Editorial: Wider plan needed for recycling goal

Friday, March 15, 2002 | 4:57 a.m.

Amedia campaign the state plans to launch on April 22, Earth Day, will not alone achieve the goal set by the 1991 Legislature of recycling 25 percent of garbage. Without programs in place to allow apartment residents and businesses to conveniently participate in recycling, we'll keep falling way short of the goal. The national recycling average is 28 percent. In 1999 Clark County's rate was 8 percent. In 2000 it jumped to 11 percent, largely because steel stripped from auto bodies was added to the count. When the percentage for 2001 is reported next month, we expect another percentage well short of the goal.

Recycling is important because it conserves natural resources and saves landfill space. Nationally, recycling is a significant industry when taking into account not only the collecting and sorting, but the conversion of recyclables into goods. It has gross annual sales of $236 billion, 1.1 million jobs, and a $37 billion payroll, according to the National Recycling Coalition.

If we want to get in on that action, we must appoint regional recycling coordinators, devise ways for businesses to easily participate and place drop-off bins at every apartment complex. These measures would be a good start in reaching the 25 percent goal.