February 15, 2023

Re+: Reinventing the region’s waste system to cut emissions, transition to a sustainable economy

Re+ : Reinventing the region’s waste system to cut greenhouse gas emissions, transition to a sustainable economy

While King County has achieved one of the highest recycling rates in the country, nearly 70% of the materials currently brought to the regional landfill could still be reused, recycled, or composted, rather than buried as waste that generates potent greenhouse gas emissions. Re+ is King County’s new strategy that will mobilize the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to extend producer responsibility so companies ensure their packaging is recycled responsibly, make it more convenient to recycle, reduce food waste, and invest in new technologies that recover valuable materials.

Re+ will advance a goal in King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan to cut countywide greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade by:

♻️Reducing food waste and single-use items.

♻️Repairing and reusing products so they can be used for longer.

♻️Recycling and composting what’s left.

♻️Renewing communities through engagement and improved services.

♻️Rethinking what’s possible with innovation and technology.

New Community Food Hub to connect farmers and hunger relief organizations

Woman sorts through vegetables in a box with a field and organizers loading boxes behind her.

We are partnering with community-based organizations and Food Lifeline to convert their 40,000-square-foot warehouse into a facility that will strengthen connections between local farmers and hunger relief organizations. The South Seattle Community Food Hub will provide much-needed shared space for storing, packing, and distributing fresh produce and goods to people and families experiencing food insecurity.

$52 million for 36 projects that will expand city parks, conserve tree canopy, restore habitat, support community gardens

Executive Constantine toured Clark Lake Park in Kent, one of 36 open space projects that will receive a combined $52 million in funding from King County. In addition to protecting and expanding city parks throughout the county, the projects will acquire land for habitat restoration, protect tree canopy, and support community gardens.

New trail bridge will cross the White River, connecting communities with 22 miles of completed paved trail

Group standing together holding shovels.

New trail connections are coming to King County. A new 572-foot-long weathered steel bridge will cross the White River near Enumclaw, connecting completed segments of the Foothills Trail at the King-Pierce county line. The bridge will link 22 miles of uninterrupted trails, making it safer and easier to enjoy community connections. All with scenic views of Mount Rainier! 

Latest from King County DNRP on social media

Your ideal climate action is out there waiting for you. Find your match this #ValentinesDay with these environmental ”dating” profiles.

TikTok screenshot of WTD employee looking over a roof at a Wastewater Treatment Plant.

We're proud to serve the nation’s only county that carries Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name and his likeness on our logo. We work every day to honor his legacy.

Watch the full TikTok.

All this perfectly good stuff was just dumped at a local transfer station when it could have been reused. You’ll probably feel the same way as our team when you see these items destined for the landfill.

Don’t disappoint us. Find a Buy Nothing group near you to give your stuff a new life.

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