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Success Stories – Local Government
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Kitsap County, WA
Since joining the WasteWise program in 1998, Kitsap County has won eight awards for its waste reduction efforts as a local government. Since joining, the county has diverted over 54,000 tons of waste from the landfill. In the past year alone, Kitsap County Roads Division prevented 5,250 tons of asphalt from entering the landfill by reusing the materials onsite. This approach also saved more than $590,000 in avoided purchasing costs for rock and sand. Kitsap County–s most popular and successful program has been its Waste Exchange, which enables staff to post notices about unused office materials on an intranet site. What started as an e-mail group of employees has now grown into an established government-wide program that saved over $20,000 last year. Throughout their participation in the program Kitsap County has earned over $3 million dollars in savings and revenue from their recycling efforts. Designated a Program Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and then Partner of the Year from 2004 until 2008, Kitsap County has been a leader in local government waste reduction efforts.
City of Clifton, NJ – Recycling Program
The City of Clifton, New Jersey has been a champion of waste prevention, recycling, and the WasteWise program. From 2008 to 2009, the city recycled nearly 19 tons of grass clippings, leaves, brush materials, and wood, as well as 750 tons of woodchips that were re-used as mulch in parks and recreation areas. As part of its comprehensive education program on source reduction and reuse, Clifton also organized a WasteWise Smart Shopping Tour for community members. At an annual business conference, more than 300 organizations were urged to participate in the WasteWise program.
City of Kansas City, MO
The City of Kansas City, Missouri has collected more than 98,000 tons of recyclable materials since launching its curbside recycling program in 2004. In 2008, the city increased residential recycling options by providing recycling at six different public events. At the Rhythm and Ribs festival in June, more than 46 percent of the trash generated was diverted from the landfill and recycled. In addition, the City of Kansas City recently placed 48 PartnerBins, containers with both trash and recycling receptacles, on sidewalks with high pedestrian traffic. These PartnerBins give residents another opportunity to recycle while they are out enjoying all that the city has to offer.
Mahoning County (OH) Commissioners Reuse and Recycling Division
Located in Mahoning County, Ohio, the County’s Recycling Division, or Green Team, works closely with the community to reduce organic waste. In 2008, Green Team educators visited 50 classrooms with their vermicomposting bin, teaching children about food waste diversion and the important role it plays in reducing landfill waste. The group also taught more than 2,000 area students about composting yard waste and hosted seven compost seminars for Mahoning County residents. Some 210 area residents participated, diverting 140,000 pounds of organic material from local landfills.
Thurston County (WA) Government
Thurston County, Washington, is making tremendous strides in the area of organic waste reduction. As part of its mission to operate more sustainably, Thurston County began a countywide program to compost organic materials at all county buildings and at all country-run community events. Thurston County’s courthouse now composts more than 2,000 pounds of waste a week, and organic materials are collected at meetings, barbeques, award ceremonies, and other community events. The county also expanded a Food Plus Organics Recycling Program. As of January 1, 2009, 77 schools and businesses were participating in this program.