King County announces 2010 Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction list

Companies find cutting waste is also a way to cut costs in tough economic climate

King County’s Solid Waste Division has named 75 local companies to its 2010 “Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list – recognizing businesses with exceptional recycling programs and for their commitment to reducing the amount of waste their company produces.

This year’s list spans a wide array of businesses in King County including hospitality, professional services, manufacturing, architecture, retail, finance, government and others. Innovative recycling and waste reduction strategies also run the gamut, from Tukwila-based BECU credit union’s “paperless mortgages” to the Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel’s new successful guest room recycling program.

“Given the state of the economy in 2010, we know businesses need to capitalize on every opportunity to lower their operating costs,” said Karen May, project manager with the King County Solid Waste Division. “It could be as simple as setting printers to default to double-sided pages, reducing waste and cutting down on paper expenses. Other businesses have found that by consistently recycling more, they can downsize their dumpster and save on their garbage bill.

“We encourage businesses to take an honest look at what their waste is costing them,” May said. “They might just find that a stronger recycling and waste reduction program makes good economic sense.”

Last year, businesses in King County sent more than 200,000 tons of recyclable materials to the landfill. Surprisingly, the commercial waste stream still contains 22 percent paper, what many consider the easiest item to recycle. At 27 percent, the largest percentage of material heading to the landfill from businesses is food scraps and food-soiled paper.

“We started composting food waste last year and have had great success,” said Sarah Barnes, manager of Pogacha restaurant in Issaquah and a second year Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction. “We have cut our garbage by over half, and even inspired many of our staff members to begin composting at home. We had initial resistance to this change, but the transition was really smooth, and I would suggest that any business at least give it a shot.”

Frito Lay, Inc.’s Federal Way facility made the list last year but in 2010 stepped up its recycling efforts even more. The 130-employee facility now recycles almost 90 percent of its waste and is striving for zero waste going to the landfill. The company’s “zero landfill” program tracks progress on a monthly basis.

The “green committee” at Redmond-based Noetix Corporation has made the list for a second year in a row. This past year, the company implemented a collection program for employees to recycle plastic bags they bring in from home, and held its first "zero waste" company picnic, where all items were recycled or composted.

All businesses operating in King County outside the City of Seattle were eligible for the list. To secure their spot, businesses were 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.

King County releases the Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction list annually. This year’s list of businesses has increased by 10 from 2009, and is more than triple the number of businesses on the list from four years ago. The county’s goal in establishing the list was to recognize the top recyclers and waste reducers, and help motivate others in the local business community to improve recycling and waste reduction practices.

To see the complete list of “Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction” and to learn more about what these businesses are doing to improve recycling programs, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore. The 2010 King County Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction are listed below. To learn more about this program, contact Karen May at 206-296-4353, or karen.may@kingcounty.gov.

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Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction

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King County Solid Waste