King County shines spotlight on companies reducing waste, recycling

Every year King County spotlights area businesses that are recycling more and wasting less resources. This year, 75 companies made the Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction list announced Tuesday.

"It's really something that has to be done," said Werner Schumacher, executive chef for the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center. The Hilton added recycling bags to its guest rooms and recycled 90 percent of the waste from its conference center.

To make the list, the companies had to be: in King County but outside of Seattle city limits, recycle basics such as cardboard and paper, place recycling bins near desks and printers, reuse material and limit paper copying.

The number of participating businesses grows each year. Last year 65 businesses were listed, said Karen May, project manager at the county Recycling and Environmental Services office.

Working to reduce waste and increase recycling also helps businesses cut costs in ways they hadn't realized, said Kirk Myers, a corporate social responsibility manager for REI. Last year the company diverted 80 percent of its waste from the landfill.

REI aspires to be "zero waste" and uses that overall goal to inspire new practices, such as recycling batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and encouraging employees to bring in recyclables from home.

"At the end of the day you save some money," Schumacher said. "But recycling isn't about the money part, it's about doing the right thing."

Seattle Times, by Jason Bacaj, June 22, 2010