Building a Circular Future

Seattle is emerging as a global leader in circular innovation—supporting entrepreneurs, scaling zero-waste solutions, and activating communities through education, funding, and investment. Join us as we explore the powerful potential of the circular economy as the next great Industrial Revolution, and discover how this transformative approach is reshaping industries, communities, and the future of our planet.

Are you curious about the circular economy and its potential to address today’s environmental and economic challenges? Join us for a full day of learning, collaboration, brainstorming, and visioneering at the Circular Economy Symposium, where we’ll explore how circular systems can power a regenerative, equitable, and climate-resilient future—starting in the Duwamish Valley, and across the region.

Join representatives from King County Re+, Seattle Public Utilities, and community leaders as they delve into regional circular economy initiatives, examining both the challenges and the progress being made in addressing our increasingly complex waste systems. This session will explore the next steps for King County and the City of Seattle in rethinking and redesigning our material world—shifting from a linear model of consumption and disposal to regenerative, circular solutions.

Discover how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies aim to shift the burden of waste management upstream—holding manufacturers accountable for the full lifecycle of their products. Learn about the growing movement for Right to Repair, which empowers consumers and extends product lifespans through access to tools, parts, and knowledge. And explore how Industrial Symbiosis—the strategic reuse of waste materials across industries—has the potential to transform recycling infrastructure and provide critical feedstock to reshore supply chains and strengthen local economies.

This conversation will highlight innovative policies, pilot programs, and cross-sector collaborations driving the region toward a more resilient and regenerative future.

To learn more about the Circular Economy and How Society Can Re-think Progress please watch the following video from leaders in the Circular Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:

'Re-Thinking Progress' explores how through a change in perspective we can re-design the way our economy works - designing products that can be 'made to be made again' and powering the system with renewable energy. It questions whether with creativity and innovation we can build a restorative economy.
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity working on business, learning, insights & analysis, and communications to accelerate the transition towards a global circular economy.

Find out more about their work here: www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

Breakout Topics, Workshops & Guiding Questions:

1. Recycling, Upcycling & Circular Materials

• What are the biggest gaps and bottlenecks in our recycling and material recovery infrastructure?
• How can businesses, consumers, and policymakers improve recycling, upcycling, and glass recovery systems?
• What viable alternatives exist for hard-to-recycle materials, and how can we scale their adoption?
• How can we upgrade our current recycling infrastructure to embrace Industrial Symbiosis?

2. Reuse & Repair Ecosystem

• How can we scale community-led reuse and repair programs?
• What policies or incentives could support repair initiatives?
• How can businesses integrate reuse into their models?

3. Food Systems & Organic Waste

• How can we strengthen local food systems, including urban agriculture, to support a more circular and resilient food economy?
• What strategies can reduce food waste at the consumer, business, and municipal levels, and how can composting infrastructure be improved?
• How can food recovery and redistribution programs be expanded to address both food insecurity and waste reduction?

4. Textiles & Fashion

• What are the key issues in textile waste and fast fashion?
• How can local consumers and business shift toward a more sustainable textile system?
• What are emerging models for circular fashion?
• How can local makers in the textile industry drive the need for reshoring of supply-chains?

5. Circular Built Environment

• How do we promote more circular infrastructure in the built environment?
• How can we invest in and scale more regenerative materials avaiable for commercial use in new buildings?
• What role does modular and adaptive reuse play for deconstruction?
• What policies and incentives could help scale circular construction?
• In what ways can integrating renewable energy installations and local food systems into community centers enhance resilience to climate and economic shocks?

6. Industrial Symbiosis & Reshoring Supply Chains

• How can industry transition to circular models?
• What financial incentives or partnerships could help?
• What challenges exist in shifting from linear to circular supply chains?
• How can reshoring supply chains that embrace Industrial Symbiosis strengthen regional resilience in the face of rapidly changing environmental and economic conditions?

7. Policy, Funding & Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

• What are the most impactful policies for advancing a circular economy?
• How can we enforce accountability for producers and incentivize sustainable practices?
• What local/state policies and funding mechanisms (government, philanthropic, private sector) should be prioritized to scale circular initiatives?

8. Regeneration & Rewilding

• How can the strategic retreat of industrial sites and the cleanup of toxic soils lay the groundwork for long-term climate resilience in the Duwamish Valley?
• How can regenerative design principles guide future land use—restoring ecosystems while supporting healthy, climate-adapted communities?
• What green infrastructure solutions can transform former industrial zones into buffers against sea-level rise, king tides, and extreme weather events?
• How can rewilding efforts in Georgetown and South Park reduce the urban heat island effect and improve public health outcomes?
• What creative funding mechanisms can help build the financial ecosystem needed to support both affordable housing and workforce training as part of regenerating and rewilding former industrial landscapes?

9. Circular Finance

• How can circular finance shift the focus from short-term returns to long-term, regenerative value—environmentally, socially, and economically.

Mapping the Duwamish Valley Ecosystem

Join us for a hands-on, community-powered session to map the circular economy in the Duwamish Valley! Together, we’ll identify local needs, surface existing assets, uncover barriers, and co-create a regenerative vision for the future. Help build a living map that connects people, places, and possibilities for a more just, resilient, and circular region.

A key outcome of this symposium and mapping will be the development of the Circular Economy Learning Zone—a collaborative exhibit at the Second Annual Georgetown Steam Plant Science Fair, September 20–21, 2025. As a group exhibit, we’ll work together to highlight regional initiatives and amplify the voices of the Duwamish River community.

If you have any questions about this event, please email: debbie@georgetownsteamplant.org