By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-19 17:42:05 | Updated at 2026-08-19 17:50:41
22 minutes ago
Washington officials are investigating a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that cleans up drug-ridden parks and spaces.
We Heart Seattle, which is run by Andrea Suarez, sends out volunteer groups to pick up used needles, fentanyl foils, and other drug paraphernalia to keep parks and public spaces safe for community members.
It has removed more than 2.1 million pounds of trash and helped 325 people get off the streets since its inception in 2020.
But now Washington State officials are knocking at Suarez's door, asking for safety records after the State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) filed a complaint.
The West Coast state is alleging Suarez's volunteers are improperly handling and collecting hypodermic needles and other drug products, KOMO News reported.
'It’s just the egregious hypocrisy that you allow this open-air use of drugs in our parks, steps from businesses and residents and daycares, and like, I’m the bad girl,' she told NewsNation.
'It’s definitely upside-down world when you lead an organization turbocharged by volunteers that are cleaning up the squalid living conditions of homeless encampments – dirty, filled needles, fentanyl foil that the county and state hand out.'
The state has asked Suarez to produce a copy of her written safety program procedure for handling bloodborne pathogens, training materials, and information about safety meetings, KOMO reported.
We Heart Seattle, which is run by Andrea Suarez (left), is being investigated by Washington State officials after State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) received a report that her volunteers were improperly handling drug paraphernalia
Her organization is made up of volunteers who have picked up 2.1 million pounds of drug materials from around Seattle to make it safer
It also wants to see hepatitis B vaccination forms for all volunteers involved in cleanups.
L&I told KOMO News that anyone handling sharps has to follow basic safety rules and must document a program for preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Suarez insisted the organization does have safety protocols, including using gloves and pickup tools to avoid directly handling the drug paraphernalia.
Volunteers also have the option not to handle drug materials and can leave it for two supervisors, who do have training for handling bloodborne pathogens.
'We are doing it properly,' she told KOMO News.
Needles are placed in sharps containers and fentanyl foils are placed in separate bags.
Suarez, however, did note that her participants have not been provided hepatitis B vaccinations and might not have all the disciplinary policies, as she didn't realize those were requirements for volunteers.
However, she told KOMO News that everyday citizens could pick up drug paraphernalia without training.
Seattle is known for having an open drug market
Suarez's volunteers clean up the discarded trash to make public spaces safer for residents
The state said her organization needs to follow certain safety protocols. She said the group does, including putting needles in sharp boxes and fentantyl foils in trash bags
Volunteers also wear gloves and using tools to pick up the materials so they do not have direct contact
'Do they need training before they bend down and pick up this awful drug paraphernalia that is lining our streets? I mean, where does it end?' she told the outlet.
Her organization has logged 75,000 volunteer hours, which helps allow children to safely play in parks.
If she fails the audits, she could face fines.
The investigation began after someone, who is not associated with We Heart Seattle, reported the organization for improperly handling, Matt Ross L&I's public affairs manager, told the Daily Mail.
'We have jurisdiction over workplace safety, and this involved employees,' he said.
However, Suarez argues the only employee is her, the rest are volunteers.
We Heart Seattle's inspections started on July 16.
'Those inspections can take up to six months, and the results will be published after that wraps up,' Ross told the Daily Mail.
'Inspectors may issue violations if an organization isn’t meeting those requirements, and may also issue violations for other safety hazards they observe in the course of an inspection. The inspectors also work with the organizations on the best way to address the hazards they find. Potential penalties will depend on the specifics of the violations.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Suarez for comment.
