Washington State Ferries celebrated Earth Day on Monday by earning five-star certification — the highest you can get — from the EnviroStars program at 10 ferry terminals, including all four in Kitsap County. They are at Anacortes, Bainbridge Island, Fauntleroy, Kingston, Point Defiance/Tahlequah, Port Townsend, Seattle, Southworth and Vashon Island.
They were cited for buying the least hazardous products, avoiding the use of pesticides, using Green Seal cleaning products, monitoring contract work to prevent pollution, protective storage, posting spill procedures and cleanup materials, and carefully managing waste.
Each terminal facility provided documentation of its practices, procedures and policies, and on-site visits were conducted for verification.
“The certification process was rigorous and thorough, and we learned some new things for our facilities, and for the vessels, too,” said Sheila Helgath, WSF environmental program manager.
EnviroStars was created in King County in 1995 and has expanded to include seven counties.
