CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION adopting Seattle's 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update: Moving Upstream to Zero Waste; revising the 2011 Revision: Picking Up The Pace Toward Zero Waste; and superseding certain requirements adopted by Resolution 30990.
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WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution 29805, adopting Seattle's Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan "On the Path to Sustainability" in August 1998; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution 30750 adopting the 2004 Comprehensive Solid Waste Plan Amendment to the 1998 Plan "On the Path to Sustainability" in March 2005; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution 31426 adopting the 2011 Revision: Picking Up The Pace Toward Zero Waste in February 2013, accelerating recycle goals established in Resolution 30990 to recycle 70 percent of the municipal solid waste produced within the city by 2022 and 70 percent of the construction and demolition waste produced within the city by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, the City implemented industry-leading diversion policies and practices that resulted in an all-time high overall recycle rate of approximately 59 percent in 2016, but has been unable to achieve the recycling goals set in Resolution 31426 due to changes in products and packaging beyond the City’s control that dramatically altered the composition and volumes of materials in the waste stream; and
WHEREAS, the City’s vision of Zero Waste strives for a waste-free society by creating new practices and policies to reduce or reuse waste and build an economy supported by re-use of resources; and
WHEREAS, this Zero Waste vision involves looking at the entire life cycle of materials used to make products and packaging to eliminate waste, prevent pollution, encourage product durability and reusability, conserve natural resources, and build a circular economy; and
WHEREAS, best management practice in the solid waste industry now focus “upstream” to prevent waste, which yields the greatest environmental benefits by reducing resource use and climate-changing greenhouse gas pollution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution 32000 adopting the 2021-2026 Seattle Public Utilities Strategic Business Plan in May 2021, establishing the Utility’s vision of “Community Centered, One Water, Zero Waste” where advancing Zero Waste means supporting and promoting policies and practices that reduce Seattle waste and carbon pollution as fast as possible and create a circular economy; and
WHEREAS, continuing to recycle in conjunction with preventing waste from being generated is a more effective approach to addressing waste and achieving Zero Waste and a circular economy; and
WHEREAS, by addressing waste at its source, waste prevention can: enhance the resilience of the solid waste management system by reducing the amount of waste and toxics produced; support other local environmental priorities like reducing litter, decreasing greenhouse gases and toxicants, and preventing stormwater pollution; and minimize the overall life cycle impacts of materials; and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington requires local governments develop comprehensive solid waste management plans and that they be reviewed and revised, if necessary, every five years; and
WHEREAS, Seattle developed a Plan Revision, which has included opportunities for public input on its crucial program elements; and
WHEREAS, the City's Solid Waste Advisory Committee participated in and supports the Plan Revision; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. Seattle's 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update: Moving Upstream to Zero Waste, attached to this resolution as Attachment 1, is adopted as the Solid Waste Management Plan for The City of Seattle to provide long-term planning direction and guide solid waste program development over the next five years.
Section 2. To determine whether the City is making progress toward Zero Waste and building a more circular economy, Seattle Public Utilities will, no later than December 31, 2024, provide the City Council’s Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Committee, or its successor committee, a report identifying the new metrics it will use to quantify waste reduction and diversion in the city. Upon receipt of that report by the committee, those new metrics will supersede the goal established in Resolution 30990 to recycle 70 percent of the municipal solid waste produced within the city by 2022 and 70 percent of the construction and demolition waste produced within the city by the year 2020.
Section 3. SPU will report to City Council by October 1 of each year on the previous year's progress preventing, reducing, and diverting waste. Each annual report shall contain the comments of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. This requirement supersedes the reporting requirement established in Section 5 of Resolution 30990.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2023, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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Elizabeth M. Adkisson, Interim City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Seattle's 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update: Moving Upstream to Zero Waste