Ohio EPA annually calculates and publishes solid waste reduction and recycling rates for Ohio’s 52 solid waste management districts (SWMDs) and for Ohio as a whole. These figures are important for gauging the progress Ohio is making toward achieving the state’s recycling and waste reduction goals. These include a 66% recycling rate for the industrial sector and a 25% recycling rate for the residential/ commercial sector.

The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District (District) is preparing for the next data gathering effort to be conducted in early 2010. The District will survey the industrial sector at that time regarding recycling and disposal tonnages for the calendar year 2009. Surveys will be emailed or mailed to all industries in Hamilton County.

The District calculated the county´s 2007 total recycling rate to be 46.16%, up from 38.93% in 2006. The rate includes residential, commercial and industrial recycling. The recycling rate is the percentage of material recycled compared with the total amount of waste generated and includes all recycling activities from residential curbside recycling and paper recycling in offices to recycling of industrial materials.