Solid Waste Surveys
The following surveys help Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) understand how its solid waste services are working and how they can be improved.
Food Waste and Organics Surveys
The primary purpose is to evaluate Seattle residents' attitudes, awareness and behaviors towards the various City-sponsored organics waste management programs and how to improve Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) services. The Home Organics Waste Management Surveys are typically done every 5 years and began in 1995. Results available in the historical content section at the end of this page.
Recycling Surveys
2007 Zero Waste Study
Quantitative Assessment of Waste Disposal and Reduction Concepts; A series of surveys completed in May 2007 that obtained feedback from residential and commercial customers on various zero waste, waste prevention, and product stewardship programs.
Seattle Recycling Value Survey
Between October 2004 and March 2005, SPU, in collaboration with researchers at the University of California, Davis, conducted a comprehensive household recycling survey. The survey was undertaken as part of a research project to better understand what is most important to households when they make garbage and recycling decisions.
The main two objectives of this research project were:
- to examine households' waste handling and recycling behaviors, and
- to measure the economic (non-market) value of recycling programs and City-wide waste diversion.
As part of the project, we also tested a variety of survey techniques that could be used in the future to help the City understand how citizens value other services provided by SPU. Results available in the historical content section at the end of this page.
Historical solid waste surveys
The City of Seattle considers historical information to be used for reference only. Details about its limitation are available in our Terms of Use.
(All files PDF.)