DEQ News Release

 

News Release

Contact Information: Katherine Benenati / 501.682.0821 / benenati@adeq.state.ar.us

FOR RELEASE: Nov. 12, 2015

STATE RECYCLING REPORT FOR 2015 ISSUED

The State of Arkansas recycled nearly half of all waste generated within its borders last year, according to the latest State of Recycling report from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The agency this month reported to Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Legislative Council that Arkansans recycled 45.5 percent, or more than 2.8 million tons, of waste generated.

Even when faced with what industry professionals have dubbed “the evolving ton,” recycling programs in Arkansas increased recycling by 17 percent in 2015 compared to the same time frame in 2014. (“Evolving ton” is a term referring to differences in the waste stream caused by changing technology and lifestyles resulting in less paper, more plastic and lighter-weight multi-functional items.)

Metals showed the largest increase among categories of recyclables, with a 52 percent overall increase, and with 56 percent more ferrous metals collected. Electronics recycling increased by 49 percent and plastics showed a 46 percent overall rise.

The overall total of materials recycled was up 36 percent from the 2014 total – an additional 756,751.89 tons. The figure for materials landfilled increased by four percent, or 134,943.94 tons but the total waste stream showed a 17 percent rise, or 891,695.56 tons.

Surviving and thriving as a recycler in an ever-changing environment requires help from citizens. Reducing contamination is the first key to a successful program; the less a community program must pay to dispose of materials improperly placed in recycling containers, the more successful the program can be. Citizens can help by educating themselves on what and how to recycle in their communities; purchasing items packaged in materials that can be recycled or composted locally; and working with elected and solid waste officials to improve their program’s sustainability.

The State of Recycling report has been produced annually since 1999, providing details about grants awarded through the Arkansas Recycling and Solid Waste Management Grants Program (also called the Recycling Grants Program). The complete report provides information about the projects funded and expenditures made through both the Recycling Grants and the Arkansas Computer and Electronic Waste Grants programs.

In the 21 years of the Recycling Grant Program, almost $66 million has been awarded to 270 recipients for 2,303 recycling projects. The Arkansas Computer and Electronic Waste Recycling Grants Program has awarded more than $9.5 million to 45 recipients for 358 e-waste recycling projects in its three years of implementation.

Commercial recycling figures in the report are based on the 2014 calendar year; community recycling efforts are measured for the state’s fiscal year of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The report will be available on the ADEQ website, www.adeq.state.ar.us.

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