Efforts to reduce waste had good year

The year is coming to a close, and the employees at Thurston County Solid Waste are celebrating with a countdown of the 10 best local waste-reduction achievements in 2007. Hats off to all of the residents and businesses who worked so hard to protect the environment through their actions and program participation. Ready? Here we go!

10. More than 95 businesses participated in the Waste Free Holidays program this year. The program offers discounts of 15 percent to 50 percent on ­service- or experience-related gifts to reduce the amount of waste generated over the holidays. The offer ends today, so act now before time runs out; go to www.wastefreeholidays.com.

9. The county newsletter "Talkin' Trash" expanded to eight full-color pages. This biannual publication, mailed to every resident in the county, is loaded with tips and resources on waste reduction and protecting your health and the environment.

8. Thurston County adopted a new sustainability policy to encourage its departments and offices to adopt environmentally sustainable operations and practices, reduce and recycle wastes, and purchase and use environmentally preferable products.

7. Silver Springs Organics of Rainier opened to the public. The facility composts organic materials such as wood, drywall, land-clearing debris and yard, food and agricultural waste, which helps reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

6. Restaurants, groceries stores, florists, coffee shops and other establishments now can compost food scraps, yard waste and paper products, at a considerable savings over trash rates. We hope to expand the program to residents in 2008.

5. Garfield, Boston Harbor and Roosevelt elementary schools now divert about 75 percent of their lunchroom waste through the county's "Food to Flowers" on-site composting program.

4. Several schools and cities have collected 12 tons of recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans this year through Thurston County's "Clear Stream" recycling container program. The clear, portable containers are ideal for events and available as loaners.

3. A record-breaking number of Thurston County residents participated in the 2007 Community Recycle Days and WasteMobile events. Residents delivered a staggering 399 tons of recyclables and 38 tons of dangerous household products at the events. Business has doubled at HazoHouse, Thurston County's free, permanent collection area for household hazardous wastes.

2. Thurston County commissioners approved an ordinance that prompts owners and managers of mobile home parks, apartment buildings and condominiums to provide recycling services to tenants. This means more "multifamily" residents now have access to convenient, on-site recycling bins.

1. The old three-bin recycling system is history. Curbside recycling customers now throw all recyclables except glass into a single, co-mingled recycling bin (glass goes into a separate container). Dairy tubs and frozen food boxes now are recyclable, too. This new program boosted the volume of recyclables collected at the curb by more than 40 percent in 2007.

So happy new year from Thurston County Solid Waste. (P.S.: Remember to recycle the bubbly beverage bottle and lay off the confetti.)

Laura McDowell is a public-information officer with the Thurston County Department of Water and Waste Management. She can be reached at mcdowel@co.thurston.wa.us.