Buildings and energy is the most carbon-polluting sector in Thurston County, making up 54 percent of the countywide 2021 emissions. Said another way, buildings and energy is our largest opportunity for carbon pollution reduction. In Washington State, thanks to the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), our electricity will be greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 and a 100 percent renewable by 2045. That means that by converting fossil fueled systems like natural gas heating, hot water, and stoves to electric we can achieve huge reductions in emissions because our electricity will be so clean. Our grid is already getting cleaner as Puget Sound Energy works towards meeting the requirements of CETA.

The passing of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act produced unprecedented amounts of funding available to property owners for the electrification of their homes and workplaces. Find out more about how to electrify your building and the incentives and rebates available to help you make the change.

Learn more about incentives and rebates at the Switch Is On webpage.

Try car free

In 2022, 36% of Thurston County’s greenhouse gas emissions came from transportation. About 70% of those transportation-related emissions came from light-duty vehicles and trucks, like personal vehicles.

We encourage all residents, employees, employers, and visitors to try more multi-modal travel options like taking transit, biking, walking, and teleworking whenever possible. Changing just one or two trips a week is a small change that can make a big difference.

Electric Vehicles

Battery Electric Vehicles continue to improve and reduce our dependency on fossil fueled vehicles. Residents and visitors are welcome to visit the free charging stations on select city properties. Learn more on the Electric Vehicles page.

Tumwater is a SolSmart Silver Designated Community. 

The City of Tumwater is committed to going solar. Thanks to a streamlined permitting process, Tumwater residents can quickly have solar panels installed on homes and businesses and begin seeing the benefits of clean, renewable energy. Learn more on the Solar in Tumwater page. 

 Stay up to date on the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan on the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative website.

The City of Tumwater recognizes that climate change is a crisis posing a serious threat to the survival of the earth and humanity. In light of this, the City passed Resolution No. R2021-002 declaring a climate emergency in 2021.

The City of Tumwater committed to reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050, compared to 2015 levels via Resolution No. R2018-015. The city intends to do this primarily through the implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan. The Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan was developed hand-in-hand with community members, youth climate activists, local grassroots advocacy groups, the City of Olympia, the City of Lacey, and Thurston County. This plan, accepted by Tumwater in 2021 via Resolution No. R2021-002, includes 72 actions projected to reduce emissions.

The Thurston Climate Mitigation plan complements the Thurston Climate Adaptation Plan that TRPC developed with regional partners and adopted in January 2018. The Adaptation Plan includes 91 actions to help the region prepare for and adjust to climate impacts.

Reducing food waste

The average family wastes about 250 pounds of edible food each year. When we throw away food, we’re also wasting all the energy, water, and other resources used to produce, package, and transport food to our plates.

In the 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory for Thurston County emissions related to waste were the only sector that saw an increase of emissions. This is mostly due to methane from landfills. Diverting organic materials, like food and yard waste, away from landfills and into compost facilities can reduce those methane emissions by allowing those organic materials to decompose in the presence of oxygen. We encourage our residents and businesses to reduce their food waste and divert what food waste remains to compost.

Find some tips and tools to reduce your food waste at Thurston County’s Waste Less Food page.

If you live in multifamily housing or do not have access to curbside food and yard waste collection, you can bring your food waste to the Waste and Recovery Center at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 am and 4:45 pm.  

Are you passionate about recycling and composting? We’re working to divert recycling and compost away from landfills at our City events and we are always looking for volunteers to help us help event attendees properly sort their waste. Send us an email to share your interest and get signed up for future events.

Proper waste disposal

The City is serviced by waste hauler LeMay Pacific Disposal. Residents and businesses can also take their garbage, food and yard waste, and recycling to the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey. Household Hazardous Waste is accepted at HazoHouse, also located at the Waste and Recovery Center. Visit HazoHouse to see the list of accepted items.

Stumped as to where you should dispose of a certain item? Use “Where Do I Take My” to search and find proper disposal methods. You can also reference the Thurston County Recycling and Compost Guide or the Talkin’ Trash video series.

Plastic foam recycling suspended

Both the former DART facility in Tumwater and the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey have suspended their plastic foam (aka Styrofoam) recycling program. Questions can be directed at to Thurston County Waste.