Dive Brief:
- New York City is looking to double its recycling rate by 2017, according to the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio. By that time, it expects to increase the recycling rate from 15% to 30%.
- Around 11,200 tons of waste are collected every day. Businesses dispose of 29,000 additional tons per day. The city spends $330 million disposing of the materials in other states.
Dive Insight:
Former Mayor Bloomberg's departure from office represents an unknown quantity for the city's recycling programs, but new Mayor Bill de Blasio appears to be making it a priority.
An expert from the National Resources Defense Council, Eric Goldstein, said "We are in an early stage of transformation. We had a slow start, we are still not one of the leading cities, as Seattle or San Francisco. But we are catching up quickly by good steps forward."
Seattle introduced its recycling goals last year and is considering adopting an ordinance that would expand the commercial recycling requirements. But the state could stand to increase its rate, as a report released showed that Washington's recycling rate dropped in 2012, although it did pass the state-mandated goal that was set.
