Thank you to everyone who has signed up so far to be a discard station volunteer. Because of our efforts, we keep at least 50% of July 4th discards from going to the landfill!

We still have more slots to fill (especially 6:45-8:45am). It is essential that we have all the stations staffed continuously or there will be contamination galore in the compost and recycling, even with all the wonderful signage our Zero Waste veteran, Jane Martin, has created.

Newcomers are welcome, and there will be an optional Zoom a few days prior to (re)acquaint helpers with station expectations and answer questions.

6:45-8:45am - NO sign-ups yet!! Two persons staff the busy T&C parking lot station for the pancake breakfast. Everyone else goes in pairs to set up the other stations.

8:45-10:45am - 2 more needed

10:45-12:45pm - 2 more needed

12:45-2:45pm - 6 more needed (Except for one station, you can't view the parade during this shift.)

2:45-4:45pm - 5 more needed

4:45-6:45pm - 4 more needed. This is take-down. We usually end more like 6:15.

Rotary Green Team Volunteering

Many people who help with BI Zero Waste events also volunteer with the Rotary Green Team (GT) during the donation days up through sale day, which this year is July 5-12.

There are five GT divisions:

Recycling Team - We rove a lot with special GT carts, sorting and transfering.

Food Team - We stand at one of two cafeteria stations for about 45 minutes to make sure diners put food, silverware and more in the correct spots.

LOO - We see to it that department "rejects" still get donated...to other volunteers or to designated nonprofits.

Green Desk - Good sitting job with table work.

Post Sale Cleanup - Make everything disappear!

The Tableware Lending Library (LL) is a treasured resource on Bainbridge. Its goal is to encourage use of durables over disposables. Headed up by volunteer librarian Jane Martin, the LL lent out tableware and linens to 239 organizations and individuals last year. If these events had used single-use items instead of LL reusables, for example, then over 3000 wine glasses, 20,000 utensils and 8200 plates would have gone in the trash!

Borrowing is free but we ask for donations in order to replace broken, lost or needed items (acquired at thrift stores or through generous donors passing on their used wares). Because we have just a few librarians, reservations for events between now and the first week of September are currently closed while we service the 43 events scheduled for that time period.

But here's the big news...feel free to peruse the inventory, WHICH IS NOW ONLINE! Go here to see photos of what we have and the stock quantity for most categories.

Huge thanks go to volunteers Anna Ullrich and Amit Bapat. Anna has spent many hours entering the inventory data, and Amit was inspired after borrowing to take photos of the 200+ items we have to loan out.

Learn about the history of waste and repair in Kitsap County on Thursday, June 26, 7-8:30pm, at the Kitsap History Museum. Caitlin Newman, program supervisor of the county's solid waste department, will present "Trash Talk: A History of Waste & Repair in Kitsap."

Admission to the talk is free, but registration is required.

A couple of us are carpooling. If you would like a ride, please contact Diane Landry.

The City of Bainbridge Island and Green Sheen are teaming up to collect latex and oil-based paint (and more) on Saturday, June 28, 9am-3pm.

Accepted Materials:

• Urethanes
• Oil-based and Latex-based Paints
• Acrylic Paint
• Varnishes, Shellacs and Lacquers
• Primers
• Clear Coatings

Not Accepted:

• Spray Paints, Marine and Auto Paints
• Household Hazardous Waste
• Electronics
• Paint Thinner
• Driveway Sealers

Go here for more information.

Year-round paint recycling drop-off is available at Mallory Paint Store, 937 Hildebrand Rd, BI.

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.