We got a lot done last year. Here are just a few examples:

• The Tableware Lending Library, championed by Jane Martin with the support of her volunteers, helped nip one-time and single-use purchasing by servicing 270 events.

• Barbara Ochota's scrap metal collection program provided convenient recycling that garnered 3000 pounds of scrap metal odds & ends from people's whatnot drawers and garages.

• Susan Knell oversaw a 64% growth of ZW Bainbridge Facebook participants.

• Anna Ullrich catalogued more than 200 items in our Tableware Lending Library inventory.

As an all-volunteer program, we always need more volunteers!

Do you like interacting with the public? Try event discard management (see below - Chilly Hilly is coming up!), being a Tableware Lending Librarian, or hanging out at our monthly Farmers Market booth.

Do you like small group activities? Come to metal sorting.

How about organizing stuff? There's always something to be labeled or counted in the Lending Library.

There are many ways to get involved. Please email Diane Landry if interested.

 New! - Styro coolers & more

Marina Market at 18882 Front Street in Poulsbo will reuse these items for their frozen/refrigerated goods shipping needs:

• Reusable freezer gel packs
• Styrofoam coolers
• Silver insulating bubble wrap
  

 Paper bags

Helpline House needs to restock their paper bag supply. Bags with handles are immensely preferred. They can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Clean plastic and canvas bags are also gratefully accepted. Thank you for supporting our neighbors!

BI Flashdrive



February's pick-up is dog supplies: leashes, collars, toys, beds, etc. Donations will be given to the Prison Pet Partnership.

The date is to be determined, but as soon as Kathy McGowan sends it out, we will post it on the Sustainable Bainbridge front page under "Call to Action."

Save the date for ReFashion Bainbridge's spring clothing swap: Sunday, March 8. Drop-off is always the day before.

Zero Waste maintains a small recycling bin for very specialized collections in front of the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West.

Please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Put ONLY what is listed on the poster/website in the bin! (No Ridwell stuff, like prescription bottles)
• Lift the right-side lid, not the left.
• With pens and markers, put only used-up ones in.

You have through the end of January to choose your entry category and send in a rough sketch for the 10th annual ReFashion Show.

The categories of participation:

• Pants and Pockets
• Birthday Party
• Shoddy Challenge
• Rotary Remix Challenge
• Mystery Challenge

Find descriptions of the categories here.

Mark your calendar for the next Fix-it Fair, a collaboration of BARN and Sustainable Bainbridge, with sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island: Saturday, March 7, 10am-1pm. Details here.

We can't run Fix-it Fairs without our wonderful volunteer fixers! We especially need some textile menders (clothes, gear) for the March repair event. If you or someone you know can fill this niche, please contact Heather Dowey.

Mochi Tsuki Recap



Mochi organizers and Zero Waste worked together to divert over 75% of the discards from this always popular event. With 70% of the 2500+ visitors coming from off-island, we set a good example for other communities to follow.

How did we do it?

We had...

• Attentive discard station helpers
• Washable bowls for dipping sauce
• (Mostly) compostable paper cups and bags
• Recyclable/compostable paper tablecloths

We...

• Composted bathroom paper towels
• Composted unwanted food
• Recycled all cardboard boxes, juice jugs and cans
• Diverted juice lids and tea packaging to Ridwell & Terracycle

If you want to keep landfill waste as low as possible at your next event, think reuse first (washable items), then recycling and composting. Contact Zero Waste for pointers and discard equipment.

Volunteer with Zero Waste 
 at Chilly Hilly

Help us and the Senior & Community Center keep landfill waste low at the chili feed that caps off the annual Chilly Hilly ride on Sunday, February 22. Contact Barbara Ochota to be a discard station volunteer anytime from 10am-2pm. The bikers really appreciate our efforts!

Have you ever wondered how your recyclables get sorted? Now you can take a virtual tour of a materials recovery facility (MRF) and ask all your burning questions.

Waste Management, the company that owns the MRF where Bainbridge Disposal trucks our recyclables, will hold the virtual recycling center tour on Friday, February 27, 12pm-1pm. Register here.

How are the various waste/toxin reduction bills doing in the legislature at the halfway point of this year's session? Come to Zero Waste Washington's Legislative Tea on Sunday, February 8, 2-3:30pm (before the Super Bowl) to find out. Please register here to receive a Zoom link.

This page lists the bills under consideration and their current status.

Whenever you are looking for a destination for something not accepted in your curbside bin, be sure to visit the

 "Guide to Reusing and/or Recycing Locally" on our website. If you have an addition for it or see a correction needed, please contact me.

Newsletter editor: Diane Landry, Zero Waste BI (Volunteer) Director

Back issues are available here.

Zero Waste BI is an all-volunteer program of Sustainable Bainbridge.

Send feedback here.