Washington State is intensifying its efforts to tackling waste and enhancing sustainability via the NextCycle Washington business accelerator program. Supported by the Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington Recycling Market Development Center, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, this initiative rallies entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small businesses to redirect waste from landfills and advocate for recycling and reuse.
Selected through a rigorous process from a statewide pool of applicants, 13 teams are embarking on a transformative six-month endeavor. With access to personalized support from consulting to technical assistance, these teams are primed to refine their concepts, cultivate partnerships, and compete for monetary awards during an impactful pitch showcase event.
Peter Lyon, head of Ecology’s Solid Waste Management program, emphasizes the critical need for innovation in waste management, stating, “Washington’s recycling rate has slipped while the amount of waste we produce per person keeps growing. We need innovation and fresh ideas to improve recycling and reduce waste – and the NextCycle Washington program is helping us find those new approaches.”
The Program Governance of NextCycle Washington involves a diverse group of external experts and individuals with lived experience from various sectors, including industry, local governments, and communities. This governance structure aims to co-design and evaluate the program, ensuring alignment with its strategies and tactics generated through a collaborative process. The governance team includes leads, members, and liaisons who contribute to program evaluation, convening co-design processes, and assisting with the nomination of projects for support and funding.
The Co-Design Process for NextCycle Washington involves a collaborative approach to designing initiatives with community involvement. It prioritizes relationships, shared power, and participatory methods. It includes six steps that iterate and repeat, aiming to integrate community perspectives and address specific priority areas such as lowering barriers, improving communication accessibility, and sharing power with marginalized communities. Co-Designers represent diverse backgrounds and organizations, contributing to a holistic and inclusive design process tailored to Washington State’s needs.
The Pitch Showcase marks the apex of NextCycle’s programming. Following months of rigorous business and technical exploration, mentoring, and strategic planning, teams will present a condensed summary of their projects in a brief 5-minute business pitch format. An audience comprising approximately 200 professionals from diverse sectors, including business, recycling, reuse, government, non-profit, and investment, will gather to gain insights into project descriptions, funding strategies, anticipated impacts, and opportunities for investment and support. Additionally, teams will interact with a panel of judges as they vie for monetary prizes. Preparations for the 2024 Pitch Showcase are currently underway.