Recycling in Renton is becoming more personalized with the city's new initiative to reduce contamination. Starting next month, the "Feet on the Street" recycling cart tagging project will provide over 9,000 households with real-time feedback and education about their recycling practices, as reported by the official City of Renton news release. This project expands on a 2022 pilot program involving 2,000 households aimed at improving the quality of materials in curbside recycling.
Renton’s Sustainability Specialist, John MacGillivray said, “Renton residents love to recycle and their help with this project will help us keep our curbside recycling program affordable and sustainable," as per the same release. The campaign is a partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology and The Recycling Partnership, which funds the initiative.
Dan Weston, Statewide Recycling Coordinator with the Department of Ecology, emphasized the importance of correct recycling. “Washingtonians are passionate about recycling, but that passion can sometimes result in non-recyclables being placed in the blue bin,” he said in the news release, expressing support for Renton’s hands-on approach. The state's Recycle Right campaign addresses contamination issues caused by excessive non-recyclable materials, aiming to educate and reduce contamination through programs like "Feet on the Street." Renton’s recycling guidelines are available on the city's website for residents who need clarification on what can be recycled.
Other Washington communities, such as Olympia and parts of Clallam County, including Sequim, are also participating in similar projects, receiving funding for contamination reduction initiatives this year. The "Feet on the Street" program involves trained community-based observers who will evaluate the contents of each recycling cart and provide immediate feedback via educational tags when contaminants are found, as per the City of Renton.
