Sustainable Materials Management

Why does it matter how the community manages its waste?

We have a finite amount of resources so it’s important to make the best use of them. Recycling and composting alone are not enough. Sustainable materials management is a systemic, holistic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles.

 How was Kirkland doing before adopting the Sustainability Master Plan?

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  In 2018, each person in Kirkland generated about 20 pounds of waste a week (including recycling and compost), with just under 9 pounds going to the landfill.
• In 2018, Kirkland residents recycled or composted just over half of their waste (by weight).
• Kirkland adopted a plastic bag reduction policy in 2016.

What key sustainable materials management goals are included in the Sustainability Master Plan?

Key sustainable materials management goals include:

• Each person in Kirkland throws out less than 5.1 pounds of trash each week, a 40% reduction
• Recycle or compost 70% of Kirkland’s waste
• Reduce single-use food service ware
• Increase the number of businesses composting food scraps

How can the community help meet these goals?

• Compost all your food scraps in your gray cart
• Take steps to keep food from going to waste
• Donate or re-sell usable electronics instead of recycling them, and upgrade electronics less often
• Choose secondhand items and participate in community sharing and reuse groups
• Repair broken items instead of replacing them
• When remodeling, use a salvage team to recover usable building materials
• Buy fewer items and choose reusable items over disposable products to reduce your waste
• Advocate for waste policies with City Council