California Residents Keep Record Amount of Garbage Out of Landfills.SAN RAFAEL San Rafael (săn rəfĕl`), residential city (1990 pop. 48,404), seat of Marin co., W Calif., a suburb of San Francisco on the northern shore of San Francisco Bay; inc. 1913. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1998--The California Integrated Waste Management Board -- the State's primary recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. agency -- announced today that since 1990, residents have kept a record 100 million tons of waste out of landfills, equivalent to the amount of garbage garbage: see solid waste. thrown out every three years and enough to fill a line of garbage trucks that would circle the globe more than three times. "This is truly an historic accomplishment," said Waste Board Chairman Daniel G. Pennington. "We couldn't have diverted di·vert v. di·vert·ed, di·vert·ing, di·verts v.tr. 1. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident. 2. so much trash from our landfills if millions of Californians didn't faithfully recycle re·cy·cle tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles 1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment. 2. To start a different cycle in. 3. a. their newspapers, beverage containers, plastic jugs and other commodities. And with more and more people learning about composting
v. di·vert·ed, di·vert·ing, di·verts v.tr. 1. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident. 2. another 100 million tons." In 1989 Assembly Bill 939 was signed into law, mandating that cities and counties develop plans to reducethe amount of waste sent to landfills by 25 percent in 1995 and by 50 percent by the year 2000. Nearly 50 communities have already achieved that 50 percent mark. Today, statewide a record 32 percent of California's waste is being diverted from landfills, exceeding the national average of 30 percent. This success is the result of a collaborative effort of cities and counties to implement programs that have made it easier for the State's residents to recycle and reduce the amount of waste they have to put out at the curb. The business sector, which generates more than 50 percent of the state's waste, have played a critical role in the State's recycling success. One example is the Imation Corporation in Ventura County. Since 1991, the company has saved nearly $500,000 in disposal costs by finding new uses for 4,000 pounds of aluminum cans, plastics, paper, cardboard, metals, and other materials. In addition they donated do·nate v. do·nat·ed, do·nat·ing, do·nates v.tr. To present as a gift to a fund or cause; contribute. v.intr. To make a contribution to a fund or cause. more than three tons of old computers and accessories to area schools. And this is just one example of the companies the Waste Board recognizes each year for their ability to achieve cost savings through environmental consciousness. In all, keeping 100 million tons of waste out of landfills - one ton every second since 1990 - has helped California go from a State facing a landfill crisis in 1990 to one with enough space for its garbage for at least 28 years. The Waste Board -- the State's primary recycling agency -- noted that the amount diverted is equivalent to the amount of garbage sent to landfills in three years. Visit the Waste Board on the Internet at www.ciwmb.ca.gov
CONTACT: California Integrated Waste Management Board
John Frith or Eric Lamoureux, 916/255-2296
opa@ciwmb.ca.gov
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