SPRING 2015
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL RECYCLERS AND PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR A SECURE FUTURE.
In This Issue: Join WSRA for our 35th Annual Conference & Trade Show......................................... 1 President’s Message................................................ 2 Calendar of Events................................................... 2 Conference and Event Sponsors................................ 5 WSRA Announces 2015 Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame Inductees.............................. 7 Recycling Hall of Fame............................................. 10 The Mania is Back! Bothell Community Invited to Sustainamania Event on June 6............................ 11 Welcome Our Newest Members!................................ 11 WSRA Hosts Inaugural Professional Development Training on Topic of Cultural Competency ................. 12 Restaurant Rescue .................................................. 13 Seattle Central College and Recology CleanScapes Sort it Out to Increase Waste Diversion..................... 14 Bring Your Bag! Plastic Bag Reduction Policy Coming to Kirkland March 2016 ............................... 15 Olympic Technology Resources................................. 15 Threadcycle campaign encourages donation of all clothes, shoes, and linens........................................ 16 Washington State Residents Give a Thumbs Up to Clothing Recycling............................................... 17 Recology CleanScapes Opens Customer Service Center & Retail Store in Burien................................. 18 Good News for Foam Recycling!................................ 18 Ecova’s New Waste Manager Module Will Help Clients Shrink Waste For 2015........................... 19 Magnum’s 2014 Environmental Savings..................... 19 Members on the Move............................................. 20 Members Give Back................................................. 21 Thank You Precious Metal Sponsors!......................... 22
www.wsra.net
The Report Join WSRA for our 35th Annual Conference & Trade Show WSRA’s annual conference and trade show is always a prime opportunity to connect with colleagues, clients, and friends in one place. The strong agenda delves into many pivotal issues facing our industry, and this year’s conference also boasts more breakout sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities than in previous years. We’re really looking forward to seeing all of you at the historic Davenport Hotel on May 17–20th in Spokane! Leading the Way to Zero Waste This year’s theme is “Leading the Way to Zero Waste,” and we are thrilled to welcome Sue Beets-Atkinson, President of the United States Zero Waste Business Council, and Corporate Sustainability Manager at SBM as our opening keynote speaker. Beets-Atkinson brings to the conversation a wealth of experience in designing and implementing large and complex recycle programs across the country, and her keynote address will offer an invaluable perspective on zero waste planning. Meet Your Exhibitors Following the opening keynote address on Monday morning, conference attendees will have a unique opportunity to meet our 2015 exhibitors in a fun, relaxed format: Vendor Speed Networking! This new session is designed in a speed dating format to help
you match a face with a name or company, participate in genuine dialogue, and have some fun! This truly is a networking opportunity rather than a time to present and promote specific products or services. You will also be entered into a VIP raffle drawing and receive a thumb drive with contact information for all participating recycling professionals and vendors. Come with your smile on, but your collateral off!
cont. on pg. 3 >>
President’s Message Chris Piercy, Kitsap County Public Works, cpiercy@co.kitsap.wa.us Happy Spring, fellow recyclers! I can’t believe April is already here. It seems like the New Year was just yesterday! What’s even more surprising is that we are only a month and a half away from the WSRA Conference at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. The WSRA’s Conference Planning Committee has been working tirelessly throughout the year to bring you a top notch program, and I certainly hope to see you all there.
Atkison, president of the Zero Waste Business Council. Additionally, we hope you’ll to take part in one of the tours or workshops offered Monday afternoon, the always entertaining recycled fashion show on Monday night, and, of course, the annual Awards Gala Tuesday evening. If you haven’t registered for the conference yet, be sure to do so by visiting the WSRA website. Come join us as we “lead the way to zero waste”!
This year’s conference includes the usual abundance of networking opportunities, along with a content-rich session lineup. We have some very exciting speakers on the agenda: an early conference kick off on Sunday brings you our very own Alli Kingfisher, who will lead a training session on participatory leadership, and on Monday morning, and we will officially kick off the conference with keynote speaker Sue Beets-
Since I know you will be swinging by the website to register for the conference and review the agenda, be sure to also check out the WSRA events page. There, you can see all of the upcoming WSRA networking events, trainings, and Washington Recycles Everyday (WRED) events. Next on the schedule is the “Legislative 101” training on April 9. We strive to bring you a generous events schedule each and every year to bring you
Chris Piercy, WSRA President
more value for your membership. Be sure to take advantage of these professional development and networking opportunities! See you in Spokane!
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events Training
Conference
Legislative 101 Thursday, April 9, 2015 Olympia, WA
35th Annual WSRA Conference & Trade Show May 17-20, 2015 The Davenport Hotel Spokane, WA
Registration is now open at www.wsra.net!
Registration is now open at www.wsra.net!
Networking Member Social Thursday, April 30, 2015 Spokane, WA Member Social Friday, June 26, 2015 Seattle, WA Member Social November 2015 Eastern and Western WA locations
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WRED Events Light Recycling Thursday, July 30, 2015 Seattle, WA Solid Waste Management Planning Thursday, August 27, 2015 Mount Vernon, WA Handling Household Hazardous Waste September 2015 Hospital & Medical Waste October 2015 Eastern and Western WA locations Register at www.wsra.net
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The Report >> Join WSRA for our 35th Annual Conference & Trade Show (continued from page 1) A Conference Tailored to Your Needs There are certainly a few issues which unite all of us in the industry, but at the end of the day each of us plays a distinct role in supporting and improving Washington’s resource management system. So, in addition to the plenary sessions that bring everyone together, we have organized the plethora of other educational offerings into four breakout session tracks and a series of workshops, all of which are designed to cut across business sector and geographic region to help you get exactly what you need from the conference to support your daily work. Track: Education & Outreach Sessions include: Innovation, public outreach and • Taking a Bite Out of Wasted Food in the Residential Sector education, and collaboration will continue (Monday AM) to be essential as we tackle the challenges • High School Heroes—How of Washington’s recycling industry. The Students Were the Key to Success effectiveness of any recycling program in Recycling and Composting Programs (Monday PM) hinges on understanding human behavior, • Getting More from Multifamily: and in many cases, asking individuals Promising Practices for Increasing to change their behaviors. How can we Multifamily Diversion (Tuesday AM) provide engaging messages that get our • Building and Sustaining Effective Outreach Programs (Tuesday PM) communities involved and interested in recycling and reducing their waste? This track will share research results, best practices, tips and tools to help educators inspire behavior change and enable our recycling programs to thrive in a variety of settings, communities, and institutions. Track: Markets Sessions Include: These sessions will explore the latest • Recovery of Post-Consumer issues, news, innovations, and forecasts Cartons (Monday AM) • Mattresses and Furniture: Reuse, for Washington’s recycling markets in 2015 Recycling & Product Stewardship and beyond. How can we remedy gaps in (Monday PM) local and domestic markets? What can we • By-Product Synergy: Innovative learn from businesses and partnerships Collaboration Strategies to Advance Zero Waste that have successfully created local (Tuesday PM) markets for recyclable materials? How can all communities, regardless of size or infrastructure, attract manufacturing industries that will recycle their commodities locally? Track: Operations & Infrastructure As a variety of products are added to Sessions Include: • Reducing Materials that Leave Your recycling bins and communities across Facility by What Comes Into It the state seek to improve diversion (Monday AM) rates, recycling businesses are facing • Speed Dating for Solutions: Getting greater challenges to collect, process Contamination out of Compost (Monday PM) and transport materials. What does • Large Industrial Recycling Facilities it take to process materials in today’s Working Within Communities recycling landscape? How can we increase (Tuesday AM) recycling and reduce contamination through recycling collection logistics? This track will address the current challenges in recycling operations and infrastructure, and innovative solutions for a sustainable and profitable business.
Track: Policy State and local government agencies play an important role in making the recycling process a success. These sessions will focus on successes and challenges of the latest legislation, programs and strategies on local, state, and national levels.
Sessions Include: • Product Stewardship and the Law (Monday PM) • Navigating and Surviving a Plastic Bag Ban: Strategic Tips and Tricks from the Trenches (Tuesday AM) • Designing for Zero Waste, Starting the Conversation (Tuesday PM)
General Sessions You Won’t Want to Miss! On Tuesday morning we will hear from our outstanding 2015 Recycler of the Year Award recipients to discuss their accomplishments and challenges as they work toward zero waste, and later in the day we will learn what’s in Ecology’s updated State Plan and how this relates to our work, lives and the environment, as well as how we can all participate. We are excited to welcome Alexa Kielty, Zero Waste Specialist with the City and County of San Francisco, to give our closing keynote address on Wednesday morning. Kielty has been working for San Francisco’s Department of the Environment’s Zero Waste Program since 2001 and has had the opportunity to help develop San Francisco zero waste policies and programs from the ground up, assisting the City reach its current 80 percent diversion rate. Participatory Leadership Training, Workshops & Tours WSRA 2015 includes a training session, workshops and facility tours, providing alternative avenues for learning and discussion. Our Sunday afternoon training, Practices of Participatory Leadership, will allow you to experience and practice a set of simple—yet powerful—processes to shake up the meeting culture and work toward building community and facilitating meaningful conversations among diverse stakeholders. Don’t miss out on this professional development opportunity before heading to Sunday evening’s social activities! Our 2015 workshops narrow the scope of focus on topics like C&D processing, social media, building successful engagement tools, Ecology grants, and waste characterization studies. You can dig deep into the nitty-gritty of an issue that is relevant to your daily work. Interactive tours of Waste Management’s SMaRT MRF and Inland Empire Paper’s facility offer a first-hand experience of how these dynamic systems operate. Don’t forget to mark your workshops and tours when you register for the conference!
cont. on pg. 4 >> List of Articles
Spring 2015
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>> Join WSRA for our 35th Annual Conference & Trade Show (continued from page 3) Networking, Auctions & More WSRA’s committees have been working long and hard to make sure that you learn something new, meet someone new, and participate in an activity that is new to you. View the conference brochure on our website and prepare yourself for the great events we have planned for you!
REGISTER and get involved: Registration Full Conference Agenda Become a Sponsor
Highlights Include: Sunday • Golf scramble • Pedal Powered Bicycle Bar Tour • 1st-Time Attendees Social Hour • Welcome Dinner & Reception Monday • Silent Auction • Cocktail Reception with Exhibitors
Donate Auction Items Proceeds from the live and silent auction support WSRA’s student grant and recycling education programs and help pay for speaker fees and operating expenses. Auction item ideas and inspiration Silent/Live Auction Donation Form
• Recycled Fashion Show Tuesday • More Silent Auction table closings! • Pre-Banquet Reception with a wine pull of Washington’s best wines • WSRA 2015 Gala Awards Banquet honoring our Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame • Live Auction WSRA’s 35th Annual Conference brings together our diverse membership of recycling professionals from across the state and beyond to learn, network and problem-solve recycling challenges together. We can’t wait to see you at The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, May 17-20, 2015!
Hotel Reservations Make your hotel reservation by Thursday, April 16th to receive our discounted group rate! Reserve online, or call The Davenport at (509) 455-8888 and identify yourself as a WSRA conference attendee .
SWANA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Report Form WASHINGTON STATE RECYCLING ASSOCIATION SPOKANE, WA. | MAY 18-20, 2015
Earn SWANA Credits at WSRA 2015 WSRA 2015 has been approved for seven Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Name: ____________________________________________ SWANA Identification # _______________________ Organization: _________________________________________Email: ____________________________________ Wk Phone: (
) ______________________________ Alt Ph: (
) ____________________________________
SWANA Certification Currently Held: ________________________________________________________________ Obtain a signature from the representative at the end of the event. Only a representative of this session may sign this form to confirm attendance. The signature is mandatory.
YOU MUST ATTEND THE COMPLETE EVENT TO RECEIVE TOTAL POSSIBLE CEUs May 18, 2015
CEUs
Morning Educational Sessions
1
Afternoon Educational Sessions
2
Representative’s Signature
May 19, 2014 Morning Educational Sessions
2
Afternoon Educational Sessions
2
For SWANA Certified Professionals: Fax (301.585.0297) or email (certification@swana.org) this completed form to: Certification Program Manager. If you have any questions, please call 1-800 GO SWANA or email certification@swana.org. Allow 2 weeks for processing of CEUs.
Training@Work - Can’t get time away from the office? Bring SWANA training to your workplace with Training@Work packages! For a complete listing of Training@Work course names and descriptions, visit www.swana.org/training.
Download the Report Form
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ Many states/provinces recognize SWANA as an approved training and continuing education provider. Attendance at SWANA national or chapter training does not guarantee credits will be accepted by your state/provincial certifying board. Your state/province may grant credits differently than the SWANA CEUs distributed for the event. It is
(signatures required at conference for credits).
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important to consult your state/provincial certification board for details and any required approval prior to training. You are responsible for 30 hours of continuing education during your three-year certification.
wsra.net
The Report Conference and Event Sponsors
Nucor
Sunshine Disposal and Recycling
Republic Services
Waste Management
Recycler of the Year Awards Gala
Awards—ROY Gala Banquet Exhibit Hall Closing Social Student Scholarship Recycled Fashion Show Golf Hole
Recycler of the Year Awards Plenary Session Multifamily Diversion Breakout Session Student Scholarship
“The Story of Washington’s Stuff” Plenary Session Student Scholarship Hall of Fame Pre-Banquet Reception
King County Recology Cleanscapes
All Battery Sales and Service
Live Auction Student Scholarship Recycled Fashion Show
Student Scholarship
Zilchables Zero Waste Design Session
LeMay Pierce County Refuse C&D Processing Workshop
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Snohomish County Product Stewardship Breakout Session
Kirk Sales International Cocktail Reception
New West Gypsum
WA Dept of Ecology
Pre-Banquet Reception
Lunch
Keynote Address Food Waste in Residential Sector Breakout Session Mattress & Furniture Stewardship Breakout Session Reducing Organics Contamination Breakout Session Product Stewardship Breakout Session Zero Waste Design Breakout Session
Hall of Fame
City of Vancouver Inland Empire Paper Tour
High School Recycling & Composting Programs Session
Kitsap County Public Works
Starbucks Coffee Company Effective Outreach Programs Breakout Session Traveling Bicycle Bar Tour WM SMaRT Center Tour
Resource Stewards, LLC
Triangle Associates, Inc.
Product Stewardship Breakout Session Recycled Fashion Show
Pierce County Public Works Food Waste in Residential Sector Breakout Session
Olympic Organics Reducing Organics Contamination Session
Waste Connections
Cedar Grove
International Paper
Seattle Public Utilities
Conference Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
Spring 2015
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Conference and Event Sponsors
Cascadia Consulting
Wilder Environmental
City of Auburn
CTR
Recycled Fashion Show
Recycled Fashion Show
Recycled Fashion Show
Recycled Fashion Show
SMART
Buffalo Export
Recycled Fashion Show
Recycled Fashion Show
Styro Recycle LLC
Conference Sponsor
Rock Tenn Conference Sponsor
Golf Hole
Wastequip/Toter Inc.
Golf Hole
Total Reclaim/EcoLights
Systems by Storm
Golf Hole
International Recycling Technology
Golf Beverage Cart
Recycled Fashion Show
Otto Environmental Systems
Golf Hole
Fibres International
City of Bellevue Conservation Program
Olympic Environmental Resources
Golf Hole
Golf Hole
Solid Waste Systems
Recovery1
New Day Recycling
Golf Hole Golf Pin
Golf Hole
GK Industrial Refuse Syastems
City of Tacoma Conference Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
SP Recycling Conference Sponsor
Golf Hole
Lautenbach Industries
North Mason Conference Sponsor
Conference Sponsor
Seadrunar Conference Sponsor
SeaTac Steel Mill Conference Sponsor
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wsra.net
The Report WSRA Announces 2015 Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame Inductees Recipients to be recognized at WSRA Awards Gala Banquet, May 19, 2015 WSRA is excited to announce our 2015 Recycler of the Year Award recipients and Recycling Hall of Fame inductees! On Tuesday, May 19, we will honor nine organizations, businesses and individuals for outstanding recycling
achievements at our Recycler of the Year Awards Gala Banquet at the 35th Annual WSRA Conference & Trade Show in Spokane. Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by a panel of WSRA
Innovation Spring Back Mattress Recycling Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW is one of the only recyclers of mattresses in Washington State and the first to provide mattress recycling at a transfer station. Spring Back’s story begins with what is arguably the only furniture bank in the state: parent nonprofit organization, NW Furniture Bank. NW Furniture Bank was founded in 2006 by Bill Lemke as a way to “restore hope, dignity and stability in our community by recycling donated furniture to people in need.” Since its start in July 2013, Spring Back is recycling about 4,000 to 6,000 mattresses per month depending on the season. In June to December 2014 alone, they diverted 655,000 cubic tons from the local waste stream, including over 190 tons of steel, 150 tons of foam, and 17.5 tons of plastic film. For more information: Jeremy Simler jsimler@springbackrecyclingnw.org Bill Lemke blemke@nwfurniturebank.org
Nucor Steel Recycling Business Magnum Print Solutions Magnum Print Solutions is the largest remanufacturer of toner cartridges in the Pacific Northwest, supplying businesses throughout the region and country with toner since 1995. A basic staple for most offices, toner cartridges are comprised of 97% recyclable materials. Unfortunately most toner cartridges end up in US landfills after one use. Magnum’s mission is to reclaim, reuse and recycle cartridges, saving businesses money and the environment resources. Magnum launched a Toner Recycling Program with prominent Seattle organizations including Fred Hutchinson and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and in 2014 they worked with the University of Washington Recycling Department to collect over 8,700 pounds in materials for recycling, and reused over 7,600 pounds of materials in creating remanufactured cartridges. For more information: Ellen Gengler ellen@magnumlaser.com
members, board members, and Hall of Fame inductees. The 2015 WSRA Recyclers of the Year include these outstanding honorees:
Public Education Thurston County, Waste Less Food Campaign Thurston County Solid Waste’s Waste Less Food Campaign has been steadily carting food up the recovery hierarchy pyramid, starting with incorporating food into the residential and commercial yard waste collection program. Next they focused on food waste in schools. During the 2013-14 school year, Thurston County’s Food2Flowers program provided technical assistance, financial assistance, and education to 32 participating schools. These schools kept more than 160 tons of organics and recyclables out of the landfill annually, with an average lunchroom recycling rate of 89%. In addition, 12 Thurston County schools have been provided with milk dispensers and durable cups, eliminating 500,000 milk cartons a year and wasting less milk. Twentyfour schools participated in the county’s Restaurant Rescue program to collect prepared, but unserved school food to distribute to the community in partnership with the Thurston County Food Bank. Thurston County’s Waste Less Food Campaign is making a lasting and significant impact on food recovery across their community. For more information: Terri Thomas thomaste@co.thurston.wa.us cont. on pg. 8 >>
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Spring 2015
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>> WSRA Announces 2015 Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame Inductees (continued from page 7)
Higher Education Eastern Washington University Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA has implemented a campus-wide infrastructure for recycling collection intended to maximize recycling and minimize waste. The university recently finished construction of a new recycling center and implemented a campus community education program including clinics in residential halls, student and staff trainings, social media engagement, an Earth Day fair, and public service announcements broadcast campus-wide. Through implementation of this program, EWU recorded a diversion rate of 47% of all campus waste in 2014, which is 9% higher than the previous year. Eastern also instituted a composting program that diverts more than 100 tons of food waste every year through collection and the conversion to compostable food service items. They divert 62% of all waste at home football games and tailgating lots, and 87% of waste generated in Roos Stadium, always keeping their motto of “Go Zero or Go Home!” in mind. For more information: Scott Buck kbuck1@ewu.edu
Outreach and Education
Youth Education
Triangle Associates
City of Bellevue and Bellevue School District’s Green Genius Zero Waste Cafeteria Challenge
Triangle Associates has been designing, implementing and evaluating successful waste reduction and recycling programs for more than 20 years within the Puget Sound area. Over the past three years, 90,000 students have participated in school-wide recycling assemblies created by the consulting firm. Triangle creates unique programs that educate students and their families on the importance of waste reduction and recycling and help schools set up and sustain waste reduction and recycling practices. In Snohomish County alone, the Triangle team’s Technical Assistance programs have helped over 25,000 students and teachers to turn their knowledge into action. Over the past three years, participating schools have showed, on average, an 81% increase in their recycling rate, preventing materials such as paper, plastic bottles, plastic cups, aluminum cans, and compostable materials from entering the landfill. For more information: Jennifer Howell jhowell@triangleassociates.com
For the past three years, the City of Bellevue and Bellevue School District have issued a challenge to all elementary schools for America Recycles Day to reduce waste in the cafeteria. About 90% of elementary schools participate each year, with schools launching their own campaigns and the contest gaining momentum and competitiveness every year. In 2014, the 12 schools that participated represented over 7,000 students and staff. All the schools combined only generated a total of 15 garbage cans of trash on America Recycles Day. On average, that is a little more than one can of trash per school! Schools used a variety of methods to reduce waste, including waste reduction tips during morning announcements, sending notes and leftovers home in packed lunches for parents to see what students eat, presentations at lunch with help from students, staff becoming “recycling superheroes” and “recycling fairies” at lunch, newsletter articles for parent newsletters, posters, classroom presentations, and graphing success for the cafeteria. For more information: Jennifer Goodhart jgoodhart@bellevuewa.gov
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wsra.net
The Report
Social Impact Heather Heyer, Buy Nothing Project: Bothell Using Facebook as a platform, the Buy Nothing Project: Bothell (BNB) promotes the concept of reusing, gifting and sharing items rather than sending old items to the landfill or buying something new. As of December 2014, there were 2,872 community members participating in BNB. The Lending Library of materials includes clothing for men, women, and children; cookbooks, recipes, and tools for the kitchen; games and party supplies; cleaning agents and appliances; and much more! BNB has become an asset to the City of Bothell recycling outreach staffers. Not only do BNB members reduce waste, they also encourage people to participate in City programs. When the City of Bothell started Sustainamania and Ecotober, they saw a jump in attendance once BNB was included and held a free boutique on site. Similarly, when the City hosted an Eco Lunch program, they found more registrations and an increase in the broadcast of the program message to local PTA groups after the program was posted to BNB. Buy Nothing Bothell founder Heather Heyer and her team of administrators truly connect their community through a grassroots effort to reduce waste. For more information: Heather Heyer verdwilla@comcast.net
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Spring 2015
Nonprofit Lopez Island Solid Waste
Business Generator Watson Furniture Group
The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District (LSWDD) is a unique, volunteer-based, community managed solid waste disposal district on an Island in San Juan County. The entire community is committed to achieving a zero waste program while operating a financially self-sufficient system. LSWDD has more than 40 community volunteers that participate several times a week at the transfer station. The recycling collection system at the facility is managed like a large corporate MRF. Commodities are separated into their appropriate categories including, fibers, aluminum, metal, and various plastics, and then baled and sold on the secondary market. However, there is no sort line to pull materials off a belt. Instead, all the sorting is done by the community at the time of drop off. The LSWDD volunteers are always onsite during the operations to help guide and educate. The entire community comes together to participate in the success of their recycling program because of the hard work of the volunteers at the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District.
Watson Furniture Group, Inc. in Poulsbo, WA creates and manufactures distinctive quality furniture products with a commitment to sustainable manufacturing processes that embrace recycling, reuse, reclamation, and local sourcing of raw material. Along with other sustainable components that include water and energy efficiencies, the Watson facility recycles more than 76% of their waste material. Products are protected during shipping with reusable blanket wrapping and where further protection is required, 100% recyclable honeycomb cardboard is used instead of foam. Every year 350,000 lbs of Watson sawdust is diverted from landfills and compressed into briquettes for fuel at a local paper mill. Sales staff at Watson use tablet technology instead of paper catalogs in the field. Clif McKenzie, CEO for Watson wholeheartedly embraces the concept of Practical Environmentalism and the belief that we should return the Earth in better condition than we found it. Their aggressive pursuit to minimize impact on our planet is achieved within a disciplined structure of environmental and financial accountability.
For more information: Sandy Bishop sandyb@lopezsolidwaste.org
For more information: Jess Jungwirth jjungwirth@watsonfg.com Congratulations to all 2015 Recycler of the Year Award Recipients and Recycling Hall of Fame Inductees! For more information about the WSRA conference and awards presentation, visit www.wsra.net or call 206-244–0311. Award applications are available each November at www.wsra.net.
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Recycling Hall of Fame The WSRA Recycling Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding long-term contributions to recycling in Washington. The 2015 inductees include these outstanding individuals:
Marcia Rutan Seattle Public Utilities
Bob O’Neal Corporate Recycling Services (CRS)
Dick Lilly Seattle Public Utilities
As the Recycling Manager Marcia has led the City of Seattle multi-family composting and recycling program since 2007. She has 25 years of experience in local government with recycling and composting programs and served on a statewide team to survey, analyze, and communicate best practices for multi-family recycling and food waste collection. Marcia also initiated the statewide Washington Green Schools program and has coordinated the design process, pilot program, and launch of the entire program. Additionally, she provided funding and counsel for Seattle school outreach and the first Seattle Washington Green School Summit. Marcia has been a frequent WSRA presenter and involved member, and will present on multi-family diversion at the 2015 WSRA Conference. Marcia is planning on retiring during the summer of 2015.
Bob O’Neal, former president of CRS, has been involved in commercial waste reduction and recycling since 1983, developing recycling programs for drug stores, distribution centers and the corporate offices. In 1990 he developed a Comprehensive Waste Reduction and Recycling Program Pay ‘n Save. By 1991 Pay ‘n Save was recycling 92% of their solid waste chain-wide at the 125 stores, offices and distribution centers. Corporate Recycling Services clients have won 21 statewide Environmental Excellence Awards, including Nalley’s, Trident Seafoods, Brown & Haley, Westmark, Weyerhaeuser, and Sea-Tac Airport in 2003. The SW King County Chamber of Commerce named CRS “Outstanding Small Business of 2000.” In 2004, the City of Seattle contracted with CRS to form a program to help large businesses divert substantial amounts of waste and reduce disposal costs. This is now Seattle’s “Recycle Smart” program. Before retirement, Bob was very involved in WSRA over the years, serving on the Board of Directors and several committees.
Dick Lilly provided progressive policy leadership to the citizens of Seattle and beyond for over ten years during his time working for Seattle Public Utilities. His work in waste prevention, product stewardship, and resource conservation demonstrate his impact on our consumer-based society and how individuals view waste in their daily lives. Dick has provided an intelligent, informed presence while representing the City of Seattle on the Northwest Product Stewardship Council, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, US Composting Council and several other likeminded organizations. Dick’s work in creating policy and providing direction for Seattle allowed for some of the largest reductions in waste, and according to his colleagues, the legacy he leaves is not a metric that represents diversion or recycling tonnage, but it is a legacy of how to live our lives in a more thoughtful and deliberate manner that will save uncountable tons for generations to come. Dick retired in March 2015.
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wsra.net
The Report Welcome Our Newest Members!
Welcome To Our Newest Members! GREEN EILEEN 4860 Rainier Ave S Seattle, WA 98118 www.greeneileen.org
Candy Castellanos Individual Member www.etsy.com/shop/sparrowgifts
Patty Liu Recycling Coordinator pliu@greeneileen.org (206) 722-2551
cvcastellanos@gmail.com
GREEN EILEEN is a recycled clothing program committed to reducing environmental impact and generating income to support programs that improve the lives of women and girls. By selling gently worn EILEEN FISHER clothing, we extend the life of timeless garments and are able to support the non-profit programs in which we so strongly believe. EcoSafe Zero Waste 2677 192nd Street Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 3X1 www.ecosafezerowaste.com Phil Ragan Director, Market Development phil@ecosafezerowaste.com (604) 323-4743 EcoSafe® Zero Waste designs and implements cradle to cradle solutions for source separation of organics and recyclables with a focus on diverting organic waste from landfill to commercial compost facilities. We provide our customers with the products and services they need in order to build sustainable, source separation and diversion programs designed to achieve zero waste in communities, institutions, businesses, events and at home and in public.
WNA, Inc. 1426 Lawrence Ave Sumner, WA 98390 www.wna.biz
Nicole Bartruff CPG Sales Manager nicole.bartruff@wna.biz WNA is a leading manufacturer of disposable drinkware, dinnerware, servingware, cutlery and custom packaging with a broad line of upscale products. Known for innovation, WNA designs stylish, quality products that add value and provide solutions for special events and every day. Zilchables™ are one of the many well-known brands we manufacture today.
The Mania is Back! Bothell Community Invited to Sustainamania Event on June 6 Sabrina Combs, Recycle/Public Projects Administrator, City of Bothell, sabrina.combs@ci.bothell.wa.us On Saturday, June 6, 2015 City of Bothell Public Works invites the community to the annual Sustainamania event at the Public Works Operations Center (21233 20th Ave SE) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join friends and neighbors for a day of food, music, sustainable resources, touch a truck, wetland tours, chats with experts and much more. Sustainamania is a free event that provides the community with an opportunity to learn about sustainable resources and recognizes National Public Works Week, a celebration of tens of thousands of men and
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Spring 2015
women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as Public Works (roads, bridges, water and sewer lines, etc.). City of Bothell Public Works Department is seeking volunteers to staff booths and vendors to showcase sustainably related products. Vendors are asked to apply before March 27. To apply or for more information, contact Sabrina Combs at sabrina.combs@ci.bothell.wa.us or 425.806.6846.
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Trainer and facilitator Maketa Wilson
WSRA Hosts Inaugural Professional Development Training on Topic of Cultural Competency On Friday, March 20, WSRA hosted our first event in a new series of professional development trainings offered by the association. We discovered through our 2014 WSRA Member Survey that members have been struggling to find local, affordable cultural competency training, so when our Member Programs & Services Committee met in December to begin planning our 2015 and 2016 events, we all agreed this would be the perfect topic for our inaugural training.
Thirty-five recycling professionals from a range of sectors attended the training, including small privately owned businesses, local government, large corporations and statewide agencies. Participants gained insight into the necessity of developing culturally responsive practice, developed an understanding of cultural fluency theory and how it can inform individual and organizational practice, and created personal action plans for developing more culturally responsive practice.
Sponsored by King County’s Local Hazardous Waste Management Program and T.D. Wang Advertising, WSRA’s cultural competency training was held at our new office park in Tukwila, Washington and was led by organizational development consultant and graphic facilitator Maketa Wilborn, Principal of Maketa Wilborn Consulting LLC. A social networking hour followed the training at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse.
Wilborn led the group through a series of discussions and activities in ways that elicited participation, ownership and creativity from everyone involved. One exercise invited participants to consider the edges of their professional practice—the places whether they are doing their best work and the areas of opportunity for growth related to cultural competence.
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“The energy flow of the day was beautifully monitored by Maketa,” stated one participant on their training evaluation form. “He covered everything he set out to, including the items added by the group. […] He kept us active and engaged.” “I was impressed how he tackled very complicated topics, involved everyone and kept it a completely safe space,” said another attendee. “Very, very impressive. I learned so much and also know there is still much to learn and do.” A part two or series of trainings on cultural competency are being considered based on interest from the membership. To find out more about WSRA’s upcoming trainings, WRED events, and member networking socials, please visit WSRA’s Events page.
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The Report
Restaurant Rescue Preventing food waste and helping end hunger in Thurston County Peter Guttchen, Waste Reduction Specialist, Thurston County Solid Waste, guttchp@co.thurston.wa.us An innovative new program called Restaurant Rescue collected over 25 tons of edible surplus food from local restaurants and schools last year. This food was transported to the Thurston County Food Bank and repackaged into healthy meals for needy families. The program is a unique partnership between government, non-profits, local businesses, schools and the Food Bank. The goals of the program are to prevent waste and to help end hunger in our community. The program was launched with support from Thurston County Solid Waste and the Washington State Department of Ecology, who helped the Food Bank acquire a refrigerated van and install a new kitchen. The Food Bank is now partnering with a diverse group of local restaurants and schools to collect prepared food donations and repack them into delicious meals for Food Bank clients. See an overview of the program.
Agriculture guidelines prevent a lot of this food from being reheated or served to students on another day. This can result in a lot of wasted food! There are now 24 schools in Olympia and Tumwater participating in the Restaurant Rescue program, and last year they rescued more than 4.5 tons of food that was prepared for lunch but never served to students. The Food Bank is also making creative use of this school food. For example, they cut up school hotdogs and combine them with beans rescued from a local restaurant to create a ready-to-eat meal.
A win-win-win Everyone wins with the Restaurant Rescue program. Restaurants and schools win by reducing the amount of food waste they have to pay to have collected for disposal or composting. The Food Bank wins by receiving a steady source of healthy food and needy families benefit by having access to nutritious, ready-to-eat Food Bank meals, a product not available in the past. Schools making a difference To ensure there is enough food for every student, school kitchens sometimes prepare food that doesn’t get served. U.S. Department of
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Spring 2015
Tons and tons of rescued food, oh my! From the program’s early days in 2012 until the end of 2014, Restaurant Rescue has recovered a whopping 45 tons of prepared food. That’s a lot of edible food that would have gone to waste but is now consumed by community members that use the Food Bank. And, they’re just getting started. This year, Thurston County Solid Waste is applying for another grant to expand the program. How you can help There is a big need for volunteers to help at the Food Bank, including volunteers to work on the Restaurant Rescue program as it expands. If you are interested in volunteering or if you’re a restaurant in Thurston County that would like to join the program, contact Heather Sundean with the Food Bank at 360-352-8597. Schools that would like more information may contact Peter Guttchen with Thurston County Solid Waste at 360-867-2283 or guttchp.co.thurston.wa.us.
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Seattle Central College and Recology CleanScapes Sort it Out to Increase Waste Diversion Kelly Ferron, Waste Zero Specialist at Recology CleanScapes, kferron@recology.com In January, Recology CleanScapes teamed up with Seattle Central College’s Sustainability Council to perform a waste audit at their Capitol Hill campus. The Sustainability Council is tasked with diverting resources from the landfill by identifying opportunities for improvement and creating an engaging education plan with student and staff input. With these goals in mind, the Council and Recology CleanScapes designed a waste audit to measure both the garbage and recycling streams from different areas of the campus, and to determine the campus’ overall waste composition. Thirty student and staff volunteers representing the Sustainability Council, environmental studies classes, and general school population helped sort and measure over 80 bags of waste from heavy-use buildings at Seattle Central. Volunteers sorted, weighed and estimated volumes for nine different material categories. Based on findings from the audit, the Sustainability Council identified improvement areas on campus in which to focus education, and target certain materials that are frequently not placed in correct waste stream, such as food waste and paper cups. For example, a high percentage of food waste and liquid filled paper cups were found outside food-prohibited areas, such as computer labs. Moving forward, the Council plans to post the waste audit results in high traffic areas, create uniform waste stations and signage, and introduce a campus-wide campaign around its newly implemented composting program. Recology CleanScapes will be training the Council members to be on-site experts as they roll out their campaign and continue to reduce waste on campus. Tackling trash isn’t easy and it’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. Seattle Central is well on their way to environmental excellence!
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Bring Your Bag! Plastic Bag Reduction Policy Coming to Kirkland March 2016 John MacGillivray, Solid Waste Programs Lead, jmacgillivray@kirklandwa.gov, Jenna Higgins, Recycling Program Coordinator, jhiggins@kirklandwa.gov and Tracy Durnell, Education and Outreach Specialist, tdurnell@kirklandwa.gov On February 17, the Kirkland City Council voted to adopt a plastic bag reduction policy ordinance which will restrict retailers from offering disposable plastic bags to consumers after March 1, 2016. Nearby cities that have adopted plastic bag reduction policies include Seattle, Issaquah, Shoreline, Mercer Island and Edmonds. The new policy provides an incentive to consumers to bring their own reusable bags to the store by requiring retailers to charge at least five cents for each large paper shopping bag. Reusable bags are defined in the ordinance as having a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, and as machine washable. Retailers may continue to provide plastic bags for such items as bulk and frozen foods, meat and fish,
Olympic Technology Resources New name for Olympic Printer Resources, Inc. Jeff Petersen, President, Olympic Technology Resources, jeff@olyprinter.com As of January 1, 2015, Olympic Printer Resources, Inc. is doing business as Olympic Technology Resources. “After 21 years of custom remanufacturing printer cartridges and servicing printers, we have added services to support all of our client’s office technology needs,“ said company President Jeff Petersen. Services include: Information technology (IT) services for network and PC maintenance, software support, network administration, and security support. We offer IT Annual Managed Service Agreements for a minimum of twelve hours per year prorated and billed monthly at a significant savings of up to $25.00 per hour. Customers may use this pool of hours as they see fit to support their business needs. Full service support for laser printers, fax machines and small copiers. We respond to calls within 24 hours and our work is warranted for 90 days.
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Spring 2015
take-out foods, and newspaper, dry cleaning, and pet waste. During 2015, staff will give away thousands of high quality reusable bags to residents.
Pick up of electronic waste for responsible recycling, including items not covered by the Washington State free E-Cycle program. Billed per pound (minimum charge is $25.00). Free consulting on printer, fax, or copier purchases based on estimated output, cost of replacement cartridges, parts and service. We also offer equipment leasing programs to minimize up-front capital costs. “Though we are expanding and changing, we will continue our fundamental core business values by providing superior service to our customers, and environmental friendly and cost effective technology services,” said Vice President of Operations, Erik Petersen. “We are firm in our commitment to being a green sustainable business.” For more information and pricing on these services that are available throughout the Puget Sound region, contact Olympic Technology Resources at (360) 297-8384 or email sales@olytechresources.com.
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Threadcycle campaign encourages donation of all clothes, shoes, and linens King County, Seattle Public Utilities team with used clothing collectors to keep clothes, linens out of landfills Kris Beatty, LinkUp Program Manager, King County Solid Waste Division, kris.beatty@kingcounty.gov King County and Seattle Public Utilities have launched Threadcycle, a new joint effort to reduce the estimated 40,000 tons of clothes, shoes and linens that area residents and businesses send to landfills each year. The campaign, which partners with eight area organizations that collect used clothes, shoes and linens for reuse or recycling, aims to educate the public about the wide range of conditions in which those items are accepted. “People are accustomed to hearing that only ‘gently used’ items can be given to thrift stores and drop boxes—many don’t know that they can give damaged clothes and linens, or even single shoes and socks, which will either be reused, or recycled and used to make new products,” said Kris Beatty, program manager for King County Solid Waste Division. “The good news is that recycling markets are strong for these postconsumer textiles, and many collectors in our area want more textiles,” Beatty said. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing per year; up to 95 percent of the used clothes, shoes and linens thrown in the garbage could have been reused or recycled. To give new life to these materials and decrease the amount of textiles that end up in landfills, the Threadcycle campaign is partnering with nine organizations and businesses to educate the public. Campaign partners who accept clothes, shoes and linens in any condition except wet, mildewed, or contaminated with hazardous materials are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, Seattle Goodwill, Northwest Center, Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores, SightConnection, TexGreen, USAgain, and Value Village. “Every day, recyclable and reusable clothes, shoes, and linens end up in the garbage due to the misconception that thrift stores and other collectors will only accept resalable items,” said Liz Fikejs, conservation program manager for Seattle Public Utilities. “By giving away these items instead of throwing them away, we can conserve valuable resources and keep a significant amount of waste out of landfills.”
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Here are our top tips to ensure your clothes, shoes, and linens have a second life: • Give ALL your clothes, shoes and linens—even the sadly torn and badly worn. These items aren’t garbage anymore—give it ALL for reuse or recycling. • Give your single socks, shoes, gloves and other “orphan” items that are normally paired. Collectors will happily take them. • Many other items can be given in ANY condition, including stuffed animals, purses, belts, and other accessories. (See the full list of accepted items) • Know the exceptions to the rule: Don’t give items that are wet, mildewed, or soiled with hazardous materials. These items can contaminate an entire load of usable items, or present a safety hazard. • Know where to give—it’s easy! Collection options are easy to find and may be closer than you think. They include drop boxes, thrift stores, stationary collection trailers, scheduled pick-up, and special collection events. Threadcycle collection partners. • Clothes, shoes, and linens do NOT go into local curbside recycling carts. These items can jam up machinery in traditional recycling facilities. The exceptions to this are in Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Carnation, Issaquah, Maple Valley, and SeaTac, which have special programs that take clothing at curbside following specific guidelines. • Buy wisely. You can save resources by purchasing quality, durable items in classic styles, supporting second hand stores, and buying only what you need. To learn more about Threadcycle, what items can be given for reuse or recycling, and where or how to donate, visit www.kingcounty.gov/ threadcycle.
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The Report Washington State Residents Give a Thumbs Up to Clothing Recycling USAgain clothing collection bins offer convenient recycling option Rasham Grewal, USAgain, r.grewal@usagain.com USAgain diverted four million pounds of clothing and shoes from landfills in 2014 thanks to Washington state residents. That’s 849 garbage trucks diverted from going to landfills! USAgain, the national textile recycler provides an outlet to give surplus clothing a second life through a network of thousands of recycling bins located nationwide. By diverting 3,715,763 pounds of textiles, USAgain and its patrons prevented 26 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, saved more than 5 billion gallons of water, and 21,232 cubic yards of landfill space. USAgain recycling programs are hosted in partnership with municipalities, local businesses, event based community drives and fundraisers for schools and non-profits. “We want to commend Washington state residents for their commitment to sustainability. These collections continue to keep clothing out of our landfills having a positive impact on our environment,” said USAgain CEO Mattias Wallander. “Textile recycling programs are getting attention from municipalities with a goal to improve their overall waste diversion rates and we are working diligently to assist with their goal.” Recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows 5.7 percent of the municipal solid waste (MSW) is textiles. A staggering 12 million tons of clothing and shoes end up in the garbage and make their way to the landfills every year. “We are making progress but our mission is to further reduce the amount
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Spring 2015
of clothing that ends up in the landfills through education and outreach events in addition to our clothing recycling bins,” Wallander said. “Every bit counts and our goal is to gain more partnerships and increase the textile recycling rate to 75 percent.” USAgain, a leader in the textile recycling industry since 1999, is a for-profit company that recycles and reuses clothing, shoes and other textiles. Its mission is to provide consumers with a convenient and eco-friendly option to rid themselves of excess clothing, which is diverted from landfills. USAgain maintains more than 12,500 collection bins in 19 states.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Retail, Repeat: Recology CleanScapes Opens Customer Service Center & Retail Store in Burien Megan McCain, Recology CleanScapes Waste Zero Specialist, mmccain@recology.com “By encouraging our residents to consider the impact materials can have on our environment and by offering solutions, Recology CleanScapes is helping our community achieve a more sustainable future,” said Burien Mayor Lucy Krakowiak. In its first month of operation, The Recology store welcomed over 700 visitors and collected nearly 300 hard-to-recycle items. “This store is a great addition to our Highline communities!” said SeaTac Mayor Mia Gregerson. “We are delighted to welcome a concept that changes the way we think about how we use our materials and makes recycling more convenient for our residents.”
On January 31, 2015, Recology CleanScapes, in partnership with the cities of Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac, celebrated the grand opening of The Recology Store Highline (http://www.cleanscapes.com/burien/ community/cleanscapes_highline_store/). Located at the Five Corners Shopping Center in Burien, the recycling-focused retail store and customer service center features creative products and gifts designed to help residents reduce waste and provides in-person customer service support. At the rear of the store is a dedicated area where residents can drop off hard-to-recycle items such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, textiles, small electronics, and even bicycles. The store also serves as a community forum for environmental outreach and education. Local youth groups are able to visit the store for waste reduction presentations and activities. In the evenings, the store is available as a meeting space for local non-profits, environmental and community groups.
The Recology Store Highline is preceded by the Recology Store Issaquah, which opened in 2012 and is located in Issaquah’s historic Gilman Village. 2014 was a record-breaking year at the Recology Store Issaquah where over 15,000 visitors stopped in and nearly 3,000 special recycling item drop offs were made!
Good News for Foam Recycling! Marilyn Lauderdale, Manager, Styro Recycle, marilyn@styrorecycle.com It can be an uncomfortable feeling even for casual recyclers—you pull your new product out of a mold of styrene foam packaging and end up with no option but to toss all that packaging in the trash. There is a small, local operation willing to take your styrene foam leftovers and satisfy your inner recycler at the same time, for free—Styro Recycle. Styro Recycle, dedicated to helping the community and businesses with options for removing Styrene Foam from the waste stream, will be celebrating six years of recycling this year.
material that has been previously bound for the landfill: LDPE #4 foam (spongey foam), mostly found in electronic packaging. They have recently acquired another piece of equipment just for densifying this material! “We have estimated that there has been over 1,000 pounds daily of the LDPE #4 foam material going to the landfill,” said Lauderdale. “This new equipment will process approx. 200 pounds an hour.”
“We would like to thank everyone in the recycling community including Ikea and the City of Renton for their support; we could not have done this with them,” said Styro Recycle Manager, Marilyn Lauderdale.
As of July of 2015, Styro Recycle will be relocating from Renton to the Park 234 business park in Kent. Their current space will be Ikea’s brand new retail store (Congratulations Ikea!). They look forward to establishing good community relations in their new location and will be sending out more information on their move in the coming months.
In addition to foam recycling, Styro Recycle has been accepting flattened cardboard, packaging peanuts in boxes or bags, clear bubble wrap, and clear plastic wrapping. The company is now prepared to accept another
“Once we work out the logistics of how this space will work for a public drop off, we will blast the media outlets to let everyone know,” said Lauderdale.
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The Report
Products & Services Ecova’s New Waste Manager Module Will Help Clients Shrink Waste For 2015 Kate Shepard, Ecova, ksheppard@ecova.com Originally posted to the Ecova blog by Erik Makinson on Jan 14, 2015 It’s a new year and a lot of us have our minds on what we want to accomplish in 2015. After a holiday of over-consumption, some of us are probably focusing on our waist sizes, but here at Ecova, we’re more focused on the size of our clients’ waste—namely, how to track it, manage it, and ultimately pay less for it. This year the task will be easier than ever thanks to the new Waste Manager module on the Ecova Energy and Sustainability Management Platform. The introduction of the Waste Manager module on the Ecova Platform is an exciting milestone for us and our clients. The module enhances the existing Expense Management functionality with new waste and recycling reports and features, for a more cost-effective way for multisite businesses to track, analyze and report on key waste metrics across their portfolio. Clients will have better visibility into their waste cost,
generation and diversion metrics, enabling greater financial savings and environmental benefits. Additionally, Ecova clients can now submit work orders online 24 hours per day, 365 days per year—whether they desire a larger dumpster, need to report a missed pick-up or need their compactor emptied. Businesses that rely solely on reports from their service provider may be missing critical pieces of data or opportunities. But every day, Ecova’s world-class Waste Solutions delivery team, rich in industry expertise, delights clients by providing cost reducing services to sites. Our new Waste Manager module will enhance the robust suite of waste services that Ecova provides, which consistently demonstrates between 10 and 20 percent (or more) savings for our clients. Contact us today to learn how you can shrink your waste in 2015.
Magnum’s 2014 Environmental Savings By using Magnum toner, 357 trees were spared in 2014! Ellen Gengler, Marketing Manager, ellen@magnumlaser.com In 2014 Magnum brand toner users and participants of Magnum’s Recycling Program made significant progress in environmental savings and reducing landfill waste. Magnum Print Solutions, producer of Magnum brand toner, is the largest toner remanufacturer in the Northwest and has redesigned the toner cartridge manufacturing process, optimizing packaging design and recycling efforts to minimize waste and maximize component reuse. Over 350 million toner cartridges are discarded in landfills every year. Magnum’s process of reuse is a significant climate friendly option. “The Magnum toner cartridge can be reused up to 12 times,” according to Steve Seavecki, Owner and President of Magnum. “By choosing a locally remanufactured cartridge that stays in the US, companies can make a real impact.” To track the impact, Magnum created an online ”Carbon Calculator” which lists the environmental savings of each element of a toner cartridge including metal, oil, trees, water and greenhouse gases. Magnum users’ total environmental savings in 2014: • Conserved 107,100 quarts of oil and 321,300 pounds of raw materials • Diverted 142,800 pounds of recyclable materials from landfills • Saved 357 trees and 253,470 gallons of water • Prevented 42,840 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions List of Articles
Spring 2015
The Magnum Recycling Program recycles used toner cartridges from businesses throughout the Puget Sound. Magnum provides containers for used cartridges and works with the business to arrange pickup. Participating businesses educate their employees about the impact of cartridges on our environment, and designate areas for the cartridge recycle containers. Organizations enrolled in this program include the University of Washington as well as locally owned office supply distributors Keeney’s and Chuckals. Magnum Print Solutions is a manufacturer, wholesale distributor and direct supplier of Magnum brand toner cartridges nationally and internationally. Magnum also provides onsite supplies management, office machine sales and service for businesses in the Pacific Northwest. In 2013, Magnum was named as a finalist for King County Executive’s Small Business of the Year. In 2012 and 2013 Magnum was named one of 50 Green Companies in Washington State and received a Governor’s Award in recognition of their efforts to recruit, hire and promote individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment. Magnum was named one of the top 100 fastest growing private companies in Washington State. Magnum was also named one of Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 fastest growing companies across the country.
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Members on the Move
Members on the Move Full Circle Environmental, Inc. Welcomes Aboard Elizabeth Szorad David Stitzhal, President, Full Circle Environmental, stitzhal@fullcircleenvironmental.com Full Circle is thrilled to bring on staff Elizabeth Szorad. Elizabeth comes to us from Recology CleanScapes where she served as a Waste Diversion Intern and Customer Service Specialist. She has spent countless hours supporting businesses and residents to improve their waste management practices. Elizabeth is a skilled communicator, is fluent in Spanish and is already at work on projects for client cities including Bellevue, Issaquah and Redmond. She is an honors graduate from the University of Washington, with an Environmental Studies major and minors in Law Societies & Justice and Human Rights. We think you will enjoy working with her as much as we do. You can reach her at szorad@fullcircleenvironmental.com
Waste Management Welcomes New Recycling Education Representative Vaughn Roadruck Robin Freedman, Senior Communications Manager, WM Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, rfreedma@wm.com Vaughn Roadruck joined Waste Management’s Pacific Northwest Public Education & Outreach Team in late 2014, and will focus on providing recycling and composting education services for Central and Eastern Washington and Idaho, including leading educational tours of the SMaRT Center in Spokane. Vaughn is a veteran of the United States Air Force and enjoys fishing, camping and exploring the Inland Empire. Vaughn is a Spokane native and a graduate from Eastern Washington University (EWU). While at EWU, he developed a passion for working in sustainability education and local sustainability planning. This led him to a project with local government aimed at creating new ways of understanding recycling diversion rates and recycling behaviors. Welcome, Vaughn!
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People on the Move at Seattle Public Utilities— Sego Jackson & Dick Lilly Seattle Public Utilities has hired Sego Jackson, previously Project Specialist for Snohomish County, to replace Dick Lilly as SPU’s strategic advisor for waste prevention and product stewardship, who is retiring after 15 years with the utility. For the greater part of the last eight years, Dick and Sego have worked together on the Northwest Product Stewardship Council steering committee and other NWPSC committees. At SPU, Dick has been responsible for development and management of the city’s toughest-in-the-nation regulations restricting the single-use, throw-away food service packaging typically used in “fast food” restaurants to either compostable or recyclable alternatives, a program called Food+. The Seattle regulations grew out of the city’s “Styrofoam” ban and work to divert food leftovers and packaging to composting, keeping organics away from the landfill where they would produce the potent greenhouse gas methane. The result is a pathway to nearly zero waste in the quick-serve restaurant industry. Dick also managed Seattle’s yellow pages phone book opt-out system and the roll-out of the city’s plastic shopping bag ban. As strategic advisor for SPU, Sego will continue his work on product stewardship and will take over management of the Food+ as well. “I greatly appreciate the remarkable opportunities Snohomish County has given me to really make a difference in the world,” said Sego. “I look forward to the next opportunity to work with you as I anticipate the Seattle position will include and amplify many work relationships and partnerships that have come before.” Please join us in congratulating Dick and Sego on their next adventures! Contact Dick at dick.lilly@comcast.net and Sego at sego. jackson@seattle.gov.
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The Report Haydon Morris Joins Toter, LLC Katie Salinas, Director of Sales, Western Region, Toter, LLC, ksalinas@wastequip.com Toter is pleased to announce that Haydon Morris will be joining us as a Regional Sales Manager overseeing the Pacific Northwest, and Western Canada. Building on his existing relationships and network, Haydon will be focused on business development and account management working closely with our hauler and municipal clients. Haydon brings nearly four years of industry experience, most recently selling commercial recycling and sustainability services to Seattle-area businesses. Haydon is a graduate of Washington State University and is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing! Haydon will be based in Seattle and can be reached at 206 697-1230 or hmorris@wastequip.com I hope to introduce you to Haydon in-person soon. In the meantime, please join me in extending a warm welcome!
Pierce County Public Works—Sustainable Resources Welcomes Chris Brown Sheryl Rhinehart, Outreach Coordinator, srhineh@co.pierce.wa.us Pierce County Public Works welcomes new staff member Chris Brown to the Sustainable Resources division. Chris was promoted to Management Analyst in February. He will coordinate grants, collect and analyze recycling and disposal data and assist with budgeting. He’ll also be the project manager for the annual Waste Trends Analysis. Chris has a business degree with a finance concentration from the University of Washington. He has worked for the department for 15 years, starting in Road Operations and most recently as the department-wide Training Coordinator.
Members Give Back
Members Give Back Seattle Clothing Drive—500 pounds of clothing delivered to Union Gospel Mission Robin Freedman, Senior Communications Manager, WM Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, rfreedma@wm.com Throughout the month of January, Waste Management employees hosted a clothing drive to benefit Seattle’s homeless men, women and children. They collected 500 pounds of clothing! On February 5, 2015 Waste Management “dumped” the clothing using a Waste Management truck and bins at the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. On hand to help celebrate will be City Councilwoman Sally Clark, Seattle Human Services Department Director John Okamoto, and Tim Croll from Seattle Public Utilities.
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The Report NEWSLETTER TEAM
Susan Long Marketing & Communications Committee Starbucks Coffee Co.
Helen Freilich Marketing & Communications Committee City of Port Angeles
2014–15 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Christopher Piercy President Kitsap County Public Works
Jennifer Goodheart Secretary City of Bellevue
Candy Castellanos Vice President Waste Management
Jeff West Treasurer New Day Recycling
Troy Lautenbach Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Lautenbach Industries
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rita Smith Newsletter Editor Groundwork Communication
Dustin Bender Sunshine Disposal & Recycling
Scott Campbell Waste Connections, Inc.
Alli Kingfisher WA State Dept of Ecology
Charlie Maxwell, Jr. LeMay Pierce County Refuse
Lisa Sepanski King County Solid Waste
Susan Thoman Cedar Grove Composting
Mark Tveit City of Tacoma
Angela Wallis Independent
Sheryl Rhinehart Newsletter Layout/Design Pierce County Public Works
WSRA STAFF
Emily Phillips Executive Director
545 Andover Park West, Suite 209 Tukwila, WA 98188 Anne Piacentino Events & Communications Coordinator List of Articles
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Email: recycle@wsra.net Phone: 206-244-0311 Fax: 206-244-4413 • 23 •