Commitment to innovation, cutting waste and saving resources are common traits among a diverse group of 112 businesses, named to the King County Solid Waste Division’s 10th annual “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” list. Among the honorees on the list were the city of Snoqualmie and Lula Ruby Salon.
“King County businesses are doing a lot to lessen the impacts of climate change by reducing waste,” said King County Solid Waste Division Program Manager Karen May. “We want to ensure businesses get the recognition they deserve for their efforts and inspire others to take action too.”
The 2016 list spans a wide array of businesses, from multi-family housing to transportation. Innovative recycling and waste reduction strategies come in many forms from education to changing manufacturing practices. Some notable practices include Alaska Airlines implementing an on-board coffee ground composting program on all flights and Redhook Ale Brewery changing the design of their product packaging to use less cardboard.
Each of the 2016 Best Workplace businesses listed has shown exceptional commitment to recycling and reducing waste sent to the landfill. Their actions help reduce the impacts of climate change and feed recycled materials back into the economy.
Snoqualmie has been named to the list for two years now, for providing many opportunities to residents and staff for recycling. The city sponsors year-round programs to collect and recycle fluorescent lights, batteries, used oil, and yard and food waste and has a reclaimed water utility that provides much of the water used for irrigating public and private properties. At city offices, practices such as recycling, paperless record-keeping and two-sided printing have helped to reduce waste, too. The city is currently working on reducing the use of bottled water in the community. Learn more at http://www.ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.
Lula Ruby Organic Salon in Snoqualmie makes the Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Prevention list for the third time this year. Salon owners work with product supply companies that share their vision to eliminate waste in packaging. Since day one, they have been part of Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power program, and the staff recycles everything down to the foils that are used in clients’ hair. This year the salon added a water filtration system to avoid bottled or delivered water. The salon uses no ammonia products and LED lighting. They even compost the hair that they sweep up off the floor. For more information, visit http://lularubysalon.com.
Along with the “Best Workplaces” awards, King County is honoring Rainier Industries with the “Re-Innovator Award,” which recognizes the organization that has adopted the most-innovative waste reduction program or action. A custom manufacturer of yurts, canopies, and other shade products since 1896, Rainier Industries has had a sustainability initiative in place for nearly a decade, including an environmental management plan.
In 2015, Rainier Industries recycled 479 tons of materials, including wood, metal, PVC, paints, and fabric, which resulted in disposal cost savings of $63,199. This past year, they have reduced waste by upgrading their machinery to manufacture right-size boxes for shipping their custom orders and reusing scrap cardboard for padding in place of foam. Rainier Industries is transparent about their practices, tracking their waste and posting the information on their website.
Last year, businesses and institutions in King County sent more than 276,000 tons of recyclable materials to the landfill.
All businesses operating in King County outside of the City of Seattle are eligible for the list. To qualify, businesses must meet five basic criteria, as well as 10 additional waste reduction and recycling criteria. To learn more, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore.
