Recycling in Washington: How are we doing?

By Gretchen Newman, Lead Data Analyst, Waste 2 Resources

In a recent ECOconnect post, we talked about how food is the largest component of our garbage in Washington, at 17 percent (by weight) of what we throw in the trash. Wonder what makes up the rest of the trash? And how much are we recycling in Washington households and businesses?

Composting at the office turns would-be waste into valuable product

By Michelle Andrews, organics specialist, and Erika Holmes, communications

Food is the largest component of our garbage by weight, at 17 percent in Washington and 21 percent nationwide. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, about 40 percent of the food grown in the United States isn’t eaten. Meanwhile, about 15 percent of our population doesn’t know where their next meal will come from.

After 39 years, the 1-800-RECYCLE Hotline has joined the social revolution!

by Michelle Payne, outreach & education, Waste 2 Resources Program

The Washington Department of Ecology invites you to join our Facebook page for the 1-800-RECYCLE Hotline! Please visit our page, “like” us, and “share” it with your Facebook friends. You'll find Green Tips on Tuesday, Shout Outs on Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, Trivia on Friday, and other interesting recycling information.

Throwback Thursday? Yeah, we do that.

Check out the 1-800-RECYCLE Hotline Facebook page to:

• Post recycling questions and receive answers.
• Locate recycling facilities and events.
• Learn ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
• Share innovative recycling ideas.

If you know of a useful recycling website, facility, or special collection event that we don’t have listed, please share it on our Facebook page. We want to learn from you, too!

What is the 1-800-RECYCLE Hotline?

The 1-800-RECYCLE team maintains a database of more than 1,500 recycling facilities to link the public with recycling opportunities available in Washington. We hope that through our use of social media, we will increase that number as we connect with new potential recyclers.

The hotline phone service remains a vital part of 1-800-RECYCLE and the E-Cycle program. You can still dial 1-800-RECYCLE and talk to a real person between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). You can also email us at 1800recycle@ecy.wa.gov.

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Re-use Center saves money and resources

By Tina Simcich, Green Purchasing, Waste 2 Resource Program

Need some binder clips? Looking for office organizing supplies? Want file labels NOW?!

At Ecology’s Lacey building, you can quickly find these items and more just an elevator ride away. Instead of purchasing new products, staff and agency purchasing coordinators often find what they need in the Re-use Center. Our new video takes you on a journey to the “treasure trove” organized by shipping and receiving warehouse staff.



The Re-use Center a quick way to restock supply rooms at no cost. "I find something our program needs each time I go down there. Usually, I check the Re-use Center for an item before placing a purchase request. I think it’s a pretty cool place, and sometimes I find supplies are in packaging that isn’t even opened," Purchasing Coordinator Divina Clark remarked about her experience.

Ecology saves money by avoiding the purchase of new items. Reuse also means avoiding the hassle of putting in a purchasing order and takes a load off of Ecology’s busy staff.

Many agencies and businesses are seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, wastes and other environmental impacts through a focus on sustainable consumption, including source reduction. Source reduction minimizes the quantity and toxicity of materials that later need to be disposed. Re-use can be a big part of source reduction as each file folder, stapler or calculator can be used by several staff until its functional life is over.

The Benefits of Re-use 

• Eliminates the cost of and shipping fees for new products.
• Reduces waste that is sent to landfills.
• Reduces the costs and waste of new product packaging.
• Reduces staff time to process purchase orders.
• Reduces toxics and greenhouse gases associated with the lifecycle of new products.

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"E-waste" - What do you do with it?

By Miles Kuntz, E-Cycle Washington Program, Lacey

Since E-Cycle Washington began five years ago, over 212 million pounds of electronics - equal to the weight of 383 fully loaded 787 Dreamliner jets - were recycled. That kept nearly 14 million pounds of lead alone out of landfills! The Department of Ecology estimates that 915,000 TVs, computers and monitors were recycled in 2013 through E-Cycle Washington.

Click image to enlarge.

E-cycling not only recycles valuable materials within our electronics, but it also assures that toxic components like lead, cadmium, arsenic and brominated flame retardants are managed responsibly and kept out of the environment – and our food chain. The Department of Ecology oversees the E-Cycle Washington program to ensure hazardous components are safely managed and to maximize recycling of all materials.

What is e-waste?

E-waste (or electronic waste) is consumer electronics that no longer work or are just outdated and unwanted. It includes computers, other office equipment, TVs, mobile phones, entertainment devices and more.

But these devices are only "e-waste" if you throw them in the trash. Electronics are full of valuable materials like copper, aluminum, glass and even plastics that you can recycle.

Don't trash it; E-Cycle at a location near you!

Washington’s free, statewide E-Cycle program provides convenient collection sites for computers (including tablets), monitors, e-readers, portable DVD players and TVs. By state law, the E-Cycle program is paid for by the manufacturers of these devices.

There are 335 free E-Cycle drop-off sites spread throughout the state with at least one in every county. You can find the one nearest you by searching EcycleWashington.org or calling 1-800-RECYCLE.

Some common electronics, such as cell phones and printers, are not currently in the E-Cycle program, but a few larger electronics retailers take these and other electronics for free through their own recycling programs. Check with local retailers like Best Buy and Staples to see if you can recycle your cell phones, printers and other items with them.

If you have any questions about E-Cycle Washington, contact Miles.Kuntz@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-7157, or Christine.Haun@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-6107.

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Test your knowledge about fuel-efficient driving

No-idle signs give good reminder

by Melanie Forster, Air Quality Program, Southwest Regional Office

Many of us know that unnecessary engine idling pollutes the air and wastes fuel. But we all could use a friendly reminder, even Department of Ecology employees whose job is to protect our environment. “No-Idle Zone” signs have recently appeared in Ecology's parking areas. You may have seen similar signs outside schools or other areas with frequent pick-ups and drop-offs. These signs remind drivers to turn off the engine if parked for more than 30 seconds.

Why do we need no-idle signs? After all, most of us know the common-sense things to do to keep our cars in good condition and promote fuel-efficient driving. Or do we?

Test yourself with this short quiz:

1.   Which of these practices generally burns the most gas?

a.   Stopping and restarting a car's engine.

b.   Running a car's engine at idle for more than 10 seconds.

c.   They use the same amount of gas.

2.   True or False: The vast majority of vehicles should have their engines warmed up before driving to help them run more efficiently.

3.   True or False: Today's cars are so much cleaner than in the past, the amount of pollution they emit when idling is not significant.

4.   True or False: Frequent starting and stopping of your car can cause wear and tear on the car's starter.

5.   In very cold weather, you should:

a.   Warm your car up by idling for at least five minutes.

b.   Never warm your car up by idling, even to defrost the windshield.

c.   Start and stop your car several times intermittently in place of idling to warm it up.

d.   All of the above

e.   None of the above

Answers

1.B: For most cars, running a car's engine for more than 10 seconds burns more gas than stopping and restarting the engine. The idea that restarting the engine burns more fuel than letting the engine idle is a common myth.

2.False: Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of vehicles do not need to “warm up” before being driven. This may have been true for older vehicles (prior to late 80s/early 90s model years), but modern vehicles with fuel injection do not need to warm up before driving.

3.False: Even today's cleaner cars still emit harmful pollutants like oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and toxic substances including benzene and PAHs. The wasteful burning of fossil fuel from idling also generates carbon dioxide (CO₂), contributing to climate change. Pollutants in vehicle exhaust contribute to a whole host of health problems, including lung diseases like asthma and emphysema, and cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke.

4.False: The California Energy Commission has found that turning off the engine when the vehicle is stopped for more than 30 seconds has little to no effect on the life of the starter. Excess fuel use and reduced engine life from idling would cost more than any additional starter replacement costs.

5.E: None of the above! Here in the Pacific Northwest, we rarely experience temperatures extreme enough to require much heating and air conditioning. Sure, it can be cold when you first get in your car, but it's not going to heat up any faster while you wait around in the parking lot. In fact, the vehicle's heater works more efficiently when you are driving. But use common sense; you may need to idle a little bit to defrost the windshield. Don't jeopardize your safety by driving a vehicle with frosty windows. Starting, stopping, and restarting your car isn't going to do the trick in that situation! In the summer, rolling down the windows before getting in the car will let excess heat escape. Again, if you're sitting in the vehicle anyway while you wait for the AC, you might as well be driving.

The bottom line

By now, you've probably realized you're not doing your car any favors by idling. Because an idling engine is not at optimal operating temperature, it does not combust fuel completely. This leads to residue buildup, decreasing the life of your engine.

Reducing idling is so easy to do, but has big payoffs—cleaner air and more money in your wallet! When you pick up your coffee at a drive-through, turn off your engine to save gas—and your barista's lungs. If you drop off or pick up children at school, it's especially important to turn off your engine since children's developing lungs are more sensitive than adults' to the harmful pollutants in vehicle exhaust.

Do yourself and everyone around you a big favor – turn off your engine if you will be idling for more than 30 seconds.

Read more about Clean Cars in Washington State.

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Preventing pollution pays big dividends; lets keep at it!

By K Seiler, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction manager

I’m excited to announce this week is National Pollution Prevention Week and an opportunity to recognize Washington State success stories achieved by industry! I’m energized by these results, and the savings of more than $45 million reported by a subset of Washington businesses through our state Pollution Prevention Program since 2005.

Since we havebeen working on pollution prevention for more than 20 years, this week is also an opportunity to answer the question, are we done yet? The answer is no, we aren’t done.

As we look to the future, one of the biggest remaining challenges is reducing toxic threats to our environment and public health. I’m excited about our state’s forward-looking work such as developing alternative chemical assessment guidance and a green chemistry roadmap. This work is aimed at getting to safer chemical substitutes for use in product design, manufacturing, sale and disposal. It’s a win-win for the economy and the environment.

Ecology assists business to reduce toxic wastes

Furthermore, Washington’s Waste Reduction Act tasked Ecology to work with businesses and help them reduce the wastes they generate. We do this two ways. We provide technical assistance to all businesses. And we specifically help larger businesses create and carry out Pollution Prevention Plans. These plans focus on opportunities to reduce toxic chemical use.These businesses have reduced the amount of dangerous waste they produce yearly by 100 million pounds since 2000.

But businesses in our state still generate more than one hundred million pounds of dangerous waste yearly. That’s a lot of waste. But it doesn’t represent all the toxic waste generated in Washington. It doesn’t represent the amount of toxics that are discharged legally to our waterways from businesses.

And it doesn’t represent the amount of toxics that we as individuals purchase in products that make their way into the environment. We are all affected by toxic wastes. Reducing the amount of toxics used and wastes generated or released to the environment is the smartest, cheapest way to reduce risk to people and businesses.

Opportunities for toxics reduction ongoing

Businesses that have worked on reducing their wastes continue to benefit from opportunities. Over time, business operations change, personnel changes and technology changes. New eyes see new opportunities for reductions. Even those facilities that have worked for many years to reduce their wastes find ways to reduce waste even more.

Ecology can cite many examples of businesses that have reduced the toxics, wastes and resources they use. For example, Accra-Fab, Inc., in Liberty Lake, Washington, had been working on reducing their wastes for at least 17 years. However, as a result of taking part in a Lean and Green Project, the company reduced their bottom line more by saving wastewater treatment costs and reducing their use of chemicals. A video highlighting Accra-Fab’s success will earn a national award in Washington D.C. during Pollution Prevention Week.

Every day businesses use toxic chemicals when there are safer alternatives available. Every day we choose to buy products that contain toxic chemicals. Ecology has been working on developing tools to help businesses and the public make better choices. If you are interested in information on how to reduce toxics, the following resources are available:

Assessing chemical alternatives

Pollution prevention successes

Business pollution prevention resources

Information for households and communities

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Fix that Leak! - Youth drive home clean water point

by Justine Asohmbom, Shorelines & Stormwater Education Manager for Puget Sound, Northwest Regional Office

** NEW 2013 Workshops! for more information about FREE workshops see Don't Drip and Drive - Fix That Leak workshops (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/fixcarleaks.html) **

There is nothing more captivating than when young people help inspire and educate their peers. The possibilities are as endless as their imaginations. Students from Ballard, West Seattle and Roosevelt high schools, with their youthful zeal and passion, are engaging and educating their peers on the importance of checking for and fixing vehicle oil leaks and protecting Puget Sound.

“We are trying to stop pollution and raise awareness for the younger generation and not just for the older generation because oil leaking from cars ends up in Puget Sound, it pollutes everything, and it all comes back to us. We are not hurting just the environment, we are hurting ourselves,” said Macauley Cameron and Kelsey Mendenhall, both Juniors at Ballard High school.

These students are members of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA Washington), and they are working in collaboration with the Department of Ecology, Seattle Public Utilities and KUBE 93 FM radio. DECA is the club for high school students interested in marketing.

“The youth are change agents in our society. That is why we are focusing on them. They are first time drivers. They are learning new habits, so we want to start them off on the right foot,” said Michael May, Public Relations Specialist, with Seattle Public Utilities.

The teens used social marketing principles to produce radio commercials, videos, iPhone games, brochures and posters with messages to encourage their peers to check for and fix vehicle leaks and fluids.

Susan Trunk, Account Executive with KUBE 93, who was one of the judges of the student campaign materials, said: “I was very impressed by the caliber of work that the high school students were able to present to us. It was very creative and they are the best people to get messages out to their peers, so what they created was very spectacular.”

Students sneak a peek at KUBE 93 FM Radio

The students with the winning submissions visited KUBE 93 FM radio station for a learning experience and to contribute to the official eight-week on-air, online and onsite auto leaks campaign. http://www.kube93.com/pages/auto_leaks.html. Catalina Solberg, Account Executive with KUBE 93, gave the students a sneak peek behind the scenes at the station.

The students were impressed by how much work gets into each radio production.

Young voices for clean Puget Sound

Listen to the radio commercial by one of the groups of students.

Wael Abou-Zaki, KUBE 93 and KISS FM Creative Director, worked with the winning team to produce their final radio commercial. He said, “Tailoring and putting together a commercial and getting it on radio is genius; there is no other way to capture kids attention than putting them on the radio where everybody can hear them.”

Check out the partners’ YouTube site and watch the contest-winning Fix That Leak video by one of the groups of students.

Gearing up for action

These students will bring the inspiration and magic of the campaign to life for other young people in their schools and communities at a youth-driven auto leaks education kickoff event scheduled for May 16, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ballard High School. KUBE will be onsite with their sound system. The host, DJ Eddie Francis, will conduct a live on-air call-in at the event. Students will answer auto leaks questions, and listeners will vie for a chance to win Summer Jam tickets and other fun prizes.

Will you say “yes!” to our youth?

Start by checking your own car for oil leaks. Get started today at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/cars.html

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Winter road treatments have environmental considerations

By Jani Gilbert and Sandy Howard

Every winter the phones at Ecology light up with questions about de-icers and anti-icers. Are they safe? Do they pollute? Is one product better than another?

Good questions, since nationwide we dump millions of tons of de-icing and traction materials onto our roadways every year.

"There is no black and white answer," said Mike Hepp of Ecology’s Spokane office. "National studies show there are advantages and disadvantages to each material used on the roads. Putting sand and chemicals on the roads is never a good thing for the environment, but it does keep cars out of creeks."

Managing public safety, costs, impacts

When the snow flies, we recognize that public safety is the priority. Department of Ecology stormwater regulations do not specify how local governments may use de-icers, however we encourage the use of less toxic formulas.

The economics of road treatment suggest that over-application is not likely. Costs for road treatment are high for staffing and overtime, operating equipment and purchasing the materials.

Given the contrary claims of product manufacturers, differences between parts of the state, and the fact that different measures should be taken for different phases of a storm, it's difficult to say definitively what's best for the environment.

Here in the Northwest, most local and state governments responsible for keeping the roads clear look at the problem on a case-by-case basis so that the right product is used in the right place.

Product application combinations are chosen after maintenance workers evaluate factors such as air temperature, pavement temperature, humidity levels, dew point temperatures, exposure to solar radiation, type and rate of precipitation, weather forecast, weather radar data, and satellite data.

What are de-icers?

Both anti-icers and de-icers are winter road treatments that work as freezing-point depressants. Some are salt products. Some are organic compounds, and many are mixtures. However, the organic compounds are agricultural byproducts known to contain soluble organic carbon as well as nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. As a result, it is possible for de-icing operations to have an adverse effect on regional waterways, by adding to nutrient and organic carbon loading.

In some areas of the state, our local governments most often use magnesium chloride, a pre-snow anti-icer. The use of anti-icers means that a significantly smaller amount of chemical needs to be used, which is good for the environment.

Anti-icers, or preventive winter road treatments, are liquid forms of salt compounds used to prevent the formation of bonded snow and ice for easy removal. They are used before the onset of a winter weather storm. They work by forming a brine that has a lower freezing point than ice and snow. They keep the ice and snow from sticking to the road so it's much easier to physically remove. They also reduce the amount of sand that is used on the roadway, thus cutting down on the air pollution that arises from dry, sandy roads in the spring and summer.

A de-icer is a product that is used after it snows and after ice forms to melt the snow and ice away. De-icers, or reactive winter road treatments, are usually salt compounds used to break the bond of already existing snow and ice. They dissolve downward and penetrate until they reach the pavement. They then fan outward to undercut and separate the snow from the pavement surface.

Environmental impacts?

Both salt-based de-icers and anti-icers are easily transported with runoff water and can contaminate surface and groundwater when excessive amounts are applied. They also inhibit the growth of roadside vegetation and harm roadside habitats.

So, anti-icers may have a slight environmental edge over de-icers simply because not as much is needed. One emerging alternative is calcium magnesium acetate, or CMA, made from limestone and acetic acid. It has a lower environmental impact because less is used. However, it costs more and still has a nutrient load if it reaches water.

Meanwhile, homeowners should avoid the use of fertilizers to de-ice. They're expensive, they perform poorly and you have to use quite a lot. Sand will work, but you need to sweep it up later. Don't use cat litter or ashes — they turn into goo.

This comes from the King County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual, "Shoveling of snow is always preferred to dumping excessive amounts of de-icing materials in an effort to avoid shoveling."

Perhaps the best thing for the environment involves getting more exercise.

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Free Auto Leaks Workshops: How to not be a drip (from your car, that is)

by Justine Asohmbom, Puget Sound educator

** NEW 2013 Workshops! for more information about FREE workshops see Don't Drip and Drive - Fix That Leak workshops (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/fixcarleaks.html) **

An oil leak in your car can be a frustrating thing, not to mention the fact that oil that drips onto driveways, parking lots and streets can find its way to our local creeks and Puget Sound, hurting wildlife and habitat. A new, free one-morning workshop gives you the basic knowledge to prevent and stop most car leaks.

You can do it!

Even if you never saw yourself as a do-it-yourselfer, these “Free Automotive Leaks” hands-on workshops at South Seattle Community College can jump start your car care knowledge.

Bring your car and learn step-by-step how to prevent, find and correct its leaks.

Check out this one minute video about the workshops and sign up today!

These monthly workshops are organized by Seattle Public Utilities in partnership with the Department of Ecology and South Seattle Community College. They are part of the trio’s incentive-based automotive education and outreach effort, the Automotive Maintenance Program (AMP). They are designed to raise awareness and encourage motorists to check for and fix car oil leaks. AMP aims to help reduce the amount of automotive contaminants that wash into our local streams and ultimately Puget Sound.

Car expert Jesse Ruiz teaches the four-hour workshops. He’s on the Automotive Technology program faculty at the college. You’ll learn how to check the ‘under belly’ of your own car to identify sources of oil and fluid leaks.

The workshop also covers how to repair common minor leaks, clean up spills, and where to take used auto fluids for proper disposal.

“These workshops are designed for only fifteen participants so that the instructor can take the time to look at each individual car and advise them on what to do. We also give participants the information and tool kit they need to mitigate the problem,” said Antony Matlock, the Program Coordinator with Seattle Public Utilities.

Participants in their own words

A video is worth a million words. Check out this testimonial video to hear what participants had to say about the workshop.

Upcoming Workshops:

To register, email Idris.Beamailto:Idris.Beauregard@seattle.gov or call (206)-684-3056.

• January 14, 2012
  
• February 11, 2012
  
• March 10, 2012
  
• April 14, 2012
  
• May 12, 2012
  
• June 9, 2012

Education for the next generation of drivers

In an effort to reach our next generation behind the wheel, we have also partnered with some Seattle schools, DECA Washington and KUBE 93 radio station to carry out an automotive oil leaks campaign in schools. As part of this campaign, the students will produce PSAs about car oil leaks and also engage their peers through an integrated on-air, on-line and on-site campaign.

Kick-off for the campaign is scheduled for Spring 2012. Stay tuned!

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Dreaming of a greener holiday season

by Margaret Hill, Administrative Services, Lacey

The end of the year can be hard on budgets and on the environment. What follows are some ideas on how to make the upcoming holidays a little greener and maybe even help you keep a little more "green" of your own.

Keep giving gifts, but...

Consider giving the gift of service such as cooking a meal, tuning up a friend’s bicycle, or watching the kids so someone can have a night out.

Request a donation to a charity or give a donation to a charity in someone’s name. It is nice if the charity is a cause that the person is interested in.

Give a family gift instead of a gift for each family member. Give a basket of seeds, a promise of some spring bulbs, or pots and soil for a family herb garden.

Specialty, homemade food items are a great gift. Be sure to include the recipe. Or package up a favorite homemade cookie or cake "mix." All they have to add are the eggs and oil and water if needed.

Give a membership to a museum or zoo.

Give gifts that can be passed on such as a book or game or puzzle.

Buy gifts locally from hometown, independent merchants.

Stand firm on your no-gift policy and respect other people’s requests for no gifts.

Expand your wrapping repertoire

Gift wrapping can also be greener. Try using towels, or t-shirts, or scarves, or pillow cases and make the wrapping part of the gift.

Decorate boxes or bags and turn them into reusable gift containers. Use newspaper, or old maps, or posters. Reuse the gift wrap left over from the year before. You can decorate your box in a patchwork if there is not enough to go around.

Redefine Boxing Day

The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day, because it was the day when the lords and ladies of the manor took boxes of food or gave money to their servants.

You can start a new Boxing Day tradition by using this day to box up unwanted or duplicate items and donate them to one of the many charities that accept used items.

And be sure to check out some other holiday and winter tips we've gathered!

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Bye, bye, borax

By Michael Bergman, Toxic Free Tips coordinator, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction

Ecology is pulling a popular video from its YouTube site over concerns about borax. The Greener Cleaner video shows how you can make a “do-it-yourself,” multi-purpose cleaner.

That infomercial-style video has been part of Ecology’s effort to help get the word out about alternatives to harsher household cleaners.

However, something happened recently to make Ecology revisit that video. It turns out that the alternative cleaner recipe it features isn’t as safe as we thought it was.

That’s because the recipe contains borax, a common product you can find in the laundry aisle. However, boric acid – which makes up more than 90 of borax – was recently added to the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) list of Chemicals of Very High Concern. Chemicals are added to that list when they are linked to human health dangers such as cancer or reproductive problems.

That listing makes borax a problem in two ways. First, we want to provide you with information on the safest alternatives available. And second, Ecology relied – in part – on ECHA’s standards in putting together its own list of Chemicals of High Concern for Children as part of Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act.

At Ecology we try not to think in terms of ‘safe’ alternatives to every chemical product. Instead, we aim for the safest alternative we know about at the time and then pass that information on to you. And if we find something safer later on, we’ll tell you about as soon as we know.

If you are interested in a good alternative cleaner you can mix up at home without borax, try the following:

• 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  
  
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap – not detergent
  
  
• 3/4 cup warm water

Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle, put the cap on and shake it up. This mixture both cleans and disinfects.

You can get a free, complete set of our safer-cleaner recipes. Just visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov/toxicfreetips. Or phone our toll-free Toxic Free Tips line and speak to our staff or leave a message with your mailing address. The number is 1-866-939-9991.

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Stay clean and green this boating season

By Curt Hart, Communications Manager

After a long cool spring, boaters are starting to head back out on Washington’s rivers, lakes and marine waters for another season. Now is the time for boaters to consider what they can do to stay safe and protect our waters.

Ecology receives about 3,800 spill reports a year. Many oil spills occur at marinas and from recreational boats. Even small spills matter. A single quart of motor oil can potentially contaminate up to 100,000 gallons of water.

From September 2010 through April 2011, Ecology logged more than 100 small spills at ports and marinas that were too thin to clean up from the water.

If mechanical problems occur far from shore, they can put a boat in jeopardy of sinking — threatening lives and potentially contaminating our waters. We don’t want someone’s perfect day on the water turning into an environmental disaster.

Boaters can protect their watercraft and the environment by taking the following precautions:

• Tune up the boat motor, check for oil and fuel leaks, and fix them before launching the boat.



• Carefully replace the engine’s old gear oil and coolant, taking care not to spill any in the water or on the ground. Safely recycle or dispose of used oil and filters, batteries, unused paint, solvents, antifreeze and other chemicals at the county hazardous waste collection site.



• Put a clean absorbent pad in the bilge-pump area. Do not pump contaminated bilge water overboard. Use approved shore-side facilities.



• Do not discharge treated or untreated sewage in the marina basin. Use shore-side sewage dump stations or mobile pumping services if available.



• Do not overfill or top off fuel tanks. Allow for fuel expansion especially in warmer weather. Use oil absorbents or other devices to catch drips.

State and federal law requires anyone who spills oil, regardless of size, to immediately report it to Ecology at 800-OILS-911 and the U.S. Coast Guard at 800-424-8802. Acting quickly can help minimize environmental damage caused by oil and chemical products.

Anyone can report a spill or other environmental problem. See Ecology’s online resources for reporting problems that affect the environment: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/reportaproblem.html

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Air Time: Report says recycling, composting help fight climate change

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Program

It’s already pretty clear that it’s good to recycle and compost waste materials when possible, instead of throwing them in the garbage or burning them.

For example, recycled materials are used in a variety of consumer goods and in other ways. Composting yard waste produces quality lawn-care material and other benefits. And keeping yard waste and recyclable items out of the landfills means we lessen the need for more landfill space.

From an air quality standpoint, burning yard waste produces smoke that harms the people who breathe it and the overall environment. That's why it is banned in most areas of Washington. (And burning garbage is illegal throughout the state.)

We encourage people to use alternatives to burning, including composting.

Now a new report says diverting recyclable and compostable materials from the waste stream can lead to significant reductions in climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

The West Coast Climate and Materials Management Forum produced the report, called “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Recycling and Composting.” The group is made up of city, county, state, and tribal governments. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency leads this partnership.

According to the report, recycling or composting many items commonly found in the waste streams in Washington, Oregon and California could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 million metric tons.

That’s like taking 6.3 million cars off the road for a year.

The authors also say their report shows that recycling and composting contribute significantly to the green economy.

“Recycling or composting just half of core recyclables and food scraps currently in the three-state waste streams would yield almost $1.6 billion in additional salaries and wages, $818 million in additional goods and services produced, and $309 million in additional sales across the West Coast,” the report says.

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12 Ways to Spread Green Holiday Cheer

By Brook Beeler, Community Outreach and Environmental Educator

One of my all time favorite holiday songs comes from an album titled John Denver and the Muppets; A Christmas Together. That’s right I love the Muppets. Miss Piggy lays down an excellent version of “Christmas is Coming”.

You know the one where the goose is getting fat?

You should put a penny in the old man’s hat?

No?

Well, my point is that this little ditty, which always brings a smile to my face, is all about sharing. Here at Ecology we are full of advice for greening your life and in the spirit of the season we thought we would give you 12 ways to spread green holiday cheer. We’ve got ways for you to keep kids and pets safe, your home clean and toxic free, and ways to avoid all that holiday waste!

But that’s not all. We want to hear from you too! How have you greened your holiday? Share your decorating, entertaining, and gift giving ideas that keep your holiday season green.

Here are a few of ours to get you started:

1. Remember to take re-usable shopping bags on your gift finding excursions, they’re not just for grocery stores.
2. Keep your pets safe from holiday hazards.
3. Have a natural, germ free holiday: Use real soap, give real soap.
4. Give non-toxic art supplies to the little artist on your list.
5. Save a ton on holiday wrapping. Try the art of re-usable cloths. Alternatively, use baskets, bags or recyclable wrapping paper.
6. When guests are gone & it’s time to clean. Use safer, thriftier cleaners.
7. If you unwrapped a new 3D-TV? E-cycle the old one, it’s free!
8. The kids are home on winter break and old cleaners might be lingering? Keep curious kids safe. Washington Poison Control.
9. Keep your home smelling sweet with lots of naturals to choose from.
10. Consider donating food you don't use for the big dinner or party.
11. Are you dressing up for the holidays? Choose cosmetics and personal care products that are free of chemicals.
12. After the holidays don’t forget to recycle or reuse paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum and compost scraps from holiday meals

I am sure we’ve missed something. Please share your green holiday tips. Just click on the comment link below, or post your tips and ideas to our Facebook page. Make sure and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more green holiday cheer.

Read our ECOConnect commenting policy.

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Air Time: Swaps bring in over 500 illegal burn barrels

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality Program

The results are in from a joint effort by Ecology and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to reduce wildfires and the harmful smoke they produce.

DNR and Ecology targeted burn barrels. It’s illegal to use them in Washington, and they can spark wildfires that damage property, threaten people and scar the environment.

Over several months, Ecology and DNR worked with several counties and other local organizations to swap free compost bins for burn barrels. Events were held in participating Washington counties and in conjunction with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Here’s our news release about the project’s wrap-up.

This is the second consecutive summer that Ecology and DNR have worked together on a burn barrel collection program. Last year, the two state agencies cooperated on collections in Okanogan and Stevens counties. Four events (two in each county) were held; more than 220 burn barrels were collected.

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Air Time: Learn Not to Burn

By Kendra Robinson-Harding, Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist, Eastern Region

Every time you light a campfire or burn leaves and sticks in your yard, you are releasing hundreds of air pollutants that can cause cancer and other health problems.

The tiny particles in wood smoke are especially dangerous to health. Because they are so small, our bodies’ natural defenses cannot filter them out.

Instead, we inhale them deep into our lungs, where they become lodged, causing reduced lung function, heart disease, and cancer. Our kids are especially at risk. Watch this video and visit our website for more information.

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Enhanced Resources on Ecology’s Green Building Web Site

Low VOC paints and sealants inside a strawbale home in Spokane, WA.

On top of a construction and demolition landfill.

The Green Building Group at the Department of Ecology offers technical assistance and educational resources to Washington residents and businesses interested in green building strategies. Sustainable, or green, building isn’t a new idea, but the movement has experienced unprecedented growth and development in recent years.

More and more people have been ”connecting the dots” between the toxic materials used in construction and indoor air quality, between a large home garbage bin and rising mountains of waste, and between costly utility bills and poor home insulation. More and more people are now trying to incorporate green features in their construction, demolition and remodeling projects to do their part in reducing the environmental and health impacts.

In response to the growing interest and questions, we have re-developed our green building Web site. We’ve streamlined the site’s navigation, making it user-friendly, and enhanced it with new, up-to-date information and resources. We hope that it now provides the tools that the Washington residents need to take action.

The updated Green Building Web site features the following sections:

Green Building Basics - Components of a green building; green building statistics in Washington State.

Certification and Regulations - Green building and product certification programs; Washington State Law on High Performance Buildings.

Case Studies - Links to residential and commercial case study databases.

Homeowner Resources - Homeowner incentives; brochures on elements of a green remodel.

Builder Resources - Educational resources, incentives available to builders, and appraisal information.

Alternatives to Waste - How to avoid and reduce waste generated by construction, demolition, and remodel projects.

Ecology Assistance - Ecology services: eco-charrette facilitation, grants, environmentally preferred purchasing, assistance to local governments, interagency cooperation, and some Washington green building organizations.

Contact Us – Meet the Green Building Group at Ecology.

Floating the collective green boat

We’re a boating state for sure. So we think we have a sure-fire audience for a new website we’ve just lit up. It took Ecology about two years to build the concept of Clean, Green Boating. This is a one-stop location for boaters to jump into green boating and keep Washington waters clean and healthy.

While building this site, we were astounded to learn that Washington has more than 250,000 licensed pleasure crafts. And this doesn’t count the vast number of larger yachts registered with the U.S. Coast Guard. What if all of these boaters adopted green boating practices? We think this could really help improve the health of our waters.

In developing the site, we got a taste of how diverse boating education information is on the web. Lots of governmental agencies and organizations own a piece of boating!

For Ecology, the two key programs involved are Water Quality and Spills. Outside of Ecology, boater information comes from the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Program. There’s also the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Clean Marina Program.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cares about clean boating practices because they help keep state owned aquatic lands clean and healthy. Clean boating benefits habitat for fish and wildlife, and people who enjoy the natural world. The state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) has its own Green Boating website.

Now Ecology’s site contains boater information from RCO and the Department of Fish and Wildlife about how they can help combat the spread of aquatic invasive species. The list of groups that own a piece of the boating pie goes on and on. We’ve listed many of the players here.

One of Ecology’s motives in developing this site was to deliver some educational guidance about proper hull cleaning. Many boat hulls are painted with soft, toxic paints. It is illegal to clean these types of hulls in the water or near a storm drain because toxic chemicals in the paints can kill fish and aquatic life.

Did you know that you could face a fine of up to $10,000 for in-water hull cleaning of this type of hull?

Toxic boat hulls can be an environmental problem. A 2007 study by Ecology found elevated concentrations of copper inside two Puget Sound marinas. Marinas have been shown to be sources of copper to the marine environment, the primary source being antifouling paints on boat hulls. Read more about the study here: Dissolved Copper Concentrations in Two Puget Sound Marinas.

Ecology’s new website encourages all boaters to “know your hull” before you clean it. We encourage boaters to learn more about hard coatings and epoxy-based hard paints for boat hulls. These products provide a slick surface and they are safe for in-water cleaning. The surfaces discourage organism growth, last longer, and minimize harm to the environment. Best of all, these surfaces can improve your boat’s performance and save fuel costs. One of these coatings could be right for your boat.

DNR helped us write and design an educational hull-cleaning advisory poster that we would like to eventually distribute to marinas across the state. It’s great guidance to help boaters be knowledgeable about keeping toxic chemicals from getting into waters. The poster says that if your boat hull has soft, toxic paint, do NOT clean it in or near the water, or near a storm drain. To do this work yourself on land, use a tarp and vacuum sander to collect all debris, and dispose of it properly. Better yet, take your boat to an approved boatyard for this work!

Clean, Green Boating — like its green and alive name — is a living website.

We want to keep improving it over time. If you have ideas to include something we’ve missed let us know. You can email me directly at sandy.howard@ecy.wa.gov.

The "Spills aren't Slick" campaign reminds boaters to report ALL spills

The "Spills aren't Slick" campaign is a joint effort by Washington, California, Oregon and British Columbia to address a significant source of oil and fuel spills: recreational boaters and commercial fishermen. Marinas across the state are posting campaign reminder signs for boaters. The signs also let them know they need to notify authorities if they spill oil or gas in the water.

Scores of leaky gaskets and filters and sloppy fueling practices cause many small spills that add up over time. And unfortunately, the reports that are received from recreational boaters and fishermen are probably just the tip of the iceberg. Many people don't know they are required to report spills, and they don't know that it's as easy as dialing 800-OILS-911.

More than 1,000 blue, black and white signs have been posted at public and private marinas in Washington, the majority in the Puget Sound area.

The toll-free 800-OILS-911 number is prominently displayed on the sign. Using the phone number, people can use it to report oil spills from British Columbia to California. The call goes directly to each state's emergency management division. The intent of the easy-to-remember 800 number is to get people to report a spill while there's still time to minimize the damage.

If you are a boat owner, here are a few things you can do to help prevent spills:
· Shut off all engines during fueling.
· Use an absorbent pad or fuel collar to catch drips.
· Know the fuel capacity of your boat's tank and do not top off. (Maximum 90 percent full.)
· Keep bilges dry and oil free. Avoid oily discharges.
· Use absorbent pads (not soaps) to clean up spills. Soaps and oil are toxic to fish and the environment.
· Recycle used oil and filters.

In addition, boat motors should be tuned up and bilges checked for oil leaks before launching your boat. An oil-absorbent roll in the bilge area will temporarily take care of any oil drips and can be used to catch any fuel before it spills into the water. The oil-absorbent pads and rolls can be purchased at most marina supply stores.

If a spill occurs, stop the flow and warn others in the area immediately. Shut off any ignition sources, including cigarettes, and contain the spill. Then, immediately call 800-OILS-911. By law, ALL spills must be reported.

Learn more at Washington Waters - Ours To Protect.