California Leads Nation in Recycling at 58% Waste Diversion

Thanks to WIH Resource Group or Waste Savings, Inc for passing this positive news along, we're off to a great start but we have long way to go.

This week, California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) announced the state has reached an unprecedented 58 percent waste diversion rate - diverting 54 million tons of trash for reuse and recycling.

California produces about 93 million tons of solid waste per year, which fills up limited landfill space and emits methane gas. Fifty-four million tons of diverted waste is equivalent to filling more than 100 football fields to a height equal to the Empire State Building.

By finding higher and better uses for daily discarded materials, California claims to have created a mainstream industry that accounts for 85,000 jobs, generates $4 billion in salaries and wages, and produces $10 billion worth of goods and services annually. The environmental impacts of recycling saves enough energy to power 1.4 million California homes, and reduces water pollution by 27,047 tons.

Recycling also saves 14 million trees and helps to reduce air pollution by
165,142 tons. All of these efforts are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equal to taking 3.8 million passenger cars off the highway.

The official 58 percent statewide diversion rate surpasses a legislatively imposed mandate of 50 percent waste diversion and places the state at the forefront of national efforts to reduce and recycle our trash.

The Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 required individual California cities and counties to cut their disposal rates in half, but left the specifics for doing so largely up to each jurisdiction, in light of their individual needs and available resources.

The challenge for Californians near term will be what to do with their recyclables which are now stockpiling due to lack of demand for recycled commodities.

READ PRESS RELEASE HERE

An Extra Day At Go Green Expo

Good News! We have been given an extra day at the Go Green Expo. Our booth will be up and running on January 23rd. Come by and check us out.

Go Green Expo Confirmed

Good News! We are confirmed as an exhibitor at the Go Green Expo on January 24 & 25th at the LA Convention Center. We're very excited about participating in the show. Green services and products are growing and changing every day. We can't wait to see what new things are out there. We hope you;re as excited as we are and join us at the show. For more information about the expo, please go to http://gogreenexpo.com/events/index.php?evid=3.

Calling all California Building Professionals

We just launched our new Deconstruction & ReUse Network website and would love to include you in our network of Deconstruction Specialists.

DO YOU THINK OUTSIDE THE ROLL-OFF?
If you are interested in working with us to create solutions to eliminate demolition in California and sustain our resources, please email me.

Find out more about us here.