The Reuser

Plastics: an info round-up

2012-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some interesting articles on plastics. I've written before on how confusing plastics can be, how you can't mix them all together for recycling, and especially how confusing all the new and different types of plastics out there can be.

These two articles address the new types of plastics. It's good to learn a little (or a lot) about these plastics, as they aren't necessarily all they're touted to be.

This tray may look like many other
plastic trays, but it's actually made
from PLA-polylactic acid.

This forum post does a good job of differentiating between the different types (see near bottom-Jerry Powell's response) and this article is about claims of biodegradability.

Waste Reduction segments (video)

2012-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

To see videos of my recent waste reduction segments online, click on the links below:

I recently realized that not everyone has access to Facebook and that's where I was doing an ok job of posting my recent waste reduction segments. So, I decided to add them all here. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions/suggestions.

An antique camera in the front lobby of the KPTV studios

November (talking about the then-upcoming Check ‘Em Off, Green event)

Mark your calendars, now! Check 'Em Off, Green will be December 1st this year.

December (talking about reducing holiday waste associated with gift-giving via buying local, reusing, etc.)

January (talking about waste reduction through swapping unwanted items online)

We also have been having an issue with extraneous amounts of needles found in the recycling stream, so I did a news segment on that as well. (One note: the # of needle sticks quoted in the segment is incorrect unfortunately (or, fortunately depending on how you look at it) The # of people getting stuck by needles is more like 1 per month.)

Special thanks to KPTV for helping us get out the waste reduction message.

Post-holiday swapping of unwanted items

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

So, the holidays are over (Hope you had fantastic ones this year!) and I bet you might have received some new games, clothes, books, DVDs? If your home is bursting at the seams like mine, you might be considering what to do with items you no longer want/need/use. Consider swapping them! This Wednesday, I'll be going on the KPTV Good Day Oregon MORE program to talk about swap sites. In preparation for that, I've updated my list of swap sites for you. There's 25 sites on my list-I've made sure they're all active.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to vet them all for you, but you can easily click on whichever ones you think sound interesting and check them out for yourself. I'd recommend looking at the total number of items available, what type of feedback system they have, etc. Also, it's probably a good idea to decide what types of items you'll be swapping most often before picking a swap site or two. I'm a long time member of Goozex and it works great for me to swap my movies and video games, but it would not work for me if the majority of what I had to swap was clothing or kids' items. There are other more appropriate sites for that.

Here's an article with some great common sense tips to keep swapping safe.

So, how about you? Have you ever tried swap sites? What are your favorites? I haven't found any that really dazzle me in terms of handling "all" items. You?

Happy swapping (waste reduction) in 2012!

P.S. My list of swap sites is always available under the Resources link to the right.

Waste less this holiday season

2011-12-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

Using these tips/tricks:

For me, the time of year when I buy the most "stuff" is, hands down, the holiday season. I'm sure most of you can probably relate. I remember when I first started really "getting into" waste reduction thinking to myself, "Yeah, but to purchase sustainably around the holiday season is going to be near impossible." Fast forward to this season and I can honestly say that every one of my gifts has some (or a lot of) green cred. Most of my wrapping will also sport that claim. In the spirit of giving, I want to share some tips/tricks that have been helpful to me. (And invite you to share your own in the comments section below.)

You've heard me talk about the waste reduction hierarchy before. We're going to use that hierarchy to look at our gift-giving choices.

REDUCE:
To reduce is to not buy stuff or make waste in the first place.

A giraffe relaxes in the sun at Oregon Zoo

For the person who is impossible to buy for, instead of buying stuff, give money to their favorite charity in their name. Are they an animal lover? Perhaps the Humane Society would be a good choice. If they or a loved one have been affected by an illness, donating to research for a cure is a nice way to say you care about them.
One of the best ways to reduce our consumption of "stuff" is to give experiences. Giving a membership to the zoo or OMSI not only eliminates material goods, but encourages families to spend more time together. Or, you could give babysitting for a night to a family with a new baby or offer to take your nephew to a football game. Whatever your family members enjoy, try to find a way to allow them to enjoy that experience.
If you're looking to reduce packaging or the environmental cost of buying something produced out of your area, Etsy can be a great option. Etsy is an online marketplace of handmade products. Often, these products are made with recycled or reused materials. They also allow vintage items, which fall into the category of reuse.
Buy durable: The better built a product in the first place, the less likely it will be to break down. If it doesn't break down, you eliminate the need to buy a new one. Often, spending more initially for quality will pay for itself down the line when you still have the product years later. (and you don't have to relearn how to use that new toaster!) When something does break, consider repairing instead of throwing away. For that matter, do you have someone in your life that loves shoes? (I think most of us do....) a gift idea for them would be to find a local cobbler and purchase a gift certificate. Keeping their favorite shoes walking another day will eliminate the resources associated with a new pair.
When wrapping presents, consider reusing comics or other paper. (and thus reducing the need for new wrapping paper.) With a little sewing skill, you can also create some reusable fabric bags. I'm very surprised by how well my family has taken to this idea. Now, the bags are usually considered a part of the present and they make an appearance the following year.

REUSE:

When we purchase or gift a reused item, we're automatically cutting the environmental footprint of that item in half. (by eliminating a new item from being manufactured, transported, etc.) The more an item is reused, the lighter the load on our planet's limited resources.

Give the gift of thrift. Shopping at local thrift stores can be an adventure and can result in significant money savings. If you know someone who is a thrift store junkie, many stores have gift cards.
Ebay: Lots of the items on Ebay are actually "new" and the site can also be a great place to find something like that scent that your mom loves but they stopped making or that last glass that completes the set your sister loves, but Uncle Stewart broke last season.
Craigslist: What's better than reusing *and* keeping it local. If you're concerned about the safety of Craigslist, there are lots of common sense tips/tricks to avoid being taken advantage of.
Swap sites: One of my favorite swap sites is Goozex. You send movies and video games that you're no longer using to other members and receive points based on the value of the sent items. Then, you're able to use those points to get used items from other members. Many swap sites work in this same way and there are lots of different sites out there (for things such as books, clothes, children's items, jewelry, etc.) I have a list (unfortunately, has not been updated in quite some time) of many swap sites. But, if you're wondering if something can be swapped, just do a simple search for an appropriate swap site. If it has value, chances are you'll find a site on which you can swap it.

RECYCLE:

Lastly, recycling is always important. We have two duties as consumers. The first (and most obvious) is to recycle everything that is acceptable in our recycling systems. The second, though, is to close the recycling loop by buying products with recycled content. If no one values recycled content, the market for those products dies and recycling (and all the associated savings in water, energy and pollution) die with them.

As mentioned earlier, many products on Etsy (or at a local bazaar or artists market) will have recycled content. This keeps these items (that may not have a strong traditional recycling market) out of the landfill.
Purchasing recycled content can be tricky, but is not impossible. One company that I think has a strong environmental ethic and has many options for purchasing recycled fibers is Patagonia. They also have a fairly new (launched Black Friday, 2011) intiative in which they encourage all steps of the waste reduction hierarchy.

So, what about you? What waste reduction ideas have you implemented that you're particularly proud of? What would you like to try next season? What are your concerns about waste reduction in gift giving? What are some barriers that you think have kept you or others from implementing waste reduction techniques around the holidays?

A few good articles

2011-11-29T10:25:00.001-08:00

The problem with food in the landfill, landfill decomposition and recycling myths busted:

A truck delivers a load of food waste to a compost facility.

Are you a train-of-thoughter, like me? My trains seem to be long and varied. I've been working on a presentation on outreach through social media for the Washington Organics Recycling Council. This lead me to do a search for "compost" on Twitter to try to illustrate some of the opportunities for talking about compost. One of my long time Twitter friends, @CleanBinProject was asking if anyone had a good answer to why we should be composting instead of throwing food waste in the landfills. (Seems many people still have the erroneous assumption that food breaks down in the landfill into something useful, similar to food in a compost pile.) I've also been wishing for a few good articles that talk about this. Luckily, I finally found some this time around. So, I'm going to post the articles and then get back to work.

Compost piles release heat-a byproduct of decomposition.

This article talks about food waste. Why we waste, the shocking amounts that we waste and the hidden costs of that waste. I have a beef with the lack of citing sources, but I feel most of it is accurate.

This one talks about landfills and why things don't really break down. I have a feeling I'll be referencing this article a lot in the future, since "biodegradable" labels seem to be very misleading and confusing for the general consumer. We get asked about this at least once a month. My only beef with this article is the byline that says "most landfills too tightly packed to work well." I'm assuming they mean the decomposition doesn't work well, which is true, for all the reasons mentioned in the article. However, the landfill itself works very well. Landfills are a safe way to dispose of all the waste we're currently creating. Are they a "solution"? Perhaps not. But, to the best of my knowledge, they're the best thing we've got at this point in time. Until we curb our throw-away lifestyles and start reducing, reusing and recycling the majority of our wastes, landfills are one of the safest ways to deal with it.

Finally, here's a bonus recycling-myths-busted article. I've been long looking for one of these, as well. This is well-written and has citations, which I appreciate.

If you're looking for a little levity, here's a cartoon from one of my favorite people illustrating how I sometimes feel about my crazy trains of thought that take me all over the internet.

2011-10-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Reuse in Action (photos)

So, last night at Green Drinks, I was guilted about not publishing to my blog. (You know who you are!) ;) (Actually, it's good for me to have a little push sometimes.)

Anyway, I thought I'd be really lazy and post some of the many reuse pictures I've taken over the years and never got around to posting. And, since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I figure this will buy me some time with the guilt-tripper mentioned above. ;) Enjoy!

A rain barrel/water treatment system made from
a large jug. (I'm assuming this is
reused, but admit it may not be.)

A silk tie made into a doggy collar. Classy!

A handbag made from a Monopoly board.
You can also see a few others in the photo.
The one to the left is an old Pente board game.

If you like these types of items, you should definitely check out Check 'Em Off, Green on Nov. 12th at the Marshall Center. We've brought together 65+ vendors who have wonderful items like these. This holiday season, replace "cheap crap from China" with wonderful handmade goods/experiences purchased from your community!

That's it for now. But, I have more awesome reuse photos to share with you all, so check back soon.
-The Reuser

Recycling 101 Class in Vancouver, WA

2011-08-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Plastic Bags ~ Nursery Pots ~Aerosol Cans ~ Cardboard Boxes ~Motor Oil ~ Yard Debris ~ Antifreeze

Ever wondered why only certain items are collected for recycling or whether you really need to take the label off that can before recycling it? Well, the good news is, there will be an informational class to answer all your burning questions about recycling.

Plastic bottles of all types
are accepted in recycling carts
in Clark County,WA.

This 2 hour class includes a tour of the newly updated processing facility.
Saturday, October 22, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at West Van Materials Recovery Center. Space is limited, so sign up as soon as possible.

City-recognized neighborhood associations who send a representative to this class and publish an approved recycling article in their neighborhood newsletter can earn money for their neighborhood association treasury.

For more information or to pre-register, please call 360-619-4122, and provide your name, neighborhood association* and phone number. Your pre-registration will help insure we have enough materials and room for everyone.

*If you would like to just attend the class (not representing a neighborhood) you're welcome to do that. The class is open to the public.

There, I fixed it! (The Reuser fixes the errors in an article about plastics.)

2011-08-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across this article (also see below) about plastics. I'm always intrigued when I read a headline that I hope will address a FAQ for my industry. One of the most typical questions we get (and some of the most complicated answers) are about plastics. Why don't recycling programs take them all, why are they separated, etc. so I was excited to read the following article, hoping it would say what I always say (but have never written down) and I could thus post it to my blog and use it in link format to answer the questions when they come up in the future. Unfortunately, this article doesn't address all the issues. So, after reposting it to my Twitter feed and saying it had errors, I felt like I needed to address the errors here. Also, this post does address plastics well and I have since used it many times to answer questions for people in our area asking about plastics. Lastly, everything I type here is "to the best of my knowledge" and I welcome the opportunity to learn more about this topic.

Dear EarthTalk: Why can’t plastics of all types, instead of being initially sorted, simply be melted together to be separated later? It must be a monumental and error-prone task to separate truckloads of plastics. — L. Schand, via emailThe reason plastics aren’t typically melted together and then separated later is a matter of both physics and economics. When any of the seven common types of plastic resins are melted together, they tend to separate and then set in layers. The resulting blended plastic is structurally weak and difficult to manipulate. While the layered plastic could in theory be melted again and separated into its constituent resins, the energy inputs required to do so would make such a process cost prohibitive.As a result, recycling facilities sort their plastics first and then melt them down only with other items made of the same type of resin. While this process is labor-intensive, the recycling numbers on the bottom of many plastic items make for quicker sorting. Many recycling operations are not only reducing sizable amounts of waste from going into landfills but are also profitable if managed correctly.

Recycling facilities (called Materials Recovery Facilities-hereafter known as MRFs) do NOT mix together everything from a certain resin type. The numbers inside the recycling circle tell you nothing about recyclability and only tell you what general category (resin type) of plastics something belongs to. (Yes, even though it has a recycle symbol, it still tells you nothing about recyclability, recycled content, etc.) A perfect example of this is #1 (PETE or polyethylene terephthalate.) #1 bottles and #1 tubs are not recycled together. Another really striking example (and something I often use in my classes) is #6-polystyrene. Block foam or styrofoam is a #6, but so are Solo party cups. Obviously, these types of plastics are very different, even though they're both polystyrene. They cannot be recycled together.

The process of sorting plastics for recycling is labor intensive (mostly done by hand) but the recycling numbers on the bottom are rarely, if ever, used to help at this point in the process. The only time when the # may be used is when a material comes through that is wildly different from the "usual" materials. Someone on a sort line or who runs a MRF could conceivably then check the # inside the recycle symbol to ascertain the resin type. In practice, though, I've never heard of this being done. People who own and operate MRFs are very good at sorting plastics, mostly by sheer recognition. When looked at from this point of view, it's a feat that MRFs are able to keep up with all the thousands of different types of plastics constantly on the market.

Manufacturers of plastic items choose specific resins for different applications. Recycling like items together means the reclaimed polymer can be used to create new items just like their virgin plastic forebears. The seven common types of plastic are: #1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE); #2 High-density polyethylene (HDPE); #3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); #4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE); #5 Polypropylene (PP); #6 Polystyrene (PS); and #7 Other/Mixed (O).

That "reclaimed polymer can be used to create new items just like their virgin plastic forebears." is technically correct, although this is rarely the case. It's rare for plastic items to be recycled into what they were originally. It's much more common for them to be downcycled into a different product (milk jugs into benches, for example) that then can't be recycled any further. (Another example that illustrates this point: plastic lumber is often old plastic bags mixed with sawdust. While it is nice that this material is made from recycled plastic, it cannot be recycled at the end of its life cycle.) Also, this is a bit nit-picky but I wouldn't necessarily use the term "common types" of plastic. The 7 #s are resin codes. They are the 7 codes that are currently in use. Every type of plastic fits into one of these 7 codes, even if they are very uncommon (see more about #7 plastics below.)

One complicating factor is trying to recycle unmarked plastics and those embossed with a #7 (representing mixed resins, also known as polycarbonate). According to Earth911, a leading online source for finding recyclers for specific types of items across the United States, in some cases #7 plastics can be “down-cycled” into non-renewable resin, in other cases recycling operations just send their unmarked and #7 plastics into local landfills.Even though recycling operations have developed relatively efficient systems for generating reclaimed resins, many environmentalists recommend that consumers still avoid plastics as much as possible.

I have a real problem with this paragraph, so I'm going to do it bullet point style.

I would say the more complicating factor for recycling plastics is that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different types of plastics, even within a resin code. (Fillers, dyes, etc are added to the resins to make them behave in specific ways.) There is no standard of one type of plastic within a resin type.
The other really complicating factor is lack of markets. Every recycling decision is based on whether there is a market for that material and the market is based on there being consumers willing to buy whatever product is being made from that recycled resin. I've heard some people go so far as explaining it thusly: If you're not buying recycled materials, you're not recycling. Consuming willy-nilly is not excusable by recycling. If the materials you put in your recycling bin don't have a strong market behind them, the system is not a closed loop.
As far as unmarked plastics: I would assume that most MRFs don't even mess around with unmarked plastics. In other words, if something is made from plastic but they can't determine the type, it will likely end up in the landfill.
I don't know that #7 always is a mixed resin and it's certainly not always polycarbonate. #7 plastics are simply "other" They are plastics that do not fit into any of the other 6 categories and these days, this includes PLA (see below.)
On the west coast, unknown plastics are often sent overseas instead of to the landfill, in mixed plastic bales. These are then hand-sorted (usually in China) I cannot guarantee what happens to them at that point in the line.

“Simply recycling these products does not negate the environmental damage done when the resource is extracted or when the product is manufactured,” reports EcoCycle, a Colorado-based nonprofit recycler with an international reputation as an innovator in resource conservation. The group adds that over the past half century, the use of disposable packaging, especially plastic, has increased by more than 10,000 percent.Along these lines, products (or packaging) made out of reusable metal, glass or even wood are preferable to equivalent items made from plastic. For starters, an item of metal, glass or wood can be re-used by someone else or recycled much more efficiently than plastic when it does reach the end of its useful life to you.

Agreed. Recycling is not the only solution and we aren't ever going to be able to recycle our way out of the mess we're in. More important solutions include reducing the amount of consumption we do in general and reusing what we can at every opportunity. The only gripe I have with this part of the article is the very end. I'm not sure that metal, glass or wood is always "recycled more efficiently" than plastic. All recycling takes energy and resources to complete, although in every case I've ever seen, this will be less energy and resources than it would take to extract the resources and make the product from scratch.

Wood products and other items crafted out of plant material, even so-called “polylactic acid (PLA) plastic” made from plant-based agricultural wastes, can be composted along with your yard waste and food scraps, either in your backyard or, if your town or city offers it, through your municipal collection system.

This is where the article really started to irritate me. PLA plastic does NOT break down in a home compost system (at least not in my experience!) I've never heard of or seen anyone with a home compost system that can handle PLA plastics. PLA plastics can break down in a commercial composting facility, but even then, these facilities are very careful about what they will accept. With new products coming out virtually every day, each product needs to be tested to make sure it will break down. Finally, when people see that a plastic product is supposedly biodegradable, they often assume that means it will break down into useful components in a landfill. I know of no proof of that. Even if plastics did break down in a landfill, you then have to consider increased methane production and the shifting of the landfill structure if things are breaking down on some regular basis. To see or laud PLA plastics as necessarily better than traditional plastics is folly.

Happy reducing, reusing and recycling!

That sentence I can get behind! Indeed!

As I said earlier, everything I've written here is "to the best of my knowledge." If you have specific examples of where I'm wrong, please let me know and I will update the post.

I get frustrated by encountering scores of people who are so excited about this "new" biodegradable plastic they've found and paid extra money for (but then are going to throw in the landfill.) Or, people who get upset with our collection system because we don't use the resin code system. (Trust me, I'd love to, it would certainly be easier...) Plastics recycling is a complicated issue. Unless and until there is some standardization or clarification of the resin code system, many communities will continue to not use it because it simply doesn't work for the materials they need to collect and send to end markets. In my opinion, articles like this one that try to simplify a complex issue only continue to confuse the public. I hope I've provided some more insight into the complicated world of plastics recycling. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Laura from Vancouver Green Drinks talks worm composting

2011-08-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

My partner in green, Laura, was recently featured on KPTV, talking about vermicomposting. Check it out!

I'm not sure how well this is going to show up on my blog or for how long it will be available (KPTV said they'd only have it live for 3 weeks.) We're going to try to get the video, though, so you can watch in perpetuity. But, please watch now in case we don't get access to the video file.

PurJuly day 11 - basket

2011-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where this basket even came from. I think it might have been an auction item. I'm not a real big basket person, so I decided to go ahead and purge it.

The one thing I kept was the pair of ribbons. Ever find yourself with extra ribbons from random places? Reuse them on your luggage-it helps you to tell yours apart from all the others.

#PurJuly follow up to day 1

2011-07-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Remember the frame glass from Day 1? This post that shows them upcycled makes me even happier I purged them. They were just sitting around, taking up space in my house and now they're beautiful glass plates. Excellent!

PurJuly day 10 bonus- board shorts

2011-07-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

One of my colleagues, Gregg purged a pair of board shorts and gave them over to one of his friends that needed a pair. He sure looks happy! :D

#PurJuly day 10 -utensil drawer and cutting boards

2011-07-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the pic of all the items that were purged from the utensil drawer. Here's where you can see the 3 melon ballers. What's sad is that I'm pretty sure I have a 4th one that is with my food dehydrator that I lent to my cousin. But...the good news is that I haven't bought any utensils I haven't needed in years.

I included this pic because it shows the cutting board that I also purged. I pulled all the cutting boards out but this was the only one we don't use on a regular basis. Short post, but that's my purge for day 10!

#PurJuly day 9

2011-07-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

Utensil drawer

One of the things I've learned from this project is that in the past I definitely bought more stuff than I needed. (as evidenced by the 3 (yes, 3!) melon ballers) I also bought a lot of low quality items because "Hey, it's cheap!" so what was I really risking/losing by buying it? I lost space by buying cheap items, as evidenced by the photos. I also lost money, even if it was a small amount-and those small amounts add up quickly. When we buy things we don't really need, it's the same thing as throwing our money down the toilet. Especially if we buy things that have no resale value or quality.

Our utensil drawer "before"

And "after" This drawer sometimes would not
close properly because of too many
things jammed in it. Now? No problem!

Another side effect of this project is that I'm much more aware of the items I own that do have quality. I was doing my laundry the other day and realized I've had some of my clothes for years. I read an article once that said something like whenever the author looked at the lint in his dryer, he felt like he was seeing the life that had been beaten out of his clothes. Now, I try to hang my clothes as often as possible. I'd say, on average, my clothes go through a dryer maybe 1 out of every 4 times they're washed. The residual heat in our house has always been more than enough to dry my clothes on a collapsible clothes frame I bought from Ikea. Every time I spend that extra few minutes hanging my clothes instead of throwing them in the dryer, I'm saving the energy that the dryer would have used and the wear and tear on my clothes.

How about you-what do you own that has quality? Have you owned something for years and still love it? How about the other side-have you bought stuff in the past because it was "cheap" and then realized later that you didn't use it or it wore out quicker than it should have because of shoddy construction?

#PurJuly day 8 - catching up

2011-07-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

So, you might have noticed that I completely fell off the radar after day 7. This means I'm almost officially a week behind. I've still been purging, but not finding enough time to post. After stressing myself out over it, I realized that wasn't really the point and tried to just stop stressing.

One of the best things about this project is the pressure to just do the purging. How often do we have the urge to purge (forgive the rhyme) but we give ourselves excuses or decide to do something else with our time? I'm not saying that's inherently a bad thing (I doubt anyone thinks to themselves on their deathbed, "Gee, I wish I had been more organized.") However, a fair amount of satisfaction can be had from the process of purging as well.

These next two drawers fall into the satisfying category. I hadn't planned to purge these when I originally conceived the idea of PurJuly, but then I was standing in the kitchen and just started. Luckily, I had a camera nearby, so I was able to grab some pics.

The ones I decided we could do without

The final result:
I wish I had taken a "before" photo because
this is quite impressive.
Our pots and pans cupboard hasn't been
this clean and organized since we moved in.

#PurJuly day 7

2011-07-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm cheating. I actually purged this suitcase a few weeks ago, but I wanted to include it, because it never belonged to me. I borrowed it from a friend (Thanks, Josy!) for the two trips we took this year. I needed a carry-on sized suitcase but didn't want to buy one and then have to store it, etc. (Oh yeah, and I'm cheap!) I sent an email to a small group of friends to see if anyone had what I needed and of course, someone did-A good thing to remember when you need something just once or a few times. A smart (and easy) waste reduction tip is to borrow items from others. Finally, this belongs in the PurJuly category because I had it sitting around my house for about a month and a half after the last vacation and I still hadn't returned it. PurJuly sparked the return. Yay for borrowing and yay for purging!

#PurJuly day 6

2011-07-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have a very small purge today. I purged this hat. Dear BF gave me a set-it had a hat, scarf and gloves. I've since misplaced the gloves and scarf (I'm sure they're somewhere around here...) but I kept holding on to the hat, hoping I'd someday magically like it more than I do.

You see, it doesn't fit me correctly. I have this giant noggin that causes hats to slowly slip northward and look ridiculous. If the hat in question doesn't stretch enough, it never stays put. I've held onto this hat because it was a gift and because it was part of a set. I realized though that I don't wear it because it doesn't fit correctly and that even when/if I find the gloves and scarf, I still wouldn't really want to wear the hat because it does not fit.

I feel like this all sounds really silly, ("If the hat never fit, why did she hang on to it for so long? What is she, stupid?") but I'm hoping that there's some readers out there who can relate to my hat story and finally let go of their proverbial ill-fitting hats. If something doesn't fit properly, work properly or is for some other reason cluttering up your life/home, perhaps it's time to just let it go?

The hat will be at the clothing swap in August. If you love it and have a smaller noggin than me, you should come out to the swap and try to score it for yourself. Hell, if you really like the hat that much, let me know and I'll set it aside for you. Because I'm considerate like that. See?-purging has already made me a nicer person!

#PurJuly day 5

2011-07-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

I picked up sewing for a few reasons. It's a good skill to have in order to be able to repair your own clothing and other textile items. I'm able to make my own reuse projects, like a pillow for the dogs made from a ripped blanket or a drawstring bag from the leg of old boxer shorts. I'm also able to make reusable fabric gift bags (hat tip to my Green Drinks cohort, Laura for the idea.) which my family covets in a strange yet satisfying way. Special thanks to friends Amanda and Sister Diane for helping me get started with sewing.

Today, I purged half of this basket of sewing goodies that I bought at an estate sale. The whole basket cost me .75 (I know!) but I hadn't ever put the time forth to go through the basket and find out what I got for my large investment. I knew there were enough things in it to make it worth the purchase and I also knew there was some stuff I'll never use, so this was a nice excuse to go through it and separate everything.

When I'm faced with large amounts of items that I need to go through, I like to make 3 piles-keep, purge and maybe. Then, I count the maybes and split them down the middle. For me, it's an efficient set of rules that helps me make the decisions.

In this case, I only had 2 items that fell into the maybe pile and everything else was pretty straightforward. I have no idea what those little green things with animals woven into them are, though. Anyone recognize these? I thought they might be kinda nifty as a quilt addition (In the picture, they're folded into thirds, but they're all actually squares) but I'm not a quilter, so I ultimately had to just purge them. Hopefully they'll find love in someone else's hands.

The final purge:

#PurJuly day 4

2011-07-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, I forgot to post yesterday. We had a fun day, hanging out with friends and by the time I remembered I was supposed to post, it was almost midnight. I just couldn't do it.

I did purge, though. I'm getting rid of this watering can. I bought it at a thrift store and unfortunately, it doesn't work-the water literally doesn't come out of the spout. That explains why it was in the thrift store in the first place, I guess. Why I've kept an item for so long that doesn't work is a mystery. It's usually about not wanting to get rid of something either if I think I'll use it in the future or if someone else can get use out of it.

This item is a very rare example (for me) of something I bought at a thrift store that didn't work out. Usually, when I decide I need a new item (for example, a vacuum sealer) I look at thrift stores first. In this way, I find very little items that I have to buy new. This saves me money and lessens my footprint on the resources of our planet. It can also make me feel better about purchasing items that I don't necessarily "need" but do still "want" (For instance, a candle warmer.)

Here's some great reasons to thrift store shop. For the purposes of this blog, reuse is the best, of course, but I've learned to never question people's motives for making greener choices.

#PurJuly day 3

2011-07-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

I just got some totally awesome PurJuly stories from Josy (see below)

My item today is: A Stitch doll. I have just a few stuffed animals in my home. I kept my Grimm and Lorax* stuffed animals, but I decided I could probably give up Stitch. I honestly don't remember why I have a Stitch in the first place. The only thing I can come up with is that it might have been a gift from a family member who went to Disneyland. If that is the case, I hope they'll understand that I have way too many things. Plus, to me, a stuffed animal should be loved (ala Toy Story) Hopefully, now Stitch will find a new home and be loved.

*If you are an environmental educator and you haven't read The Lorax, I highly recommend it. I find the book a really easy way to talk about complex concepts like pollution, consumerism, activism, habitat, etc.

Here are the pics and stories behind Josy's purged items:

Item 1: I finally pulled the dryer out of my basement, previous owners left it. I put it by street for scrappers not sure if it worked. My neighbors across street saw it and asked if they could have it. Turns out they haven't had a working dryer in 2 years!!! I helped get it over there and it totally works and they were so happy which made me very happy.

Item 2: Treadmill went fast

I guess sometimes getting rid of unwanted items is as easy as purging them from your home and letting others know you've got some items to give away.

I'm not sure how Josy's going to get weights on those items for the tracking spreadsheet. Crazy! I'm feeling a little bit of that glow-after-purging vicariously. Way to go, Josy!

#PurJuly day 2

2011-07-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I purged a box of clothes. Most I had never worn or hadn't worn in a really long time. The box weighs a whopping 9 lbs.

One of the PurJuly participants, Laura, emailed me her items today. I like her "lessons learned"-don't you? I think they're both really great lessons to remember for de-cluttering (or, not having clutter in the first place...)

July 1

Purged-one grocery sized bag of misc household/clothes sheets & free hand out type stuff from yesteryear Lesson learned: (again) take only what you want/need. :-) 13 items

July 2

Purged-returned/exchanged misc baby gifts (duplicates or too small) to Target for other needed items. 5 items. Lesson learned: If someone loves us enough to give us a gift-they would want me to exchange it for something we can actually use/need as well.

My clothes (and I'm guessing Laura's as well) will be going to the clothing swap at the end of August. Hope to see you there!

#PurJuly day 1

2011-07-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Day 1:

And I'm already cheating. This item is something I purged last weekend, but it's because I *had* to purge it then, because the artist that I gave it to was in town. So, I think that's a valid excuse for cheating. Rules are meant to be broken, right?

These glass pieces were left over from my upcycling project last year. I made jewelry organizers from thrifted frames, corkboard and fabric, but had much* of the glass left over. When Recycled Arts Festival rolled around this year, the organizer asked me to facilitate an artist material exchange. We worked with 2Good2Toss to set up a special section of their website dedicated to materials artists could give away, sell or solicit for. I put my glass on there and was emailed by one of the artists. I luckily remembered to weigh my glass before I loaded it up and it weighed (a surprising to me) 11 lbs! I found Naomi in the park and then had to go back later to take a pic, because I forgot that part. :D Thanks Naomi! I hope the glass works well for your project.

1 down, 30 to go...

*A little story about the glass: We have a framed picture of our logo for Vancouver Green Drinks. At Check 'Em Off Green last year, some rambunctious kids were running around the easel holding the frame. They knocked it, it dropped and shattered. Besides it being a huge mess, I was upset that we would have to find a new frame or go without. Then, I remembered that I had all these pre-cut pieces of frame glass at home and sure enough, had the right size for a replacement.

PurJuly item tracking

2011-06-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

We now have 10 people participating in the #PurJuly challenge! So exciting! There's still time to sign on to the challenge.

An interesting side benefit is that I've learned that spreadsheets on google docs can be easily filled out by multiple people. Witness, this form. This is a simple way for anyone partaking in the challenge to log their daily purged items. Awesome. (Ok, yes, I'm a geek...)

If you don't see your name in the drop down menu, just let me know and I can add it. (Or, if you prefer, you can use the Anon sign-in.)

I will post a link to the spreadsheet of data, once it's filled out a bit. I'm getting excited (and a teeny bit nervous, too...)

Here's to de-cluttering in the month of July!

PurJuly

2011-06-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

Can you give up one item a day for a month? Let's find out! Let's make the month of July the month for purging. It's Purge-July (PurJuly)

Last week, I tweeted something about an exciting blog project. Today, I unveil to you what that was all about. I recently read something about a family purging one object from their lives every day for a year. Because I'm not really *that* dedicated, I decided to take on this challenge for a month. I want to invite you to partake in the challenge with me. Read on for more details.

About six months ago, a co-worker had the idea for us to save every item that we discarded for a month that was not recycled or composted. The experience was fun, interesting and surprising. It's strange to be able to look in a box and see the waste you made weeks ago. Normally, once we've thrown something "away" we never give it a second thought. It also had me thinking about ways to be even friendlier to humanity's chance on the planet. It has had some lasting effects on my behavior. I'm hoping the experience of purging one thing from my life, blogging the experience and hopefully having others join me in the experience will also have some lasting effects.

So, here are the rules (they're pretty simple.)

Purge at least one thing from your life every day for the month of July. The "thing" can be something tangible (items you're not using, like clothing, media, electronics, etc) or they can be something more creative than that. (Got files clogging up your computer system? Perhaps purging some of that old stuff will be a positive step towards helping those of us with a little touch of the hoarding.) If you miss a day, it's ok, I won't tell! The important thing is to give it a try.
If the item is tangible, send me a picture of the item (you don't have to do this every day, unless you want to) and I will try to blog everyone's items (If I get swamped, I might just pick a few each day.) I'd also like to keep a running list of the items with a brief description/weight, etc.
The Twitter hashtag for this project will be #Purjuly

See? Easy! Let's take on this challenge together and see what happens!

Remember, we have the clothing swap coming up in August, for those of you in the area. So, if you're cleaning your closets, you have a built in place to bring those items you're no longer using. I take no responsibility whatsoever for any setbacks you might experience by filling up the space you cleared with new treasures. ;)

Recycled Arts Festival Tossed and Found experience

2011-06-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

The last weekend in June is the award-winning Recycled Arts Festival in Vancouver, WA. This event is totally amazing-A wonderful way to see the creativity from artists all over the region. (This year the festival features 108 artists!!!) Get a jump on your holiday shopping!

One of the unique aspects of the festival is the Tossed and Found booth.

"I can't believe someone threw that away!"
Pictured are actual items from the 2011 collection.

The tossed and found experience offers a glimpse into what people are disposing of at the transfer station. Items are collected at the transfer station for about 2-3 months prior to this event and displayed for the public to view. Following the event, everything will be donated to The Paws and Claws thrift store (The St. John's one on 52nd Ave.) where it will be available for purchase. Be sure to visit this display for an awe-inspiring glimpse into the world of waste and to learn about alternative disposal ideas. Make sure to pick up a copy of the Clark County Thrift Store Map!

The Tossed and Found Experience is brought to the festival by Waste Connections, Inc. and Columbia Resource Center.

Recycling 101 Class in Vancouver, WA

2011-06-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Plastic Bags ~ Nursery Pots ~Aerosol Cans ~ Cardboard Boxes ~Motor Oil ~ Yard Debris ~ Antifreeze

empty aerosol cans such as this one are
acceptable in the curbside program
in Clark County, WA

Would you like to learn more about recycling – What goes in the cart, what doesn’t and other places where things can be recycled? Please join us for a free recycling class 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 22, in the Cascade Park Library Community Room. The library is at 600 NE 136th Ave., next to the Firstenburg Community Center.

City-recognized neighborhood associations who send a representative to this class and publish an approved recycling article in their neighborhood newsletter can earn money for their neighborhood association treasury.

For more information or to pre-register, please call 360-619-4122, and provide your name, neighborhood association* and phone number. Your pre-registration will help insure we have enough materials for everyone.

*If you would like to just attend the class (not representing a neighborhood) you're welcome to do that. The class is open to the public.

Why Recycle?

2011-04-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Curbside recycling is
simple and convenient

Recently, I presented at a series of recycling classes put on by the City and County. Part of the class requires the participants to include a recycling article in their neighborhood newsletter. I thought this one did a good job of capturing a lot of the reasons for recycling that we discussed at the beginning of the class. Enjoy!

So What’s the Big Deal About Recycling?

A lot of us in Hough {Neighborhood} are good and diligent recyclers, toting our big blue carts and glass bins to the curb every collection day. Most of the time we don’t think about doing it because we know it’s the right thing to do. During my recent attendance at the Recyclingest Neighborhood Workshop, I was asked the question, “Why do you recycle?” “For my child’s future,” I replied, but after I answered I was wondering where the concrete evidence was to prove I was doing the right thing. Luckily, our trainer for the day, Terra, had the answers and they were pretty impressive.

Many of the products found in
the landfill could have
been recycled, if
separated properly.

First, let’s talk conservation since that’s often the moral grounds for recycling. According to the British Metals Recycling Association, we save approx. 60% in energy costs when we recycle steel and a whopping 95% when recycling aluminum. When you think about the process it makes sense. Instead of mining iron or bauxite ore then refining it to get the virgin base metal, we’re simply melting down material that’s already been processed and reforming it. Recycling most paper products saves approximately 40% and glass 30% in energy costs. For those a generation older than myself or those from other countries, you may recall sending bottles back to the bottling company to sanitize and reuse. Guess how much that saved in energy costs compared to making new glass bottles: Over 300%! Glass bottles can be reused an industry average of 12 times before they are recycled.

Glass is accepted in
most recycling programs.

So there’s a lot of energy to be conserved by recycling, what about the other major pitfall for our future generations, the environment? How much does recycling really help us here? When we can’t eliminate the need for paper completely, recycling it will reduce air pollution by 74% and water pollution by 50% compared to making it from virgin material. Steel mills using recycled scrap instead of new iron reduce air pollution, water, pollution, and mining wastes by 70%. Recycling glass and other metals also has substantial environmental benefits in the reductions of pollutants.

Not enough of a reason you say? You wanna get down to recyclable brass tacks? Well here’s where you can put your money where your mouth is. In Clark County, residents who’ve reduced the size of trash containers from 96 gallons to 64 gallons (because they are recycling so much more in the big blue carts) save an average of nearly $200 per year. (Figure calculated by Waste Connections Waste Reduction Specialist.) Businesses with robust recycling programs are saving money as well by reducing their trash container sizes and, in some cases, are even creating revenue from their recyclable material. And the recycling and reuse industry is big. How big? Roughly the same size as the US auto manufacturing industry! And talk about job creation, for each 10,000 tons per year of trash, 1 job is created in the waste industry. However for each 10,000 tons per year recycled material produced these many jobs are created: Composting – 4, materials recovery – 10, recycling-based manufacturing – 25, plastics – 93, and computer reuse – 296!

All of these reasons are substantial in their own to start recycling today and I encourage folks to take it a step further. Organize with your neighbors to combine trips to the West Van Materials Recovery Center when you need to get rid of Household Hazardous Wastes or other recyclables that they don’t collect curbside. Offer to take your neighbor’s collection of plastic bags to the store next time you’re planning a trip. There are so many ways we can create a more sustainable community and recycling is a key element. I’m doing it for my child’s future, why are you?

Article reprinted with permission from Brian Boothe

Do you create recycled art or fashion?

2011-04-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Vancouver/Portland metro area and create recycled or reused fashions, accessories or other goods, here are some opportunities you should know about:

Do you create fun recycled goods,

like this lightbulb bud vase?

-- The Earth Day celebration at the Marshall Center is getting bigger and better with each passing year. There are still a few vendor spots left this year. Email

-- For Earth Day, The Stream Team of Clark Public Utilities will be holding a fashion show and are looking for fun fashion and accessory items to show off. Email

-- In June, the theme for First Friday in Camas is Recycled Arts/Go Green. They are looking for vendors. Email

--Perhaps one of the most well-known (and certainly one of the biggest!) events to show and sell your wares is the annual Recycled Arts Festival put on by Clark County Department of Environmental Services. This event is all full for 2011, but there is a waiting list.

--In November, Vancouver Green Drinks is going to repeat their wildly successful Check 'Em Off, Green event. We are looking for creators of recycled/reused goods and also for local businesses to be part of our "local experiences" booth Email

Free Recycling Informational Class

2011-03-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered why only certain items are collected for recycling or whether you really need to take the label off that can before recycling it? Well, the good news is, there will be 4 informational classes to answer all your burning questions about recycling.

Glass recycling is one of the many things you'll see
while on a tour of West Van Materials Recovery Facility

This is a free 2 hour training session, offered four times this year. Three morning sessions that include a tour of the newly updated processing facility will be offered Wednesday, March 23, Thursday, March 24, and Saturday, March 26, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at West Van Materials Recovery Center. An evening session will be offered Thursday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the PUD Electric Center, 1200 Ft. Vancouver Way.

Space is limited for the daytime tours, so it is important to pre-register. Please call 619-4122 by March 21, and leave your name, address, phone number and the Neighborhood Association you are representing.

Poster Save = Epic WIN!

2011-02-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

One of the really great things about the people I work with is their willingness to go the extra mile to make sure usable items stay out of the landfill, it at all possible.

Recently, my "partner in crime" for Green Drinks, Laura, approached me to tell me that she knew of a large stack of science posters that needed saving. Sure, she could have just thrown them in the recycling container and yes, they would have been recycled.... But, of course she wasn't happy with that outcome for such a resource and neither was I.

I talked to my colleague who works with local schools and he quickly found some interest in the posters. Local Science teachers would love to have these posters in their classrooms, we figured.

Round about this same time, sweet serendipity sent Mark to our January meeting of Vancouver Green Drinks. Mark works with science teachers in our region (Like, all of them!) and was so excited to hear about this "waste" item that we were trying to re-home.

Mark and two of his colleagues show off some of the 3,000 science posters
that are destined for science classrooms instead of a landfill

I'm happy to say that through the efforts of The Reuser, Laura, Gregg and Mark, the posters will serve their highest purpose, educating local children in science classrooms around our region, rather than be relegated to the recycling bin. Epic poster save WIN!

Here's what Gregg had to say about this project: "Setting up this Poster Save was a great idea. Thanks for helping make this happen Terra and Laura, and for connecting us with Mark! Through his work as Science Coordinator for ESD 112 Mark is going to distribute these 3,000 science posters to teachers all over Washington and Oregon."

Empower Up

2011-02-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hopefully by now you've had a chance to visit Empower Up and meet some of the dedicated staff and volunteers that make this amazing program possible. If you haven't, try to make time soon. This program has so many facets, it's hard to explain them all. Some of the many wonderful things they've done with unwanted technology (computers, printers, etc.) include: donating video game systems and games to Marshall Center, after the center was burglarized, Donating 13 computers to local non-profits in the month of January alone, countless classes and internet cafe hours... trust me, the list goes on and on.

I also happen to know that Yours Truly sent on the wish list for the Southwest Washington Humane Society to Empower Up and they were able to help with some of their technology needs as well. What a wonderful example of great programs helping each other out, right here in Clark County.

Empower Up can always use donations-your supplies and dollars go a long way toward ensuring that EU will be around for many moons to come and will continue to support our community in the amazing ways that they do.

Calling parents and teachers: Free Recycling/Compost Assembly for Clark County K-8 Public Schools!

2011-02-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

Will, in "Action"!

Clark County Environmental Services is happy to present a free recycling/composting presentation to any Clark County Public School, grades K-8 participating in the Save Organic Scraps school recycling/compost program.

Will Hornyak, a professional, national award-winning storyteller leads students on an exciting, interactive storytelling adventure as they learn about how to properly recycle and compost at school.

Will’s storytelling will help students better understand how their simple choices of how they throw away their waste can have a big impact on our world.

Will Hornyak

“Will Hornyak is a world class storyteller I can’t recommend him enough”

- Joe Lapideus, Principal Chinook Elementary Vancouver

“Will Hornyak is a storyteller par excellence!”

- The Oregonian Newspaper

Shows are around 30 minutes, and are usually held in the cafeteria, and presented to all grade levels. Talk with your school’s principal, and ecourage them to book a show.

Two great events and close enough you can attend both!

2011-02-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I saw a flyer for the Shop Local Business Showcase being put on by our local Chambers of Commerce. Woo hoo! (Those of you that know me know this is RIGHT up my alley!) Unfortunately, I then realized it's the same night and overlapping time frame as Vancouver Green Drinks 3 year anniversary! (I'll be busy getting ready for that!)

Come see Laura and I at Green Drinks,
after checking out the local businesses

But...the good news is, the events are close enough to each other in location and focus, that YOU can attend BOTH! (They're within walking distance of each other, really...)

So, I hope to see you at Green Drinks. Come tell me what I missed, will ya?

Household Hazardous Waste satellite collections

2011-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you live in Clark County, there are many opportunities to properly dispose of any hazardous waste from your household. (herbicides, pesticides, toxic cleaning products, paint, etc.) You can take it to any one of the three transfer stations (West Van, CTR or Washougal.) Or, if none of those are convenient, you can view the list of 2011 HHW satellite collections and find the one that is closest to you.

I hope this helps you properly dispose of your HHW. If you live outside of Clark County, I recommend doing a search for your area and HHW disposal. Most areas have at least one option for proper disposal.

Email me if you have any questions!

-The Reuser

Update: Sorry, I forgot to mention...the most important bit of all: If you'd like to start to eliminating the use of toxic materials in your home, there are tons of resources available for doing this. If you are using a cleaner, polish, etc and wonder whether there is a "greener" version of it, simply do an internet search. You might just be surprised what you learn.

Reuse in Action

2010-12-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

Can you spot the wonderful reuse in this picture? Don't feel bad if you can't-it's such a seamless reuse, it looks like it was made that way.

I was just in the kitchen at our new office and one of the green team members pointed it out to me. It was her idea to reuse in this way and I'm glad she pointed it out, because I don't think I would have noticed otherwise. It's just that good!

Have a happy and safe holiday season everyone!

Waste Reduction Tips for the holidays

2010-12-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

I get a weekly "tip" email from Clean Scapes and I particularly liked this one. I couldn't find it online* so I reposted it here. Happy Waste Reduction to you this holiday season!

During the holiday season there are many opportunities to go green. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans throw away 25% more thrash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than any other time of year, which translates into an extra one million tons of waste generated nationwide each week!

What can you do to reduce waste during the holidays?

Give Experiences. Support the local economy by purchasing gift certificates for experiences. Look no further than local restaurants, museums, sporting events, concert halls, theater shows, and classes for everything from yoga to guitar lessons for a unique and special gift for every interest and age group. Or, give the gift of a shared experience and make a date to do something special together.

Shop Sustainably. With local and regional holiday craft fairs, it’s easy to support local artists, farmers and merchants. Other ways to shop green include purchasing items made from recycled content or items made from renewable resources, such as bamboo. And when you shop, don’t forget your reusable shopping bags!

Re-Gift! Make it a white (elephant) holiday! The easiest 'shopping' can be done at home. “Re-gift” things that have gone unused or unopened and find these items a new home.

Re-Charge. When you purchase gifts that require batteries, consider purchasing rechargeable batteries and a charger. Each rechargeable battery replaces up to 1,500 single-use batteries.

Give Homemade. Get crafty! Save money this holiday season by making your own gifts and cards. No matter your skill level, the sky is the limit for do-it-yourself projects.

Donate. Instead of a gift, donate to a charity in a frien! d or family member’s name. Holiday donations are a great way to support local non-profits and help the community.

Reduce Packaging. While shopping for holiday meals, consider buying in bulk, or purchase items with the least amount of packaging.

Bring Your Own. It's easy to reduce waste when you bring your own travel mug to the coffee shop, take your refillable water bottle with you for on-the-go hydration, and stash your reusable shopping and grocery bags in the car to carry your holiday purchases. Reusable bags also make wonderful gift bags, and provide an eco-extra for your special someone.

Around the Table. Before stocking up on single-use plates and cups, save money by using reusable and washable plates, cups, silverware, napkins, table clothes and serving dishes. For larger parties and a festive table, combine resources by borrowing tableware from friends. If you are looking to save money, purchase gently-used durable serviceware at local second-hand retailers.

Holiday Recycling! Encourage your guests to pitch in. Set out and clearly mark your recycling bins, and if you have food scraps collection service, help guests keep food waste out of the garbage by using a collection container for food scraps

*Clean Scapes-if there's a way to view your weekly emails online, please let me know!

Artist Profile #5:

2010-11-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

Business name: Zoe's Gifts from the Heart

I live on the Washougal River where I have a studio open by appointment and offer day retreats from Memorial Day through mid-October. I renewed my interest in knitting when we moved here 10 years ago due to the long winter days.

At first all my fiber was from local yarn stores. Most of my embellishments were recycled jewelry or buttons. Now, I tend towards hand spun and hand dyed wools from local fiber growers and look for even more vintage or hand-made items that can be used to make my work truly one-of-a-kind.

Much of my manufactured wool now comes from garage and estate sales and left-over wool becomes pins for hats and scarves. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I am supporting other local artists and passing on old items that other people have enjoyed.

My winter goal is to master the spinning wheel and begin to use the 25 tubs of angora rabbit wool we have harvested from our bunnies. I am also beginning to create fiber jewelry - lots of fun.

What am I going to give this holiday season?

2010-11-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

Here's some ideas for the special people on your list:

You still have time to gather up some friends and your holiday lists for this Saturday! Come on out to the Check 'Em Off, Green holiday gift event. All the vendors are locals (the farthest anyone is traveling to be here is Goldendale-everyone else is from Clark County or Portland.) There will be jewelry, hats, clothing, food, toys, experiences etc. Most of the items are hand-made from recycled and reused materials. If you've ever shopped at the Recycled Arts Festival* and would like to buy in a similar way for your holiday gift needs, come see us this Saturday from 12-5 at the Marshall Center. With 47 vendors, there's sure to be something for everyone! Here's some ideas:

Enjoy a chair massage and buy massage gift certificates for that stressed person on your list
Got kids? You might like to get them some recycled crayons or a capri-sun notepad, a new hat or a book about a local dog named Metro
Know someone who likes bling-Get them some hand-made jewelry. We have lots of vendors who make jewelry from fun items, like beverage bottles, skateboards, fused plastic and many others. Or, if they're like me and already have too much jewelry, buy them an upcycled organizer.
For the DIYer in your family, you can purchase a gift certificate to the Habitat For Humanity store
Got a loved one that loves their garden? Purchase some yard art or seeds
Can't find anything for that person-who-has-everything? Purchase a brick or a calendar from the SW Washington Humane Society and your purchase will help pets find forever homes.
After you've exhausted yourself, enjoy a warm drink and some lunch on-site from Reo's

Also, if you've recently realized you’re drowning in holiday decorations you never use, bring them to this event and swap them out with others, all for free!

We hope to see you there! This event is open to the public.

*Recycled Arts Festival is a super fun annual event put on by Clark County, the last weekend in June

Artist Profile #4: The Reuser (yours truly)

2010-11-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

Name: Terra Heilman

Website: Well, that's kind of obvious, isn't it? (You're here!)

Inspiration: I've made upcycled jewelry organizers. They're made of almost exclusively all thrifted materials. My inspiration was that I had a giant jumble of jewelry and I was looking for a good way to easily organize it. I've also made some reusable produce bags-the inspiration for them is trying to eliminate plastic waste in my grocery purchasing.

Why green gifts? I absolutely love the holiday season, but I don't want to be contributing to the problems this planet is dealing with, when giving gifts. I also love the stories behind green gifts. When you purchase a green gift, you're connecting with your community and often, the artist who made the gift. That's pretty special.

Artist Profile #3: Tara Stansberry

2010-11-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

My name is Tara Stansberry, I am a 33 year-old self-taught artist living in Portland, Oregon.

Website: Theshadowgirl.com

I specialize in using recycled materials such as vinyl records, cigar boxes, and canvas.

Giving green is important to me because it's so much more personal. Every piece you buy from an artist has been crafted by their hands and heart. Growing up, we made gifts because we couldn't afford to buy them from a mall. Each green gift you buy supports an artist, and saves our landfills from being filled with more trash.

Artist Profile #2: Half Moon Farms

2010-11-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

Artist: Brenda Lee Calvert
HalfMoon Farm
Brush Prairie, WA

Beekeeper & Artist:
I am a self-taught artist working out of my studio at my flower and produce farm (HalfMoon Farm) in Brush Prairie.

My work encompasses many recycled materials; glass, metal, clay, wood, and plastics. Working with such diverse materials lets my creativity and imagination soar. Several different lines of artwork have come from this mixed media including functional, garden and decor. My use of texture along with great attention to color and basic shapes add to the design element of my art.

Beekeeping: I and my husband Bob took up beekeeping around 7 years ago and just love it because it fits into our misson for our farm. We grow a lot of heirloom vegetables, herbs and fresh cut flowers. We also run pasture chickens for fresh eggs. We have 15 Bee hives this year and hope to eventually keep 25-30. All of our honey is sold in glass containers for better recycling and our honey is Raw. (not pasteurized) Our goal is to be good stewards of our farm and respect it by using organic practices.

Artist Profile #1 DukeArt and family

2010-11-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

This week, I'll be doing a series of artist profiles. These lovely people are some of the many you will meet this weekend at the Check 'Em Off Green event at the Marshall Center.

Name: Matt, Steph, Kat and Briayne Dukart

Business Name: DukeArt, Juicy Jewelry, Pikt - DBA Rock Candy Art

Website: www.rockcandyart.com

Inspiration: Finding ways to make fun new things out of materials that some others would have discarded. Starting this hobby/business has shifted my outlook of things--I now look past the current state of the material and try to see its potential.

Giving green gifts: 'Tis the season of joy and waste. If we can't reduce the waste, perhaps we can turn that waste into something beautiful.

The Reuser says: I met Matt about 2 years ago and have since met his beautiful family, as well. They sure are a creative bunch! Above, you saw one of the purses Matt creates out of materials that normally would be thrown away (chip bags and frozen food bags.)

Here, we see some cute little hamburgers hand-crafted by Stephanie. She makes all kinds of neat jewelry, much of it along the lines of food (a girl after my own heart!) Earlier, when I was perusing their site, I noticed that she made Kat (one of their lovely daughters) a hair clip shaped like bacon. Awesome!

Their two daughters are also very crafty. Kat makes guitar picks from used gift cards and Briayne makes cute hair accesories, like the one pictured here.

Empower Up Wish list (local non-profit)

2010-10-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Empower Up has just put out their most recent wish list. If you can help out by donating any of the following items, contact them!

Good Afternoon!

Shown below is an updated wish list for Empower Up. Donations are tax-deductible as in-kind donations. Please take a minute to review and see if you have any extra items laying about or if you could donate any of the following (we can always use gift cards!):

Wish List

Office Supplies:

Receipt Tape for Cash Register
Thermal Tape for Credit Card Machine

Hanging File Folders
Three-ring Binders (w/ Dividers, Clear Inserts, etc.)
Letter-size Notepads / Spiral Bound Notebooks
Colored Card Stock
Printer Ink
Printable Labels
Florescent Light Bulbs
Fine Tipped Dry Erase Markers
Pens, Sharpies, Highlighters, Rubber Bands, Paper Clips, etc.
Packing Tape, Masking Tape, Scotch Tape
USB Flash Drives
Wire-marking Labels

Kitchen Supplies

Cups/Plates, Dishware, Sponges, Scrubbers, Towels, Trash Bags, etc.

Restroom Supplies

Soap, Paper Towels, Hand Sanitizer, Kleenex, Toilette Paper, Air Freshener, etc.

Earth Friendly Cleaning Supplies

Wipes, Sprays, Dish/Hand Soaps, etc.

First Aid Supplies

Hypoallergenic Latex Free Band-Aids, Packets of Neosporin, etc.

Volunteer Appreciation Items:

Gift Certificates / Vouchers (Coffee, Dining, Grocery, Fuel, Movies, Bus Passes, etc.)
Food Items (Snacks, Treats, Hot Drinks, Pizzas, etc.)
T-Shirts for volunteers and staff (approx $600)

Gift Certificates for Miscellaneous Purchases

Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples
Home Depot, Lowes
Cash and Carry, Fred Meyer, Walmart, Costco, etc.

One Time Items

Locking Cabinets
Office Chairs
Name Tags
Deco. / Small Art Pieces/Plants
Clocks
Multi-pot Coffee Maker
Rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D Batteries (w/ Charger)
Electronics Vacuum Cleaner(s)
Label Maker
Cork Bulletin Board
Small Step Ladder
Storage Totes
Components to Repair Computers
Network Tester
Stripper/Crimper/Tool Set for Networking
Power Supply Tester
Shelves

Thank you!!

Let someone else #reuse your holiday decorations

2010-10-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

As if you didn't already have enough reasons to come to the Check Em Off, Green event, here's one more. If you're sick of your holiday decorations and want a change, but can't bring yourself to go buy brand new stuff, you can swap out your old stuff with others!

There will be a special section at Check 'Em Off, Green for a decoration swap. Bring in your unwanted decorations from Halloween, Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's and any other fall/winter holidays. Leave them for others to reuse. If something catches your eye, take it home with you! No money is exchanged, just a straight-up sharing of community resources.

A study in reuse

2010-09-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

My coworker found this photo and sent it on to us, figuring I would appreciate the many reuses shown. And, I do! Don't you? You don't often see this many reuses in one picture; "topsy turvy" planters made from all different sorts of plastic containers, compost pile made from old pallets. So creative!

original photo

Starbucks coffee cups recycling information

2010-09-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article I found on the challenges of and state of current technology for recycling those ubiquitous single-use coffee cups. This article also has a mini-slideshow of the recycling process, which is pretty interesting, especially if you've never seen any of it.

And now, for some good news

2010-08-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was on my soapbox about waste and the damage we're all doing to our beloved planet and I felt kinda bad for regaling my audience of one with all the doom and gloom. So, I later sent her a couple pieces of good news to try to make up for it. This was one of them.

What a cool program!

Pool toys and pantyhose as props

2010-08-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this fun use of pantyhose, pool noodles, twine, etc as props for the show The Producers.

One of my favorite sentences from the post: "The pantyhose technique is actually really great for props and especially masks because it is cheap, pliable and lightweight...a must if you're going to be balancing a four foot sausage on your head"

Indeed!

I welcome our Google overlords

2010-07-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

This Grist article makes me love Google even more than I did before, if that was possible. I love that they seem to "get" it and I love at the end of the article how they mention that it also makes good business sense to invest in clean energy

Free clothing swap presented by Vancouver Green Drinks

2010-07-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've added another page to my site-for an event that Laura and I (Vancouver Green Drinks) are quite excited to be bringing you. Click on "Community Clothing Swap" to the right for all the details.

Plastic bags clog recycling machinery

2010-07-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

You're all probably sick of me harping on this, but plastic bags are a HUGE problem for the facilities that sort your recycling. I've heard myself say this so many times, I finally had the brilliant idea to create this poster explaining why you should NOT be "recycling" your plastic bags in your curbside carts.

door knob reused as coat rack

2010-07-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to one of my new favorite restaurants for lunch, the Rosemary Cafe and I found this awesome coat rack in the bathroom. You can see my purse hanging on it. I love it!

ocean plastic to be used to make vacuums

2010-06-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Waste & Recycling News has an interesting story about Electrolux making a limited number of vacuums out of plastic recovered from the ocean. I love this quote: "Plastic is a material with many advantages. But when plastic ends up in the wrong place it becomes a problem. To raise public awareness about this issue, Electrolux aims to gather plastic debris from vulnerable marine habitats -- and produce a limited number of vacs out of it." Very cool!

Pictured is our "bag display" The text reads, "These 400 plastic bags represent the average amount used by every man, woman and child in America, each year."

Reused tote bags as aprons

2010-06-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Betz White recently posted three fantastic ideas for reusing canvas tote bags as aprons. I'm crazy about totes and aprons, too, so once my current schedule slows down a bit, I plan to try a few of these. Check them out, they're adorable! (and useful, to boot!)

Gardening Apron (pictured) This one is super cute with canvas embellishments. (extra tutorial on that included)

Little Artist Apron I love that she added velcro for adjustment on this one.

BBQ Apron I love that her husband has a beer in one hand and the BBQ tongs in the other in the picture for this one. It reminds me of my brother grilling.

Fill Minds, Not Landfills

2010-06-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

S.C.R.A.P. has launched a new program that I love, called Fill Minds, Not Landfills. This program encourages reuse by diverting even more materials from landfills through direct capture at the business. Check it out!

Recycled Arts Festival Next weekend!

2010-06-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

This year is the fifth anniversary of the Recycled Arts Festival. Since I happen to have a teeny bit of inside knowledge (I'll be working the event all weekend) I believe this year's festival will top all others. It's going to be nothing short of amazing.

At least two of my friends/colleagues will be selling their handmade wares there, as will I. (One of my friends will be featuring my upcycled jewelry organizers in her booth for me, since I'll be working in the Tossed and Found booth all weekend.)

I sincerely hope to see you there!

Reused doors as art, fundraiser

2010-06-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight The Rebuilding Center is holding a fundraiser where discarded doors have been upcycled into furniture, art and other lovely things and will be auctioned off. Check it out!

Reused fabric scraps as tablecloth

2010-06-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, a colleague and I took a trip to SCRAP. She found a very large bin of upholstery samples and decided to make a tablecloth out of them. Check out the finished product:

Added Resources page

2010-06-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

If you look to the right under Pages, you'll see I've added a page for resources. You might find some interesting stuff in there! If there's anything you'd like to see me add, let me know!

The title slide of my presentation.

This presentation can be found on the Resources page.

No Impact Man Screening-tonight! FREE!!!

2010-04-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

I hope to see you all out at the screening tonight!

-The Reuser

Granola Bars: Product Review #6

2010-04-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

This review is part of a series.

Product Name/Company/Price: Nature's Path Organic granola bars, Hemp Plus Raisins $1.99

The Good: Wheat free, low sodium, no trans fat, organic (every ingredient that can be is), 400 mg Omega-3 per serving, whole grain, company is in same state as me. These are pretty tasty. I can definitely see taking one of these puppies along on a hike or as a mid afternoon snack to ward off hunger.

The Bad: They're almost *too* sweet, with the raisins and they're a bit sticky.

Would I buy again? Probably

Green Drinks 2 Year Anniversary Party NEXT WEEK!

2010-04-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

I sure hope I'm going to see you all out at our wonderful 2 year anniversary party next Tuesday night! More details

Crackers: Product Review #5

2010-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

This review is part of a series.

Product Name / Company / Price: R. W. Garcia 5 Seed Onion & Chive Crackers $1.99

The Good: Made with organic corn, wheat and gluten free, non-GMO, no trans fats. These little guys are pretty tasty. They sorta taste like the cracker equivalent of a tortilla chip. Or, if tortilla chips and crackers had a little tryst, this is what would come of it.

The Bad: They're a little bland (I expected the chive/onion taste to be bolder) and only the corn is organic-the other ingredients don't seem to be.

Would I buy again? Probably

Vote for a micro-grant

2010-04-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

Check out this micro-grant "competition" and vote for Anna Grunwald. She wants to take her students on a tour of their local recycling facility. Having given countless tours of our transfer station, I can honestly say that it's an experience that you will probably never forget. I wish everyone could tour their local transfer station!

No Impact Man screening

2010-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Reuse Alliance is sponsoring some free screenings of the documentary No Impact Man. We happen to be lucky enough to be one of the locations.

The Reuse Alliance is partnering with Vancouver Green Drinks and The Quarry at Columbia Tech Center to bring you this wonderful opportunity.

Screening Details

I'll be there-will you?

Wafers: Product Review # 4

2010-04-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

This review is part of a series.

Product Name/Company/Price: Helwa Organic Lemon and Vanilla Wafers, $.99/each

The Good: These are pretty tasty

The Bad: They're flaky-you end up getting crumbs all over you. That's not really a deal breaker, but seriously...crumbs everywhere!

Would I buy again? Probably.

Chocolate!: Product Review # 3

2010-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

This review is part of a series.

Product Name/Company/Price: Dagoba organic Chai chocolate, $1.49

The Good: The chai is an interesting addition. It's mild enough that the whole thing still tastes like chocolate, but a little spicy.

The Bad: It's not really "bad" it's just not necessarily my cup of tea-pun intended.

Would I buy again? Probably not, especially since Dear BF didn't like it at all. He made a face and said "Why would you mess with chocolate?"

We tried a second type, as well:

Product Name/Company/Price: Alter Eco Fair Trade Milk Chocolate Cajou, $1.49
The Good: The chocolate is very smooth.
The Bad: I prefer chocolate straight up-completely unadulterated. I think I would prefer this chocolate that way.
Would I buy again? Maybe. If the chocolate didn't have any additives (cashews and raisins), I definitely would. All Dear BF said was, "Yeah, it was good."

Chocolate Chunk Cookies Product Review # 2

2010-04-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

This review is part of a series.

Product Name/Company/Price: The first product I tried was Chocolate Chunk Gluten free cookies from Arico Natural Foods Company, $1.49 at Grocery Outlet

The Good: No trans fats, no preservatives, no artificial flavor or color, certified organic, Arico is local; the address is Beaverton, OR (about 20 miles away from where I bought the cookies.) Every ingredient that can be certified organic is.

The Bad: pretty much everything else. These cookies are not to my liking. They're pretty bland-for being supposedly chocolate "chunk" the chunks are more like small skimpy "chips." The texture is all wrong for me. I like cookies to be ideally chewy or barring that, crunchy. These have a somewhat dense cake-like texture. I've never had any other gluten free cookies to compare them to, so maybe they're good as far as gluten free goes?

Would I buy again? Absolutely not

One last caveat: I noticed just now while I was writing the post that the package I bought has a small slit in it (looks as though someone was using a box cutter to get into the package of these cookies and accidentally sliced it.) This may have changed the texture/moisture level of the cookies.

Earth Day event at the Marshall Center THIS weekend!

2010-04-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you're in this area, you should definitely come out to the Earth Day event this weekend. I'll be there as well as 2 of my colleagues, my CSA and a bunch of other great folks. There will be four main tents with themes-Planting, Tending, Harvesting and Preserving. This is a great family event. Bring the kids, bring the pups! (it's an outdoor event.) Complete an Earth Day passport (visit all the tents and get a stamp from each.) to be eligible for free lunch, (first 400 people) a free bag of compost and entry into a drawing for fantastic prizes! We hope to see you there!

Organic plant starts: Product Review # 1

2010-04-13T15:30:00.001-07:00

The very first items in my cart were actually outside the store. There was an impressive display of herb and veggie starts and I bought five in all; strawberry, yellow brandywine tomato, tomatillo, lemon balm and chives.

This review is part of a series.

Product Name/Company/Price: organic strawberry, yellow brandywine tomato, tomatillo, lemon balm and chives from Brentwood Park Organic farm in Estacada, OR. $1.29 for everything except the chives-they were $1.59

The Good: the chives are tasty and the lemon balm reminds me of my childhood home. All the other plant starts I'll have to mention later in the season, once they've been planted and hopefully are producing. The whole display looked pretty healthy. Also, Estacada is pretty local. It's about 30 miles away from the store.

The Bad: My strawberry plant already looks pretty dismal. It might be just fine, but it's touch and go for now. Otherwise, everything looks great.

Would I buy again? Definitely. I'm always on the lookout for good plant starts.

I'm still trying to decide whether a plant start being organic is important to me. What seems more important would be what you put on the plant once you get it home. On the other hand, it was nice to know the chives didn't have anything on them when I tried a little bit of them. Also, simple science seems to suggest that if they're organic starts, they'll be a bit more suited to life with me. (I'm mostly an organic gardener, so if the plants "needed" something to be healthy, they'd be out of luck.)

Shopping for eco-friendly products at Grocery Outlet

2010-04-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting a series of product reviews. I was approached by Grocery Outlet and given a gift card to buy products and review them. While Grocery Outlet did indeed send me the gift card, all the reviews are solely my work. I was not given any parameters beyond "shop at our store with the gift card and review whatever you buy" I was not told to give favorable reviews of any of the products (and indeed I won't be for all)

So what did I buy? First of all, lots! I shop at Grocery Outlet probably on average 2-4 times a month. The selection is always very...varied. There are certain staples that you can find there pretty much any time, (for example, meat, cheese, milk, butter and produce.) but everything else is a complete mixed bag. The one consistent thing is low prices. Because they seem to often have close out items from other stores, (they call themselves a "remarketer of excess inventories") their prices are usually very reasonable.

In the past, I have noticed a fair amount of organic products (or products with some other environmental claim) at Grocery Outlet. For this project, I did my shopping at the Hollywood district store in Portland, OR.

They have the largest selection of organic products of all the Grocery Outlet stores. In fact, when I first started shopping, I thought I was going to have to carefully search every aisle for products, but as I neared the end of the first aisle, the PA system informed me that this particular store had an entire aisle (pictured below) dedicated to organic/eco-friendly products. My shopping then got a lot easier!

Reuse binder clips to organize your cables

2010-04-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

While reading this article on ways to de-clutter your digital life, I was struck by the alternative use of simple binder clips. (See #1)

blog size issues

2010-04-08T18:59:00.001-07:00

I'm aware I'm having size issues with my blog. I will rectify the situation asap. Sorry for the inconvenience.

-The Reuser

PVC in food packaging

2010-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

I recently found out that the packaging for one of my favorite treats is PVC or polyvinyl chloride. I found this disturbing not only from a standpoint of potential health risks, but also because PVC is hard to recycle (only one recycler I know of touches the stuff) and with the packaging very closely resembling other tubs that are accepted in our program, people would be tempted to include this material in their curbside recycling carts thus ending up as a contaminant in our system.

I decided to write to the company. Here is the email string in its entirety:

From The Reuser to American Licorice Company:

Hello! I wanted to write to tell you I love Red Vines! They're a "dangerous" food for me, because I can never stop eating them, if they're around. However, I was noticing today that the 4 lb. tubs of Red Vines are made out of vinyl plastic. I would like to ask you to reconsider using vinyl to package your product. Please see: http://www.watoxics.org/healthy-families/safe-start-for-kids-1/plastics-101 Have you had any other requests of this nature? I think I will probably not eat Red Vines again until they're packaged in something a bit safer. I've also brought this to the attention of my workmates, as we are all waste reduction educators and vinyl cannot easily be recycled. Thank you for your time and consideration.

From The American Licorice Company to The Reuser:

Thank you for taking the time today to contact the American Licorice Co. and for your concern with our products. For strength in shipping we use plastic vinyl containers. Our consumers find ways to re-use the containers for other purposes. Perhaps, you would feel more comfortable buying our 1 lb bag of Red Vines.

Red Vines 1 lb bags are carried at several national and regional chain stores. Please try Albertsons, Save Mart, Sack’ N Save, CVS, Flash Foods, Costco, Osco/Savon, Krogers, Food Lions, Rite Aid, Longs, Smart & Finals, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreen’s. Please visit our website at www.redvines.com to find a store in your area that carries Red Vines brand candy.

If you have difficulty locating your favorite American Licorice products in retail, you can also visit our online candy store, Candy Cabinet (https://www.candycabinet.com) where American Licorice products are sold. You can also call Diversified Distributers at 1-877-453-1638 and tell them which of the American Licorice products you’re interested in. As a token of your love for our products, we will be sending Red Vines to enjoy. Please provide mailing address for delivery.

Cordially,

American Licorice Company

From The Reuser to The American Licorice Company:

Unfortunately, your answer is not very satisfactory. Have you tried other packaging types? If so, what have been the results? Is your company concerned at all with the potential negative effects of vinyl? Do you have a sustainability specialist? If so, can you please forward my email on to him or her? I understand that some of the tubs could be reused, but hopefully not for food items. This also dismisses the potential effects of your vinyl tubs being included in most recycling systems (such as ours) that can't handle them. I've been paying extra attention to the plastic packaging in the stores lately and it seems most of it is PETE. Is there some reason red vines couldn't be packaged in PETE or PP (polypropylene) plastic? I know you mentioned strength in shipping, but if every other plastic type I've seen is PETE, that becomes hard to believe.

From The American Licorice Company to The Reuser:

We do use polypropylene in our packaging. Our Original Red Vines 1lb bags and our 32oz Family Mix bags are packaged in PP. If you are interested, Red Vines 1lb Bags and Family Mix bags are carried at Albertsons, Save Mart, Sack’ N Save, CVS, Flash Foods, Costco, Osco/Savon, Krogers, Food Lions, Rite Aid, Longs, Smart & Finals, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreen’s. Please visit our website at www.redvines.com to find a store in your area that carries Red Vines brand candy.

If you have difficulty locating your favorite American Licorice products in retail, you can also visit our online candy store, Candy Cabinet (https://www.candycabinet.com) where American Licorice products are sold. You can also call Diversified Distributers at 1-877-453-1638 and tell them which of the American Licorice products you’re interested in. Once again for your concern

Cordially,
American Licorice Company

From The Reuser to The American Licorice Company:
You continue to ignore my essential question which is whether or not your company is concerned with potential negative effects by continuing to use vinyl in some of your packaging? Please address this essential question. I'm not asking where to find your products, I have no issues with that. I'm also not asking if I can buy your product in other types of plastic, I'm well aware I can. I'm asking about issues with using PVC and whether or not there has been any movement away from packaging in PVC tubs?

While I do appreciate your time taken to answer my questions, I feel you've been a bit willfully ignoring my question.

Sincerely,
The Reuser

That last email was sent on February 24th and I've had no response from them since. Nor have I purchased any products from them since that time.

The picture above was taken at the transfer station, proving that people do in fact believe the plastic is recyclable and mistakenly include it in their recycling carts.

"degradable" plastics

2010-04-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers has put out this position paper about degradable plastics. This may be a highly specialized post, but I find this stuff fascinating. It's worth educating yourself about these types of plastics, especially if you buy disposable plastics.

Greenwashing Spy

2010-04-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Greenwashing a.k.a. green whitewash is the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly*

In a webinar recently, I heard about Greenwashing Spy-a blog all about exposing such acts.

*from wikipedia

Olympics ad graphics reused

2010-04-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is probably old news to some of you by now, but a company called Mannington will be recycling ad graphics used at the Winter Olympics (about 3 football fields worth) and creating flooring tiles out of them. I first read about this in Waste & Recycling News, but there's lots more articles now.

You could win 10 grand with your recycling idea!

2010-03-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

We all know that disposable items, such as coffee cups, are a huge part of our solid waste woes. If you have an idea that you think will help with that, check out the Beta Cup

the betacup's goal: find the best ideas to eliminate paper cup consumption and help bring these ideas to life.

Special thanks to my dear Uncle Dennis for sending me this.

Reusable bag ad

2010-03-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

I recently saw this ad reminding people to bring their reusable bags to the store (Fred Meyer) with them. I think it's great that Freddy's (as it's known to locals) is using some of their valuable ad space to promote the use of reusable bags.

Sorry about the poor photo quality. My iPhone hates taking macro shots.

Reuse on parade

2010-03-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took part in the annual Paddy Hough parade. I tweeted some images of the "plastic bag monster" (who later deemed himself "Bag-zilla") but, I thought I'd write a bit more about what we did, because it was great fun and really turned out quite well.

Here's Bag-zilla in all his glory:
The t-shirt was destined for the thrift store and the plastic bags were pilfered from our plastic bag display* (we need to replace those and get the display back out in the lobby!)

We also had some "support" staff for Bag-zilla. We had two sandwich board people. They had pictures of clogged machinery being hand-cleaned and messages about why we don't want plastic bags in recycling carts. The sandwich boards were made from old recycling signs we don't use anymore and some other materials purchased last year at S.C.R.A.P. We also used velcro, so the messages for the sandwich boards can be changed out to accommodate different events. They are reusable, of course!

It was great fun (especially for me, I just got to sit in the truck and wave to people!) and I heard a lot of comments about people interested in Bag-zilla and what he was all about.

* The plastic bag display reads: "These 400 plastic bags represent the amount used by every man, woman and child each year in America."

And the winner is....

2010-03-17T21:15:00.001-07:00

Jenny!

Sorry it's taken me so long to determine and post the winner of the one-year blogiversary contest. It's been hectic lately. This is our busy season, with Earth Day and all the associated events/happenings.

Congratulations, Jenny- I will need your contact info so I can get your adorable little recycle cart out to you!

Potting benches made from reclaimed materials

2010-03-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Alex (I've mentioned him before) made* these totally awesome potting benches at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you are in this area, I highly recommend taking a trip down to the ReStore to check out all the fantastic items they have down there. I'm always amazed by all the new stuff and how quickly items change over there.

* A little birdy told me they might start offering classes soon!

Vancouver, WA FREE computer class!

2010-03-15T14:09:00.001-07:00

free GIS class!

I've posted about the CREAM program and their free computer classes before. There's a really great GIS class coming up that I would totally be signing up for, if I wasn't already giving tours that day. You should sign up for this class!

GIS Class Info: (Call 360-735-0888 to sign up)

Local computer reuse non-profit, CREAM (Computer Reuse Education And Marketing) is hosting several classes over the next few weeks including “What is GIS” taught by GIS expert, Ken Loveall. This class will cover types of spatial data, map layers and themes, local property information, and how to transfer this information to other databases and online tools.

CREAM's Education Program offers free computer education classes to the public. Please call 360-735-0888 during business hours to sign up for classes or get further information by going to http://www.upgradeyourcommunity.org/education.html. Only preregistered participants will be allowed to attend classes.

Upcoming Computer Classes
What is a GIS? Come explore the fascinating world of digital mapping on the web! Learn about geographic information systems and data and how to use Clark County's online maps application. Saturday March 27, 11am to 12:30 pm.

Intro to the Web is a beginning computer class intended for seniors but open to all who want to start using the World Wide Web. This class is held on alternate Thursday and Saturday mornings. Please call for more information.

Google Docs Beginning class on word processing using the online word application Google Docs. Often this class focuses on using Google Docs for resume formatting. This class is held the second Thursday of the month. Please call for more information.

Apple Van, Vancouver's MUG (Mac Users Group) holds their monthly meeting at our Education Center the last Wednesday of the month from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Open Clinic for PC and other MS Windows products, hosted by the Clark College Help Desk. This clinic is facilitated by William Hafer, Instructor of Computer Technology at Clark College and held 2nd Saturday of the Month from 10am to 12pm.

About CREAM:CREAM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that diverts used electronics from the waste stream in order to upgrade our community. Working with our partners: Clark County, The City of Vancouver, Clark College, The Salvation Army and Waste Connections, CREAM is able to make low cost computers and electronics available to the public. Proceeds from sales support free Internet access and education to the local community. For more information see: http://www.upgradeyourcommunity.org/.

Additional Information:
CREAM - Computer Reuse Education And Marketing
Electronics Donation Center and Thrift Store

5000 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Suite F

Vancouver, WA 98661
360-735-0888

Producer Responsibility for Fluorescents

2010-03-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

We get asked about fluorescents on an almost daily basis. This announcement comes as great news for Washington State residents!

A bill creating a producer-funded recycling bill program for fluorescent lights, supported by WSRA and several other organizations, received final passage by the Washington State Legislature yesterday.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and fluorescent tube lights, which contain small amounts of mercury, will both be covered by the product stewardship program, which will begin by early 2013. Mercury is known to present threats to the environment and human health.

Curbside, mail-back and collection location options are all allowed in the program, which will be funded by manufacturers of lights sold in Washington, operated by an independent product stewardship organization and overseen by the Department of Ecology. Mail-back programs will be required to use vapor barrier packaging to contain the mercury if lights break during transport. Individual producers or groups of producers are allowed to set up their own collection and recycling programs, provided they adhere to the requirements of the new law, and those programs will also be overseen the Department of Ecology.

Steve McGonigal, Executive Director
WA State Recycling Association

More info about producer responsibility (aka Product Stewardship)

Reuse contest # 4

2010-03-13T14:39:00.000-08:00

I believe this was the first place entry for this age bracket. This greenhouse is made from reused plastic packaging, straws, and bottle ends. Brilliant!

Reuse contest # 3

2010-03-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

This one was pretty awesome, too. It's a lamp, with books as the base.

Reuse Contest #2

2010-03-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

This was my personal favorite from the contest. We've all seen bottles smooshed down to make serving platters, but this one was bent at neat angles to serve as an appetizer plate. I liked this one so much, I wanted to buy it! (Again, the picture doesn't do it justice...) The bottle was a vinegar bottle, according to the description.

Reuse Contest #1

2010-03-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was lucky enough to be asked to help judge a contest in which elementary school kids were asked to create something from reused materials. This is the first of the photos that I took that day.

Unfortunately, the photo doesn't do this justice. It was simple, but beautiful in its simplicity. It's a 2 liter bottle with slits cut at the top and bottom. The bottle is full of used dryer sheets, which the student said could be reused for dusting. I loved that it was reuse that encouraged more reuse.

More ideas for used dryer sheets

Bags-what type?

2010-03-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

Wondering if there's a comprehensive look at the environmental effects of different bagging options? Well, look no further. Waste and Recycling News reports that a California coalition of 12 cities called Green Cities California has created just that.

I love this quote: "We´re not going to recycle our way to a sustainable society." So true!

Reuse flower #2

2010-03-08T14:01:00.000-08:00

You may have read this post about making a flower out of reused materials. I didn't make these, but I do think they're cute!

I was sitting in a board meeting the other day, admiring these flowers that a friend was wearing. Turns out, not only did she make them herself, she also offered to make me one AND she was using it to cover a hole in the cardigan, so it was helping her get more use out of the cardi, too! Beautiful!

iPhone holder from reused silverware

2010-03-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this cute little guy!

Dear BF sent me the link via iPhone Savior.

An article about a local Reuser

2010-03-04T15:59:00.001-08:00

Earlier, I wrote a post about Matt and his family. The Vancouver Voice wrote an article about his art/handbags. There's also a quote in there from yours truly. Go check it out!

computer reuse contest

2010-03-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Following in the vein of yesterday's post about ways to reuse e-waste, the author of the book is sponsoring a contest to see who can come up with the best way to reuse dead electronics. There's some great projects on there already. Go check 'em out!

Also, if reusing electronics isn't your game, but you still want to enter a contest, consider mine. :D (shameless self-plug done.)

Dead computer? Reuse it!

2010-02-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

If you aren't lucky enough to have a program for e-waste in your community (or even if you are) this book looks pretty awesome. 62 ways to reuse discarded electronics.

waste-free mobile lunch

2010-02-27T17:53:00.001-08:00

I was over at Craft Leftovers today and spotted this great lunch box post, in which Kristin reuses and re-purposes a ton of items. Go check it out!

Green Drinks tonight!

2010-02-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on getting a calendar of events here, but wanted to let you know where I'll be tonight. Green Drinks, of course! See you there?

Please join us on Tuesday Feb 23rd at El Presidente in downtown Vancouver. Intros Will start at 6PM as usual. We will be in a private room on the north (left of the hostess stand) side of the restaurant. El Presidente has PLENTY of room and it should be quiet enough for our group. Here is their info; 312 East Evergreen Boulevard, Vancouver, WA‎ - (360) 750-7475‎

This month our 5 Minute Spiel will be a rep from the CEN-Community Exchange Network, check them out here http://cenpdx.net/

Our 2 min local business showcase will be Donna Baxter from Enyo. 360 448-9911 or http://www.ameri-eco.com/

What's coming up?We are busily planning our 2 year anniversary party on April 27th. How exciting! We don't have all the details settled yet, but we have confirmed that our new mayor Tim Leavitt will be our speaker!!! We'll hear his thoughts on making our lovely city of Vancouver greener.

Gleaning/Urban Harvest

2010-02-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

While researching a presentation, I came across this article about gleaning food. I thought it was a great primer on gleaning and had some good links, so I'm sharing it here. I'm also working on a list of links pertaining to topics such as gleaning, swap sites, etc. and will be sharing that soon.

One link I want to mention that isn't in the article is Ample Harvest. This is a nationwide listing of local food banks that will take your excess food. So, the next time you find yourself swimming in tomatoes, potatoes or some other home-grown yummy, take a look at Ample Harvest and see if you can't find someone in your own community that could make use of that food.

The freezer pantry

2010-02-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to write a post that I suspect would have ended up sounding like plagiarism of this post. I, too, have found the joys of freezing left-overs and cooking in bulk. I'd also like to mention that heating up food is often less energy-intensive than firing up the stove. I still don't have this stuff all "down" and we still waste some food, but I'm definitely getting to a point where we waste less and eat take-out food less, which is wonderful.

One Year Anniversary-A Give-away!

2010-02-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hello World! (If you're a "geek" you understand the significance of that.) That was my first post on March 11th of last year. The blog will be one year old a month from today. In celebration, I'm giving away something that I get asked for all the time. If you're at all a garbage geek like me, you'll love this:

Working in the industry I do, I get this kind of swag all the time, but I've been asked over the years if I have any of these little mini recycle bins, so the last time I was at a conference I picked up a special one to be given away to my readers.

So, how do you enter? I'm so glad you asked. There are three ways of entering the contest:

1. Leave a comment on this post. It can be anything! Just a "sign me up! " will do, but if you'd like to comment on anything else, you're welcome to.

2. For extra credit, you will get 2 entries into the giveaway if you comment on another post. (Please make the comment pertinent to the post.)

3. Or, if you're *really* an overachiever, you will get three entries for sharing a reuse story with me. If you use something in your home in an unexpected way, met your neighbor when you were setting something out on the curb for free or any fun reuse story you want to share with me, you'll get 3 contest entries for that. You can share your story in the comment section of this post or send me an email. (If you have pictures, I will give you extra credit for sharing those, too!)

Just be ready to have your story shared with my readers.

Good luck! I'll post the winner some time after the one year anniversary, March 11th, 2010.

Here it is in all it's desk-organizing glory (No, you can't have my titanium scissors, sorry! I'll throw in the ruler made from phone books, if you want it though.)

Swap and gleaning sites-extensive list

2010-02-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

While doing research for a presentation, I found out there are a ton of swap and gleaning sites on the internet. Not being familiar with all of them myself (I've used 3 on the list) I thought the easiest thing to do was to just make a list and let you see for yourself. If you have any additions to the list or comments about anything I included, leave a comment or email me.

-The Reuser