Home renovations, whether doing them yourself or hiring a contractor, can be intimidating. To help make the process easier while supporting energy-efficient and environmentally safe choices, King County GreenTools Program in the Solid Waste Division (SWD) offers a variety of resources to help homeowners and contractors build “green.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice logo helps residents and businesses easily identify products that keep people and the environment safe. We are pleased to receive a 2021 Safer Choice Award for Outstanding Leadership in Advancing Safer Chemicals for our outreach work done in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Sea Mar).
We partner with local organizations, such as Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Sea Mar), to work towards the shared vision of a healthy, safe, and clean Puget Sound Region. Sea Mar provides quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities throughout Washington state.
Home renovations, whether doing them yourself or hiring a contractor, can be intimidating. To help make the process easier while supporting energy-efficient and environmentally safe choices, King County GreenTools Program in the Solid Waste Division (SWD) offers a variety of resources to help homeowners and contractors build “green.”
Kids may be back at school, but summer is not over yet! Our temperatures are still pretty warm, and vegetable gardens and local farms are at peak harvest. To celebrate this abundance and the rewards of chemical-free natural yard care, we are sharing a quick and healthy recipe to provide ideas for what to do with the beautiful basil and delicious tomatoes ripening in gardens throughout King County this month.
Across Washington state, exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances results in hundreds of preventable hospitalizations and deaths each year. Recent data from the Washington Poison Center shows that most exposures are unintentional, and nearly all exposures happen at home.
The Haz Waste Program is committed to reducing disparities in hazardous material exposures through equitable outreach and engagement. For example, bleach is a common household product for many Latinx families, and can cause significant health impacts and be fatal if ingested. Learn more about how the “Ojo con el cloro” campaign aims to educate Spanish-speaking communities about the dangers of bleach and safer alternatives.
With summer wrapping up, back-to-school shopping is on the minds of many parents. School supply lists start appearing, and new clothes need to be bought. So how can you do all this on a budget, and purchase sustainable and environmentally-friendly items? Here are a few tips to “green” your school supplies.
At the King County Hazardous Waste Management Program (Haz Waste Program), we’re updating our 10-year plan. The 2021 Plan will provide a blueprint for how the Haz Waste Program will work to reduce toxic exposures to people and the environment in King County. We want to hear from you!
Summertime in the Pacific Northwest means no rain showers on your freshly washed car! But certain car washing practices can pollute our waterways and harm wildlife. Read on to make sure your summer car wash choice supports the environment.
The weather is starting to look brighter and feel warmer, and you’re ready to use your summer gear for outdoor activities. But when you get to the garage or storage, you realize that finding those items isn’t that simple. No worries, we have you covered! Check out our guide to organizing your storage, and learn how to safely dispose of hazardous waste.
Due to extreme heat, the Wastemobile in Bothell and Auburn are closed for the day (Saturday, June 26). They will open again tomorrow morning (Sunday, June 27) and close when conditions get too hot. If you're planning a trip, visit in the morning!
The sun is shining, and it’s time to head to the beach! Many beach visitors – ducks, geese, dogs, and humans – contribute to high levels of bacteria in the water that can make people sick. Make sure you are doing your part to keep King County’s swimming beaches clean and enjoyable for everyone!
Gardens are not only pretty to look at, they can also help sustain our ecosystem by serving as a home for pollinators. Pollinators are birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small animals that help plants reproduce. Creating a natural garden that attracts pollinators will help make a difference in creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations.
Congratulations, graduates of 2021! Are you wondering what to do next? This month, we spotlight several Haz Waste Program team members who will tell you what it’s like to work in the areas of Haz Waste Policy, Prevention, and Collections Programs. For people who care about the environment and human health, opportunities await within the hazardous waste management field!
Hazardous chemicals are not part of the ten essentials for hiking and camping, but they can creep into backpacks nonetheless. And they can eventually contaminate the land and water—remember, rain picks up whatever it touches, and carries it to the nearest waterway. That’s hardly what anyone wants to do when basking at a mountain overlook, glen of wildflowers, or alpine lake.
Spring is here, and now is the time to find an earth-friendly sunscreen that keeps your skin protected while you enjoy the outdoors. Whether you spend time outside every day or once in a while, you need sunscreen if you’ll be in the sun for longer than a few minutes. Review these tips and recommendations before shopping for earth-friendly sunscreen options.
There’s a pep in our step these days because it’s officially springtime. With increasing sunshine and warmth, you might be looking at your yard with visions of a lush garden or lawn. Don’t let noxious weeds put a damper on your goals. Before you turn to chemical products, try safer alternatives that keep people and the environment safe from hazardous exposure.
In recent months, several companies announced plans to eliminate PFAS (also known as forever chemicals) from their food packaging. State and local governments are also looking at this issue. Washington has enacted a bill that will phase-out PFAS in food packaging as soon as safer alternatives are available.
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