Dive Brief:

• According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, Florida's recycling rate has grown to 49% in 2013. The figures include waste diverted from landfills that ends up at waste-to-energy facilities. 
• The numbers illustrate a large increase in the volume of solid waste that is recycled, up from 9.7 million tons in 2012 to 11.8 million tons in 2013.
• The traditional recycling rate, which doesn't include renewable energy credits, increased from 35% in 2012 to 38% in 2013, for a total growth of 4%.

Dive Insight:

In 2013, the state generated 3.4 MWh of electricity from a combination of two sources: WTE plants and methane. In 2012, the state law regarding the recycling rate was amended to promote the generation of renewable energy from waste sources. 

Florida is looking to attain a 75% recycling rate by 2020. Officials are hoping the commercial solid waste steps up its game, as this waste segment produces 55% of the municipal solid waste across the state. The DEP says that only about half of commercial solid waste is being recycled, leaving a lot of room for improvement.