WASHINGTON: The recently released data by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicates that recycling rates have remained steady in 2011. The annual Solid Waste Management Report is based on information provided by the 67 counties in Florida. According to the report, 23 counties achieved a recycling rate of 39% or more. There were 9 counties which recorded a recycling rate of more than 40%. Overall recycling rate has remained flat at 30%.
52% of the Municipal solid waste is landfilled.DEP sees business to get more involved in order to raise the recycling rates to touch the target of 75% in the next 7 years. As per the report, the material recycling rates of Ferrous Metals, White Goods, Non-ferrous metal and corrugated cardboard stood high at 72%,59%,56% and 52% respectively. Food Wastes, Textiles and Other Plastics registered the lowest recycling rates with 3%,5% and 5% respectively.
The total municipal solid waste (MSW) collected in 9 counties exceeded 1 million tons. The counties which recorded a collection in excess of 1 million tons are Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas, Duval, Lee and Brevard. In 2008, the Florida Legislature enacted House Bill 7135 which created Section 403.7032, Florida Statutes. This established a new statewide recycling goal of 75% to be achieved by the year 2020. Also, the statute directed DEP to develop a program designed to achieve this goal and submit it to the Legislature for approval. DEP submitted its75% Recycling Goal Report in January 2010.
Source: http://www.scrapmonster.com/news/florida-maintains-30-recycling-rate-in-2011-says-dep-report/1/8515
