Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reveals Oregonians are recycling less.
BY JACOB PALMER | DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reveals Oregonians are recycling less.
The amount hit the lowest point in a decade, according to the annual Material Recovery and Waste Generation Report.
Here are the stats:
- Oregonians recovered 2,305,661 tons, or 47.32 percent, of “municipal post-consumer waste generated” in 2014. That’s a drop from 2013’s 49.53 percent recovery rate.
- Counting “recovery credits for home composting programs and for reuse programs,” the recovery rate, was 51 percent in 2014, or 1 percent above Oregon’s goal.
- The overall decrease likely stems from a drop in the recovery of such items as wood waste, food waste and animal waste.
- On the other hand, the recovery of electronics, yard debris, asphalt roofing, cardboard, paint and plastics increased. However, the recovery of paper fibers and metals recovery decreased.
(READ MORE: Portland Business Journal)
I expect the champions of “old Portland” will find a familiar villain for this development: those dastardly Californians moving north.
The DEQ posted the report here.
