More than 15 Bellevue companies were recognized by the King County Waste Division on July 26 for being one of the county’s “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” for 2012.

The sixth-annual list includes hospitality, medical services, professional services, retail, finance, governments and the arts and entertainment businesses that use a wide rang of recycling and waste reduction strategies in their business model.

In order to be eligible, businesses must meet five basic criteria: location must be within King County but outside the City of Seattle; recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and metal; recycle bins must be located near desks, printers, fax machines, cashier stations and other common areas; companies must reuse materials such as file folders, binders and any other supply that has more than a one-time use; and employees must actively try to make fewer copies of documents. Businesses also were required to adopt 10 additional waste reduction and recycling practices, from using reusable or compostable dishware in kitchens to collecting batteries for recycling or using electronic invoices.

The following Bellevue businesses were recognized: Bellevue School District, CDM Smith, Inc., CH2M Hill, CHS Engineers, LLC., City of Bellevue, David Evans and Associated, Inc., HDR Engineering, Inc., Jeffrey A Schur, DDS MSD, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Pacific Software Publishing, Inc., Printex Press, Roth Hill, LLC., Safeway Bellevue Beverage Plant, The West Bellevue Hotel, T-Mobile USA and Whole Food Market Bellevue.