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Start fresh with less waste in the coming year

Recycle your Christmas tree this season!

Every year, organizations around the County offer ways to recycle your tree after the holidays. We've compiled a list of community fundraisers and businesses who recycle trees from Bainbridge Island to Olalla.?

Several groups offer pickup at your residence, depending on location. Use the?Treecycle Map to find a location near you. Trees should be free of any decorations.

Tree recyclers often find stray ornaments in trees. Don't let your family memories escape! Take a second look for any stray lights, tinsel or ornaments before it's hauled away.

How your choice makes an impact

Recycled Christmas trees are made into mulch, which is used to improve soil health at public parks, local farms and homes.??Meanwhile, trees that go to the landfill release methane gas that warms the atmosphere.

What's new in 2023

New disposal fees at county waste facilities

In early 2022, the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners adopted waste disposal fees for 2022- 2026. Rates are set to change annually on January 1st of each year.?Learn more about disposal fees and Solid Waste Division projects.

WA law requires recycled material, sustainable packaging

Washington?s?plastics law?aims to reduce dependence on virgin plastics and boost local markets for recycled materials. How does this affect plastic materials in 2023?

Plastic producers will need to register with the State of Washington and follow recycled content requirements.?

Starting Jan. 1,?2023:?

• Plastic trash bags
  • 10% minimum for recycled content
  • Trash bag labeling requirements
• Plastic beverage bottles (except for dairy and 187ml wine)
  • 15%?minimum for recycled content

Products required to meet recycled content minimums are:

• Plastic beverage bottles
• Plastic trash bags
• Plastic bottles for household cleaning and personal care products

Visit the Department of Ecology website to learn who is considered a producer, what is required of them and important dates.

Ways to save in 2023

Reduce your curbside costs

The new year is a great time to rethink your home's garbage pickup needs. Did you know there are several curbside garbage options? You can save on your costs by choosing the right can size and?service frequency for your needs.?

Measure, adjust size

Did you downsize your home? Kids go off to college? Reduce your spending? Start composting? These are just some of the ways you may be reducing your garbage. If so, take time to assess whether a 64-gallon, 35-gallon or smaller can makes sense for your needs.

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Limit frequency

WM, Kitsap's largest service provider, offers less frequent pickups in rural areas. Some areas are eligible to reduce weekly services to every other week or once a month. Bonus, less time and effort in setting out cans!

Cities residents with required weekly service often have the option to reduce the can size for a lower fee.

Contact your home service provider to make changes as needed.

• Poulsbo?
• Bainbridge Island
• Bremerton
• Port Orchard?
• Kitsap County - outside city limits

Make a meal plan?

Help your household lower food costs by making a meal plan. The key to saving with less food waste?

• Plan to use what you have, buy only what you need
• Prepare by use date
• Store food properly with our food storage guide

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Preventing food from going to waste is one of the easiest and most powerful actions you can take to save money and lower your climate change footprint."

Planning and Shopping Tips

Start with a weekly list of meals to save time and money. Then, plan to buy food for only the meals you'll eat at home or prepare to tote along.?

• Exclude meals planned for days you expect to eat out or on-the-run. Elect to have a frozen meal handy in case you decide to eat in.
• Take stock of what you already have on hand before making your list.
• Watch for expiring food and prepare meal ahead of time. Some people prepare meals (like sauces or soups) early in the week to avoid spoiling.
• Take care to store bulk dry goods in air-tight containers and to place perishables in the freezer before they spoil.

If you find yourself with excess food, divert it from landfills.

• Nutritious, safe, and untouched food can be shared with a neighbor or donated to food banks?to help those in need.
• Produce that is overripe or wilted, but not spoiled, can still be useful in soups, sauces and smoothies.?
• Compost food scraps?rather than throwing them away.?

Buy smart from the start

PaintCare, Washington's paint recycling program, offers help calculating your paint purchases. Find links to resources and articles that help you save money and reduce waste from paint projects.

Positive signs for recycling this year

Recycling gets a new look

New signs have been popping up in recycling areas at county waste facilities. These bright signs improve traffic flow and reduce time spent at the facility.

Signs were designed to help customers?know where to drop off their items and what steps to take during their visit. The friendly staff at our Recycling and Garbage Facilities are there to help you too!

Spanish Recycling Guide

In an effort to expand recycling, we've also designed a new Spanish (Espa?ol) recycling guide. Please share this guide if you know someone who may benefit.

Washington's first year with PaintCare

Kitsap County: A top paint recycling program?

PaintCare, Washington?s new paint recycling program, recently announced that Kitsap County's Household Hazardous Waste Facility was the State's #2 paint collection site by volume in 2021. By year's end, we had collected 16,952 gallons.

Statewide, the program also exceeded expectations. Over 580,000 gallons of paint were collected in WA.? Most of it was latex paint, and 88 percent was recycled back into paint.?At the end of 2021, over 210 paint drop-off sites provided consumers with a convenient way to get rid of leftover paint.

What keeps the other 12% from being recycled?

Repeated freezing and thawing, or paint that has become solid is no longer able to be reused as paint. Since many people store paint in unheated spaces like garages and sheds, the paint can be affected this way. Dry or solidified paint is sent to a landfill.

With the cold setting in, this is a good reminder that unused paint is better off recycled than stored for long periods of time.?

2% of the paint was reused through programs like our reuse shed. Our reuse shed program gives away household products brought to our facility that still have life in them.

Where to recycle your paint

Drop off your paint at a participating retailer or the Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Bremerton.? Find your local PaintCare recycler.