By Paul Ploumis

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): On May 9, the Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) will honor the City of Kirkland’s Solid Waste Division as its Public Agency Recycler of the Year for 2016. Nine other organizations, businesses and individuals will receive awards for their outstanding recycling achievements, held at the 37th Annual WSRA Conference and Trade Show in Pasco, Wash. Recyclers of the Year and Recycling Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by a panel of WSRA members, board members and hall of fame inductees.

In 2016, Kirkland Solid Waste took on a number of creative and effective waste reduction and recycling policies and programs. They include the following initiatives:

In March 2016, after years of background work, Kirkland’s plastic bag reduction policy went into effect, significantly reducing the use of disposable plastic bags and requiring a fee for large paper bags.

Throughout 2016, Kirkland continued to focus on multifamily recycling by updating city code to require a 1:1 ratio of recycling to garbage capacity onsite at multifamily properties and continued to personalize education and outreach at apartment and condo properties.

The city added recycling bins with weekly service to its 22 neighborhood parks.

The city’s popular monthly “StyroFest” events were held throughout the year, offering a collection point for EPS, expanded polyethylene foam, and plastic bags for local residents. More than 800 cubic yards of these hard-to-recycle materials were collected in 2016.

Courtesy: Waste Advantage Magazine