Household Choices
Eco-Cool Remodel Tool provides remodeling tips for healthy, comfortable spaces that can save you money, increase your home’s value and help protect the environment.
King County’s GreenTools Program helps builders, residents, businesses, governments and others create green buildings and sustainable infrastructure. GreenTools also provides technical assistance, hands-on training and grants.
Using fluorescent bulbs and tubes are great ways to save energy but they contain dangerous mercury and must be properly recycled.
Commuting Choices
Ride the bus instead of driving alone and you’ll reduce greenhouse gases and the amount of green leaving your wallet.
Join or start a Metro vanpool Metro’s Vanpool Program has low monthly fares that include gas, insurance, maintenance and roadside service.
Try carpooling Share the ride with neighbors and friends to save gas and other commute costs–and use the carpool lane to zip past traffic. It’s easy to find a rideshare partner.
Consumer Choices
Recycle electronics at a Take it Back Network location. They will take back products such as computers, TVs, cell phones and certain other household electronics. You can recycle computers, monitors, TVs and e-readers for free at E-Cycle Washington (external) locations.
"What do I do with?" website offers information on how to recycle, re-use or properly dispose of nearly 100 categories of items—from electronics to propane tanks.
King County’s EcoConsumer Program offers resources to help balance consuming with conserving.
Safely dispose of your left over or expired medications at a pharmacy or law enforcement office.
Choosing environmentally friendly, biodegradable household cleaning and personal care products minimizes the entry of harmful chemicals into the environment.
Careful what you flush. The label might say "flushable," but disposable wipes and other products are clogging our sewer lines and damaging pumps and other equipment.
Leisure Choices
Volunteer to restore habitat in a King County park or natural area. Learn about and explore the nature that lies just outside your door.
King County offers plenty of pesticide-free outdoor places where kids and pets can play worry free.
Plant right for your site using native vegetation that looks great and requires little or no maintenance. You save both time and money when you use native plants and trees, plus they need fewer potentially harmful pesticides.
Learn how climate change could impact your forest and discover solutions for your property on our Forestry Climate Preparedness and Response website.
Choose from more than 700 environmentally responsible businesses, including landscapers, car repair shops, dry cleaners and dentists that display the EnviroStars decal.
Food Choices
Food scraps and food-soiled paper make up more than 30 percent of residential garbage. Learn how to recycle food scraps in your curbside yard waste cart.
King County grow fresh food year ‘round with nearly 1,500 farms across the County and more than three dozen farmers markets. Buying locally supports King County’s agricultural community.
Choices at Work
Consider creating an office supplies exchange at work. Reusable office supplies reduce the purchase of new supplies and prevents old supplies from being sent to landfills.
Take the stairs! Getting out of the elevator and taking the stairs keeps you active and cuts energy.