Washington State Utilities, new member of Construction Works, recognized for environmental leadership

2005 Archived News

Washington State Utilities joins a select group of contractors as a new member of King County's Construction Works program, which provides free assistance to builders to recycle, reduce waste and use recycled-content building materials.

Construction Works helps builders realize the economic and environmental benefits of recycling and using recycled-content materials. Builders who recycle and reduce jobsite waste have reported dramatic savings. One Construction Works member recycled 97 percent of the jobsite debris, saving $90,000 in hauling and other disposal fees.

Washington State Utilities is recognized for its work on Phase I of a 74-acre single-family development and infrastructure project in Redmond. Washington State Utilities' 95 percent jobsite recycling rate was outstanding.

In addition to recycling concrete, metals and land clearing debris, Washington State Utilities also recycled site materials such as aggregate rock, volcanic ash, and topsoil. The company employed various creative reuses of materials found on-site, including using on-site soils to develop its own compost, reusing all stripped topsoil for on-site field plantings, using chips from felled trees on paths and wetland tree plantings, reusing excavated volcanic ash to seal ponds in lieu of plastic liners, mining mineral soils from the site and using them as structural fill, and using crushed concrete foundations for roadways.

Washington State Utilities introduced development contractors and clients to the cost-saving benefits of reusing site materials, and showed vendors the cost-saving benefits of crushing and grinding.

Construction Works is co-sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division and the Resource Venture, a program of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Public Utilities.

Companies who become Construction Works members receive a range of benefits which include: public recognition; customized technical assistance to set up or increase jobsite recycling and waste reduction programs; hardhat decals for their crews; and, a jobsite banner.

For more information about Construction Works or an online application, go to www.metrokc.gov/greenworks and click on Construction Works. You can also contact the appropriate program coordinator for more details. For jobsites in King County, contact Kinley Deller at 206-296-4434 or send an email to kinley.deller@kingcounty.gov . For jobsites located in Seattle, contact Karen Price at 206-389-7281 or send an email to karenp@resourceventure.org.