More than 35 percent of Cuyahoga County's residential waste was recovered for recycling last year, which is more than 10 percent higher than the state's goal, according to a newly released report from the Solid Waste District.

The report shows that recycling in the county has increased steadily since 2001, when the rate was about 18 percent. Communities recycled nearly 246,000 tons of residential waste in 2015, or roughly the equivalent volume to fill First Energy Stadium's football field twice, according to the report.

Diane Bickett, executive director for the Solid Waste District, said that although the numbers may be impressive, more work still needs to be done to increase recycling participation and to reduce residents' confusion about how and what to recycle.