Recoverability Assessments

We collect and analyze waste and recycling data to uncover high impact, low-cost landfill reduction opportunities.

Cascadia analyzes waste generation, disposal, and recycling composition data to understand a community’s best targets for increasing recycling and reducing waste-to-landfill. Our analysis takes into account materials’ lifecycle emissions, volumes, weights, and recoverability in similar communities to prioritize materials that not only represent opportunity for recovery, but whose recovery would most likely add value by conserving nonrenewable resources, reducing emissions, creating collection capacity, generating revenue, or all of the above.

Examples of our support include:

  • Recyclables recoverability assessments
  • Organics recoverability assessments
  • Route reviews / cart studies
  • Onsite generator audits
  • Feedstock studies for processing technologies

Selected Project Highlights

SPARKS

We support this annual conference, which brings together sustainability-minded change-makers from across the PNW.

Oakland Recycles: Contamination Critters

We created a “contamination critters” campaign to help residents recognize contaminants when recycling.

Climate Elements and Comprehensive Plan Integration

Since HB 1181 implementation began, Cascadia has supported 25 jurisdictions, and counting, to develop climate elements and integrate climate planning into comprehensive...

Accelerating Preparedness with Community Resilience Hubs

A FEMA-funded regional pilot is reshaping how communities prepare for disasters across Puget Sound. By centering community leadership and investing in local capacity,...

Statewide Contamination Trends and Opportunities

Cascadia staff saw an opportunity to bring together and present on findings from past statewide contamination work and identify opportunities for recycling and EPR...

Eastside Waste Prevention Campaign

We worked with a partnership of Eastside cities to encourage durable and reusable item adoption using CBSM tactics.

Issaquah Climate Action Implementation

Cascadia led the development of Issaquah’s Climate Action Plan. We are now supporting a variety of implementation services.

SB 54 Waste Characterization Study

Cascadia, on behalf of CalRecycle, worked with partners at ReCreate Collaborative, MSW Consultants, and Stina Inc. to develop this foundational study.

Recycling Videos for Multi-family Property Managers

We worked with VIA Creative to produce five short tutorials that would make recycling easier for the multifamily sector.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

We’re supporting Pacific Northwest tribal communities with shaping inclusive long-range greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
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