New recycling pilot at Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station

After a trial period at the Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station, the Solid Waste Division has decided to expand its polystyrene and plastic wrap/bags recycling pilot to the Bow Lake Recycling and Transfer Station in Tukwila.  

Bow Lake now has one container to collect polystyrene blocks and coolers, and another container to collect plastic wrap and bags. All items must be clean, dry, and free of liquids, food, and contaminants like tape, stickers, and labels.  

More information about these materials:

• Polystyrene blocks and coolers are two items made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), a petroleum-based plastic that is light-weight because it contains about 95 percent air. EPS, sometimes referred to as “Styrofoam,” can be used to make many types of products, including insulated coolers and packaging materials, or “blocks,” that keep computers and other products safe during shipping. Polystyrene blocks and coolers can be recycled into products such as picture frames 

• Plastic wrap and bags are made of polyethylene plastic and are sometimes referred to as “plastic film.”  Plastic wrap includes stretch wrap, pallet wrap, and bubble wrap, as well as the plastic wrap from toilet paper, paper towels, and beverage cases. Plastic bags include grocery bags, bread and produce bags, shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, and bags used to deliver newspapers to households on rainy days. Most plastic bags and plastic wrap are recycled into composite lumber that can be used to make park benches, decks, and pallets. It can also be reprocessed into small pellets and used to make new plastic bags, containers, crates, and pipe. 

Local businesses recognized for green practices

The Solid Waste Division honored 112 businesses and organizations that have reduced waste and increased recycling by naming them to the 10th-annual “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” list.

Companies that have made the list five years in a row are recognized with an Honor Roll designation. This year, 24 businesses joined the “Best Workplaces” list for the first time, and 54 businesses were placed on the Honor Roll. 

The organizations on the 2016 "Best Workplaces" list implemented innovative ways to reduce waste and increase recycling. For example:

• Redhook Ale Brewing changed the design of 12-pack boxes to use less paper, and tracked paper usage to plant trees to offset that paper use. Overall, Redhook diverts 98-½ percent of their waste from landfills.
• Blueprint Consulting Services LLC created a water bottle competition for employees to see who could use their reusable water bottle the most and reduce disposable water bottle use. 
• Alaska Airlines piloted and implemented an on-board composting program that includes composting the 250,000 pounds of coffee grounds that are created during flights each year.

Along with the “Best Workplaces” awards, King County is honoring Rainier Industries with the “Re-Innovator Award,” which recognizes the organization that has adopted the most-innovative waste reduction program or action.

A custom manufacturer of yurts, canopies, and other shade products since 1896, Rainier Industries has had a sustainability initiative in place for nearly a decade, including an environmental management plan.

In 2015, Rainier Industries recycled 479 tons of materials, including wood, metal, PVC, paints, and fabric, which resulted in disposal cost savings of $63,199. This past year, they have reduced waste by upgrading their machinery to manufacture right-size boxes for shipping their custom orders and reusing scrap cardboard for padding in place of foam. Rainier Industries is transparent about their practices, tracking their waste and posting the information on their website.

All businesses operating in King County outside of the City of Seattle are eligible for the list. To qualify, businesses must meet five basic criteria, as well as 10 additional waste reduction and recycling criteria. To learn more, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore.

Learn about new construction and demolition debris recycling rules

In an effort to increase recycling, cut waste, and save landfills for the things that really need to be there, the Solid Waste Division has put new rules in place requiring the construction industry to recycle common construction and demolition materials.

To help inform contractors, architects, and designers, the division has scheduled a series of workshops to help construction professionals easily recycle these materials at county-designated facilities.

Anyone interested in learning more about the new rules are invited to attend any of the workshops scheduled for:

• Wednesday, Aug. 31: 12:30 - 2 p.m., Kenmore Library 6531 NE 181st St., Kenmore
• Thursday, Sept. 8: 3:30 - 5 p.m., Sammamish Library 825 228th Ave. SE, Sammamish
• Wednesday, Sept. 14: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Maple Valley Library 21844 SE 248th St., Maple Valley

More information about the workshops and new rules are available by contacting Kinley Deller, 206-477-5272, kinley.deller@kingcounty.gov, or online at www.greentools.us.

New grant program focuses on reducing food waste

Each year, an estimated 85,000 tons of food waste is disposed by restaurants, grocery stores and other commercial enterprises in King County. The Solid Waste Division is partnering with three organizations to explore innovative ways of reducing food waste, and diverting it from the landfill.

King County has provided four, $30,000 grants for pilot projects that could result in new approaches to reducing food waste from commercial sources throughout the county.

Grant-funded projects range from assessing the feasibility for a high-tech process that converts food scraps into liquid fertilizer, to assisting restaurants, farmers markets and other generators in establishing food waste recycling programs and use waste-reduction best practices.

The recipients of the grants are Impact Bioenergy, Cedar Grove Composting, and the City of Auburn.

Learn more about their projects here: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/commercial-grants.asp