Ranked 2nd in the nation as America's Least Wasteful City
Ranked 4th in 2009
Seattle's high rankings:
- 1st Throwing out less than 2 bags of trash each week
- 1st Using reusable bottles in place of single-serve bottles of water/soda/other beverages
- 1st Buying bulk food to avoid extra packaging
- 1st Avoid buying bottled water
- 1st Buying locally grown/produced foods
- 1st Composting fruits and vegetable scraps
- 1st Using reusable grocery bags
- 1st Reusing wrapping paper and ribbons
- 1st Borrowing books from the library (or buying used) rather than buying them new
- 1st Turning off the water when brushing their teeth
- 2nd Saving leftover food/meals to eat again
- 2nd Buying secondhand items, including clothes, electronics and furniture
- 2nd Participating in their city’s sustainability/environmental programs
- 3rd Using rain barrels
- 3rd Never driving their car for trips that are less than one mile from home
Seattle's low rankings:
- 15th Hanging clothes out to dry when possible
Overall Points of Interest
Environment
- 38 percent are extremely concerned about the environment
- 49 percent are fairly concerned
Drinking Water
- 40 percent are extremely concerned about the quality of their drinking water
- 38 percent are fairly concerned
Thriftiness
Items Seattle saves/reuses the most:
- 93 percent leftovers
- 72 percent bubble wrap and packing material
- 84 percent rubberbands and boxes
Efforts/Decisions to more environmentally friendly
- 89 percent recycle
- 81 percent use energy efficient bulbs
- 75 percent shop locally
The study gauged what grade (A-F) residents would give to their personal, their city’s, company’s and their friend’s commitment to being more environmentally conscious.
Seattle: |
| |
A |
B |
C |
D |
F |
| City's grade |
20% |
38% |
28% |
9% |
5% |
| Personal grade |
14% |
37% |
27% |
17% |
5% |
| Company's grade |
10% |
26% |
41% |
14% |
9% |
| Friends' grade |
11% |
24% |
49% |
14% |
3% |
| Country's grade |
5% |
27% |
40% |
21% |
7% |
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To learn more about Seattle's environmental and sustainability efforts, visit http://www.seattle.gov/environment/
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Choose a city
Coming Soon! Limited-edition Nalgene Least Wasteful Cities bottle! $2 from each bottle will go to support the Surfrider Foundation. Contact cbudney@cerconebrown.com to be notified when available. Available week of April 19th
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