Oregonians are throwing away less trash than ever before, according to a new state report.
The report, from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, said the state recovered more than half of the municipal waste generated in 2011, while reducing per-capita waste disposal to the lowest amount recorded in the past 20 years.
The report ranks the Portland area third-best in the state, recovering 59.3 percent of municipal waste in 2011. The region trailed Eugene and Salem last year.
That rate is up from 42 percent in 1996, 54.9 percent in 2007 and 57.9 percent in 2010.
Metro waste reduction supervisor Meg Lynch couldn't be happier with the news, particularly considering the state's economy.
"This shows that in spite of the fact that the economy is still suffering, the region and state is very committed to recycling," Lynch said.
While recycling and reuse may seem a staple of frugality, Lynch said that people are more likely to buy less, rather than reuse more, during an economic downturn.
"Luckily, recycling is one of our state ethics. It's what we do," she said. "This is reflected in the report."
On the Metro level, Lynch said electronics, paint, paper and scrap metal disposal and recovery have become more common in the past year. While Metro had a goal to reach a 64 percent reduction rate by 2009, the economy threw a wrench in the pre-economic downturn plan. Lynch said that regardless, Metro's waste facility is 1.5 percent closer to that goal after 2011.
"It's nothing but good news here," Lynch said.
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