Contributed by the King County Solid Waste Division, reprinted with permission. Some links added by iLoveKent.net.

King County Executive honors 92 local companies and non-profits for waste prevention and recycling:  Organizations named as ‘Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling’

King County Executive Dow Constantine today applauded 92 local companies for reducing waste and increasing recycling, naming them as the county’s “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling for 2012.”

“From recycling Styrofoam and cell phones to creating new programs for composting, the innovation these organizations have shown proves that sound environmental practices can go hand-in-hand with a successful business,” said Executive Constantine.

The sixth-annual list spans a wide array of businesses in King County, including hospitality, medical services, professional services, retail, finance, government, arts and entertainment and others. The list includes an honor roll for companies that have made the list at least five years in a row.

The businesses honored use a wide range of recycling and waste reduction strategies, including:

• Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop’s program that donates customer cell phones to domestic violence shelters;
• Safeway’s styrofoam recycling program; and
• Lake Washington School District’s new composting efforts, which have helped reduce their garbage pick-ups by 50 percent.

“Many times, what businesses consider waste is something other entities can use and actually purchase,” said Andrew Koeppen, managing director at Hot Off the Press, a local family-owned printer based in Redmond, and a first-time Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling. “Finding out where our waste can be used helps our society become a community.”

Hot Off the Press holds green print design seminars to teach others how to design printed documents and business materials in an environmentally conscious way. They donate the paper they don’t use to local schools and non-profits.

Last year, businesses in King County sent more than 180,000 tons of recyclable materials to the landfill. King County’s Solid Waste Division compiles the “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” list annually to recognize the top recyclers and waste reducers, and help motivate others in the local business community.

All businesses operating in King County outside the City of Seattle are eligible for the list. To secure their spot, businesses are required to meet the same five basic criteria, as well as 10 additional waste reduction and recycling criteria, such as using reusable or compostable dishware in kitchens, collecting batteries for recycling or sending electronic invoices.

To see the complete list of 2012 Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling and to learn more about what these businesses are doing to improve recycling programs, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore, and click on the link.

To learn more about the program, contact Karen May at 206-296-4353, or karen.may@kingcounty.gov.

_____________________________________________________________

On July 25, King County’s Solid Waste Division announced that 92 local companies have been named to the 2012 “Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list, including five businesses/offices in Kent. The list recognizes businesses with exceptional recycling programs and for their commitment to reducing the amount of waste their company produces. Last year, businesses in King County sent more than 180,000 tons of recyclable materials to the landfill. However, King County’s Solid Waste Division compiles the “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” list annually to recognize the top recyclers and waste reducers, and help motivate others in the local business community.

The sixth-annual list spans a wide array of businesses in King County, including hospitality, medical services, professional services, retail, finance, government, arts and entertainment and others. Below is yesterday’s press release from King County. We can offer interviews with King County Solid Waste representatives about business waste reduction, as well as contacts for Kent businesses that made the list.

Kent honorees:

• Applus Technologies
• City of Kent
• Ingenium
• Kent Downtown Partnership
• Torklift Central

1)      Get rid of old bulbs: When long lasting CFL bulbs finally burn out, remember that CFL bulbs shouldn’t be tossed in the garbage or regular household recycling bins. PSE offers free CFL recycling at participating business locations all over Western Washington. In addition to free CFL recycling, PSE now offers free incandescent bulb recycling too. Don’t wait to make the switch, replace your inefficient incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFL and LED bulbs that use up to 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. There’s no time like the present. Check PSE.com/BulbRecycling to find convenient locations.

2)      Host a bulb recycle box at your workplace: To make CFL and incandescent bulb recycling even easier for you and your coworkers, host a box at your workplace. Materials from CFL and incandescent bulbs including reusable glass, circuitry, aluminum and plastic can all be recycled and reused. Sign up to host a recycling box at PSE.com/BulbDrive.

3)      Dump that old fridge or freezer: Your old fridge or freezer could be costing you up to $200 a year on your energy bill. If your fridge or freezer is ready for retirement don’t hurt your back trying to get rid of it yourself, sign up at PSE.com/Recycling to have PSE haul it away for free. PSE will pick it up and recycle it for free and give you $20.

4)      Try an LED bulb: CFL bulbs are energy efficient and long lasting, but they don’t hold a candle to the latest LED technology. LED bulbs are even more efficient than CFL bulbs and can last up to 25 years. Replacing lights in hard to reach areas with long lasting LED bulbs means less time spent on a ladder changing burnt-out incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs can also be used in dimmable fixtures. PSE electric customers can receive up to a $10 rebate on ENERGY STAR-qualified LED bulbs at participating retailers. Visit PSE.com/LEDs to find a retailer who carries PSE rebated bulbs.

5)      Call 811 before you dig: If your springtime outdoor projects include building a new fence or deck, planting trees and shrubs or even pulling out a tree stump, please remember to contact the 811 Call Before You Dig hotline two business days prior to your project to help prevent serious injuries or potential hazards from striking or damaging underground utilities. All underground utilities must be marked before the start of digging. Don’t assume you know what’s below. Protect yourself and those around you – call 811 every time. It’s free, and it’s the law. Visit call811.com for more information.

King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an Emergency Declaration earlier this week to provide free disposal of wood debris, following our snow, ice and wind storms. Wood debris only can be recycled Jan. 28-29 and Feb. 4-5 in Kent:

Free Wood Debris Recycling
Russell Road Park
24400 Russell Rd. (across from Riverbend Golf Course)
Kent, WA 

Jan. 28 – 29:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Feb. 4 – 5:  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Workers will be available to help Kent residents unload their wood debris. They ask that you place a tarp under the materials before bringing them to the park. This will make unloading easier. Stumps, logs and limbs shorter than six feet will be accepted. Other yard waste, such as brush, leaves and grass clippings, will not be accepted.

Please cover the wood debris while traveling from home to the park to prevent road litter and potential damage to other vehicles if the debris becomes loose during travel.

For more info., call 253-856-5549 or visit KentRecycles.com.

City of Kent 2012 Recycling Events

Jan. 7:  Christmas Tree Recycling Event at Service Club Ballfields

Jan. 9-13:  Christmas Tree Recycling for City of Kent residents

Jan. 28-29, Feb. 4-5:  Wood Debris Recycling at Russell Road Park (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Jan. 28:  Appliance and Electronics Recycling at Meridian Elementary, 25621 140th Ave SE, Kent (10 a.m. to p.m.)

Mar. 17:  Special Recycling and Collection Event at Russell Road Park (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Mar. 24:  Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale (9 a.m. until supplies are gone)

Mar. 31:  Celebrate the Environment with Earth Hour 2012 (8:30 to 9:30 p.m.)

Jun. 2:  Residential Recycling Event

Aug. 9:  Business Recycling Event

Oct. 20:  Residential Recycling Event

For more info., visit KentRecycles.com.

For a list of where to take materials for reuse or recycling, visit the City of Kent online.

In a press release dated October 21, 2010, the City of Kent announced that the corporate headquarters of REI has been named the Kent Green Business of the Year. It had previously won the award in 2007 and 2008.

REI received the award because the company continually focuses on minimizing its impact on the planet including a lofty inspiration to be a zero-waste-to-landfill and climate-neutral company by 2020. In 2009, for example, the company recycled 88% of its operational waste by volume including paper, glass, cardboard and wood pallets.

In the press release, Kevin Hagen, REI’s director of corporate social responsibility said, “We’re honored to be recognized for our efforts to reduce our impact, but we recognize we have much work to do. To achieve our steadfast commitment, we will continue to focus on collaboration as key to our long-term strategy.”

To read the full press release, click here.

For more information about REI’s stewardship philosophies, visit REI online.

If you’ve got old household items, chemicals or other recyclable materials ready to go, bring them to Kent’s Fall Recycling Event scheduled for Sat., Oct. 16 from 9 am to 3 pm.

The event will be held at Russell Road Park (24400 Russell Rd., Kent), and the city will accept these items (note: some require a donation):

• Appliances and scrap metal
• Propane tanks
• Porcelain toilets & sinks
• Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners
• Televisions, computers, monitors & laptops
• Electronics
• Petroleum-based products
• Tires
• Reusable household goods
• Document shredding (limit 3 file-size boxes per person)
• Cardboard
• Concrete, asphalt, rock and brick
• Batteries
• Mattresses

No flatbeds or dump trucks allowed. No vehicles will be admitted for entry after 3 p.m. For more information about recycling in Kent, Washington, visit these helpful websites:

Recycling Special Materials

Hazardous Waste

The City of Kent is sponsoring a Fall Recycling Event on Sat., October 17, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm at Russell Road Park, 24400 Russell Road, Kent, WA. No vehicles will be admitted after 3 pm.

Items that can be accepted include scrap metal, propane tanks, porcelain toilets and sinks, refrigerators, freezers, air conditions, TVs, computers, electronics, petroleum-based products, tires, reusable household goods, documents for shredding, concrete, asphalt, rock, brick, cardboard and batteries.

Some fees will apply for the recycling of certain items such as propane tanks, refrigerators and tires.

The program is only available for household materials from King County residents.

Questions? Call 253-856-5449 (Monday – Friday).

More info. on recycling:

Calendar of Recyling Events

Recycling Special Materials

Hazardous Waste

Today is Earth Day. In celebration, try a few of these simple tips to go green:

- Make recycling at home more convenient. Have more several recycling bins in strategic locations.
- More than half of what we throw away today is recyclable. Learn what you can and can’t recycle.
- Recycle old TVs, computers and other electronics through the “Take it Back Network” or local recycling events
- Over 90% of King County households can now recycle food scraps in their yard waste bins, including pizza boxes and coffee filters.

For more info. on Going Green, consult these resources:

Recycling Questions
www.kingcounty.gov/RecycleMore

King County Garbage and Recycling Collection Information and What Do I Do With…?
206-296-4466
www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste

King County Online Exchange – a free online exchange to buy, sell or give away reusable household items
www.kingcounty.gov/exchange

Take it Back Network – recycle TVs and electronics
www.takeitbacknetwork.org

Locate Your Waste Hauler
www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Sites
www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/disposal/othersites/index.html

EcoConsumer’s Eco-Cool Remodel Tool – green your space one room at a time
www.ecocoolremodel.com

Food Scrap Recycling
www.recyclefood.com