Drum role please. The 1997 state recycling rate was 38.5 percent of 1991's municipal solid waste stream. That's up 2 percent from 1995 and well on the way to meeting the year 2000 goal set back in 199 1. Way to go Arkansas!

These remarkable numbers were achieved because of the hard work of local governments, regional solid waste management districts, schools, private businesses, state agencies, the Arkansas Recycling Coalition, and concerned citizens. Through partnerships, awareness programs, and educational outreach initiatives, Arkansans were able to recycle more material md at more locations than ever before.

A recent report compiled by the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology's Recycling Branch for 1997 stated that 747,588.06 tons of material were recycled and $18,689,700 in landfill disposal costs avoided (median tipping fee of$25). There are approximately fifty curbside collection programs and 123 drop-off sites that employ 582 persons. Recycling in the private sector has created over 800 jobs since 1991.

Measurement of the state's recycling rate was accomplished by surveying private sector recycling processors and public and nonprofit recycling programs. All amounts for recycled materials were compiled directly from the survey forms with the exception of yard waste. Since most programs collecting yard waste do not measure amounts recycled, ADPC&E used the latest Franklin Report that states that the average citizen generates. 6 pounds of yard waste per day. By using this rate times the number of citizens in local jurisdictions with yard waste management programs, ADPC&E determined that 99,408 tons were recycled.