FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management Receives Public Education Award

The City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management was awarded the 2020 Recycler of the Year Award for Public Education from the Washington State Recycling Association. This honor is given to organizations that exhibit outstanding accomplishments in educating the general public about recycling and waste prevention. Solid Waste Management is being recognized for its community outreach around changes to residential curbside recycling collection.

Solid Waste Management staff conducted outreach in early 2019. The purpose of this outreach was to provide feedback for the City Council to make a more informed decision on how community members would like to continue the City’s recycling program, in the wake of international disruptions to the industry. Additionally, this outreach laid the foundation to strengthen dialogue between community members and Solid Waste Management. Staffs’ approach included community participation in the decision-making process with emphasis on hearing from those residents who would be impacted the most by any additional rate increase or service adjustments. 

The Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) was formed in 1976 to support the fledgling recycling industry and promote recycling in the state of Washington. WSRA continues to set the industry standard for encouraging sustainable legislative initiatives and awareness. Solid Waste Management will receive the Recycler of the Year Award at the WSRA annual conference in November 2020.

For more information on recycling changes, visit tacomarecycles.org/changes, or call (253) 344-6390.  

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