3 Federal Way nonprofits receive Waste Management grants for sustainability work

$47,000 given to the Multi-Service Center, Goodwill and South King Tool Library.

By Olivia Sullivan • September 18, 2021 7:30 am

Three Federal Way nonprofits recently received grants from Waste Management (WM) and the City of Federal Way for their dedication to public service and sustainability.

The Federal Way Multi-Service Center, Goodwill and the South King Tool Library are recipients of the grants, totaling more than $15,000 for each organization.

The WM Green4Good community grants are provided by the federal alternative fuel program and Waste Management’s investment in green technologies, according to the company.

“These three organizations are committed to providing critical goods and services to Federal Way residents while embracing bold sustainability goals,” said Han Kirkland, public sector manger for WM in Federal Way. “Each of them proves day-in and day-out that community and sustainability objectives are compatible and can work in unison to enhance quality of life in Federal Way.”

On Sept. 17, the three nonprofits were presented with the grant check at Federal Way City Hall.

The grants will be used to continue the sustainability practices each organization has developed.

Amanda Santos, director of operations and affordable housing for MSC, said the organization’s food bank (1200 S. 336th St.) is committed to reducing waste in the community. The food bank’s Grocery Rescue program helps to decrease waste from grocery stores and addresses hunger in Federal Way.

The South King Tool Library (1700 S. 340th Place) is a tool and knowledge sharing center to help empower community members to make changes they’d like to see, said Executive Director Amanda Miller.

LeighAnn Myhre, director of retail operations and donor services for Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region, said sustainability is practiced in three ways with the organization.

“We collect all of those reusable goods and if you live and work in Federal Way, you can tell how busy our small little store is,” she said with a laugh.

Federal Way’s Goodwill store (32521 Pacific Highway S.) ranks No. 6 in donation collection out of 32 stores in a 15 county region, she said.

In addition, Goodwill saves about 75 million pounds of reusable household goods from going into landfills, she added.

Next year marks Goodwill’s 100-year anniversary and in that time, they’ve also created a sustainable avenue for families and individuals with their job skills training programs.

WM earns federal alternative fuel tax credits by running the larges and cleanest natural gas fleet in the industry, according to the company. The program allows WM to reinvest the credits and give back to the Federal Way community.