history

Washington Citizens for Recycling (WCFR) was formed in 1980 in order to promote recycling statewide. By 1995, WCFR had:

In the early 1980's, Washington Citizens for Recycling (WCFR) initiated a campaign to oppose the construction of solid waste incinerators in Seattle and King County.

With grassroots organizing efforts by staff and volunteers, WCFR helped defeat incinerators in King County and was instrumental in the passage of the landmark 1989 Waste Not Washington Act (see Department of Ecology Waste Not Washington Focus Sheet).

This important legislation placed waste prevention and recycling at the top of the solid waste hierarchy and helped make curbside recycling the everyday fact of life it is today in Washington state

By 1995 WCRF had broadened its scope. Throughout its history WCFR programs all had a common goal—the conservation of resources—and the name WCFR was changed to Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation (WCRC).

successfully advocated for legislation requiring governmental agencies to use recycled materials, and help create the Clean Washington center to further develop markets for recycled products

participated in the passage and implementation of the Hazardous Waste Siting Action, as well as Hazardous Waste Management Priority legislation (establishing hazardous waste reduction and recycling as the highest priority)

organized the “Reach for the Unbleached” paper campaign, impacting paper markets and procurement policies regionally and nationally

helped persuade the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, and Olympia, EPA Region 10, and other governmental agencies and businesses to buy unbleached, recycled paper

proposed and successfully worked for Seattle zoning code changes allowing recycling centers closer to residences

produced quarterly newsletters and guides such as the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Guide,” “Purchasing Recycling Products: King County’s Consumer Guide”, and much more!

In recent years, WCRC:

conducted a county-by-county survey of the waste reduction and recycling programs and budgets in Washington state.

highlighted the lack of plastics recycling through the "Take the Wrap" campaign and production of the “Plagued by Plastic Packaging” consumer guide

created the "Waste Free Moving Guide for Business"

visited King County schools to educate students about packaging reduction and consumer advocacy

represented citizen interests in waste prevention and recycling in Olympia and at state and local policy making committees

actively participated on the Washington Department of Ecology's Recycling Assessment Task Force

served on the King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials for several years

collaborated with the City of Seattle to convene a stakeholder meeting with the tire industry, recyclers, and governments agencies, resulting in consensus recommendations for reusing and recycling scrap tires

participated in the Department of Ecology's stakeholder process to revise the State's Solid Waste Plan and develop a sustainability plan; and developed a critical paper for the Solid Waste Plan as a member of the Product Stewardship Subcommittee.

] Currently WCRC is working to bring producer responsibility to Washington State. See more about this program at: Producer Responsibility Campaign.