September 3, 2019
Movie This Thursday, September 5:
A Plastic Ocean
7-9pm @ Bainbridge Public Library
A PLASTIC OCEAN begins when journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. In this adventure documentary, Craig teams up with free diver Tanya Streeter and an international team of scientists and researchers to travel to twenty locations around the world over four years, exploring the fragile state of our oceans and uncovering startling truths about plastic pollution. Leeson concludes his tale with working solutions that can be put into immediate effect.
After the film, stay for the short post-film discussion with the expert panel of Nora Nickum, Ocean Policy Manager for the Seattle Aquarium, and Maradel Gale, head of Bainbridge Beach Naturalists.
This film is the first in the 2019-2020 slate from Movies That Matter, brought to you by Sustainable Bainbridge, Climate Action Bainbridge, Eco-Adapt, Citizens' Climate Lobby and Island Power.
Side note: If you attended Rubber Jellyfish last month, you might be interested in this recent Washington Post article about updated balloon release legislation and practices.
Next Zero Waste Meeting: Wednesday, September 11, 7-8:30pm @ Marge Williams Center
Our special guest is not yet set. Agenda items so far:
  • City ordinance to make disposable utensils, straws and
condiment packaging an "on request" service
  • Education and assistance to downtown eateries on recycling and composting
  • Harvest Fair Zero Waste help
  • Library ZW education outreach pop-up
  • Recruitment of younger people (teens-40s)
Volunteer Opportunity:
Harvest Fair Discard Station Helper
The most down-home festival on the island takes place on Sunday, September 22, 11am-5pm, at Johnson Farm. Check out all the activities and contests here. Nice music, too!
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Zero Waste continues its tradition of helping guests toss their discards in the right spots. We get some wonderful help every year from the new AFS exchange students, but we still need your assistance on either end to supplement their early-mid afternoon availability. Please sign up here if you can help.
Thank you to the anonymous donor who answered the call for used teaspoons for the Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library and contributed 88 of them! We are now set to be able to offer up to 300 of these and other utensils for private or nonprofit functions, along with washable plates, glasses, cloth napkins and tablecloths.
Email us if you choose to reuse at your next gathering.
BI Beach "Hot Spots"



Have you walked the beach lately and know of a spot where there is a buried tire, big Styrofoam float, or heavy items too cumbersome to carry out on the regular, upcoming Bainbridge Island Beach Cleanup? If so, please email Deb Rudnick , who will note your observation and arrange with the harbormaster or others to eventually have it dealt with.
Otherwise, remember the date for the all-island litter purge: Saturday, September 28 , any time between low-tide hours of 10am-2pm. The BI Beach Cleanup's organizing committee would like to know which part of our 53 miles of shoreline you will be scouring, so please go here to sign up and get all the details.
Kitsap Passes Bag Ban
Starting January 1, 2020, retailers in Kitsap County, City of Bremerton, and City of Port Orchard are prohibited from offering thin plastic carryout bags to customers. Paper bags or thick plastic bags may be provided to customers for a minimum of eight cents* each. Stores keep the eight cents to help cover the cost of providing bags. Everyone is encouraged to use reusable bags.

*Bainbridge passed a bag ban in 2012. It currently has a five-cent pass-through charge but will be looking to raise it by three cents so that the fee is the same throughout the county. (Note: Poulsbo has not yet passed a bag ban ordinance.)
September Calendar
September 5 - Movies That Matter: A Plastic Ocean , Thursday, 7-9pm, at the Bainbridge Public Library
September 11  -  ZW meeting , Wednesday, 7-8:30pm, at the Marge Williams Center, 221 Winslow Way West. Everyone welcome! Guest speaker TBA
September 14  -  BI Beach Cleanup Coalition farmers' market booth,   Saturday, 9am-1pm, at Town Square.
September 22  -  VOLUNTEER @ Harvest Fair ZW-managed discard stations , Sunday, 11am-5pm at Johnson Farm. Sign-up Doodle is here .
September 28  -  4th annual BI Beach Cleanup , 10am-2pm (low tide). Choose your spot and time to pick up. More info  here .
Newsletter editor: Diane Landry, BI Zero Waste (volunteer) director
Back issues are available   here .
BI Zero Waste is an all-volunteer program of Sustainable Bainbridge.
Send feedback  here .