Dive Brief:

• The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) released findings that show the statewide recycling rate fell to 49% in 2013.
• The numbers illustrate a drop when compared with data from 2012, when the rate was recorded at 50.1%.
• The agency highlighted the fact that Washington is still significantly above the national average when it comes to its recycling rate. The average rate across the country was listed at  34.5 % in 2012.

Dive Insight:

The DOE said the lower rate was due to a 105,000 ton reduction in the volume of materials recycled by state residents in 2013. Recycling dropped across categories including cardboard, wood waste, and appliances. The total amount of disposed materials increased by 88,000 tons, and the state’s diversion rate fell from 52.4% in 2012 to 51.2% in 2013.

According to the data, Washington state residents recycled an average of 3.4 pounds per person every day in 2013.