Zero Waste Washington drives policy change for a healthy and waste-free world. We envision a just, equitable, and sustainable future where we all produce, consume, and reuse responsibly.
Zero Waste Washington
Officially turns 40!
We are celebrating all who helped make it happen over the past 4 decades
Saturday, September 17, 2022, 2-4 pm
Gasworks Park Picnic Shelter, Seattle (Outdoors!)
IMPORTANT NOTE: We changed the location to Gasworks Park from Montlake Playfield Park, due to logistics issues.
We will be at the large picnic shelter that abuts the old red gasworks machinery works under the big roof.
You can’t miss us!
Come join the fun as we look back at each of the four decades of ups and downs, laughs and sighs, and so many wonderful policies and programs tackling waste in Washington.
This outdoor fest will be kid and pet-friendly and include themed food (!), unexpected games, photos and items from each decade, and a brief program honoring the people who made it happen. This is not a fundraiser. You won’t want to miss it.
Please rsvp at https://40thcelebration.bpt.me
Or rsvp directly to Michelle Alten-Kaehler at
michelle@ zerowastewashington.org or (425) 803-0653, to receive event information.
Last minute decisions are OK.
The beginnings of Zero Waste Washington
In 1979, a determined group of activists organized to launch Initiative 61, a Washington State bottle bill (which followed an earlier effort in 1970). While Initiative 61 failed to garner the votes needed, it inspired those involved to take action to strengthen recycling and reuse in Washington. The dedicated advocates continued meeting, and Washington Citizens for Recycling, today Zero Waste Washington, was born. In September 1982, the organization gained 501(c)(3) status. Through the years, staff and board worked with partners to pilot and test and advocate for cutting edge policies that have led the nation. From the passage of the 1989 Waste Not Washington Act that fostered curbside recycling, to the 1990s law requiring government agencies to use recycled materials, the 2006 E-Cycle Washington Program, the recent Medicine Return, PaintCare and plastic bag and Styrofoam bans, Zero Waste Washington and partners have been a catalyst for real change.
It’s a party! Come meet people who think zero waste
On September 17th, at Montlake Playfield Park, from 2:00-4:00, we will have a ball as we celebrate 40 years of working to make Washington State healthy and waste-free. At this children and pet-friendly event, board members, staff, volunteers, and partners, past and present, will meet up with old and new friends for games, refreshments, and a walk through history, viewing displays of photographs and memorabilia recalling their work with Zero Waste Washington. A brief program will recognize everyone who made it all happen over the past 40+ years.
To rsvp and if you have questions or suggestions, please contact Michelle at michelle@zerowastewashington.org or (425) 829-9497. Do you have memorabilia from the past 40+ years? Let us know! We would love to display it
By Carl Baird, Zero Waste Washington, Heather Church, WA State Department of Ecology, and Amanda Gibson, Volunteer at large
Across the US, the use of single-use food service ware in schools has a significant impact on our health and the environment. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, and county representatives are all part of a movement to bring reusable, durable materials back to school cafeterias. This helps these institutions meet recycling and waste reduction goals. In Washington, Zero Waste Washington has convened the Washington Workgroup for Sustainable School Cafeterias to assist schools and school districts across Washington state to implement reusable solutions in the lunchroom. This workgroup brings together professionals and volunteers committed to helping school cafeterias waste less, transition to durable service ware, and meet the needs of their students.
Sami Springs (Clark County Green Schools), Margaret Rice (Washougal School District ), and Ellen Ives (Waste Connections) with durable foodware at Washougal High School. Photo from Washougal School District. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com
Workgroup objectives
To spur healthier and more sustainable school cafeterias, the workgroup established the following objectives:
- Collect information on the current state of durable use, recycling, and composting in school districts throughout the state, as well as barriers to adopting more sustainable practices;
- Use that information to help school districts reduce waste and transition to durables;
- Provide a network of resources for school districts, nonprofits, and agencies working to promote sustainable practices in our cafeterias; and
- Increase awareness and support for these practices throughout our communities.
Washington schools are already making progress
Many schools and districts in Washington are taking action, joining the districts (Seattle and others) that led the effort in recent years. Here are just a few examples:
- Spokane International Academy is replacing their single use expanded polystyrene lunch trays with durable, reusable trays to decrease their waste by up to 900 trays per day.
- Pullman School District in Whitman County is using magnetic garbage can lids, as well as education and outreach, to retain silverware in their cafeterias.
- Federal Way Public Schools in King County will transition Mirror Lake and Wildwood schools from single-use baskets to re-usable, five-compartment lunch trays.
- Washougal High School, Jemtegaard Middle/Columbia River Gorge Elementary Schools, and Canyon Creek Middle/Cape Horn Skye Elementary Schools in Clark and Skamania counties transitioned their culinary services department into a scratch cooking program and reduced waste from their cafeterias by transitioning to durable service ware. This year, each of these schools will continue their efforts by purchasing a milk dispenser and reusable glassware to reduce landfill waste from used milk cartons.
- Kirkwood, Garfield, and Lincoln Elementary Schools, and Toppenish Middle and High Schoolsin Yakima County will purchase reusable trays for all the kitchens in the district to reduce the use of single-use paper, plastic, and expanded polystyrene products. Toppenish School District provides meals to over 4,000 students daily, including breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snacks.
Ecology is now accepting 2023 School Award Submissions.
Do you know a school or school district that may be interested in implementing a waste reduction program in their cafeterias or classrooms? Ecology’s Waste Not Washington School Award Program is now open and accepting applications for the 2023 funding cycle! This program awards schools up to $5,000 for projects in waste reduction, recycling, and composting and requires no matching funds. Feel free to browse Examples of Waste Reduction Programs to see what kinds of programs have been implemented or are suggested, but remember- this isn’t an exhaustive list and if your school has an idea for a new program, contact us! Ecology staff is always happy to talk with interested applicants and walk them through the process.
Contact Ecology at schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov with any questions you have!
To find out about and join the Washington Workgroup for Sustainable School Cafeterias, please contact Stephanie Lecovin at stephlecovin@outlook.com.
By Xenia Dolovova, Waste Reduction Programs Director
The Furniture Fix-It project is gaining traction. Donated damaged or imperfect furniture is being repaired and refurbished to almost new condition and then provided to refugee and low-income families. We are excited to share our results so far. And we need a name – we are seeking your creative suggestions!
Furniture program action
We have recently completed three events in partnership with the City of Tacoma (April), Food Lifeline in Seattle (July) and Bainbridge BARN (August). Dozens of volunteers came together to learn from each other, repair, create, collaborate, and have fun. So far, the project has provided repaired and refurbished furniture for 53 recently arrived refugees (14 families), saved 8,775 lbs. of furniture from the landfill, and helped avoid 4,180 kgCO2e of emissions.
We need a name
As the program grows, we see a need to graduate from a working name Furniture Fix-it into something that is catchy and easily remembered. We are announcing a contest for a new name for the project! To help guide your creativity, here is a summary of what we are trying to name.
WHY and WHO we SERVE:
- We are guided by two main goals – reduce furniture waste and get great furniture to people who need it.
- We help local communities find a working outlet to give furniture a second chance, which then benefits refugee and low-income families with refurbished furniture.
WHAT and HOW we DO it:
- Reclaim and collect distressed furniture items from the public, organizations, or businesses through pick-ups and collection events.
- Refurbish, redesign, refinish, reupholster, repair, revive, revamp, renovate, restore, (you got it) with help from amazing fixers and crafty volunteers. Lots of education happens, too, for volunteers and the public on refurbishing strategies.
- Give items a second life by donating them to families in need.
Please share your ideas for a new name with us by September 15: https://form.jotform.com/xenadolo/furniturename
All ideas welcome!
You Could Win…
The winner will be announced mid-September and will get an exclusive Zero Waste Washington tote bag, social media mention when the new name is revealed, and recognition at the Zero Waste Washington 40th anniversary celebration. (This will the best zero waste party ever hosted 😉).
Another need: warehouse or similar space
We are looking for a space (min 1000 sq. ft.) within King County to temporarily host our growing operations. Please let us know if you have any leads!
Before and after
Enjoy this gallery of amazing before and after photos of furniture pieces the project delivered to refugee families.
To volunteer with the project (no previous skills necessary): https://form.jotform.com/ZeroWasteWA/furniture-fix-it. We are also seeking fixers with woodworking or electrical skills. For other ideas and suggestions, and any ideas on storage or locations or transportations services, or if you have any other questions, email Xenia at xenia@zerowastewashington.org
Tracy (one of our sewers from partner Refugee Artisan Initiative) with attendee Stephen’s mended hat
By Kami Bruner, Waste Reduction Program Manager
On June 25th, Zero Waste Washington hosted its first in-person Fix-it Fair in over two years at the New Holly Gathering Hall in Southeast Seattle. Partnering with Seattle Housing Authority, Southeast Seattle Tool Library, Refugee Artisan Initiative, and the Giving Room Project, we welcomed guests with items in need of repair ranging from lamps, to bikes, to rug shampooers, to dresses and more!
It was the first time most of our fixers and volunteers had ever participated in a community repair event – an exciting and eye-opening experience for many! The enthusiasm was palpable as fixers and attendees alike saw in real time how they were collectively preventing items from going to the landfill and returning them to potentially years more of service!
The Giving Room was on hand with their new rolling Free Store to offer attendees a variety of home goods – all at no cost.
With over 80% of the items able to be repaired, we prevented nearly 200 lbs. of items from heading toward the landfill or languishing in garages and on shelves. For items we couldn’t fix onsite, the owners were provided with useful guidance on where to get spare parts, tips on next best uses, and proper disposal pathways.
Thoughts from participants:
“…this event was very special. Unbeknownst to us, we were participating in sustainability principles… volunteering, giving back to community, charity….
I saw many happy, and satisfied people at event. Thank you so much.” – Nora, an attendee
“I feel like a millionaire!”- Attendee whose item has been awaiting repair since the start of the pandemic)
Next event: October 1
If you missed the last Fix-it, fear not! We’ve got another one scheduled for October 1 at Seattle Makers near Gasworks Park, and there are many ways to participate!
If you’d like to be a fixer or volunteer, we’d love to have you:
If you want to get something repaired, that’s great too! Click here to add yourself to the attendees list and get your item on our radar (RSVPs are not required but are helpful for us to prepare):
More Fix-it Fairs will be organized in upcoming months. We hope to see you at one of them!
Kami and Xenia at the end of another successful event!
For more information and if you have suggestions, please contact Kami at kami@zerowastewashington.org.
From: https://nourishwithbella.com
By Kami Bruner,