The King County Solid Waste Division saw a 41 percent increase in recycling volumes at its transfer facilities and drop boxes in 2016 over 2015.
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.
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 recycling and transfer facilities in 2016!
Since 70 percent of the materials still going into our landfill could have been reused, recycled or composted, King County residents and businesses are encouraged to sort recyclable and compostable materials and to use the recycling services provided at King County facilities.
In King County, we’re doing a pretty good job of reducing and recycling our waste, but there’s always more we can do to keep valuable resources out of the landfill.
Here’s a few suggestions of what you can recycle to make a difference:
Clothes
All clothes, shoes and linens—even those with holes, stains, broken zippers or singles that have lost their match—can be donated to our Threadcycle collection partners for reuse or recycling. Up to 95 percent of the clothes, shoes and linens thrown in the garbage could have been reused or recycled. Find out where to drop off ripped, stained and damaged clothes.
Food waste
Did you know that almost 35% of what ends up in the landfill is food scraps and food-soiled paper? It can be composted in your curbside yardwaste cart. Also, sign up for the pledge to Compost More. Waste Less. You receive a free toolkit and keep valuable resources out of the landfill.