Zero Waste Washington

EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT WASTE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION, EFFECTIVE RECYCLING, PLASTIC AND TOXIC POLLUTION, AND PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY, AND DRIVE POLICY CHANGES FOR A HEALTHY AND WASTE FREE WORLD.

BUILDING THE MOVEMENT, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATIONS ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON PARTNERS WITH MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE RECYCLING, REDUCE WASTE AND SUPPORT A CIRCULAR ECONOMY, AND ESPECIALLY TO SUPPORT REUSE OF ITEMS REPAIR. IN 2021, WE MAPPED REPAIR SHOPS IN THE STATE AND CREATED AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE MAP. WE CONVENED THE LEADERS OF TOOL LIBRARIES, FIX-IT EVENTS AND MAKER SPACES FOR A SUMMIT COVERING TOPICS OF TECHNICAL ADVICE, ADDRESSES COVID-RELATED CHALLENGES, AND DIVERSITY AND EQUITY. WE LAUNCHED A NEW PROJECT IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS REPAIR AND REFURBISH DAMAGED FURNITURE, DESIGNATED AS GARBAGE, AND PROVIDE THE FURNITURE TO RECENT REFUGEE AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES. STATEWIDE, WE DELIVERED PRESENTATIONS TO BOLSTER THE GROWING ZERO WASTE MOVEMENT BY SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACTIONS THAT REDUCE WASTE, AS WELL AS POLICY SOLUTIONS. WE REGULARLY COMMUNICATED WITH OUR MEMBERS AND OTHERS THROUGH NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. WE RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND NURTURED NEW ZERO WASTE COMMUNITY GROUPS.

PLASTIC POLLUTION AND RECYCLING ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON WORKS TO PREVENT PLASTICS POLLUTION AND STRENGTHEN RECYCLING, WHILE PROVIDING RESEARCH AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND STATE LEGISLATORS. THIS YEAR, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND YOUTH GROUPS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE WIDESPREAD IMPACTS OF PLASTIC. OUR YOUTH PROGRAM HELPS SUPPORT EMPOWERMENT OF FUTURE LEADERS, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY POLLUTION. WE DEVELOPED MODEL ORDINANCES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO SUPPORT DECISION-MAKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR LOCAL ORDINANCES REDUCING THE USE OF PLASTIC. WE ARE SEEN AS A RESOURCE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON THIS TOPIC. IN SEATTLE, TO REDUCE WASTE GENERATED FROM PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, WE PROVIDED MINI-GRANTS TO BUILDING OWNERS TO INSTALL WATER REFILL STATIONS OR RETROFIT EXISTING FAUCETS, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO USE REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES. WE DID OUTREACH TO BUSINESSES IN BURIEN ABOUT COMPOSTABLE TO-GO-WARE AND HELPED ESTABLISH A PURCHASING CO-OP FOR BUSINESSES TO REDUCE COSTS.

STATE AND LOCAL POLICY ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON WORKED WITH OUR MANY PARTNERS TO HELP PASS A GROUNDBREAKING PLASTICS LAW BANNING STYROFOAM FOODSERVICE PRODUCTS, COOLERS AND PACKING PEANUTS, REQUIRING THAT CUSTOMERS MUST OPT-IN FOR STRAWS, UTENSILS, CONDIMENT PACKAGES AND CUP LIDS AT RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE, AND MANDATING POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT FOR PLASTIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, PERSONAL CARE AND CLEANING PRODUCTS AND MORE. THIS NEW LAW WILL DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC IN OUR LANDFILLS AND ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS OUR DEPENDENCY ON PLASTICS MANUFACTURED FROM FOSSIL FUELS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORTED OTHER BILLS TO FIXING THE DRUG TAKE-BACK LAW, REQUIRE TESTING SCHOOL DRINKING WATER FOR LEAD, AND A NEW PROGRAM FOR COORDINATING INDUSTRIAL WASTE THE WASTE FROM ONE BUSINESS BECOMES FEEDSTOCK FOR ANOTHER BUSINESS. WE ALSO MADE PROGRESS ON KEY POLICIES MODERNIZING OUR RECYCLING SYSTEM, BATTERY RECYCLING, AND RIGHT TO REPAIR. WE SERVED ON THE STATES SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHER COMMITTEES AND PROVIDED IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.