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2016 News & topics archive

SWD news

Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Solid Waste Division


2016 News & topics archive

21
DEC

KOMO4 News: Last-Minute Green Holidays Youtube
From healthier, more sustainable candy canes from PCC Natural Markets, to examples of DIY Hanukkah decorations and gifts made by students at Seattle Hebrew Academy, KOMO4's Mary Nam and King County's Tom Watson check out a blizzard of fun ideas!

12
DEC

Reminder: Solid waste fee increase Jan. 1 helps King County update facilities, add recycling
New solid waste disposal fees will take effect beginning Jan. 1, to help King County update portions of its 50-year-old solid waste system and increase recycling options.

6
DEC

Natural Resources and Parks is the first King County department to be carbon neutral
Department is King County’s first agency to achieve an ambitious goal set by Executive Constantine to make its operations and purchases carbon neutral.

30
NOV

KOMO4 News: Green and Local Holidays Youtube
Go local and green at home by saving energy on holiday lighting, and then by buying locally-produced foods and other products for your gift-giving and entertaining! KOMO4?s Mary Nam and King County?s Tom Watson check out fun items from Hood Famous Bakeshop, Palengke, Soda Jerk, Bonnie B?s Peppers, Herbivore Botanicals and more!

16
NOV

KOMO4 News: DIY Green Holidays Youtube
KOMO4's Mary Nam and King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson show fun ideas for holiday gifts and decorations you can make from egg cartons, paper bags, pop bottles, fabric scraps and other recycled and salvaged items!

1
NOV

10 Fun Tips for Making Your Holidays Green external link
If you plan to make some of your own “green” gifts and decorations this year, start early! Article by King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson in the AgeWise King County newsletter.

21
OCT

KOMO4 News: Green Halloween Costume Ideas Youtube
KOMO4's Molly Shen is joined by King County's Tom Watson, Jeanette Brizendine from the City of Federal Way, her son Elliott, and Diana, Freya and Hannah, modeling fun Halloween costumes made from reused and recycled materials. Our costume theme this year was tools and technology!

5
OCT

New web cameras at King County solid waste facilities let customers see average wait times
King County's Solid Waste Division is helping customers make more informed decisions about where and when to dispose of their waste and recycling. With the installation of new web cameras, customers will be able to view the line of vehicles waiting to enter six of the division's busiest transfer stations.

27
SEP

Modest solid waste rate increase will help County update facilities, add recycling options
For the first time since 2013, King County will increase its solid waste disposal fee, and residents who pay for curbside collection service as well as customers who use a County solid waste facility will see a modest increase in disposal rates. The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2017, and will help pay for the modernization of solid waste management and recycling systems.

14
SEP

KOMO4 News: Green Your Bathroom Youtube
KOMO4's Molly Shen and King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson check out ways to go green too when you're in the loo!

18
AUG

King County holds C&D recycling workshops external link
King County Solid Waste Division has scheduled a series of workshops to help construction professionals recycle C&D materials at county-designated facilities — Construction and Demolition Recycling Magazine.

17
AUG

Learn new King County construction and demolition recycling rules at free workshops
New rules are in place for recycling construction and demolition materials in King County, and the King County Solid Waste Division is sponsoring a series of educational workshops to help the construction industry understand the new policies.

11
AUG

Cutting commercial food waste is goal of new King County grant program
The King County Solid Waste Division has awarded grants to two businesses and one city that are trying new ways of reducing food waste.

3
AUG

KOMO4 News: Rain Gardens Youtube
How and why to put a rain garden on your property, with stormwater management and sustainability experts John Phillips from King County's Wastewater Treatment Division and Frances Kuo from ECOSS, joining King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and KOMO's Molly Shen.

21
JUL

Swimming in stuff? Join our ‘Buy Nothing Month’ external link
Think about how not to throw anything away, as well as how not to buy anything—Sarah Stuteville's Seattle Globalist column in the Seattle Times quotes King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson.

13
JUL

KOMO4 News: Eco Hair Care Youtube
Local green mom and environmental professional Angela Wallis and her daughters Elsa and baby Gwen help King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and KOMO4's Mary Nam show eco-friendly hair care ideas.

22
JUN

KOMO4 News: Recycling Solutions Youtube
How much are aluminum cans worth? What do you do with food takeout containers, plastic caps, small propane canisters or pet food bags? King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and KOMO4's Mary Nam have the answers.

1
JUN

KOMO4 News: Safe in the Sun Youtube
UW's Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and KOMO4's Mary Nam share tips – think sun-protective clothing, and lotion or stick sunscreen – for staying safe in the hot Seattle summer sun.

11
MAY

KOMO4 News: Preventing Food Waste Youtube
King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and KOMO4's Mary Nam show what 290 pounds of food – the amount each American wastes in a year! – looks like, and Tom shares tips for reducing all that food waste.

22
APR

KOMO4 News: Earth Day Youtube
KOMO4's Molly Shen and King County's Tom Watson check out cool green innovations, including an electric bike from Electric Lady Bicycles, a Zero electric motorcycle, and the award-winning enviro innovation project AgriC from UW student team members Daniel Park, Xinyao (Jade) Ding, Andy Tan and Moni Pal.

21
APR

Earth Day 2016 - Small daily actions can add up to big, earth-friendly changes
Proclaiming April 22 as "Earth Action Day" in King County, Executive Dow Constantine encourages residents to celebrate by taking up a new green lifestyle habit.

20
APR

King County’s ‘Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling’ list enters 10th year
Businesses can apply regardless of size or sector. Last year, the list included businesses ranging from airlines to elementary schools and community hospitals to pizzerias.

6
APR

KOMO4 News: Repair Time Youtube
Fixing household items – keeping them out of the landfill! – is easier than you think. KOMO4's Mary Nam and King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson check out creative repair solutions, from moldable glue to free community repair events to Seattle?s Rainy Pass Repair shop, specializing in outdoor equipment.

4
APR

Repair, Don't Toss, for Earth Day! external link
Learn how to embrace the rising repair movement in an article by King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson in the AgeWise King County newsletter.

29
MAR

Fix it, don’t toss it, at free community repair events in Renton, Kent and Federal Way
Everyone knows the saying, 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,' but with Earth Day coming up soon, it’s a great time to embrace a fourth 'R' – repair.

16
MAR

KOMO4 News: Spring Clutter Busting Youtube
From paper shredding tips to space-saving t-shirt storage ideas to an entryway storage unit made from salvaged materials, KOMO4's Mary Nam and King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson check out fun ways to get a handle on your home – and office – clutter!

25
FEB

King County Green Schools Program recognizes six schools, helps schools achieve results
Hundreds of schools from 33 cities in King County are reducing waste and recycling, conserving resources, and cutting costs with help from the King County Green Schools Program.

3
FEB

KOMO4 News: Eco Kids Youtube
From Lego rentals to an innovative youth program called FEEST, KOMO4's Mary Nam, King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson and Elizabeth and Karishma from FEEST show how the youngest, and their parents, can be the greenest!

19
JAN

KOMO4 News: Green Fitness Youtube
Your New Year’s resolution may be to “get lean,” but why not “go green” at the same time? KOMO4’s Molly Shen and King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson check out an exercise bike that generates electricity, stylish yoga leggings made from plastic bottles, and more!

14
JAN

Nominations sought for King County’s Earth Heroes at School awards program
King County is seeking nominations for the Earth Heroes at School program which recognizes students, teachers, staff, volunteers, programs and even entire schools that protect the environment and teach others to do the same.

5
JAN

King County approves recycling facilities ahead of construction and demolition disposal ban
Taking another step toward reducing waste, King County is increasing the number of private businesses that can take readily recyclable construction and demolition (C&D) material.

King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal

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