Issaquah businesses, government honored for recycling
July 5, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. July 5, 2011
Reusing office supplies at City Hall, recycling at local schools and business’ efforts to cut waste landed Issaquah officials and entrepreneurs on King County’s Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction list July 1.
The county Solid Waste Division recognized 89 organizations in the annual awards. In Issaquah, the honorees include established “green” organizations and a newcomer, Outsource Marketing.
Each organization boasts exceptional recycling programs a commitment to reducing waste. Issaquah municipal government and the Issaquah School District made the list. So did Pogacha, Rowley Properties and Timber Ridge at Talus.
County proposes yearlong trash rate hike to modernize system
June 8, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. June 8, 2011
King County residents could pay more for garbage collection under a proposal to increase the disposal rate for one year in order to raise funds to modernize the county’s aging solid waste system.
The proposal calls for county Solid Waste Division disposal rates to rise from $95 to $108 per ton, or about 76 cents per month for the average residential customer putting out a single can for collection for all customers outside of Seattle and Milton. The proposed hike is the second rate increase in the last 12 years for the Solid Waste Division.
“Our solid waste facilities were largely built in the 1960s, and they were never designed to handle the nearly 1 million tons of garbage we now process,” Solid Waste Division director Kevin Kiernan said in a statement. “This one-year rate proposal keeps fees as low as reasonable, while covering the cost of providing the service and the capital improvements that our customers need and expect.”
Under the proposal, companies, such as Allied Waste and Waste Management, picking up garbage at the curb and hauling trash to county transfer stations would pay the fee. The additional cost is likely to be passed on to customers.
Guest Column
May 24, 2011
Spring Cleaning Week helps residents clear out the clutter
Winning the war against clutter can be tremendously satisfying. That may be why a whole industry has developed around fighting clutter.
You can see it on Oprah, and you can ooh and ah at the worst cases on shows like “Hoarders.” You can even pay an organization coach to get your clutter under control — if you’re willing to pay up to $50 an hour.
But you can also just take a few easy steps on your own. Because cutting clutter means reducing waste, the King County “Recycle More. It’s Easy to Do.” program designated May 9-13 as Spring Cleaning Week. You can find lots of resources at www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore, but here are a few to get you going.
Issaquah community’s ‘green’ achievers observe Earth Day
April 19, 2011
Earth Day is observed April 22, but some Issaquah-area residents celebrate the eco-conscious holiday year-round.
As people elsewhere take initial steps to “green” vehicles, volunteer for earth-friendly activities, reduce carbon footprints and make homes and gardens more earth-friendly, the Issaquah community includes avid recyclers, car-free families and “green” homeowners.
Issaquah resident Kent Peterson, who traded his car for a bike more than 20 years ago, leads a procession of well-wishers as he departs last year for Banff, Alberta, the starting line for the 2,745 mile Tour Divide race. By Greg Farrar
Recycling to superstar status
Wayne Elson started recycling cans and bottles more than 30 years ago — long before recycling became as simple as a trip to the curb.
County honors Issaquah district schools as Earth Heroes
March 30, 2011
NEW — 12:15 p.m. March 30, 2011
King County is honoring Grand Ridge Elementary School — plus teachers, a student, and a staff member from across the Issaquah School District — as Earth Heroes at School.
The annual honor highlights schools and people for contributions to environmental protection and student environmental education. The county Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Solid Waste Division announced the 2011 honorees Wednesday.
“Winners of the Earth Heroes at School awards are a diverse group who share the common goal of making our world a better place,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “It is an honor to recognize their achievements in environmental education, waste reduction, energy conservation and other positive efforts.”
Grand Ridge Elementary recorded a 35-percent recycling rate last year.
King County invites landfill neighbors to Issaquah meeting
March 29, 2011
King County is considering changes to how officials communicate to residents about the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill near Issaquah.
Officials started meeting with landfill neighbors in the mid-1980s to offer updates about landfill activities, and to allow citizens a chance to provide feedback and ideas for improving operations.
The county Solid Waste Division is hosting the next community meeting April 6 in Issaquah.
Participants can hear updates about proposed changes to community meetings, updates about operational activities — including construction and environmental management activities at the landfill — and the Bio Energy Washington landfill gas-to-energy plant at the site.
The community meetings offer a forum for residents and Solid Waste Division to discuss conditions and problems at the landfill. The meetings occur at least twice per year.
The landfill encompasses 920 acres in unincorporated King County between Issaquah and Maple Valley.
County announces changes to address landfill neighbors
March 18, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. March 18, 2011
King County is considering changes to how officials communicate to residents about the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill near Issaquah.
Officials started meeting with landfill neighbors in the mid-1980s to offer updates about landfill activities, and to allow citizens a chance to provide feedback and ideas for improving operations.
The county Solid Waste Division is hosting a community meeting in Issaquah from 7-9 p.m. April 6 at the King County Library Service Center, 960 Newport Way N.W.
Participants can hear updates about proposed changes to community meetings, updates about operational activities — including construction and environmental management activities at the landfill — and the Bio Energy Washington landfill gas-to-energy plant at the site.
County announces deal to turn trash gas into cash
February 8, 2011
The methane gas created from decomposing garbage at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill could net King County about $1 million per year.
The county announced a deal Feb. 1 to sell emissions credits to Puget Sound Energy. King County Council members authorized the Solid Waste Division to enter into a contract to sell the credits to PSE. The agreement is expected to generate about $500,000.
“We have harnessed a valuable commodity from something that was once a discarded byproduct,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “The contract with PSE is just one example of how we are delivering on the commitment we made in the 2010 Energy Plan to stimulate the development of ‘green’ energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save taxpayer and ratepayer dollars.”
The county Solid Waste Division also generates another $500,000 per year by selling the byproduct from rotting trash — methane — to a facility at the landfill. The unrefined methane is then collected, processed into pipeline-quality gas, sold to PSE and piped to natural gas-fired power generating plants. Few garbage utilities separate the sale of emissions credits and the sale of landfill gas.
Constantine outlined a “green” energy plan last year to capitalize on the landfill as a source for renewable energy. County Council members also set similar goals in a strategic plan adopted last year.
The landfill encompasses 920 acres in unincorporated King County between Issaquah and Maple Valley.
King County announces deal to turn trash gas into cash
January 31, 2011
NEW — 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2011
The methane gas created from decomposing garbage at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill could net King County about $500,000 per year.
The county announced a deal Monday to sell emissions credits to Puget Sound Energy. King County Council members authorized the Solid Waste Division to enter into a contract to sell the credits to PSE.
Proceeds from the sale should help to offset garbage disposal rates for county residents.
“We have harnessed a valuable commodity from something that was once a discarded byproduct,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “The contract with PSE is just one example of how we are delivering on the commitment we made in the 2010 Energy Plan to stimulate the development of ‘green’ energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save taxpayer and ratepayer dollars.”
Crews completed major construction on a landfill gas-to-energy facility in March 2009 at the landfill. The plant entered operation last year.
County seeks trash masters for Master Recycler Composter course
January 16, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 16, 2011
King County encourages residents to engage in some trash talking and enroll in the Master Recycler Composter training program soon.
The course offers skills about how to reduce the amount of waste in the home and in the community. The program offers training for home composting, recycling and waste prevention, plus information about alternatives to household hazardous waste disposal and solid waste impacts on climate change.
The county Solid Waste Division sponsors the program to reduce the amount of material dumped at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill near Issaquah. Officials estimate more than half of the material considered to be “garbage” at the landfill is actually recyclable material.
