Bad economy eases landfill load

If there is any sort of silver lining to be found within this disastrous economy, it may look something like this: Less money = less consumption = less waste. The Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho, reported that the city’s recycling program received less trash for recycling than previous years. Rather than blame lazy recycling habits, the city says it means less waste is being produced. There were 715,000 pounds of recyclable trash diverted from the landfill in 2008, compared to 761,500 pounds in 2007. However, the percentage of diverted trash stayed at the 2 percent it’s been since the program’s inception in 2005, leading the city to believe the reduced recyclables were due to consumers buying—and tossing away—fewer items.

The story also championed Carson City’s recycling rate of 40 percent in 2007.