Zero Waste is bringing the recycling experts to you! Come to our Zoom meeting on Thursday, November 3, 5-6:30, to hear from Kitsap County Recycling Supervisor Caitlin Newman and Waste Management's Pacific Northwest Senior MRF Manager Mike Range. (The MRF is the materials recovery facility where our recyclables get sorted and baled.)

Caitlin will explain what criteria are used in deciding what's on our recycling poster and Mike will describe how those items are separated off the conveyor belt and where they get sold.

In July 2021, Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun wrote an article on his visit to our MRF and quotes both speakers in it.

Pile up your candy wrappers in a special spot at home and/or the office (snack-sized cookie and cracker bags are okay, too), then drop them off in the Trick or Trash box at the housewares entrance of Ace Hardware on your next visit there.

Zero Waste's Susan Knell is in charge of this seasonal offering, as well as the year-round Terracycle bin, which is now located on the porch at Helpline House. Read here what special recyclables can go in the Terracycle bin. All of these plastics will be pelletized and become other plastic products.

The new drop-off location for V Calvez's eco-bricks, featured in a previous Zero Waste newsletter, is Sacred Groves, 9255 Holly Farm Lane off New Brooklyn Road. Look for the drop-off container by the Sacred Groves sign to deposit your stuffed half-gallon milk cartons or 52 oz. plastic juice containers.

Since paper milk cartons are no longer accepted for recycling, and the plastic used as stuffing is not recyclable otherwise, V's projects are a good way to keep these materials out of the landfill and put them to beneficial use, such as for insulation in the Winslow Cohousing composter.

Click the button below

for updated instructions on making the "bricks".

Pictured above: Isobel Coney modeling her first-place outfit, a recycled denim puzzle pocket jacket, dress, and hat. See all prize winners by scrolling down the page here.

Would you like to be on the ground floor for planning a Community Reuse Center on Bainbridge? Come to Scrappy Art Lab, 123 Bjune, #109, on Wednesday, November 9, 7-9pm, to brainstorm ideas for program offerings, services, potential locations and the role you can play in making this vision a reality. The meeting will be hosted by Naomi Spinak of ReFashion Bainbridge and Rachel Knudson of Scrappy Art Lab, and there will be snacks!

November 3, 5-6:30pm – Recycling specialists' presentations (see article at top). Zoom in here.

Through November 3 – Sign up for Boy Scout Troop 1496’s annual electronics recycling fundraiser home pick-up.

November 6, 1-3pm – Mend with a Friend at Scrappy Art Lab. Scroll down and RSVP here.

November 9, 7-9pm – Planning meeting for envisioned Community Reuse Hub at Scrappy Art Lab, 123 Bjune, #109. (See article above.)

Through November 18 – Drop off ski and snow equipment and clothing at Bainbridge Island Physical Therapy for Bainbridge High School’s annual Ski Swap fundraiser. Details here.

Through December 7 - Drop off rigid 1-gallon plastic pots for reuse at the BI Land Trust office, 147 Finch Place SW, Suite 3. Questions? Contact Andrew Fraser.

Through January 16 – Light string recycling at Ace Hardware.

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