The Emerald (Green) City
Here's some enviro fascist news from Seattle, where the utilities agency is embarking on a "zero waste" goal; via the Seattle P-I:

Moving beyond recycling to preventing garbage itself as the next generation of social and civic responsibility, Seattle Public Utilities is launching an initiative called Wasteless in Seattle. With the long-term goal of "zero waste," the city hopes to drastically reduce the need for landfills and to lower disposal, transportation and energy costs. Through various programs, including mandatory recycling and fines for violators beginning in January, the city is urging its employees, residents and businesses to rethink how they dispose of everything from egg shells to electronics. [...] Then there is "product stewardship," which is an effort to encourage manufacturers to take more environmental responsibility for their products and to create materials that cause fewer disposal problems. The effort includes "take-back" programs being developed for computer monitors, furniture and possibly even prescription drugs. The utility is also moving toward more "green purchasing" -- buying non-toxic window cleaners, janitorial supplies and "environmentally preferable" electronics. [...] Seattle, which became a national recycling leader 15 years ago, is also embarking on an aggressive program to reach a goal of diverting 60 percent of garbage from landfills by recycling. Now that percentage is less than 40 percent. On July 1, many North End businesses such as restaurants were given new containers to encourage recycling; South End businesses will begin the program Aug. 1. Since April, residents have been converting to 90-gallon containers under a new mandatory recycling program. As of January, fines will be levied against those who throw away such things as paper and cans, which should be recycled. [...] Some programs, developed in the past few years, are growing -- and showing promise. Use-It-Again Seattle, a program featuring community "garage sales" throughout the city, allows residents to drop off and pick up items free (no electronics, appliances, couches or mattresses). The effort recycled 60 tons of metal last year, and an estimated 221 tons of materials were reused and diverted from landfills. Another initiative, the Take-It-Back Network, saw about 600 tons of computers monitors and other components returned in 2004 to participating retail stores. There are also consortiums that will intercept items that shouldn't go in landfills, such as the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Coalition. A city "green building" program, aimed at recycling, water and energy conservation and waste prevention, is also reaping results, city officials say. In 11 city projects last year, nearly 57,000 tons -- or $560,000 worth -- of salvaged or reused materials were kept out of landfills.