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Our Hazardous Waste Problem
Residents throughout King County commonly use products that contain chemicals which are hazardous to the environment and to human health. These chemicals are found in many products used to clean and maintain houses, eliminate pest problems, care for yards, and maintain cars and boats. They also are used in pursuing hobbies such as jewelry making, art, photography, and furniture refinishing. Hazardous household products usually have one of the following words on the label: "Poison", "Danger," "Caution" or "Warning."
Many businesses and other organizations also use hazardous products. For example, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, dentists, jewelers, and property managers all use hazardous materials and generate hazardous wastes that may be corrosive, flammable, reactive and/or toxic to the environment and human health.
With 1.8 million people living in King County and more than 54,000 businesses and other institutions operating in the County, the amount of hazardous waste generated adds up. When improperly used, stored or disposed of, these chemicals threaten human health and the environment. Moreover, exposure to some household products and business materials presents a risk to health and environmental quality even when used and disposed of properly.
Our Regional Response
Prompted by citizen demand, Washington State directed local governments to create plans to ensure proper management of hazardous wastes produced by households and, in small quantity, by businesses and other organizations. In 1991, local governments and agencies within King County established a partnership to manage these wastes regionally. This partnership is known as The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County.
The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County is a regional program that brings together resources from four local government agencies and 37 suburban cities to protect and enhance public health and environmental quality by helping citizens, businesses and government reduce the threat posed by the production, use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. The Program is a regional partnership comprising King County Water and Land Resources Division, King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle Public Utilities, Public Health - Seattle & King County and the Suburban Cities Association.
Our Mission is to protect and enhance public health and environmental quality in King County by reducing the threat posed by the production, use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials.
Our Vision is that the Puget Sound region is the cleanest in the country − one free of hazardous chemical exposure.
Our Goals are as follows:
Goal One. Work upstream* to reduce the production of hazardous materials and products.
The Program works “upstream” to:
- Reduce hazardous waste generation.
- Reduce health and environmental risks associated with exposure to hazardous materials.
- Promote cradle to cradle management of hazardous materials and products.
- Promote greater shared responsibility (government, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers) for managing a product’s full life-cycle.
- Reduce reliance on government-only interventions in managing end-of-life hazardous products & wastes.
- Increase producer involvement in reducing the risks associated with their products and in the management of their products when they reach end-of-life.
- Promote product reformulation that reduces their hazardous/toxic contents.
- Make product reuse and recycling easier.
- Promote safer non-toxic alternatives.
Goal Two. Reduce availability and use of hazardous materials and products.
Recognizing that the Program’s efforts to increase producer responsibility will be a long-term endeavor, parallel efforts will be needed to reduce or eliminate select products & materials from the marketplace more expeditiously.
Goal Three. Reduce public and environmental exposure to most problematic hazardous chemicals.
Recognizing that the Program’s efforts to reduce the overall availability of hazardous materials will be a long-term endeavor, parallel efforts will be needed to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with existing products and materials. Likewise, many discontinued or banned products remain available for use in King County. When used, these legacy products and materials, although no longer sold in the county, pose a significant health and environmental risk.
Goal Four. Reduce exposure of vulnerable and traditionally underserved populations to hazardous chemicals.
The Program focuses some of its resources on vulnerable populations who are especially at-risk when exposed to hazardous chemicals (e.g. young children), and on populations or communities that have been traditionally underserved. By partnering with community-based organizations, public health staff and other non-governmental organizations, the Program works to reduce the risk of exposure for the vulnerable populations described below and to improve their access to Program services.
Goal Five. Facilitate proper hazardous waste management.
The Program works to ensure that business and household hazardous materials and products are managed in such a manner that reduces the risk of human and environmental exposure, and which places greater emphasis on reuse and recycling.
Goal Six. Develop and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships.
Goal Seven. Be accountable to the public.
The Program is working to promote these goals as follows:
- The Program is focusing on reducing the availability and use of the following Priority Materials:
- Priority pesticides including
- Carbaryl
- Trifluralin
- Weed & Feed products (Key ingredients: Dicamba, MCPP)
- Pyrethroid
- Bisphenol-a, particularly in infant and baby products.
- Lead
- Mercury
- PBDEs (flame retardants)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Solvents
- The Program is continuing assist Cities, Small Quantity Generators and Others by providing a wide array of services including:
- The Program is focusing on reducing the exposure of Vulnerable and/or Traditionally Underserved Populations including:
- Young children (prenatal to age six)
- Students (K-12)
- Low-income government-owned housing residents
- At-risk workers
- Nail Salons
- Janitorial Services
- Landscape Businesses
- The Program is continuing to strive to provide household hazardous waste collection services that meet the customers’ needs.
- Make effective use of the Precautionary Principle in regional policy development and implementation.
See Frequently Asked Questions for additional information about Local Hazardous Waste Management services and fees.
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