Pennsylvania Reaches 35 Percent Recycling Mark

Date: October 3, 2002

Source: News Room

Pennsylvania now recycles at least 35 percent of its municipal waste, a goal the state had hoped to meet by January 2003. Pennsylvania now has the largest curbside and drop off recycling program in the United States, serving more than 10 million people in 1,500 communities, half of which recycle voluntarily. The state noted that business and industry have recycled or eliminated more than 139 million tons of waste since 1997, and more than 23 million tires have been reclaimed. The state is providing more than $134 million in grants to set up recycling programs and $78.1 million to reward communities for every ton of material they collect. Recycling in the state now employs 81,000 people and contributes $23 billion a year to Pennsylvania's economy.

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