HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4496Climate 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
RES 4496
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
Armondo Pavone, City of Renton Mayor
Attest:
Jason A. Seth, City Clerk
18th May 2023