Case Study
Company: Port of Seattle, Marine Properties
Business Sector: Public Agency
Published: April 2008
Highlights:
- The Marine Properties recycling programs has expanded its “usual suspects” recycling programs to include food waste, plant material, untreated wood, oil, gasoline, tires, batteries, fluorescent lamps, scrap metal, paint thinner, and more…
- Pier 69, the Port’s corporate headquarters, has composted 22 tons of food waste since the program started in August of 2007!
- At Shilshole Bay Marina, providing commingled recycling containers for moorage and storage customers has helped the Port triple its capture of mixed recyclables
Background
The Port of Seattle Marine Properties recycling programs are long-running, continuously improving, organization-wide programs that have kept thousands of tons of hazardous materials, organic compounds, and recyclables out of the waste stream.
Going Green
Recently, Tay Yoshitani, Port of Seattle CEO, announced plans to make Seattle’s Port “the cleanest, greenest, and most energy-efficient Port in America.” He highlighted the Port’s achievements including increased recycling, switching to alternative fuels in Seaport equipment, green purchasing, sustainable building practices, reduced energy consumption, air quality improvement measures, noise reduction measures, and more. This case study will highlight the Port of Seattle Marine Properties recycling programs and their significant expansion to include an even wider array of materials.
Recycling
The Port’s glass, cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, and paper recycling programs began in the early 
1990s for most Port of Seattle Marine facilities. The programs now include many items from the Marine Maintenance Shop including used propane tanks, oil, oil filters, diesel fuel, gasoline, antifreeze, tires, and batteries. Recycled items generated from waterfront maintenance work include wood, fire extinguishers, all scrap metals, paint, packaging materials, and batteries. The Port’s ICT Department recycles all used computers and computer monitors.
Because of the large array of recyclable materials collected, the Bell Harbor facility recently purchased a piece of equipment that lifts recyclables into large recycling dumpsters to save time and improve worker safety.
Recycling Food Waste and Organics
Three Marine facilities have implemented organics recycling programs.
- Bell Harbor Conference Center on Pier 66 began recycling food waste in July of 2007, and has composted approximately 40 tons of organic wastes to date.
- The program has reduced the amount of garbage generated by nearly 17%.
- Pier 69, the Port’s corporate headquarters, began its program in August of 2007 and has since composted 22 tons of food waste.
- Pier 69 is currently expanding their program to include all break rooms as well as their cafeteria.
In addition to food waste collection, the Port’s Landscape Department began an “all-organics” program in 1998, and now includes plant material, soil, untreated wood from all Marine properties, including the Port’s 19 parks, to be used as mulch in landscape beds.
Hazardous Waste Reduction
Hazardous wastes are products that contain ingredients that are toxic, flammable, reactive or corrosive. To prevent hazardous waste from entering the environment; damaging soil, groundwater and streams; or causing harm to people and animals, the Marine Properties Recycling programs include these materials as well.
In addition to recycling batteries, fluorescent lamps including PCB ballasts, and mercury switches, employees at the Marine Maintenance Shop realized their largest waste stream was from paint thinners. The shop teamed with local utilities to set up a system and obtained necessary approvals for distilling thinners. The maintenance shop now currently recycles 90% of their thinner for reuse!
EnviroStars is a regional program that certifies businesses for their efforts in preventing pollution and reducing hazardous waste. Certified EnviroStars businesses are given a two-to-five star rating based on their commitment to reducing hazardous waste. This allows consumers to identify businesses that take extra steps to protect the environment. The Port of Seattle’s Bell Harbor Complex, including the Marina, and the Harbor Island Marina both received an EnviroStars four star rating, and the Shilshole Bay Marina received a five star rating!
Materials Reduction
The success of the Marine Properties recycling programs also encompasses an overall reduction in materials usage. By phasing out lead paint, aerosols, and excess packaging at maintenance facilities, they also reduced the effort required for disposal. In addition, they have requested that their vendors provide the least amount of packaging possible for items delivered to the facility. The Port has recently added a rag laundering service that eliminates the use of solvents and dirty rags.
Recycling Outreach and Education
The Port continues to evaluate and expand their recycling programs. Their self-appointed “recycling czar” checks bins daily to ensure compliance and prevent contamination.
In an effort to engage the public in the programs, Shilshole Bay Marina provided six commingled recycling stations near docks. This allowed moorage and storage customers to help triple the Port’s capture of recyclable materials!
Educating and engaging employees, tenants, and the public continues to be a challenging and vital component to the success of the Port of Seattle Marine Properties recycling programs and will remain a focus as the programs expand.
Want to learn more?
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