Waste and Recycling
Cascadia began a waste composition study for the City of Seattle in 2007 with the goals of providing statistically significant data on the composition of waste generated from construction and demolition (C&D) activities within the City of Seattle, identifying potentially recyclable materials in the disposed C&D waste stream, and understanding seasonal and strata differences to improve targeted waste diversion programs. For this study, a total of 786 samples were sorted into 67 distinct component categories, such as clean engineered wood or composition roofing. The study generated comparative data associated with Seattle’s previous C&D waste composition study that took place in 1997 and developed a benchmark for continued long-term measurement of the C&D waste stream.
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Cascadia began to immediately overhaul the way Resource Venture services were marketed, delivered, and tracked; ultimately resulting in superior outcomes. Among the dramatic changes we noted were (1) an increased level of accountability; (2) a more strategic focus; and (3) service documentation that demonstrated a more effective and efficient program. In particular, Cascadia’s “targeting and tracking” database made it possible to focus on the biggest commercial resources users with the greatest potential for conservation, and then measure their progress over time. The program’s unique targeted approach is extremely cost-effective; Cascadia has helped reduce the City’s program costs from about $100/ton diverted in 2006 to about $45/ton in 2008.
- Phil Paschke, Seattle Public Utilities