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Home My WebLink AboutCOW 2023-06-12 Item 5B - Discussion - King County Re+ Pledge for Waste Reduction and DiversionITEM INFORMATION STAFF SPONSOR: GRIFFIN LERNER ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 06/12/23 AGENDA ITEM TITLE Re+ Pledge to Divert Recoverable Material from Landfills CATEGORY Discussion Motion Resolution Ordinance Bid Award Public Hearing Other Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date SPONSOR Council Mayor Admin Svcs DCD Finance Fire P&R Police PW SPONSOR’S SUMMARY King County’s Solid Waste Division has a goal of zero food waste and zero waste of reusable resources by 2030. King County has asked that local jurisdiction, tribes, businesses, community organizations, and others sign a pledge in support of Re+ efforts. By signing the attached Re+ pledge, Cities are eligible to apply for competitive Re+ City Grant opportunities. Council is being asked to approve signing the Re+ pledge. REVIEWED BY Trans&Infrastructure Svcs Community Svcs/Safety Finance & Governance Planning & Community Dev. LTAC Arts Comm. Parks Comm. Planning Comm. DATE: COMMITTEE CHAIR: RECOMMENDATIONS: SPONSOR/ADMIN. COMMITTEE COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ $ $ Fund Source: Comments: MTG. DATE RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION 06/12/23 MTG. DATE ATTACHMENTS 06/12/23 Informational Memorandum dated 06/09/23 Re+ Pledge COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS ----------------------------------Initials --------------------------------- ITEM NO. Meeting Date Prepared by Mayor’s review Council review 06/12/23 GL 5.B. 51 52 INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director/City Engineer BY: Griffin Lerner, Public Works Analyst CC: Mayor Allan Ekberg DATE: June 9, 2023 SUBJECT: Re+ Pledge to Divert Recoverable Material from Landfills ISSUE Sign Re+ Pledge in support of working collaboratively with King County in pursuit of zero waste of resources goals. BACKGROUND King County’s Solid Waste Division has a goal of zero food waste and zero waste of reusable resources by 2030. One method in which they are working towards this goal is through the creation of the Re+ program, which aims to divert recoverable material from the landfill. Resource recovery plays a major role in the zero- waste goal, as a 2019 Waste Characterization study performed by King County at their Cedar Hills Regional Landfill showed that up to 70% of what ends up in the landfill could be either composted, reused, or recycled. Tukwila has also established waste reduction and diversion goals in the Comprehensive Plan and through the Joint Letter of Commitment as a member of the King County Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C). DISCUSSION The Re+ Plan was developed by King County in 2022. The plan focuses on actions that re-imagine the regional solid waste system from one that is disposal-based to one that is focused on reduction, recovery, recycling, and regeneration. The Re+ approach encompasses a series of actions that keeps materials with economic value in use and out of the landfill and creates an equitable system that centers on community needs. King County has asked that local jurisdiction, tribes, businesses, community organizations, and others sign a pledge in support of Re+ efforts. The pledge requests that these groups collaborate to work towards the goals of the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, and the Joint Climate Action Commitment of the King County Cities Climate Collaborative (K4C) in relation to the County’s zero-waste goals. By signing the attached Re+ pledge, Cities are eligible to apply for competitive Re+ City Grant opportunities. The Re+ City Grants will help King County cities invest in, develop, and deliver on projects that create a more circular economy where waste is minimized, materials are kept in use longer, and natural systems are regenerated. Cities that will sign the Re+ Pledge by June 30, 2023 and are within the King County waste system are eligible for this funding opportunity. Staff recently collaborated with Burien and Maple Valley to apply for funding towards education programs regarding the State's new organics management laws (House Bill 1799). FINANCIAL IMPACT There are no direct fiscal impacts related to this pledge. This pledge provides the City the opportunity to apply for future solid waste grant opportunities RECOMMENDATION Council is being asked to approve signing the Re+ Pledge and consider this item on the Consent Agenda at the June 26, 2023 Special Meeting. Attachments: Re+ Plus Pledge 53 54 Climate Change is an urgent challenge, with far-reaching current and future impacts to our environment, public health, and economy. King County’s Re+ program aims to divert recoverable material from the landﬁ ll which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a circular economy. Based on the 2019 Waste Characterization study up to 70% of what ends up in our landﬁ ll could be composted, reused and recycled. Reclaiming these items and repurposing them through recycling or composting will help us reach King County’s zero waste goals. Implementing Re+ will ensure that we are keeping true to our commitments to reduce climate impacts, conserve resources, and create a healthier environment for our communities by keeping valuable materials out of the landﬁ ll and in use as long as possible. Re+ is a roadmap for making that change. Our approach aims to reinvent the current waste management system to be more resilient, equitable, and cost-effective through strategies necessary to meet our 2030 goal of zero food waste and zero waste of reusable resources. Key actions include identifying new ways of processing organics and recycling, developing recycling markets for organics, paper and plastic, and a community panel to engage historically underrepresented and adversely impacted community members to help guide future outcomes. These new markets will create local jobs in the private sector, help build the green economy and ensure a just and equitable impact on the members of our community. Re+ builds on the important work that many of our partners, including cities, the Port of Seattle, businesses, non-proﬁ ts, community members, and the County are already doing to reduce contributions to climate change. WHEREAS, climate change is an urgent challenge, with far-reaching current and future impacts to our environment, public health, and economy; and WHEREAS, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated globally from the production, transport, use, and disposal of goods, foods, and services consumed in King County are a major part of our communities’ climate footprint and are more than locally generated GHG emissions; and WHEREAS, King County and K4C partners are measuring, reporting, and developing new strategies to reduce consumption-related GHG emissions; and WHEREAS, supporting the Re+ effort will help focus our joint effort and responsibility to make progress toward reducing local GHG emissions by increasing waste prevention and recycling, laying the foundation for developing a circular economy; and Re+ Pledge 55 WHEREAS, we recognize that the success of Re+ will require collaboration between King County, local jurisdictions, tribes, businesses, community-based organizations, and others; and WHEREAS, the Re+ Program is consistent with, consolidates, and accelerates progress towards achieving the approved goals and strategies of the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, and the Joint Climate Action Commitment of the King County Cities Climate Collaborative (K4C) in relation to the County’s zero-waste goals; and WHEREAS, we will work with the County to identify ways to enhance our efforts to achieve the vision of Re+ with implementation support from the County including competitive grants, model language for countywide program and policy implementation, and technical support; and WHEREAS, as a core component of this important work we must engage in ways that are fair, equitable and inclusive for those who are historically under-represented and have been disproportionately impacted by the status quo in our communities. Now, therefore, we pledge our support for the shared vision that Re+ represents and look forward to collaborating to see this vision become reality. Signed this ____________ day of _____________ , _______ , by Alternate Formats Available 206-477-4466 • TTY Relay 711 Name, Title on behalf of Jurisdiction 56