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Happy Earth Week 2025: Small actions, big impact
Celebrating Earth Week by highlighting businesses, organizations, and individuals in King County making a difference
Earth Day (April 22) is an important day for the Hazardous Waste Management Program. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about environmental issues and serves as a reminder that we can all take meaningful action to protect the Earth, our communities, and our natural resources.
This year, the Haz Waste Program is highlighting small actions that businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals are taking to reduce toxic exposures and protect the environment. Read on to learn how these everyday actions add up to big impacts.
EnviroStars: Businesses making non-toxic choices for the environment and their employees
Ever been to a hair salon that carefully vets every product to find the safest options for their customers? Or how about an auto shop that made the switch to safer degreasing methods? King County has many standout businesses focused on serving their customers and protecting their health, too.
Many businesses are also recognized EnviroStars, meaning they follow practices that limit their environmental impact and protect their employees' health. Get to know a few below:
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AAA Washington - Sodo
As an EnviroStars recognized business, AAA Washington - Sodo uses EPA Safer Choice and GreenSeal products, coordinates green employee volunteer events, and hosts green events for members to recycle old vehicle batteries and make sure their vehicles aren’t leaking toxic chemicals onto our roadways.
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Greenhouse Nail Spa
Maintaining a clean and safe environment is a priority for this Seattle-based nail salon and spa. To ensure the safety of their salon staff, Greenhouse Nail Spa invest in U.S. EPA Safer Choice products and equip all nail stations with lidded trash cans. They also take proactive steps to regularly and properly collect and dispose of nail polish, adhesives, and aerosols at a hazardous waste facility, preventing these materials from ending up in landfills.
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Diaper Stork
With an average baby using 6,000 diapers (that’s 18 filled dumpsters!) before being potty-trained, diaper landfill waste has become a significant environmental problem for communities, including King County. Diaper Stork is at the forefront of sustainable diapering, by offering cloth and compostable diaper services and accelerated potty-training resources that help reduce this waste and promote a healthier environment.
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Jamie Joseph
As an EnviroStars recognized business, Jamie Joseph is committed to reducing their carbon footprint through offsetting emissions on shipping and planting a tree with each web sale. In their studio, they’ve upgraded their lighting to LED, choose nontoxic cleaners, and have reduced single use products.
Community Groups: Providing direct services while reducing communities’ hazardous exposures
There are also many groups throughout King County dedicated to strengthening and protecting the health of their communities through education, empowerment, and building connections.
The Haz Waste Program's Residential Services Program regularly partners with community groups and members to encourage small actions that can lead to big impacts and promote the health of communities in King County. Some recent partnerships include:
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Villa Comunitaria
Villa Comunitaria is a powerhouse for change, uplifting immigrant and Latine communities across King County through leadership development, housing justice, and environmental health initiatives. Through tabling at events and workshops, Villa Comunitaria empowers families with knowledge on identifying hazardous products, choosing safer alternatives, and properly disposing of toxic materials.
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Alphabet Alliance of Color
Alphabet Alliance of Color serves Black, Indigenous, LatinX, and Asian members of the LGBTQIA community in King County. Their “Self-Care Sunday” series offered workshops that paired the importance of safer product choices and proper disposal of hazardous materials with community members’ needs and situations.
Natural Yard Care: Sharing easy, chemical-free garden and yard care tips
Growing a healthy, beautiful garden without relying on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides is one impactful change you can make to support a healthy environment. Learn more about going toxic-free outdoors at some of the many Natural Yard Care classes taking place throughout King County. You can also reach out to the Garden Hotline with questions Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 206-633-0224, or via email.
- Read more: Laura Matter runs the Garden Hotline. Here's what she wants every King County gardener to know.
- Read more: The plants in your yard have a story to tell. The Garden Hotline's Rosemarie Cullinane is listening.
Can't get enough Earth Week content? Check out the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Earth Week 2025 hub for more information on volunteer opportunities, Earth Week events, and actions you can take to protect, preserve, and restore the natural spaces that connect us all.
You can also follow us on Facebook and at our new Instagram account (@hazwasteKC) to stay up to date on all things haz waste!