Council News Release

Councilmember Richard Conlin

COUNCIL TAKES PUBLIC COMMENT ON ZERO WASTE
Legislators want to know citizens’ view on how to increase recycling and reduce trash

SEATTLE – The Council’s Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee will hold a public comment meeting on the “Zero-Waste” strategy for increasing Seattle’s recycling rates. Currently, Seattle recycles around 44 percent of its trash and the Council is considering a host of strategies to raise that rate up as high as 72 percent. The strategies under consideration include weekly residential pickup of food waste for composting; expanding recycling services in the city’s parks; on-demand curbside pick-up where the City will collect your discarded household items and recycle them or take them to the transfer station; encouraging the reuse of construction and demolition materials by providing incentives for contractors to work with businesses like that find new customers for old building supplies and many more. For a complete list visit http://www.seattle.gov/council.

“The people of Seattle care deeply about our environment; They know we can do better; They know that waste is really just a resource out of place,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin, chair of the Environment, Emergency Planning, and Utilities Committee. “We’re asking whether our ideas for doing better make sense. Tell us what Seattle can do to be a more sustainable city."

The public comment meeting will be held on Thursday, June 7th, at 5:30 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Comments can also be sent to Councilmember Richard Conlin, PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025 or email: Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov.

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City Council