December 21 , 2022
Keep Holiday Waste Down
We generate 25% more waste this time of year. Find out who will reuse your packing material or which paper goes in recycling and which in trash by referring to the BI Zero Waste Holiday Guide.
If you have decorated with a cut tree at home, make sure it gets mulched right here on the island by reserving a curbside pick-up from local Scout troops 1564 and 1804 before Saturday, January 7.

This is the 27th year of the Scouts' fundraiser. The trees will be dropped off at Tilz and in a few months will become soil-enriching compost. For more details on the event, visit this page.
Eco-brick Drop-off Location Changes
Even though paper milk cartons are no longer accepted for recycling, they don't have to end up in the trash. For the past couple of years, V Calvez has been collecting cartons (and 52 oz plastic juice bottles) that are stuffed with unrecyclable plastic. V calls these "eco-bricks" and uses them to insulate walls in custom-built composters.
Recently, the drop-off spot has switched from his house to Sacred Groves at 9255 Holly Farm Lane off New Brooklyn Road. The bin is at the mouth of the driveway, next to the road beneath the Sacred Groves sign (see photo left).

Click the button below
for updated instructions on making the "bricks".
Help ZW at Mochi Tsuki
The popular Mochi Tsuki celebration returns after a two-year hiatus. It will be held once again at Woodward Middle School on Saturday, January 7, 11am-3pm. In addition to having wonderful activities for this Japanese New Year's tradition, the planners have also been thoughtful about reducing waste.

To make sure guests have a positive experience right down to disposing of their single-use items, Zero Waste is offering its assistance. Would you like to help out by being a ZW ambassador for an hour at this event? No experience is necessary -- we train on site! If interested, please go here and scroll down to the "Green Team" section.
What's New on Waste Reduction Legislative Fronts
Locally...
State-wide
The latest Zero Waste Washington newsletter provides an excellent summary (including a shout-out to Bainbridge) of the following five waste-related bills on the agenda for Washington state's legislative session that begins January 9:
  • WRAP act (co-sponsored by BI's Christine Rolfes)
  • Battery recycling
  • Right to repair
  • Plastics
  • Compostable products
Next Zero Waste Meeting:
Grocery Store Speakers
Zero Waste has invited representatives from Safeway and T&C to speak to our community about how they approach waste reduction in their respective stores. We will Zoom on Tuesday, January 17, from 5:00-6:30.

Speaker bios:
Marina Heppenstall is the Sustainability Director for Town & Country Markets. She joined the company in 2022 to help advance sustainability initiatives including packaging, carbon reduction, waste management, and sustainable food sourcing, across T&C's six markets.
Adam Brazeau is the store director of Bainbridge Island Safeway. He has worked in grocery for 24 years, starting as a courtesy clerk and working his way up to his current position. Bainbridge is his third store in this role and by far his favorite.
Bainbride Disposal's New Website
Bainbridge Disposal just unveiled its new website. Take a look! We appreciate that the Zero Waste Reuse/Recycle Guide is linked in many places to help people know how to circulate items within the community. Note that on the posters there are some objects pictured as garbage, but again, the ZW guide may provide you with an alternative option to landfilling them.
Mask Recycling
Cedars Unitarian Church recently sent off its first jam-packed Terracycle box of used masks and plans to continue offering public drop-off outside the Cedars office door at 284 Madrona Way #128 (last door going east).

Terracycle accepts non-woven disposable plastic-based masks including 3-ply surgical, dust masks, KN95, and N95 masks. The plastic and metal components are then recycled into new products.
ReFashion Show Call for Artists
ReFashion Bainbridge is accepting design submissions until January 29 for its 7th annual ReFashion Show: Trashion in the Forest. (The show itself is on May 21.)

Upcycled Ready-to-Wear and Mystery Box are the two returning categories, while "Connections" is the new challenge this year. Find descriptions and application requirements 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.
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