October 20, 2022
Special ZW meeting:
Thursday, November 3, 5-6:30
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 Mike Range, Senior Manager for all of Waste Management's Pacific Northwest MRFs. (The MRF is the materials recovery facility where our recyclables go to 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. They will both probably talk about contamination, the reduction of which "is one of the best ways all of us individually can help recycling as a whole work better," as a recent Ridwell post explains.

The meeting will begin with a 20-minute summary of Zero Waste activities since our last meeting in March. Then Caitlin and Mike will give 15-20 minute presentations, followed by plenty of time for your questions.
REUSE: Halloween Costumes
There are two Saturdays left to pick out a new-to-you children's costume at KiDiMu from 10am-noon on October 22 & 29. Find more info here.
RECYCLE: Candy Wrappers + More
Candy wrappers are a tricky recyclable, but not so much if they are collected in a separate stream. Save up your wrappers (snack-sized cookie and cracker bags are okay, too) and drop off in the green "Trick or Trash" box located at Ace Hardware (pictured right).
Zero Waste's Susan Knell is in charge of this seasonal offering, as well as the year-round Terracycle bin, now housed on the porch at Helpline House (pictured left). Read here to find out what special recyclables can go in the Terracycle bin.
Did you know that, thanks to the generosity of owner Steve Mikami, Ace Hardware is a take-back place for other household items, too?

  • Eyeglasses (Lions Club refurbishes for reuse)
  • Batteries (recycled)
  • Broken holiday light strings (November 1-January 16th only, wire will be recycled - see poster farther down in this newsletter)
Reuse Pays off
Here's proof that one small act can make a big difference. A reader wrote in with this story:
I keep a box in my car for groceries. When I go to the store, I decline paper bags, have them put the groceries right back into the cart, take them out to my car and put them in the box I have in the back of my car. When I get home I carry the box into the house, unload the box, put it back in the car and use it again the next time I shop. I’ve been doing this for 3 years now. If I do the calculations, I figure I’ve NOT used 2,880 paper bags.
The production of one paper bag emits 5.52 kg CO2, or the equivalent of 17.4 miles of driving. So over the three-year period, this single behavioral change has had an emissions reduction effect of not driving 50,000 miles!
Since this Styrofoam recycling event will have Bainbridge Islanders driving 40 more miles round trip than a Bay Hay drop-off necessitated, try to offset the increased greenhouse gas emissions by accomplishing other errands while in the area and/or offering to take along your neighbors' Styrofoam.
Electronics Recycling
Boy Scout Troop 1496 is holding its annual electronic recycling fundraiser on Saturday, November 5. The Scouts come to your home to collect the items, so please request a pick-up by Thursday, November 3. Go here to sign up.

The electronics are sent to PC Recycle, which is one of the state-approved businesses for Washington's E-Cycle program. Since 2018, over 450 million tons of "e-waste" -- primarily tvs, computers, and monitors -- have been kept out of landfills through this extended producer responsibility take-back program.
Get That Unused Winter Gear Back into Circulation
Each year the BHS sailing team organizes a sale of winter sports equipment as a fundraiser for their club. They rely on community donations (consignment is also an option) to make the "Ski Swap" a successful reuse event -- last year they raised $15,000 for operations and scholarships.

Drop off any of the items listed below until Friday, November 18, at Bainbridge Physical Therapy. (You can't miss the signs outside the building near the tiny roundabout.) Come for the sale on Saturday, November 19. More information can be found here.

  • Downhill and cross country skis
  • Ski poles
  • Ski and snowboard boats
  • Ski and snowboard parts
  • Snowboards
  • Sleds
  • Jackets
  • Winter gloves
  • Snow pants
  • Ski goggles
  • Hats
  • Boots
  • Car racks
Mend with a Friend
The penultimate “Mend with a Friend” class for adults only will be held on Sunday, November 6, 1-3pm, at Scrappy Art Lab, 123 Bjune #109. Come ready to stitch, fix, darn or embellish a cherished garment or bag. Naomi Spinak, chair of the popular ReFashion Show, will be on hand to offer guidance while you make repairs. Please scroll down this page to RSVP.
Reuse: One-gallon Plant Pots
Start saving up your 1-gallon pots for a Bainbridge Island Land Trust round-up in December (date tba). They will send the pots off for reuse to one of their plant sale's growers.
Newsletter editor: Diane Landry, BI Zero Waste (Volunteer) Director
Back issues are available here.
BI Zero Waste is an all-volunteer program of Sustainable Bainbridge.
Send comments and questions here.