Key Points
- State Investigation: The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has launched an inspection of the nonprofit organization We Heart Seattle following a referral alleging improper handling of drug paraphernalia by workers during cleanup operations.
- Nature of Referral: L&I officials confirmed the investigation was triggered by an “outside referral” rather than a complaint from any of the nonprofit’s employees or their representatives. The report was initially sent to the Washington State Department of Ecology before being forwarded to workplace safety officials.
- Scope of Probe: The state has requested extensive documentation from We Heart Seattle, including safety training logs, bloodborne pathogen training materials, accident prevention programs, and employee disciplinary records. A related inspection has also been opened into the temporary staffing agency Uplift Northwest.
- Founder’s Defense: Andrea Suarez, the founder of We Heart Seattle, has characterized the investigation as a “political hit” and a “ridiculous” distraction, noting that her group removes hazardous waste that is otherwise left in public parks and on city streets.
- Operational Context: We Heart Seattle is a privately funded organization that has operated for six years, during which time it claims to have collected hundreds of thousands of pieces of drug paraphernalia, including hypodermic needles and fentanyl foil.
Seattle (Evening Washington News) August 19, 2026 — A high-profile volunteer organization dedicated to cleaning up Seattle’s public spaces is now facing intense government scrutiny, with its founder alleging that the state is attempting to penalise the group for the very activities they claim are vital to public safety.
Andrea Suarez, the founder of We Heart Seattle, stated in an interview with The Center Square that the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) opened a case against her nonprofit in late July. The investigation centres on the methods the group uses to collect discarded hypodermic needles, fentanyl foil, and other drug paraphernalia from parks, greenbelts, and city streets.
According to Matt Ross, a public affairs manager for L&I, the state opened two inspections following a referral that alleged
“improper handling of drug paraphernalia by workers”.
In a statement reported by KVI’s The Ari Hoffman Show, Ross clarified that the referral did not come from an employee or an employee representative, but rather from an outside party. The report was first submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology, which subsequently forwarded it to L&I due to the potential workplace safety concerns involving employees.
Why is the state investigating a volunteer cleanup group?
Suarez expressed alarm at the sudden administrative burden placed upon her organisation. As reported by The Center Square, she recalled the initial notification process:
“We received the notice through an email. I sent it to my board of directors. I talked to an attorney. Kind of scary, right? You get this letter demanding all these forms. We, of course, asked for an extension”.
The documentation demanded by the state is extensive. According to information shared by Suarez with both KVI and The Center Square, investigators have requested an accident prevention program, bloodborne pathogen training materials, training logs, safety meeting minutes, and records of any disciplinary actions taken against employees for improper needle handling—a request she says is misplaced given that she is the organisation’s only employee.
Suarez remains adamant that the investigation serves a political motive.
“I just think it’s a political hit from somebody,”
she told Ari Hoffman of Talk Radio 570 KVI. She has consistently framed the cleanup work as a response to a failure in government policy, specifically criticising the state’s “harm reduction” programs that provide clean syringes, fentanyl foil, and other supplies to drug users—materials that often end up as hazardous litter in areas accessible to children.
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How does We Heart Seattle defend its safety protocols?
Despite the ongoing probe, Suarez maintains that her group prioritises the safety of its volunteers and workers. As detailed in her interview with The Center Square, she explained that volunteers are trained to wear gloves and use specialised tools like tongs to pick up hazardous materials, which are then placed into designated sharps containers.
Suarez also questioned the consistency of the state’s enforcement.
“What about the employees of the city of Seattle that walk through 12th and Jackson?”
she asked in her discussion with KVI. “You see these employees walking through open-air markets with fentanyl and methamphetamines inches from their face while they pick up foil and needles”.
Furthermore, Suarez noted that when she attempted to seek guidance on official collection procedures from a public health needle exchange, she was unable to obtain clear safety guidelines, adding to her frustration with the state’s approach.
What happens next for the organisation and its volunteers?
As the inspection process continues, it is expected to take several months. We, Heart Seattle, is currently being investigated alongside Uplift Northwest, a temporary staffing agency used by the nonprofit.
Suarez has indicated that the organisation will comply with the state’s request for records, though she worries about the financial impact.
“We could potentially be fined,”
she noted to The Center Square.
“So, money that should go to helping somebody get a new pair of work boots or a phone or a ride to treatment, we’ll have to be diverted to potentially a fine for being found guilty of not picking up a needle properly”.
Regardless of the investigation’s outcome, Suarez remains resolute about the group’s future operations. She told KVI,
“We will continue to pick up garbage and needles and drug paraphernalia”.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension in Seattle regarding homelessness, drug policy, and the role of private nonprofits in filling service gaps. While We Heart Seattle has garnered a large following for its “boots-on-the-ground” approach, the organisation has faced past criticism from other homelessness advocates, some of whom have accused the group of being poorly trained or acting in ways that infringe upon the rights of those living in encampments—accusations that Suarez and her supporters have consistently denied.
For now, the focus remains on the state’s inquiry, with L&I emphasizing that they must take all reports of safety concerns seriously.
“Any organization using employees to handle used sharps is required to follow the same set of basic rules to protect their workers,”
the agency noted in comments provided to The Center Square. As of late August 2026, no violations have been established.
