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News Release 559
MISSOURIANS KEEP 44 PERCENT OF TRASH
OUT OF LANDFILLS IN 2006
Volume 35-559 |
Contact: Renee Bungart |
(For immediate release) |
573-751-4465 |
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 30, 2007 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has determined Missourians kept an estimated 44 percent of its trash out of landfills during 2006.
This percentage is down from the 46 percent diverted in 2005. Some of the drop may be attributed to the increase of storm debris placed in landfills after Missouri experienced severe storms during 2006. In addition, the estimated amount of trash generated statewide has increased from 12.1 million tons a year ago to 12.5 million tons in 2006.
The Department of Natural Resources estimates 1.2 tons of waste was landfilled per person in the state when distributed across Missouri's population. This is up slightly from 1.13 tons per person in 2005. Since 2001, however, Missouri continues to exceed the state's 40 percent waste diversion goal established in 1990 by Senate Bill 530.
"In the past 16 years, the department and Missouri's 20 solid waste management districts have helped to create and sustain recycling services across the state," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. "Comprehensive waste prevention, public education efforts, material recovery facilities and composting operations all play a part in improving the way Missourians manage their solid waste."
If you would like to reduce the amount of waste you generate, here are a few steps to follow:
- Avoid purchasing over-packaged products.
- Buy concentrated products.
- Reuse cardboard boxes, plastic bags and paper sacks.
- Invest in durable, quality products rather than disposable ones.
- Remove your name from the mailing lists of materials you no longer wish to receive.
- Avoid on-line purchases that can be purchased locally.
- Buy reusable containers while avoiding containers that can only be thrown away.
- Use sealable storage containers rather than plastic wrap.
The department has several fact sheets and brochures on the Web that can provide additional ways to reduce waste. For additional ways to reduce waste in your business or home, visit the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/swmp/publist.htm or contact Dennis Hansen at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.
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