Washington States Recycling Rate Tops 50 Percent for the First Time

Washington states recycling rate grew to the highest rate ever in 2011, topping 50 percent, according to a report from the state Ecology department. It's the first time the rate has exceeded the goal set in state law in 1989. And it's the higest amount recycled per person since Ecology begain measuring recycling in 1986. State residents and businesses recycled four percent more than the previous year, more than 186 thousand tons more material. And the amount of waste state residents tossed out also fell by four percent. State residents threw away about three and one-half pounds of waste per person per day in landfills. That is the lowest amount reported in 24 years.