|
Waste Matters August 2016
|
New Recycling Carts
for City of Athens
The Recycling Partnership, a national recycling nonprofit dedicated to improving recycling access in the United States, has partnered with the City of Athens to purchase new recycling carts for city residents. Working with the Partnership is highly competitive, and only a handful of communities each year get selected for the opportunity. The Partnership became familiar with the City of Athens' efforts through discussions with Rural Action and a city grant proposal. Research has shown that using these carts can increase recycling by 400-450 pounds per household per year, which would help the Athens Hocking Solid Waste District achieve its goal of recycling 25 percent of its commercial and residential waste stream.
The Recycling Partnership and the City of Athens will fund the purchase, and the Athens Hocking Recycling Centers (AHRC) and Rural Action have partnered to help with the process. The AHRC will help with the logistics, and we will offer educational support. These new, blue carts will be distributed to every resident of the City of Athens, complete with a packet containing information about any new regulations, a schedule for pickup, and an FAQ sheet. The carts will be larger than the current red bins, have wheels for easy moving, and have a lid to better contain everything inside. The targeted roll out date for these carts is mid-October when carts will be dropped off at City residents' households along with a detailed information packet.
Additional information will be distributed by the City in the coming months.
|
Nominations Needed For First Year of Waste Not Awards
The Athens Hocking Zero Waste Action Plan Education & Outreach Committee are calling for nominations for the first ever
Waste Not Awards. The
Waste Not awards recognize members of the community who are taking steps toward zero waste and highlight their important work. We will be presenting the awards to the recipients at our annual Zero Waste Celebration this November. Recipients will also be recognized on Rural Action's website and social media.
Any school, school teacher, or student, as well as any business, organization or individual in the community is eligible for one of these awards. "These awards are not necessarily for people or groups that have achieved over 90 percent Zero Waste, but they are more about recognizing those who are taking strides to get there," Reany said.
Nominations can be submitted online by filling out the form
here.
Self-nominations are okay, too!
Nominations are due October 12th
and the Zero Waste Celebration is tentatively set for
November 12th
. The winners will be announced at the celebration.
|
Help Us Grow Business Ventures in the Zero Waste Economy
This event is an opportunity to gather and brainstorm business solutions for reaching zero waste. Our hope is that the conversations had throughout the night will blossom into projects that will help us meet the business goals of the Athens Hocking Zero Waste Action Plan
.
The event will take place on Tuesday, September 6th from 6 to 8:00 p.m. at the Eclipse Company Store. This event is open to all local entrepreneurs and businesses, extending to not only traditional for-profit businesses but also to those involved in social enterprise and venture development. Anyone that is interested in supporting an entrepreneur or business in achieving zero waste is also invited to attend. Free food and a cash bar will be available to all guests.
It will be a night dedicated to networking, discussing resources, and the free flow of ideas. You won't want to miss this chance to connect with the community and be a part of the zero waste solution. Register online at
Ruralaction.org/zerowaste prior to the event.
|
Goodbye, Heather.
AmeriCorps Member Heather Fuston is wrapping up two amazing years with Rural Action. Over the course of her time here, Heather has made a huge impact on zero waste education with our community--reaching over 2,000 students. She originally applied for the position because she wanted to find a way to use her time and energy for the betterment of the world around her, and Heather has done just that.
"I've learned so much! I've learned about the intricate workings of how to make a nonprofit run well and make a huge impact on the community. I've learned how to be a better communicator, planner, and member of my community. And I've also gained a deeper understanding of the needs and unique qualities of my community," Heather said.
Heather's favorite part of working with Rural Action is all of the wonderful people she has met and made connections with, and she hopes to continue building those relationships in the future.
Heather is passing the torch to up-and-coming AmeriCorps Member Laura Diaco.
|
Hello, Laura!
We are excited to welcome Laura Diaco as an AmeriCorps Member placed with Rural A
ction's Zero Waste Program. She will lead K-12 zero waste education programs.
Laura is originally from New Hampshire, but grew up in the Athens community. Laura recently graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in teaching and a master's degree in linguistics and is excited to apply her expertise to the zero waste program here at Rural Action. Her background in teaching in different situations and her dedication to achieving zero waste make her the perfect person for the job.
"I applied because the type of work Rural Action does is what I'm passionate about," Laura said. "I hope to contribute by bringing in my teaching experience to further develop the educational programming that zero waste does, and to bring positive energy to the work everyone else is doing."
Laura also has a background working with zero waste organizations such as Greenpeace and Community Food Initiatives. "I think zero waste is a good tactic to get more people interested in the environment in general and the effect their actions can have on it," Laura said. Laura is looking forward to working with our team doing work that has a lasting positive effect both locally and globally. To schedule a educational program with Laura, email
[email protected].
|
Check Out Our Zero Waste Memories in These Slideshows!
Our team and our partners have made so many memories together in the past month that we couldn't fit them all into one slideshow. Check out the work we've accomplished.
|
|
|
|
Rural Action Hosted the OALPRP Summer Conference!
The 2016 OALPRP Summer Conference included many tours of various restaurants, farms and facilities. The conference attendees visited places such as Jackie O's Brewery and Taproom, the OU Composting Facility, Jackie O's Farm and Integration Acres. Watch the
slideshow to see some of the great times we had.
|
Check out the events that Rural Action has helped with this summer!
Check out the zero waste events and educational programs that happened this summer, and how volunteers helped us make them as waste free as possible! See all of the action
here.
|
|
|
Rural Action Zero Waste Program Staff
|
Kuhre Center for Rural Renewal
Luke Black / Media and Volunteer
Involvement, ZW Event Productions
Tyler Bonner / Sales and Outreach Coordinator, ZW Event Productions
|
|
|
|
September 6
Zero Waste Event
Business Gathering @ Eclipse Company Store
6-8:30pm
The Plains, OH
|
September 6
Zero Waste Event
"Does the library reduce, reuse and recycle?" @ Nelsonville Public Library
4:30pm-5:30pm
Nelsonville, OH
|
September 16-18
Partner Event
Volunteer with Zero Waste at the Ohio Pawpaw festival @ Lake Snowden
Friday: 4pm-12am
Sat. & Sun: 10am-12am
Albany, OH
|
September 20
Zero Waste Event
Library Waste Assessment Findings and Take Away Tips for Home Waste Reduction @ Nelsonville Public Library
4:30pm-6pm
Nelsonville, OH
|
October 6
Zero Waste Event
"Does the library reduce, reuse and recycle?" @ The Chauncey Public Library
4pm-5pm
Chauncey, OH
|
October 15
Partner Event
Hocking County Recycling Day @ Hocking County Fairgrounds
9am-noon
|
October 15
Partner Event
Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off @ Hocking County Fairgrounds
9am-1pm
Logan,OH
|
October 15
Partner Event
Athens County Recycling Day @
Athens County Public Recycling Drop Off
8am-noon
Athens. OH
|
October 20
Zero Waste Event
Library Waste Assessment Findings and Take Away Tips for Home Waste Reduction @ The Chauncey Public Library
|
October 29
Partner Event
Morgan County Tire Drop Collection @ Morgan County Board of Developmental Disabilities
8 am
McConnelsville, OH
|
|
|
Zero Waste Program Sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be part of the ACTION! Join today.
|
|
Learn about National Service
Opportunities through Rural Action.
|
|
|
Support Rural Action While You Shop
|
 |
|
|
Sign up
for
Kroger Community Rewards and
Support Rural Action every time you shop.
|
Select Rural Action as your charity and we will receive 0.5% of eligible purchases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
