or visit www.seattle.gov/util to learn more.
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s
inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic
opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter
at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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Office of the Mayor
Seattle Public Utilities
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