Waste and Recycling

Resource Venture Program

Client: Seattle, WA

This program provides outreach, education, and technical assistance to Seattle businesses to conserve resources, reduce or prevent pollution, and become more sustainable. Cascadia manages all aspects of the $2.5 million 5-year project. As the primary contractor, Cascadia directs a team of sub-consultants from seven firms providing specialized expertise in communications, water conservation, stormwater pollution prevention, green building, waste prevention as well as outreach to ethnic businesses. Over 3 years, Cascadia has worked with over 1,300 businesses in the Seattle area including dozens of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, law firms, and large event venues. As a result of our work, 5 million fewer sheets of paper are being used, nearly 6,000 tons of waste are being recycled or composted, over 350,000 gallons of water per day are being conserved, and about 6,500 fewer tons of greenhouse gases are being emitted each year.

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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