So What If It's Rainy There? Cities looking for ways to improve their recycling programs could do worse than to take a look at Seattle's model.

 

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the city reached a new milestone in 2008: 50% of its residential and commercial waste was diverted from landfills. That's way above the national recycling rate of 32%, and it's the fifth consecutive year Seattle has upped its rate.

 

The city isn't resting on its laurels, either. It's aiming for 60% by 2012.

 

How does Seattle do it? Among other things, the P-I reports, the city has facilitated residential recycling and composting by expanding the types of items it collects and by providing weekly collection of yard waste and food waste.

 

Also, there's this, from Earth911.com:

 

"Recycling rates are expected to increase as the city launched new residential service on March 30. This will include single-stream recycling, food scrap recycling (including meat, fish and dairy) and electronics and used motor oil recycling programs.

 

"Seattle’s recycling facilities have also made significant upgrades. Food and yard waste will now be accepted through a high-tech facility where an advanced process breaks down harmful bacteria and chemicals, turning the waste into compost for local parks and gardens.

 

"In addition to accessibility, the city also passed a 20-cent plastic bag fee law in 2008 that encourages the use of reusable bags."

 

Not bad, Emerald City. Everyone else, please take note.

 

Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste & Recycling News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.