Happy America Recycles Day! While it’s always important to recycle, November 15th is a great day to give it some special attention and celebrate our planet. Here at SPU, we’ll be celebrating with you and sharing tips and tricks to help you recycle right! We’ll have booths on Lower Queen… [ Keep reading ]
A New Way to Measure Our Progress Seattle has long been recognized as a global leader in waste reduction and sustainable materials management. But the way we consume and what we throw away is changing fast. That’s why Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has introduced new industry-leading solid waste metrics that… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is excited to introduce five new members to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) for 2025: Phil Churilla, Travis Close, Marcus Johnson, Jacob Melaragno, and Mike VanReken. These individuals join a group of community, nonprofit, and industry representatives who play an important role in shaping how… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle City Council banned plastic carryout bags back in 2011. So why are they back— in a thicker form? Seattle residents likely can remember a time between 2012 and 2020 where plastic carryout bags were not offered at grocery stores and other retail establishments. Only paper bags were available. This… [ Keep reading ]
Last week, Seattle hosted the international ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit, a gathering of leaders from government, business, and hunger‑relief organizations aiming to tackle one of the biggest challenges in our waste stream: food. Right here in our city, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is at the forefront of developing smart,… [ Keep reading ]
Zero Waste Events at Seattle Center Could Soon Be a Reality We’re excited to share that Seattle has been named one of 50 finalists from 33 countries in the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, a global competition that supports bold and innovative urban solutions to major challenges cities face. This… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is excited to share that glass placed in your residential blue bin is once again being recycled into new products, thanks to major improvements in regional infrastructure and new partnerships. What Happened to Glass Recycling? In 2024, Seattle had to pause regular glass recycling after the… [ Keep reading ]
llegal tire dumping isn’t just unsightly; it’s also dangerous. And it’s on the rise. Across Seattle, hundreds of used tires are being abandoned in greenbelts, public rights-of-way, and other community spaces. Since 2022, we have seen an 82% increase in large-scale illegal dumping, often involving dozens or even hundreds of… [ Keep reading ]
“The Biggest Overhaul of our Recycling System in Decades” Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) was instrumental in helping to pass a new state law that will make recycling easier, more affordable, and more effective across the state. It’s called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The bill puts companies that make packaging and paper… [ Keep reading ]
Have you gone on a walk or drive around Seattle and spotted those bright yellow bags? We’re pretty sure you’ve seen them. Curious about what they’re for? We’ve got the answers. Those yellow bags come from our Adopt a Street (AAS) program! This program provides free supplies, like yellow trash… [ Keep reading ]
