Presenter - Steve Bergman,
Vashon Zero Waste Program - January 13, 2025
Steve Bergman, (PhD, Princeton Univ.), ZWV Secretary, is a research geologist and educator and settled in historic Chautauqua (Ellisport) with spouse Mary in late 2014. In 2016, he retired from a career in energy and minerals exploration research and teaching geology courses that included earthquakes and volcanoes, geology of wine, diamonds, and environmental geology at the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University. His interest in recycling started in 1975 when he performed research on a Dept. Interior-funded project at the Univ. Dayton on the “Fate of Trace metals in sewage sludge-amended soils” and he recently completed two terms on the National Academies Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability (2012-18). He also serves on the board of Vashon Makerspace and participates in a number of neighborhood citizen science & history projects. He is interested in pursuing fundamental and applied geological research to increase Vashon’s sustainability and resilience and raising public awareness of the impact of geosciences on our lives.
Current ZWV Committees & selected projects:
• Compost-goal to establish On-Island Compost facility, currently working with
King County on Feasibility Study; Compostables subcommittee.
• Plastics/Reduce Single Use- BYO mug initiative 2019, Styrofoam/Plastics
Recycling since 2019; Choose Plastic Free Program since 2023; 2024
Supported Chamber of Commerce Reusable Stainless Steel Cup project by
Celia & Nadine
• Hard to Recycle – plastics reduction campaigns, annual electronics
recycling has diverted over 50 tons from the landfill; currently working on
starting a Re-use exchange program on island.
• Education-VHS Jerry Henley Scholarship, Hack Your Trash, Chautauqua,
McMurray, & VHS programs and green team collaboration.
• Communication [newsletters, website (extensive resources), Facebook,
trash talk, Island GreenTech movie nights Vashon Theater, Annie Crawley
VCA talk & school visits, etc.]
• Community Outreach-2018 Past Strawberry Festival Recycling, 2019 Zero
Waste Event Resource Guide, 2020 Vashon Parks in town center Recycling
Stations, Electronics Recycling, Earth Day Beach Clean-up events, Vashon-
Maury Land Trust Big Sky event recycling, WA Legislative initiatives with
ZWW.
King County Moves Forward on Vashon Community Compost Facility:
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Zero Waste Vashon is pleased to announce that the King County Council has allocated $3,006,102.00 to establish a Community Compost Facility on Vashon. This commitment to the project comes after successful completion of a two-part Feasibility Study, a Site Analysis, a Community Survey and a public meeting. The project, headed by the King County Solid Waste Division, is to build an organics processing facility in partnership with a third-party operator to be determined by RFP (Request for Proposal). The multi-phase project will include permitting, design and construction. Zero Waste Vashon has worked closely with KCSWD over the 5 years that this project has been in development and will continue to serve as the community partner to the County as it moves forward.
*** We have big plans for the future***
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Here’s what we have in the works!
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• The Feasibility Study for a Vashon Island Compost Facility is now completed. Report posted.
• ZWV is working with KCSWD and Waste Connections to bring organics collection (third bin) to residences and businesses.
• Building community awareness of Single-Use Plastics. Providing research for island restaurants on compostable options.
• Providing advice and assistance on Zero Waste practices for upcoming Island events
• Electronics Collection & Recycling Event
• Working with KCSWD to bring styrofoam recycling to the Vashon Transfer Station.
• Collaborating on the construction & installation of new Waste & Recycling stations for uptown Vashon – Finished!
• Awarding College scholarships for high school seniors intending to pursue environmental studies
• Educating our students, our community, and ourselves on better ways to turn island waste into a resource.