Recycling on rise in the Silver State

The State of Nevada surpassed its 2012 recycling goal for counties with 45,000 residents or more, including Carson City.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection stated Wednesday that the recycling rate was 28.8 percent, 3.3 percent above its 2012 goal. Douglas County led the way, recycling at a 54.5 percent clip. Washoe County was at 33.6 percent, Clark at 27.5 percent, Carson at 24.9 percent and Elko at 5.1 percent.

In tons, the amount recycled was more than 1 million, led by 526,972 tons of metals.

From a national perspective, the Silver State still has a long way to go. According to goodguide.com, Nevada recycles at 6.34 percent statewide, far below California’s rate. The Golden State led the way nationally at 68 percent.

In 1991, Assembly Bill 320 set a goal that at least 25 percent of municipal solid waste would be recycled in counties that have a population of more than 45,000.

Nevada met the goal for the second year in a row.

To help reach the goal in the future, Environmental Protection launched a recycling map at its website, nevadarecycles.gov.

“So many people want to recycle, but don’t know where to bring particular recyclables,” said Nicole Goehring, Northern Nevada Recycling coordinator, in a news release. “Whether it is a Christmas tree or computer, appliance or antifreeze, the map specifies where to take it for recycling.”

The recycling rates are calculated using tonnage of recycled material from municipalities where recycling programs are required. Commodities are broken down into metals, paper, organics, glass, plastic, special waste, textiles and other.