News ReleaseCity of Long Beach Public Information Office
333 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

3/26/2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #CM:032608
Subject :

City of Long Beach Waste Diversion Rate Grows to 69 Percent
Contact :James Kuhl, Manager, Environmental Services Bureau    570.2850
The City’s waste diversion rate increased another 3 percent in 2006, when 69 percent of the City’s trash was diverted from disposal through recycling, reuse and waste reduction programs. 

State law mandates that each jurisdiction maintain a waste diversion rate of at least 50 percent.

"The City of Long Beach maintains one of the highest diversion rates of any large city in the United States, and I am very happy that more and more waste is being diverted," City Manager Pat West said. "The increase in our diversion rate reflects the public’s significant support of, and participation in, the City’s wide range of waste reduction programs." 

Larger recycling carts and new materials targeted for recycling have helped increase the diversion rate.  Just last year, more than 8500 pounds of computer monitors and other electronic waste was collected and recycled by the City of Long Beach.  

A national award winning educational campaign and a comprehensive web site, www.longbeach-recycles.org, support the City’s waste diversion programs.

The 2006 diversion rate is not official until the Integrated Waste Management Board approves it in the next 120 days.

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