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About SPU
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Garbage System
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History & Overview
History of the Garbage System
In 1987, Seattle faced a waste management system crisis. The last two landfills, closed in 1983 and 1986, had become Superfund sites that would cost more than $90 million to make environmentally safe. We began hauling our garbage to the King County landfill, which increased customer rates by 82 percent. Seattle thought there must be a less expensive option, and set out to find it.
The Solid Waste Utility* (now part of Seattle Public Utilities) considered incinerating City garbage. Citizens immediately and overwhelmingly expressed their opposition. No one wanted an incinerator in the neighborhood, and many were concerned about air pollution and final disposal of the ash. The Utility responded to citizen concerns, and used the crisis as an opportunity to launch waste reduction and recycling programs that had never been attempted on so large a scale.
Forging ahead with a new plan
Seattle’s 1989 solid waste plan, “On the Road to Recovery”**, outlined a new direction. The Solid Waste Utility would:
- • Provide curbside recycling and yard waste collection for residents, and ban yard waste from the garbage.
- • Work towards reducing, recycling, or composting 60% of all wastes by 1998.
- • Landfill remaining wastes in an arid landfill.
- • Set up a rate structure to encourage recycling.
- • Create an education program that would show citizens how to achieve waste reduction and recycling goals, and give them the tools to do it.
Setting an example
Seattle followed through with this plan, and reducing, reusing, and recycling have become an integral part of Seattle’s waste management system. Seattle’s recycling program became a buzzword among cities, a success story acclaimed worldwide. Visitors came from Sydney and Seoul, New York and Kyoto, Munich and Milan to observe our programs.
Why? Because Seattle increased its level of recycling from 28% of its waste in 1988 to 44% in 1999 -- single-family homes recycled 60% of their waste in 1999. 94% of City residents now believe reducing waste is important.*** Seattle negotiated a long-term disposal contract for landfilling which keeps these costs low. The City’s Recycling and Disposal (transfer) station staff improved operational efficiency while expanding services.
Looking toward the future
We are no longer in crisis. Our commitment to recycling has saved money and conserved resources.**** However, the total amount of garbage, recyclables, and yard waste continues to increase. The only difference is how we separate it into different containers. Our next challenge is to truly reduce the amount of "stuff" we use and discard. The 1998 solid waste plan, On The Path to Sustainability, reaffirmed Seattle’s commitment to waste reduction and recycling, and outlined new waste-reducing strategies.
Footnotes:
*Until 1997, the Solid Waste Utility (part of the Seattle Engineering Department) was responsible for all solid waste planning and management. In January 1997 solid waste staff were incorporated into the new Seattle Public Utilities, which provides stormwater, water, drainage, and wastewater services as well as solid waste services.
** City of Seattle, On the Road to Recovery: Seattle's Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. 1989.
*** City of Seattle, Solid Waste Utility. City of Seattle Comprehensive Waste Management Plan Survey. Elway Research Inc. December 1995.
**** City of Seattle, Office of Management and Planning. 1996 Citywide Residential Survey, City of Seattle: Ratings of the Quality of Life in Seattle and Satisfaction with City Services. October 1996.
Related links
SPU History
Water System History
Cedar River Watershed History
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