OLYMPIA (AP) -- People and businesses in Washington state recycled less in 2013 than the year before.

The Washington Department of Ecology says the state's recycling rate fell to 49 percent last year, down from just above 50 percent in 2012.

Data reported Monday shows the state still remains well above the national average, which was about 35 percent in 2012.

The state's overall recycling rate was driven by a drop in the amount of material that state residents recycled in 2013.

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