The past four months have shown the largest increase in Key West's recycling rates that some officials have ever seen. R.B. Havens, public works manager, said the recycling rate increased from 6.4 percent last year to 7.6 percent this year when looking at the rates for October through January of each year.
The 7.6 percent rate was the highest Havens has seen in the seven years he has been managing the program, he said. "Although concrete and ferrous metal recycling went down during this time, cardboard, office paper, plastic and aluminumcollections more than doubled," Havens said. "The items that the average home or business owner put out for recycling more than doubled, saving about $8,000 in hauling and disposal fees." City spokeswoman Christie Phillips said the increase is a result of the island's new environmental initiative that includes efforts from several groups to raise awareness and participation in environmental programs.
In November, The Citizen reported that Key West and Monroe County had an average recycling rate of 6 percent, dismal compared to the national average of 30 percent. In the same article, Havens said at least 10 percent of Key West's 60,000 annual tons of garbage must be recycled before the city will realize a cost benefit. Environmental groups such as Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE) are working to combat the public opinion that items placed curbside in Waste Management's blue plastic containers are not being recycled.