Skip to main content Skip to footer unit links
← Back to all capstone projects
2018 Autumn | Agriculture and Food Systems, Policy & Regulation

Refining Waste Management

Student(s):

Sara Becker-Mayer

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Stephanie Schwenger

Partner(s):

  • City of Bellevue

Faculty advisor(s):

Ann Bostrom, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington

Landfills release greenhouse gasses posing risks to the environment, so waste diversion is critical. This study was conducted to understand how cities manage their contracts with waste haulers, and how to improve management to support waste diversion. I interned with the City of Bellevue in waste collection contract management. I audited waste containers to ensure their hauler was complying with contract requirements and found that monitoring and fee enforcement improved compliance. I also interviewed eight cities and found that some did little monitoring of their contracts. Cities should monitor their contracts to direct themselves on how to work towards diversion.