Zero Waste Plan

Summary

The City of Renton has developed its first Zero Waste Plan. The plan focuses on increasing waste prevention and reuse and improving recycling and composting. The plan is a 10-year roadmap that guides Renton towards achieving zero waste, in support of the city’s goal of improving community health and environmental resiliency for future generations. The plan details the city's current waste collection programs, waste prevention efforts, and waste tonnage data, while recommending best practices to comply with state regulations and achieve zero waste.

What is Zero Waste?

Zero waste means eliminating waste through reducing consumption and promoting reuse, recycling, and composting.

Why is Zero Waste Important?

• Approximately 70% of what goes into the local landfill is recyclable or compostable. The landfilled food waste produces the equivalent of a year's worth of emissions from 84,000 gas-powered vehicles.
• Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, where Renton's garbage is taken, is nearing capacity and expected to close around 2040. Once the landfill closes, the cost of garbage disposal will increase because the waste will need to be stored or processed at another facility.

Zero Waste Goals & Strategies

The city's Zero Waste Plan has eight goals:

1. Ensure sustainable funding for waste prevention and management programs
2. Lead by example
3. Maximize waste prevention and reuse
4. Ensure clean and marketable recyclables and organic waste
5. Maximize participation in curbside recycling and organics collection programs
6. Increase recycling of non-standard recyclable items
7. Minimize and mitigate emissions associated with waste collection
8. Manage programs using high-quality data

To achieve each goal, the plan identifies 40 strategies, as well as actions supporting each strategy. The table below illustrates the four strategy types: