Auburn winners honored as Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling

Published 11:47 am Friday, July 17, 2015

For the Reporter

King County’s Solid Waste Division is honoring 112 area businesses, including those from Auburn, that made its eighth annual list of Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling, the highest number listed since the program began in 2007.

“These companies deserve special recognition for demonstrating their ingenuity and commitment in preventing waste,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “From composting in lunchrooms to reusing packing materials, they’re showing that sustainability can be simple and rewarding.”

The Best Workplaces list has been celebrating waste prevention and recycling in local businesses for nine years and features a wide array of businesses in King County, including hospitality, medical services, professional services, technology, retail, finance, government, arts and entertainment and others.

For a full list of winners, visit here.

Auburn winners in respective categories included:

Education

Lea Hill Elementary School
Website: www.auburn.wednet.edu/leahill

Lea Hill Elementary School is a first time addition to the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list. With the help of the King County Green Schools program, students have learned to recycle paper, save water while washing their hands, compost food scraps and use compost to grow and harvest vegetables and fruits. Even the pre-school students compost! Thanks to the leadership of Principal Edward Herda, Lea Hill Elementary School has been awarded the King County Earth Hero at School Award for 2015.

Advice to others: “Encourage students in an environmental stewardship project that reduces waste and creates environmental awareness.”

Special recognition: Principal Edward Herda, an advocate for the environment and education, helped the school receive the King County Earth Hero at School Award in 2015.

Engineering/Manufacturing

Dynacraft, a PACCAR company
Website: www.paccar.com

Dynacraft, a PACCAR Company returns this year to the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list for the fifth time and earns a place on the Honor Roll. Dynacraft, located in Algona, recognizes its responsibility to the community and is committed to reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and protecting the environment. In 2014, Dynacraft began a commingled recycling program, which has significantly reduced waste going to the landfill. The facility has less than 2 percent contamination between waste streams. Dynacraft has also partnered with neighboring businesses to support their need for reusable recyclable materials, and cost effective, waste stream options.

Advice to others: “Dynacraft’s success can be attributed to the use of strategically placed recycle bins, returnable shipping containers, packaging material reductions, and supplier recycling partnerships. We encourage other businesses to remain diligent in their efforts to reduce and reuse for the betterment of the environment. Businesses should make it a priority to establish and implement policies focused on best practices for recycling and waste reduction. It is important to reach out to others in the community and share ideas; it takes the combined efforts of all to make a difference!”

Other

Safeway Distribution Center
Website: local.safeway.com/wa/auburn-531.htm

The Safeway Distribution Center in Auburn is in their sixth year as a Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling and earns a spot on this year’s honor roll list. The Asset Recovery Center (ARC) is responsible for reducing Safeway’s corporate carbon footprint and ensuring that recyclables are disposed of correctly. Their efforts have led to a 27 percent increase in compostable material, or a total of 15.7 million pounds of compost diverted from landfills. Cardboard recycling has also been increased by 6 percent over the last year.

Advice to others: “Do not be afraid to question the status quo! Go out and find companies that are driving new and brilliant ideas! There is a solution for everyone and every business out there.”

Special recognition: Safeway would like to recognize the entire ARC team for their dedication, hard work and green leadership. These employees are responsible for ensuring all recyclable material is correctly handled and sent out to specific vendors for further processing. Their focus and detail oriented mindset has shown that they are stewards of the community and value recycling in the workplace and at home. This team works extremely hard to ensure that nothing goes to waste. The Safeway ARC team includes Antonio Alexis, Wayne Appleberry, Dean Carmichael, Daniel Clark, Sean Davidson, Si Davidson, Jo Emerson, Frank Evans, Ryan Farrar, Manuel Fernandez, Victor Flores, Mike Galasso, Wayne Grinnell, Boyd Gunderson, Randy Heber, Edward Henry, Diane Lacy, Jason Mihaere, Mike Miles, Scott Miller, Wina Padre, Luke Pitman, Chit Quac, Jim Ross, Bryant Smith, Rodney Switzer, Anthony Thompson, Lawrence Thompson, Al Weigel, Rick Weigel and Tiffany Wong.

Real Estate/Property Management

Auburn Square
Website: www.auburnsquareapartments.com

Auburn Square is an apartment community joining the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list. The apartments’ recycling program is always one of the first things mentioned to prospective residents, as the community is proud of its green efforts. Staff educate residents about recycling and keep them updated on any changes or improvements made to the program. When residents move out, Auburn Square arranges for any items they no longer want to be picked up for donation. Their emphasis on recycling has led to an overall decrease in the cost of trash removal.

Advice for others: “Stress the positive effects that recycling has on your neighborhood.”