Definition of recycling:
To extract useful materials from garbage or waste.
SRSWS Comments:
The Spokane Regional Solid Waste System compiles the Recycling information for
Spokane County. The data presented in the website represents all of the
recycling in Spokane County. The System collects data from private recyclers
based on survey information developed by Washington Department of Ecology
(Ecology). Ecology uses the same reporting information to develop the Recycling
Rate for Washington State.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"According to Suzanne Tresko, Spokane Regional
Solid Waste System, in 2004, Spokane County residents used their blue, curbside
"bingees" to turn in more than 16,000 tons of recyclables."
WOW! 3%
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
Spokane Regional Solid Waste System
boasts a 44% recycling rate, and offers these figures for recycled material
(first two columns). Spokane Waste of Energy has verified
how much is collected by SRSWS and how much is collected by private
industry and what is really recycled.
Spokane Regional Solid Waste System's
actual recycling total is 82,000 tons (15%), and if you disregard the 49,000
tons of yard waste that is not recycled, but instead is just dumped on the
ground in Oregon, SRSWS's recycling rate is a dismal 6%.
30% of their overall recycling ("diverted
from disposal") total comes from privately collected scrap metals, which
have never been considered part of the waste stream. SRSWS only adds them to
their total because the extra weight
makes their numbers look better. What's their rationale for including these
bogus numbers? Hey - every one else is doing it!
The State of Washington wants
each community to reach a 50% recycling rate. How is Spokane Regional Solid
Waste System trying to achieve this goal? Deceptive bookkeeping.
2004 Recycling Rate for Spokane County
| Material Recycled |
Recycled Tons |
SRSWS curbside |
SRSWS facilities |
Private |
|
Comments |
| GLASS |
5,884 |
3,700 |
430 |
1,700 |
|
|
|
METALS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tin Cans |
846 |
350 |
40 |
450 |
|
|
| White Goods |
5,749 |
0 |
650 |
5,000 |
|
|
| Other Ferrous |
81,558 |
0 |
10,500 |
71,000 |
|
Scrap iron (not part of waste stream) |
| Aluminum |
1,565 |
300 |
20 |
1,200 |
|
|
| Non-ferrous |
14,084 |
0 |
84 |
14,000 |
|
Lead, copper (not part of waste stream) |
|
PAPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Grade
Newsprint *
Cardboard
Other Paper |
5,400
22,019
36,393
5,685 |
-
12,000
3,500
- |
0
600
850
300 |
|
52,000
| |
|
|
| PLASTIC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PETE
HDPE
Other Plastics |
603
671
341 |
350
270
200 |
30
30 |
|
900
| |
|
|
| YARD WASTE |
49,230 |
0 |
49,230 |
0 |
|
Recycled? Dumped in Oregon |
| BATTERIES |
2,526 |
6 |
90 |
2,450 |
|
Car battery trade-ins (not waste stream) |
| TIRES** |
198 |
0 |
0 |
198 |
|
|
| TEXTILES |
4,322 |
0 |
0 |
4,322 |
|
Goodwill? Value
Village? |
| GYPSUM |
4,020 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Doubtful it's recycled
(landfill?) |
| OTHER |
7,395 |
0 |
0 |
7,395 |
|
|
| TOTAL RECYCLED |
248,489 |
18,000 |
64,000 |
165,000 |
|
|
|
Percentages of Total |
100% |
7% |
26% |
66% |
|
|
| DISPOSED TONS |
313,846 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TOTAL GENERATED |
562,335 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RECYCLING RATE |
44% |
3% |
12% |
29% |
|
|
* Newsprint includes phone
books and magazines
** Does not include materials going for fuel
uses.
Information is from
solidwaste.org |
|
