Dive Summary:
- A new ordinance proposed in Seattle, Washington would increase the range of materials Seattle businesses must recycle.
- The requirements currently stipulate that paper and cardboard must be recycled but the new law would expand the list to include plastic, glass, aluminum and tin. These items have been mandatory for residential customers to recycle since 2005.
- The bill proposes that trash bins be tagged if they contain large amounts of recyclables, with civil infractions of $50 given to businesses after the third offense starting in 2015.
From the article:
The city will provide free recycling pickup for two 95-gallon containers.
“Commercial businesses are the biggest generators of waste,” said Brett Stav, senior planning and development specialist in SPU’s solid-waste division. “They represent the biggest opportunity for recycling diversion for the city.”
Residential customers...now recycle 71 percent of their total waste, compared with 61 percent for businesses.
