The list of items that can be dropped off in the Zero Waste bin at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West, has recently undergone many changes. Below are the highlights.

Back on the list

• Oral care products
• Certain office supplies

Expanded list

• All water filters

New on the list

• Razors
• Squeeze pouches
• Coffee pods and coffee & tea aluminized pouches/bags

The 2024 Washington State 60-day legislative session is in full swing. Zero Waste Washington provides a good synopsis of the waste reduction bills they are supporting and continually updates the bills' progress or lack thereof. You can follow them here.

After repeated stakeholder meetings since last year, two revamped bills are being strongly pushed:

• The ReWrap Act (HB2049) advocates for free curbside recycling to everyone in the state (currently one in six Washingtonians do not have that access) and incentives to make packaging that can be reused, recycled or composted more easily.

• Right to Repair allows small businesses and home DIYers the option to fix electronics, such as computers and cellphones, as well as appliances, wheelchairs and farm equipment.

Legislative (Virtual) Tea

February 4, 3-4:30

Zero Waste Washington's executive director, Heather Trim, will give behind-the-scenes accounts of the many zero waste-related bills that were introduced in the Washington State legislature. These bills tackle recycling, compost, right to repair, mercury light bulbs, toxic chemicals in sewage biosolids, and more.

The event is free, but you must register to get a Zoom link in advance. 

Looking to make an easy household switch in the new year that can have a significant impact on your individual contribution to climate change? Then look no further than the food you eat.

According to the United Nations, about a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to food. From synthetic fertilizers, cow farts, and refrigeration to transportation, packaging and landfilled food -- these are just some of the components that generate carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions.

Here's what you can do:

Eat less meat.

• Cut portion sizes.
• Choose a day(s) of the week to eat only plant-sourced food.

Throw out less food.

• Look at these good suggestions offered in Kitsap Solid Waste's "Ways to Use Food Well" section (see tabs above).

• Give unopened food before it expires to your local food bank, such as Helpline House on Bainbridge or Fishline in Poulsbo.

Keep food discards out of the trash.

As shown in the graphic at top, over half of the methane emissions coming from landfills is due to the food we throw out. Instead...

• Compost produce and plant matter at home. Get tips on home composting from Kitsap County's compost resource page. Once the weather starts to warm up, check the Kitsap Library calendar for free compost classes near you.

• Use Bainbridge Disposal's yard/food waste curbside bins to compost ALL food, plants, and yard debris.

NEW!

Bainbridge Disposal's 32-gallon yard/food waste cart for

bi-weekly curbside pick-up service

(as opposed to the huge 96-gallon version)

While supplies last, Bainbridge Disposal will also give you a complimentary 2-gallon under-the-counter compost bucket (shown at right) to make it easy to set aside food scraps.

Go easy on your budget and the earth. Find new-to-YOU apparel at the second annual ReFashion Clothing Swap (or just "shop"--it's a free event).

Start setting aside clothes in good shape (no accessories or shoes, please) for drop-off on March 16 or at the opening the next day. The event is on Sunday, March 17, at the Filipino American Community Hall.

If you use Facebook, please join the new "Zero Waste Bainbridge" Facebook group and contribute creative ideas, articles, local events and local services on all the "Re's": Reducing, Reusing, Refurbishing, Recycling, Repairing, and Repurposing. If you have questions, we'll try to answer or crowdsource for information.The more who join, the more robust the conversation.

Join now before we take down the original "Bainbridge Island Zero Waste" Facebook page.

Ridwell is a specialty doorstep recycling business that started in Seattle in 2018. After expanding to Bainbridge in 2021, they are now servicing almost 10% of households on the island.

Ridwell picks up an array of items not accepted in curbside or transfer station recycling. They are very customer-oriented and recently asked what new materials people would like to see collected. If you would like to give input, whether a subscriber or not, then fill out this survey.

NextCycleWashington is a free, 6-month business accelerator supporting businesses and projects focused on reuse, repair, recycling, composting, and the use of recycled content in new products in Washington state.



Download the application packet here and turn in by January 26.

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.