Pierce County 2010 Waste Audit     [Source: Pierce County Website]

Our Latest Waste Audit

In 2010, 375,000 tons of waste from Pierce County homes, schools, offices, stores and factories went to the landfill. This works out to 3.5 pounds of garbage per person per day.

2032 Goal – 1.09 lbs of garbage per person per day

To meet that goal, we need to fine-tune existing collection, recycling, and disposal programs, and explore options that take advantage of new technology. A recent audit of the waste stream helps us decide where to focus our attention.

Organic Waste

By far, the largest component (41 percent) of what we’re disposing is organic waste (other than yard waste). This includes food, clothing and disposable diapers.

Other Materials

Paper is the next highest component (17 percent), followed by plastic (13 percent) and construction debris (12 percent). Glass, metals and yardwaste each make up less than 5 percent of the waste stream.

Audit Report

The report breaks the data into 66 separate materials and divides the waste stream into both source (e.g., residential, commercial) and geographic components.

Targeting The Next Material For Diversion

What category of material should we target next?

Recyclable Material

One third of our waste (more than 100,000 tons a year) is recyclable through existing recycling programs in Pierce County:

•  Yard waste

•  Household hazardous waste

•  E-waste

•  Charitable donations

Helping move those materials that we know can be recycled from a more expensive garbage can to a less costly recycling bin is our No. 1 priority.

Food Waste

130,000 tons of food waste ends up in the landfill every year. We are exploring our options for how to handle food waste in our system.

A best management practices study will recommend the most environmentally-sound and economically-viable way for Pierce County residents and businesses to dispose of food waste.

Potentially Recyclable Material

Ten percent of the waste materials we dispose of are potentially recyclable, but recycling programs for those may not be located nearby or be very cost-effective. After maximizing the potential of existing programs and making decisions about food waste composting, this is our third priority target.