A GREEN ZOO

Welcome to the Emerald City

Our award-winning sustainability efforts are a testament to Seattle’s national green leadership

SUSTAINABILITY

Green Team

Two people wearing green jackets and hats sit on large orange electric cargo tricycles with metal bins, parked on a paved area near a building and greenery.

Our Green Team works with every department across the zoo to influence and advocate for sustainability practices on zoo grounds and beyond, in collaboration with our partners.

Woodland Park Zoo is home to one of the longest standing Green Teams in the industry. Founded in 2001 with a mission to focus on water and energy conservation, our Green Team is a multi-disciplinary group of zoo employees who pursue, promote, and encourage sustainable daily practices at and beyond the zoo. We work closely with our Learning & Innovation, Interpretive and Communications staff to drive both internal and external conservation action and behavioral change.

READ ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS

ECO-CELL

Recycling Cell Phones Helps Save Gorillas!

Recycling electronics helps reduce the demand for Coltan – an ore used to extend battery life in phones and other handheld devices. Coltan mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo destroy habitat critical to endangered species, including the western lowland gorilla.

How Can You Help?

Bring your used handheld electronics to drop-boxes located at both zoo entrances. We accept: cell phones, MP3 players, tablets, adapters, chargers, and the accessories that come with them.

Woodland Park Zoo is proud to partner with ECO-CELL to recycle e-waste responsibly. In 2018, we collected and recycled 270lbs of electronics donated by visitors like you!

Bold Reuse

Returnable Cup Program

As we build a better future for wildlife and people, Woodland Park Zoo and its hospitality partner, Levy, are excited to announce a new partnership with Bold Reuse that will launch a new returnable cup program as another sustainable step closer to ending single use items at the zoo.

Learn more about Bold Reuse

Sustainability Stories

Are we the greenest of them all? Sorting waste in search of sustainability!
Feasting Green From Farm to Paw
Exhibits Team Making Green Wishes Come True
Zoo Doo Becomes Serious Stuff
What’s Your Green Zoo IQ?
Woodland Park Zoo Goes Plastic Bottle Free

Sustainability Spotlight

Turning Apples Into Carrots

RadBurros at Woodland Park Zoo

SUSTAINABLE ZOO PLAN

As the region’s premier zoo and aligned with Seattle’s Climate Action Plan goals, we aspire to become our community’s living showcase of sustainability. Our Sustainable Zoo Plan provides a roadmap for preserving and enhancing natural resources that sustain wildlife and the human economy. Our progress is thanks to our public partners, King County voters and the Seattle Park District investment, passionate staff, and committed volunteers and guests.