August 1, 2000 News Release King County gets National Recognition for Waste Reduction Programs The King County Department of Natural Resources has received two national awards and one statewide award for their programs that find ways to reduce waste and increase recycling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented a 2000 WasteWise Program Champion award to the King County Department of Natural Resources for their internal waste prevention and recycling program. The National Association of Counties recognized the department's Business Recycling Online Directory with a 2000 Achievement Award. Locally, the department's Solid Waste Division placed second in the category of Best Large Government in the Washington Department of Ecology's 2000 Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards, for its business assistance programs. "The programs being honored are a blend of providing waste reduction and recycling resources to the community while at the same time walking the talk ourselves," said Pam Bissonnette, King County Department of Natural Resources Director. "Receiving recognition from environmental protection groups and our national peers is extremely rewarding and lets us know we're on the right track. I'm very proud of our staff whose objectives are to create programs that make a difference for the people of this county" she said. In 1999 the King County Department of Natural Resources recycled more than 213,000 pounds of materials, installed an unprecedented 16,000 square yards of reused carpet in its offices at King Street Center and documented a cost savings of nearly $10,000 through the reuse of goods. The Business Recycling Online Directory (http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/greenbuilding/construction-recycling/) provides a central location for businesses to get information about waste prevention programs. The over 20 programs include the Green Business Directory, the Computer Recovery Project, the King County Green Works recognition program, packaging reduction, business junk mail reduction, materials exchanges, construction site recycling, waste audits, sustainable building programs and a recycling hotline. In addition, the popular Reuse and Recycling Database at the site has over 3,000 listings of companies that provide recycling and reuse services. Businesses can easily search the extensive listings themselves 24 hours a day, seven days a week. - end -

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