PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center was given the Seeds of Sustainability award.
Vancouver-based nonprofit PeaceHealth is always exploring opportunities to reduce waste sent to landfills and increase reuse and recycling. PeaceHealth now diverts more 5.8 tons of polypropylene surgical “blue wrap” annually and have reduced the need for 371 tons of disposable surgical supplies by switching to sterilizable items that can be reused. The nonprofit keeps food out of the landfill and reduces gas emissions by using an anaerobic digester and sending food scraps to a local farm to be used for animal feed. It has reduced water and energy consumption by improving lighting and HVAC systems, installing smart water sprinklers, and implementing water reduction practices in the laboratory.
Simply Thyme Catering was awarded the Sustainability Legacy honor.
Simply Thyme Catering specializes in creating fresh and dietary-conscious meals while prioritizing environmental responsibility. From locally sourced ingredients to eco-friendly packaging, Simply Thyme Catering integrates sustainability into daily operations. Every usable food scrap is repurposed — whether it is incorporated into broths, frozen for future use or composted. If food is no longer fit for human consumption, it is fed to goats, chickens and cows, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Additionally, the company requires significant use of plastic wrap, but mitigates that use by collecting, reusing and recycling responsibly.
TSMC Washington was given the Sustainability Trailblazer award.
TSMC Washington is a semiconductor manufacturer on 260 acres in Camas. The company’s 1-million-square-foot fabrication complex includes approximately 130,000 square feet of clean room space to manufacture computer chips. TSMC Washington’s pursuit of a Zero Waste-to-Landfill certification, combined with the implementation of composting, color-coded waste sorting systems and staff education on waste reduction makes the firm a standout leader in waste reduction practices in Clark County. They have diverted 1.25 million pounds of wastewater filter cakes for reuse, operated on 100 percent renewable energy since 2018 and added nine greenhouse gas abatement units to reduce emissions even further.
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Store won the Community Champion award.
The Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store is a home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, home decor, appliances and building materials at discounted prices. Proceeds from the store support the organization’s homebuilding and repair programs, directly contributing to affordable housing in the county. Evergreen diverts more than 100 tons of waste from unsellable items every year through a volunteer-run recycling station that disassembles these items for material-specific recycling. The store also offers free community drop-off options for recycling household batteries and paint. They partner with local nonprofits and small businesses to find creative reuse opportunities for items that can’t be sold or recycled, including donating slow-selling dishes to “rage rooms.” In 2024, they reduced their own operational waste by 57 tons compared to 2023, nearly doubling their goal for the year.
