2008 Recycling: A Year in Review

So it takes a while, but all the numbers are in for 2008.  Here are the highlights from Waukesha County data as well as the DNR’s annual report:

• There are currently 70 operating, licensed landfills in WI, which is down from 1,158 in 1980.  These landfills took in 10.8 million tons of solid waste.  1/5 of all waste landfilled in 2007 was from other states.  Trash is down 3.2% in 2007 from 2006.  2008 numbers were not in this part of the report.
• Over 11,000 Wisconsin businesses, schools, and government institutions create hazardous waste each year.
• 1,061 different recycling programs in the state (a.k.a. Responsible Units)
• 411,047 tons of paper and containers were recycled by residential recycling programs in 2007.  When businesses are included, this number rises to over 1 million tons of recyclables.  This is the equivalent of taking 657,480 cars off the road for the year.
• It was a big year for construction & demolition waste.  UW-Whitewater while demolishing old buildings and constructing a new business building recycled over 14,000 tons of materials.  The demolition recycling rate was at 98%!  Also, the Marquette Interchange project reused fly ash and some other industrial waste material to reduce costs and the environmental impact of road construction projects.  There is also a growing mechanism to support asphalt shingle recycling.

Closer to Home

• Waukesha County processed 22,662 tons of residential recyclables.  That saved enough energy to power 2,281 homes for 2008.
• Recycling earns your municipality money!  In 2008, recycling dividends totaled $879,246.  
• Over 2,000 people visited the Materials Recycling Facility.  Schedule your tour today by calling 262.896.8300 if you are a community group, school group, or scout troop in Waukesha County.
• If you can’t make it to our facility, let us come to you!  In 2008 our staff completed 63 presentations. 
• Collected a total of 200,270 pounds of hazardous waste, a 1% increase compared to last year.

What is on our agenda for this year?

• We would love to inform your organization about recycling, green gardening practices with less pesticide use, green cleaning presentations, composting, and more.
• We are planning several Boy Scout Merit Badge Workshops.
  • Gardening 
  • Environmental Science
• We will have a new traveling trunk to supplement the LEAF curriculum.  If you are a teacher, visit our teacher page at www.waukeshacounty.gov/EnvironmentalEd to stay up to date with all of our new curriculum assistance and to download lessons that are already currently available. 
• And tons more! Make sure to stay tuned!

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