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Re+ Zero Waste Action Guide
While climate change is a global challenge that requires systemic action, individual behaviors can significantly benefit the climate and strengthen communities.
Introduction
The food we eat, and the products we buy, and the businesses we support can have a big impact on our carbon footprint. A 2022 King County study estimated that changes in individual household consumption could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% by 2050. The Re+ Zero Waste Action Guide is a resource to help people in and around King County make informed decisions and take actions that reduce their climate impacts. These individual actions are just one piece of a comprehensive approach to reduce emissions outlined in King County's Strategic Climate Action Plan.
This Guide uses two concepts to help quantify climate impacts:
- Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) are used to compare different greenhouse gases. For example, 1 ton of methane gas has the same warming potential of 80 tons of carbon dioxide. CO2e is a consistent metric the allows comparison between different greenhouse gases.
- Consumption-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the total emissions from goods and services, factoring in the energy needed for production, transport, and disposal. Food, for example, requires energy to grow, transport to markets, refrigerate and prepare. After food is thrown away, it can also emit greenhouse gases as it breaks down.
Four target actions
The Re+ Zero Waste Action Guide is divided into four categories. These categories are areas where personal behavior changes are most accessible and can have a significant impact on reducing consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions:
Reducing food waste
To save money, reduce landfill waste, and protect our planet, we can take steps to avoid food waste by purchasing only what we need.
Supporting local food systems
By choosing lower-carbon alternatives, you can reduce household emissions while strengthening our local food systems.
Reduce, repair, and reuse: products and apparel
Household purchases, including furniture, personal electronics, clothing, toys, and books, contribute approximately five metric tons of CO2 per household per year.
Sustainable shopping and packaging
To reduce consumption-based emissions, it is essential to both consume less and choose lower-carbon alternatives.
King County grants:
Look for the following logos next to the businesses, non-profits, and other organizations listed throughout the guide:
- Re+ Circular Economy Grants
King County offers funding opportunities via its Re+ Circular Economy Grants Program for non-profits, businesses, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and local governments to support innovative projects that further King County's commitment to zero waste of resources by 2030. Previous grantees include: Chomp, Wasat, and Food Cycle Science.
- NextCycle Washington
NextCycle Washington program that supports circular economy businesses and communities in Washington State. The program provides technical support, mentorship, and funding to help projects focused on waste prevention, repair, reuse, recycling, and composting reach an investment-ready status. The program is led by Washington State Department of Ecology and the Washington Recycling Development Center and collaboratively supported by King County, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Washington State Department of Commerce.