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Recommendation: Recycling
Recycling
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A. Area of interest
Managing waste
B. Long term outcome statement
More waste will be recycled.
Recommendation
Opportunities will exist for all Stark County residents to recycle. All communities will increase the opportunities for recycling. Cities will implement curbside recycling and villages will implement curbside or drop-off recycling.
C. Rationale
Between 1960 and 1990 the per capita generation of waste in the United States increased from 2.7 pounds per day to 4.5 pounds per day. Since 1990 the per capita generation has ranged between 4.5 and 4.6 pounds per day. The per capita generation of waste in Stark County is approximately 6 pounds per day. EPA has ranked the most environmentally sound strategies for municipal solid waste management. Source reduction (including reuse) is the most preferred method, followed by recycling and composting, and, lastly, disposal in combustion facilities and landfills. Currently, in the United States, 32.5 percent is recovered and recycled or composted, 12.5 percent is burned at combustion facilities, and the remaining 55 percent is disposed of in landfills.
The amount of solid waste materials the Stark County community disposes of in landfills has steadily continued to increase, with this trend expected to hold true in the foreseeable future. Most recently, Stark County has experienced a promising rise in the amount of materials being collected for recycling. In 2001 Stark County reported nearly 5,300 tons of material being recycled. Since then through 2006, the reported amount of recyclables collected has steadily increased by an average of 4,200 tons annually, with 26,485 tons collected during 2006. These reported figures reflect an overall increase of 500% since 2001. Although the gains in recycling have been significant, the amount of recyclable material being collected annually represents less than 5% of the solid waste collected.
Stark County residents can recycle glass, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, steel cans and #1 and #2 plastics through curbside recycling or at drop off sites. Currently only North Canton and Alliance provide curbside recycling. There are drop off sites throughout the county. |