San Francisco Zero Waste. Seattle Zero Waste. Issaquah Zero Waste. A New Materials Economy. The production, processing, and disposal of materials in our modern throwaway economy wastes not only materials but energy as well. In nature, one-way linear flows do not survive long. Nor, by extension, can they survive long in the expanding global economy. The throwaway economy that has evolved over the last half-century is an aberration, now itself headed for the junk heap of history.
The potential for sharply reducing materials use was first identified in Germany, initially by Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek in the early 1990s and then by Ernst von Weizsäcker, an environmental leader in the German Bundestag. They argued that modern industrial economies could function very effectively using only one fourth the virgin raw materials prevailing at the time. In their book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, American architect William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart conclude that waste and pollution are to be avoided entirely.
Remanufacturing is even more efficient. Living Building Challenge | Materials. The Living Building Challenge™ is a building certification program, advocacy tool and philosophy that defines the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to rapidly diminish the gap between current limits and the end-game positive solutions we seek. The Challenge is comprised of seven performance categories called Petals: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Petals are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. This compilation of Imperatives can be applied to almost every conceivable building project, of any scale and any location—be it a new building or an existing structure. Download the Living Building Challenge 3.0 Standard document below. For more information, Download the Living Building Challenge Standard 3.0 (PDF) Learn about prior versions of the Standard.
Managing and Reducing Waste | Ecology. Washington State's Beyond Waste Plan. Beyond Waste is the Washington state plan for managing hazardous and solid waste. This 30-year plan has a clear and simple goal: eliminate wastes and toxics whenever we can and use the remaining wastes as resources. This will contribute to economic, social, and environmental health.
Avoiding wastes and the use of toxic chemicals is the smartest, cheapest, and healthiest approach to waste management. The Beyond Waste Plan shifts from a reactive approach, focusing on management and clean-up, to a proactive approach, with an emphasis on preventing waste in the first place. The Beyond Waste Plan focuses on five areas or initiatives: In addition to these initiatives, the plan also addresses: The five initiatives were chosen as starting points for moving Beyond Waste because they represent large portions of the waste stream, they impact human health and the environment, and there is momentum and opportunity moving in these areas. Third Annual Beyond Waste Progress Report Issued. A-Way With Waste Resources | Ecology. Zero Waste | King County. Zero Waste of Resources is an idea that is catching on throughout the country.
King County adopted a policy to work toward Zero Waste by 2030, meaning that materials of value, whether for reuse, resale, or recycling, won't be put in the garbage and end up in the landfill. Studies done at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill show that 75% of the "stuff" we throw away each year isn't really waste. The majority of these items could be recycled, composted, or reused. As a planning tool for solid waste management, the county is interested in keeping paper, wood, scrap metal, glass, plastic and food out of the landfill.
When those items don't go in, there is room for real garbage, that is, materials that currently have no other use. Zero Waste of Resources does not mean zero garbage! There will always be some garbage that needs to be managed, but with an effort to develop the Zero Waste of Resources 2030 policy, these items will be recycled or reused. Why is Zero Waste important? How can you help? Zero Waste Strategy | Seattle City Council. Seattle City Council's Zero Waste priorities for 2010-2011 In 2010-2011, the Seattle City Council will continue to pursue the strategies outlined in the Zero Waste Strategy, Resolution 30990 to achieve our goal of recycling 60 percent of waste produced in the City of Seattle by 2012 and 70 percent by 2025. These next steps includes efforts to bring organics service to multi-family homes, and remove phone books, disposable plastic bags from the waste stream. Organics service multi-family buildings: In 2009, Seattle Public Utilities began providing its single family residential and some business customers with an organics service to remove food waste from landfills.
Council will explore ways to expand the service to include multi-family housing. Regulations on styro-foam food service products go into effect July 1 Do Not Mail Registry "Seattle is an environmental leader in the United States, and our commitment to waste reduction is unparalleled," said Councilmember O’Brien. The Road to a Carbon Neutral Seattle by Richard Conlin | Yes Magazine. Richard Conlin is president of Seattle's City Council, which is overseeing the city's effort to become the first carbon neutral city in the United States.
He blogs about what reaching that goal really means for YES! Magazine. A key strategy that contributes to Seattle's carbon neutrality work was approved by the Council in 2007, when my Zero Waste Initiative was adopted as City policy. The things we throw away not only generate carbon as they decompose—they also carry the embedded carbon that was used in creating them. Zero Waste is a strategy that addresses both of those aspects. In the 1980s, Seattle embraced a commitment to recycling a minimum of 60 percent of our solid waste. That meant that we would continue to consume resources at an expanding rate. The Zero Waste Strategy set a new goal: Strive to reduce our waste stream to the minimum possible by making cradle-to-cradle responsibility the cornerstone for how we treat products. Key Components of the Zero Waste Strategy Interested? Zero Waste Seattle. Road Map to Zero Waste | Sustainable Bainbridge.
About Us — Washington Toxics Coalition. Info Washington Toxics Coalition uses groundbreaking research, top-notch advocacy, in-depth grassroots organizing, and high-quality consumer information to help create a healthier and just world by promoting safer products, chemicals, and practices, and a healthier future for the next generation. In 2008, we helped establish strong new requirements in Washington State for makers of children’s products to disclose harmful chemicals in their products.
This is now the global standard for companies making kids’ products that range from pacifiers and toys to cribs, car seats and shampoos. Baby bottles, children’s food and beverage containers and sports bottles are now free of the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) as result of a 2010 ban we championed in the state legislature. Toys and other children’s products must meet tough new standards for the harmful toxic chemicals phthalates, lead, and cadmium in toys thanks to the Children’s Safe Products Act we worked to pass in 2008.
Green Chemistry | EPA. Green Chemistry | WA Ecology. HWTR > Pollution Prevention > Green Chemistry at Ecology What is green chemistry? Green chemistry is a way to design chemicals and processes so they are safer, healthier, and more sustainable. It seeks to prevent pollution at its source by creating chemicals that are not toxic. This eliminates exposure to toxic chemicals for workers, consumers, and the environment. It also encourages using renewable ingredients, reducing energy use, and optimizing other factors that are better for human health and the environment. Ecology uses the principles of green chemistry to help Washington State businesses be more innovative, profitable, and competitive while protecting human health and the environment. If you would like more information about Ecology's green chemistry efforts, please subscribe to our email list.
Roadmap for Advancing Green Chemistry Creating a Center Focused on Green Chemistry Create solutions to chemicals of concern in products and processes. Safer Chemistry Challenge. Green Chemistry Curriculum | Beyond Benign. Green Chemistry: The Green Curriculum "Benign by design," green chemistry is designed to have less impact on the environment by creating lower levels of waste and toxicity than traditional chemistry. Green chemistry is also a compelling way to assist teachers as they strive to interest middle school students (ages 9 – 13) in science and math. Curriculum & Teacher Training The curriculum and teacher training work of Beyond Benign seeks to deliver teaching and learning tools to K-12 educators in order that they may share dynamic science experiences with their students with an emphasis on objective reasoning through the consideration of economy, society and the environment in equal measure.
Through the framework of green chemistry, K-12 Education at Beyond Benign is able to explore curriculum content across the board with a view to the future and the sustainability of social, industrial, economic and environmental sustainability. Green Chemistry in New York State Schools Event Listings. Governnor's Executive Order | State of Oregon.
A Roadmap for Advancing Green Chemistry. Interface Sustainability. In 1994, Interface® Founder Ray Anderson challenged us to pursue a bold new vision "Be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people, process, product, place and profits - and in doing so, become restorative through the power of influence" The Interface journey toward sustainability has been a momentous shift in the way we operate our business and see the world. Move through these pages for a closer look at our progress, and find out how to get involved in our Mission Zero® journey. In 1994, Interface Founder Ray Anderson challenged us to pursue a bold new vision "Be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people, process, product, place and profits - and in doing so, become restorative through the power of influence" The Interface journey toward sustainability has been a momentous shift in the way we operate our business and see the world.
2010 Sustainability Report | Waste Management. Take it Back Network. The Take it Back Network is a partnership among government agencies, retailers, repair shops, charitable organizations and recyclers that provides consumers with options for recycling certain wastes – and their hazardous components – in a safe and cost effective manner. Take it Back Network locations will accept electronic products such as computers, TVs, cell phones and certain household electronics. Fluorescent light bulbs including compact fluorescent bulbs and straight tubes can also be recycled at certain Take it Back Network locations. Mattresses and box springs are the newest products to be recycled by certain Take it Back Network partners.
Find locations and hours in the 2013 Take it Back Network brochure (PDF, 238 K) or below. How to Use the Take it Back Network Select the types of products you want to recycle: Call businesses for details about the products they accept, the fees, hours and service options. About Take it Back Network Members top of page. Electronics Recyclers | Take it Back Network. Take it Back Network recyclers accept a variety of electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, TVs, cell phones, PDAs, fax machines, audio video and camera equipment (including DVD and VCR players), household electronics and rechargeable batteries. Effective January 2009, electronics manufacturers began offering a new program called E-Cycle Washington that allows residents to recycle their computers, monitors, laptops and TVs for FREE. Residents can drop off these items at authorized E-Cycle Washington collection sites.
Visit www.ecyclewashington.org (external) to locate a collection site. Many of the Take it Back Network members are participating in E-Cycle Washington and will accept computers, monitors, laptops and TVs for free. They will also continue to accept electronic products not included in the E-Cycle Washington program for a fee - such as printers, mice, keyboards, fax machines, scanners, batteries, etc.
The Call First Recycling Fees Other Recycling Companies. Fluorescent Bulbs & Tubes Recyclers | Take it Back Network. As of October 1, 2005, fluorescent light bulbs and tubes are no longer accepted in the garbage or at King County Transfer Stations. King County recommends that these products be recycled at one of the Take it Back Network recyclers. Take it Back Network recyclers accept fluorescent bulbs and tubes and recycle them domestically in an environmentally sound manner.
Take it Back Network members charge a fee for their recycling services. Learn more in the Take it Back Network recycling brochure (PDF, 173 K). Call First Be sure to read the vendor descriptions and call first to verify that they will accept your equipment. Recycling Fees Most Take it Back organizations charge a fee to cover the cost of labor to take apart the equipment and to transport the materials to a processing facility.
Environmentally Sound Recycling Other Recycling Companies For a list of fluorescent tube and bulb and tube recyclers that are not in the Take it Back Network, go to the What Do I Do With…? Top of page. GreenDisk. Waste Reduction and Recycling | KC Green Schools Program. Waste reduction and recycling are the focus of Level One of the King County Green Schools Program. After each school or school district completes the Level One Best Practices Guide, recognition is awarded. For a description of the program, visit How it Works. Both waste reduction and recycling are important. By rethinking, reducing, reusing and recycling the products it uses, schools can reduce the following: Depletion of natural resources, such as trees, energy, water, metals and oil, which are used to make new products;Pollution caused by the mining, manufacture, transportation and disposal of products;Landfill gas emissions; andGarbage disposal costs.
Nearly all of the garbage generated by schools can be reduced, reused, recycled and composted. A waste composition study of Los Angeles schools found that a typical school's waste was comprised of: Criteria and resources top of page. Waste and Recycling | Washington Green Schools. By improving recycling and waste management systems, schools can reduce fiscal and environmental costs associated with excessive or improper waste disposal. Schools can prevent waste by recycling, reusing, and composting food and other materials, consequently reducing the amount of waste that sent to landfills or burned. Teaching and practicing waste reduction and proper disposal in schools also encourages students and staff to perform the same behaviors at home. Resources The Waste and Recycling Assessment Sample (pdf) helps schools identify current waste disposal and management practices, and ways to improve. The Waste and Recycling Assessment Guide Sample (pdf) provides helpful hints and background information about many of the assessment questions.
The Waste and Recycling Educator's Guide Sample (pdf) includes vocabulary terms, discussion questions, and other supporting resources to help teachers integrate these issues into their curriculum. Ideas for a Lasting Change Calculators. Zero Waste Alliance. The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary. GrassRoots Recycling Network. Zero Waste Annotations - Sustainability Ambassadors.