Recycling
WSU Waste Wise Program
The Island County Waste Wise Program, through Washington State University Extension, has all the information and tools you need to help you reduce your waste. You will find all the details on recycling, composting, how to become a Waste Wise Volunteer and more!
Recycling on Island County: Recycling center locations, what can you recycle
Island County Waste: Including information on where to bring your household hazardous waste
Waste Reduction Reduces our Carbon Footprint
The link between carbon emissions and our waste is not obvious but there is a direct link! The disposal of solid waste produces greenhouse gas emissions in a number of ways. First, the anaerobic decomposition of waste in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Second, the incineration of waste produces carbon dioxide as a by-product. In addition, the transportation of waste to disposal sites produces greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of the fuel used in the equipment. Finally, the disposal of materials indicates that they are being replaced by new products; this production often requires the use of fossil fuels to obtain raw materials and manufacture the items.
Recycling helps in a number of ways. First it reduces the amount of waste going into our landfills. Second the process of creating a glass bottle, paper products including newspapers, etc. produces less carbon emissions then creating these products from new materials.
An important way to reduce the methane gas emissions in the landfill is through methane recovery. Coupeville sends their waste to Roosevelt Regional Landfill, a sanitary landfill with onsite power plant to convert the methane collected into electricity.