How much waste do we need to manage?

More trash is generated every year in the county, and reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills and incinerators continue to be a challenge.

Businesses and residents in the county generated 1.3 million tons of waste in 2023. The county’s recycling rate rose slightly last year to 43% — far less than the state’s goal of achieving a 75% recycling rate by 2030.

The county recently published our annual recycling progress report(External link). The report highlights the full scope of the waste prevention and recycling programs the county offered in 2023 to support residents and businesses on their zero-waste journey. Despite these impressive efforts, progress is incremental.

A dramatic shift in priority at the state level to advance zero-waste policies is needed to meet our zero waste and climate goals. The Solid Waste Management Plan will outline the actions the county will take to continue to drive the transformational change required.