Press release:

The City of SeaTac has received the first overall municipality 5-Star EnviroStars Certification rating from the EnviroStars certification program that recognizes businesses on their environmentally friendly practices and policies.

Government facilities usually submit as individual departments and are certified independently as SeaTac’s Parks/Public Works Maintenance Facility did previously in 2011.

The City worked closely with EnviroStars Program Manager Laurel Tomchick and submitted the very first overall city government application earlier this year that included the Parks Maintenance Division, Public Works Maintenance Division, Fire Stations, City Hall, Facilities Division, and Community Center, that also encompassed parks properties (buildings and public land areas), public works properties and right of way practices, along with city staff behaviors and practices.

“Our city is proud of its commitment to waste management, increasing the collection and reuse of recyclable items, promoting resource conservation and pollution prevention and our programming that reaches out to our employees and community members assisting all of SeaTac to be environmentally responsible,” said Trudy Olson, Resource Conservation and Neighborhood Programs Coordinator. “Our city strives to lead by example and appreciated the opportunity to apply for the first comprehensive city government EnviroStars Certification and encourages other local governments to publicly step up as examples for their communities also.”

EnviroStars certifies companies with a rating from 2 to 5 Stars based on their practices and policies that demonstrate commitment to protecting the environment by properly managing and reducing hazardous materials and waste. The program recognizes certified companies through various promotional activities. Certified businesses must continue to meet qualification standards through an on-going renewal process.

The EnviroStars Program was created in King County, Washington in 1995, as a service of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program. It has since been adopted across the region in Jefferson, Kitsap, Pierce, Skagit, Spokane, and Whatcom Counties. Any business type that typically uses hazardous materials or produces hazardous waste in its operations is eligible for the program. EnviroStars businesses include auto body and repair shops, dentists, dry cleaners, landscapers, marinas, printing services, government facilities, medical & veterinary clinics and manufacturing companies.

The City of SeaTac’s Parks/Public Works Maintenance Facility received the 3-Star EnviroStars Certification recognition in 2011. To be certified, an eligible business must submit their application and schedule a free, on-site consultation with EnviroStars consultants.

For more information on the process, please visit http://www.envirostars.org/ .