Eight Renton businesses were among 112 King County Companies named to the 10th Annual 鈥淏est Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling鈥� list this week. 鈥淜ing County businesses are doing a lot to lessen the impacts of climate change by reducing waste,鈥� King County Solid Waste Division Program Manager Karen May said in a press release. 鈥淲e want to ensure businesses get the recognition they deserve for their efforts and inspire others to take action too.鈥�
The eight local honorees are:
Allpak Container LLC
Allpak has an environmental management system designed to minimize waste and prevent pollution. They capture and bale all corrugated cardboard, their primary leftover material, and other paper waste from plant activities. Designated recycling clerks monitor plastic recycling receptacles to ensure that all plastics are sorted correctly and picked up by the recycling service. Allpak also recycles wood waste from pallet refurbishing activities, metal waste from facility maintenance activities, and all electronic waste.
Kenworth Truck Company 鈥� Renton Plant
Joining the Honor Roll list (five years in a row on list) for its fourth year is Kenworth Truck Company 鈥� Renton Plant. This truck plant has mature recycling programs in place for paper, cardboard, wood, plastic films, scrap metal, cooking and engine oils, light bulbs, electronics, antifreeze, and toner cartridges. Their cafeteria has a composting program for food waste and food service items such as cups, plates, and napkins. They work with suppliers to reuse some packaging supplies and reduce packaging waste. Kenworth Truck Company also recycles wood pallets, and continues to invest in returnable and reusable shipping racks to reduce wood use.
Rainier Crest Apartments
This year, Rainier Crest Apartments, a 74-unit apartment complex, joins Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling for the first time. They began recycling in November and it has been a success, allowing them to decrease their weekly garbage dumpster pick-ups. In addition to their recycling program, they employ practices to reduce waste, including focusing on paperless communication methods and reusing products rather than disposing of them.
American Classic 国产麻豆s Real Estate
American Classic 国产麻豆s is a real estate firm that has been on the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling for 10 years running. Understanding that their industry is generally paper heavy, the employees at American Classic 国产麻豆s have switched to scanning, sharing, and storing their paperwork through their online server. They switched to a multi-use, central office copier/printer that keeps track of usage and efficiency. Paper that is printed by error is recycled or used in other ways around the office. Many of the brokers use a laminated flyer in the flyer boxes for homes that are for sale and do not print excess flyers.
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