NextCycle Washington (NCW) selected Renew Seed Grants that provide up to $10,000, along with technical support and growth planning for early-stage projects focused on expanding waste prevention, repair, reuse, recycling and composting in the state.
The program also offers mentorship from community leaders and industry subject matter experts, and access to its professional network. Participants in NCW can be entrepreneurs or start-ups, small businesses, established corporations, community organizations, non-profits, or a collaboration of entities.
“King County has made a commitment and is actively supporting businesses that focus on expanding waste prevention and material reuse, repair, or recycling,” said Andy Smith, recycling and environmental services manager at King County Solid Waste Divi-sion. “The NextCycle Washington program has helped to identify businesses, that with mentorship and funding, will have a positive impact on Washington’s circular economy.”
The 41 projects were selected for a total of over $400,000 in Renew Seed Grants. Projects range in focus from a project introducing reusable containers to studies exploring the development of new products from recycled plastics. Projects funded by King County:
• Bennion Construction – Deconstruct, salvage, and recycle materials (including fixtures and framed structure) from old homes in Seattle and King counties.
• Minty Made LLC – Expand Green Market-ing Academy to train and educate businesses, organizations, and agencies on utilizing sustainable, ethical, inclusive and accessible marketing practices.
• N8madic, Inc. – Prototype of portable smart storage-furniture made of recycled plastics.
• Refugee Artisan Initiative – Support the transport, cleaning, storage, and delivery of retired fire houses to skilled refugee and immigrant women artisans for up-cycling.
• Sage Conservation – Expand service to low income multi-family housing to maintain, repair and upgrade plumbing (versus replacement) conserving water and divert-ing materials from landfill.
• Sledge Seattle LLC – Research, prototype, and showcase re-milling of reclaimed old growth lumber.
• South King Tool Library – Develop course modules, surveys, assessments, and processes to build a Tool Library Incubator Program for community-based organizations to use as a guide in developing their own lending programs.
• Sustainable NE Seattle – Research and plan for a Reuse Commons in North King County that houses a suite of reuse- and repair-focused services.
• The Chayah Movement – Create a pilot internship program focused on improving environmental and ethical impacts of the fashion industry.
• Zero Waste Washington – Conduct market and feasibility analysis for furniture repair project utilizing rescued, damaged furniture items from the public and partner organizations.
Funding for NCW is provided through King County’s Solid Waste Division, Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Commerce, and Seattle Public Utilities. Technical support and program management is provided by Resources Recycling Systems, Cascadia Consulting Group, Start Consulting, and Traversal Designs.