The goal of the EnviroStars Program is to give businesses incentives and recognition for reducing hazardous waste, while giving consumers an objective way to identify environmentally sound businesses, using a two to five star rating scale.

The more proactive a business is in preventing pollution, the higher the star rating and the more public promotion and free marketing the business receives. Additional benefits include potentially increasing operating efficiencies; minimizing disposal, raw material, training, permitting and paperwork costs; improving workplace conditions and morale; enhancing product quality and company image.

The program was created in King County in 1995 and has expanded to additional counties in the Puget Sound area. The partnership and affiliation among the different county-specific EnviroStars programs and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA) are referred to as the EnviroStars Cooperative (Co-op). PSA, a non-profit environmental organization, joined in establishing the Co-op in order to support the spread of EnviroStars in the Puget Sound region. The EnviroStars Co-op works with public agencies, environmental groups, trade associations, and small businesses to encourage the prevention of pollution and the reduction of hazardous wastes.

• The nationally recognized EnviroStars program honors businesses for reducing, recycling and properly managing hazardous waste . Hundreds of businesses have met the qualifications to become EnviroStars in the Puget Sound region--from auto repair and body shops to dry cleaners, dentists, and printers.
  
  
• To become EnviroStars-certified, businesses must be located in participating counties, not generate large quantities of hazardous waste and must be working to reduce hazardous wastes.
  
  
• Interested businesses receive a visit from an EnviroStars representative who verifies if waste is properly managed, provides technical assistance, and suggests waste reducing options.
  
  
• Businesses earn an EnviroStars rating of two to five stars for their waste management and pollution prevention practices, and can increase their star level by making improvements.
  
  
• Residents can learn which companies in their communities are EnviroStars members by going to the EnviroStars certified business listings on this website, and by looking for the EnviroStars window decal in local businesses.
  
  
• Businesses interested in becoming an EnviroStar can contact their county's EnviroStar representative. Participation is free and voluntary.