Plastics - The Kitsap League of Women Voters, along with Olympic College, is sponsoring "Plastic: The Big Picture, Local Insights, and What You Can Do!" on Wednesday, April 21, 5pm. Details and presenter bios are here.

Food Waste - The Climate & Energy Forum presents "Carbon Footprint of Food Waste," on Tuesday, April 27, 5-6:30pm, which highlights the environmental impact of wasted food and how we personally can prevent waste. There will also be a preview of 2022 Washington state food waste legislation. Details can be found here.

For a complete listing of Earth Month presentations and activities, visit Sustainable Bainbridge's Earth Month page.

Reusing is better than recycling in that it avoids the energy, water, raw materials and pollution associated with reprocessing materials. But if repairing, refilling or regifting aren't an option, maybe these recycling opportunities will come in handy.

Paint - A new program managed by PaintCare was mentioned in the last ZW newsletter, but the takeback location wasn't known at the time. We can now thank the Peninsula Paint Company on Hildebrand Lane, which voluntarily agreed to be the Bainbridge Island location for returning leftover oil and latex paint, varnish, and stains that you can't use up or give to others to finish a job. For a detailed list of what is accepted and what is not (e.g., no spray cans), go here.

To avoid having too much leftover paint on your next project, take a look at PaintCare's advice page..

Socks - For a limited time, April 15-May 8, Bay Hay and Feed will accept any type and brand of sock, single or pairs, so long as they are washed. They are participating in a pilot recycling program with Smartwool, which will make the socks into dog beds. (Please opt for donation to people if socks are gently used.)

Car seats - From April 5-19, Target is collecting used car seats, including infant seats, convertible seats, car seat bases, harness or booster car seats and car seats that are expired or damaged. Materials from the old car seats will be recycled by Target’s partner, Waste Management. A bonus is a 20% coupon toward a new car seat or select baby gear. More info can be found here.

Tire & scrap metal - Kitsap Solid Waste is hosting this “Wheels & Steel” free household recycling event from 9am-1pm, April 30 & May 1. Bring up to 10 tires and non-appliance scrap metal to the Thunderbird Arena at the Kitsap County fairgrounds. For complete

details, go here.

To consolidate trips, Zero Waste member Deb Rudnick is offering to take an extra tire or two and smaller scrap metal that you may have (nothing like a grill). Email Deb here to arrange drop-off.

Note: The Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station has a dedicated dumpster for any size scrap metal.

Susan Knell of the Zero Waste steering committee has joined a number of Terracycle "brigades," collection programs of different items that are sponsored by a manufacturer of that product (though in the following brigades, the items can be from any brand).

To read about the Terracycle recycling process, visit this page.

The following four categories can be dropped off in the TERRACYCLE COLLECTION BIN outside the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West:

Certain office supplies - Empty writing instruments, dried out or empty glue sticks, water color dispensers, paint sets, and their plastic packaging - any brand

Certain oral care supplies - Manual toothbrushes and outer packaging, dental floss containers, and empty toothpaste tubes and caps - any brand

Certain food storage containers - Non single-use plastic and glass food storage containers - any brand

#6 plastic cups (like red Solo cups) - Look for the number 6 in the chasing arrow. This type of cup tends to crack when squeezed hard (versus the more flexible #1 cups). Any brand.

Hey all you gardeners! Are you done transplanting and wondering how to keep from throwing out that pile of pots? Check out the list below for some island farmers and nurseries who can reuse your plastic pots.

The downtown Bigbellies are reaching the end of their life cycle, and the City of Bainbridge Island is going to replace three per year, starting now with the pairs at Doc's, Hitchcock and Blackbird.

Notice the foot pedal on the trash half. Hopefully that will deter handle-averse tossers from going straight for the recycling hole with their garbage. Also fingers crossed the large letters on the recycle half attract only cans and bottles.

Last call if you would like to help with the waste audit of Bainbridge's curbside recycling. The sorting will take place at the Olympic View Transfer Station in Bremerton at 10am on Wednesday, April 21. Email Diane Landry if you are interested.

Hooray for the Poulsbo Green Walkers! Recent college grad Rachel Tweit thought, why shouldn't walking and trash picking go hand-in-hand? She shared her idea of such a Facebook group with the Poulsbo Rotary Trash Talk Taskforce, who loved it.

Rachel then designed the above logo, formed the Facebook group, and invited friends, Rotarians, and former Rotary Youth Exchange Program students to pick up litter and post their photos. Within two weeks, the group had over 250 members from over 100 cities and 15 countries. Good works are contagious!

Speaking of good works, thank you to Bainbridge Performing Arts, who upon cleaning out during their remodel, thought of the Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library. We are now home to 220 matching dessert plates, 50 black linen napkins and 11 large blue & white checked tablecloths.

As get-togethers start happening again, please keep the ZW lending library in mind for your public or private party needs. Our volunteer librarians, Jane Martin, Susan Knell and Diane Landry, are happy to provide glasses, plates, utensils and much more!

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