Information from King County

King County will host a preproposal meeting to answer questions about its Zero Waste Grant on Thursday, Sept. 26. Up to $40,800 in grant funding is available for community-driven projects to help businesses and residents in unincorporated White Center cut down on waste, reduce exposure to toxic materials, and increase recycling.

To bolster efforts to cut down on waste, increase recycling and reduce exposure to toxic materials, King County’s Solid Waste Division and the Hazardous Waste Management Program have launched a pilot grant program to provide up to $40,800 in funding for community-driven projects in Unincorporated White Center.

Prospective applicants are invited to learn about the grant program, eligibility criteria and the proposal process at a meeting from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, at Greenbridge Housing’s Joe Thomas room, located at 9800 Eighth Ave. SW in Seattle. Applications are due by 5:00 pm, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019.

King County has set a goal to achieve zero waste of resources by 2030, as specified in King County Code and the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. The division’s work is also guided by a commitment to equity and social justice in the delivery of its services.

White Center was selected for the pilot program because it is among the most demographically diverse communities in King County’s unincorporated areas. The community’s proximity to the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund site, two major airports, and a major industrial corridor is linked to a number of health and economic disparities that continue to burden many residents.

Nonprofits, community groups, schools, special purpose districts, tribes, businesses, and independent municipal corporations are among the entities that would all be eligible to compete for funding for projects designed to benefit the White Center community.

Examples of the types of projects eligible for funding may include:

• Recycling: educating the community on proper recycling techniques to reduce contamination of recyclables.
• Composting: working with businesses to separate food waste for collection, or with schools and students to introduce composting and use of compost in schools. (Note: businesses and schools may first have to subscribe to yard waste pickup services.)
• Waste prevention and reuse: educating the community on buying only what one needs, buying secondhand, sharing, reusing, repairing, etc.
• Sustainable consumption: purchasing products made with recycled materials, and promoting green building practices.
• Equity and Social Justice activities: conducting multicultural recycling and composting education outreach.
• Hazardous waste education: education about common products that are considered hazardous and about safer alternatives to using those products, and education about toxic exposure risks, such as lead. 
• Hazardous waste disposal: education about how to access collection facilities and special events where residents and businesses can safely dispose of hazardous waste.
• Collection of any household hazardous waste items, including but not limited to: batteries, oil, antifreeze, gasoline, household cleaners, pesticides, or oil-based paint (water-based paints and stains are not accepted).  (Note: any hazardous waste collection activities must conform with performance standards and permitting requirements.)

Grants will be funded by King County Solid Waste disposal and Haz Waste Program fees. The maximum grant awarded will be $40,800, and the minimum will be $5,000. Grant funding is available from SWD and Haz Waste Program sources that require them to be spent and tracked separately.

For more information about the Zero Waste Pilot Program Grant and to request an application, please contact grants administrator Lucy Auster at 206-477-5268 or lucy.auster@kingcounty.gov.

Learn more about the Solid Waste Division at kingcounty.gov/solidwaste.