Residents Stewardship

About this measure: The King County Environmental Behavior Index (EBI) tracks and reports on the adoption of selected environmental behaviors of King County residents. In 2004 and again in 2006, 1000 randomly selected respondents in King County participated in a telephone survey and reported on their household's behaviors related to:

• Yard Care
• Recycling And Disposal
• Environmentally Friendly Purchasing

Understanding residents' awareness and behavior guides a more cost-effective targeting of outreach efforts and helps evaluate whether the efforts to improve these behaviors are making a difference.

The 2006 Environmental Behavior Index was conducted in spring of 2006. The findings about recycling and disposal information can be found under the performance measure on solid and hazardous waste management, which is here.

Below are details on the findings for the yard care and purchasing areas.

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Residential Purchasing Behavior

2006 results: This year's survey indicates that purchasing of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) has climbed since the prior survey in 2004, though choosing less toxic cleaning products and considering the environmental impacts of purchasing decisions was steady or declining against the 2004 survey results.

Influencing factors: Many factors affect the purchasing decisions. Cost, product convenience, and availability are all influential. Public awareness about the impacts of these decisions on the health and environment do play an important role.

Strategy going forward: King County is advancing efforts to improve purchasing practices in several coordinated ways. The Solid Waste Division is emphasizing public education through the Eco-consumer program and is sponsoring Eco-Deals — a partnership with makers of green products to use coupons and discounts to promote green products.

The King County is also involved nationally, regionally, and locally with product stewardship efforts that require manufacturers to establish product collection programs. The "Take it Back Network" is expanding locations and opportunities to recycle fluorescent bulbs, electronics and other products.

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Residential Yard Care

2006 results: This year's survey of King County yard care behaviors indicates that residents have relatively "green" and improving behaviors regarding disposal of grass clippings and yard waste and proper treatment of treatment of trees and shrubs for insects/diseases. Yard care behaviors that are not "green" or improving include: Reducing lawn size, proper lawn fertilizing, using compost on lawns/gardens, and restoring or planting native plants vegetation on properties.

Influencing factors: Recycling yard waste and changes in pesticide (just not using them) use are fairly easy behaviors to change and improve—and there are many voices, messages and incentives to encouraging such change. Reducing lawns, using the right fertilizer, using compost and restoration with native plants, all involve more complex and costly changes and have fewer supporting messages or region wide programs explaining how to do it.

Strategy going forward: Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) will continue to partner with local cities—adding three to four new cities in 2008—using Natural Yard Care and Naturescaping classes to help folks transition into smaller lawns, use of native plants and proper fertilizing and composting. The new online, "Northwest Native Plant Landscaping Guide" is promoted in conjunction with the trainings to provide technical assistance to residents, once they are home. A Natural Yard Care Web site created by our Online Solutions group in 2007, should be up and running by 2008. Moreover, the King County TV, Yard Talk show has and will feature more information on these topics.

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