The Next Level of Recycling

A group in New York want to have a pool party, unfortunately they did not have the real estate or the money. So what they did was turned an old dumpster into a pool. If you are wondering how far can you step outside the box, well this is pretty far.

These ideas and innovations require us to view the world in a different way. Instead of seeing an old cargo crate we need to see housing and now instead of seeing an old dumpster, we see a possible pool. These are the strategies we need moving into the future, plus it helps with equitability. Next time you through something away think about what else it could be used for.

Check out the article.

Forget the Trash Bag, Bring a Towel

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/arts/design/20pool.html?_r=1

Recycling Tips

Tip 1

Know what can and cannot be recycled

In order for households to succeed in recycling they must be fully aware of what can and cannot be recycled. In King County there are many ways of finding out, but the easiest one is using King County Solid Waste “What do I do with… which is linked from here.

Tip 2

Know where to recycle materials

Knowing where to recycle materials is as important as knowing what is recyclable. Within King County’s recycling system there are many location where items may be recycled. There are also private businesses who also take recycled goods at many locations throughout this region. Each place excepts different materials with different charges, so knowing is key to being fully aware of your possibilities when it comes to recycling.

Tip 3

Buy Recycled

When buying products look for the ones that are made from recycled materials. When you buy products made from recycled materials, it helps sustain that market and it closes the loop on those materials. They are being put back into the production cycle rather than thrown into a landfill. By buying recycled paper there is a double bonus for the environment; trees are saved, which by being preserved will continue to sequester carbon, retain water and much more.

Tip 4

Use a reusable water bottle/coffee cup

Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour. This number is astronomical and is a waste. Bottled water is one of the biggest waste and misconceptions on the market today. Bottle water companies are less regulated than the water that comes out your faucet, which comes at the fraction of the cost. So, use a reusable water bottle, preferably one that does not contain things like phthalates or PCB’s. There is also a proliferation of coffee cup consumption, which does not need to happen. Coffee is cheaper when you use your own cup and if you are buying this every day, the savings can really add up. So using a reusable water bottle or coffee cup is a win – win for everyone.

Tip 5

Shop with reusable bags

We go to store for all of our needs; food, clothing and leisure and along with purchases comes plastic bags. Bringing your own bag is very beneficial to the environment because plastic bags will last a long time in the landfill or in the ocean. These bags break up into little pieces of plastic which birds then eat and feed to their young. Now, with the many designs out there having your own shopping bag can be cool and unique. One good thing to do, is always keep bags in your car so you are prepared for going to the store.

Tip 6

Remember the 3 R’s

Reduce, reuse and recycle is the triple threat to waste production and resource consumption. The three R’s are in order of the importance with waste reduction the being the first goal, but the only one we are really familiar with is the third R: recycle. The reduction of waste needs to be at the root of our decisions and our mantra when it comes to our purchases. Then reuse, both in donating what we don’t need anymore and in buying second hand goods. The three R’s are simple, but eloquent in the broad range of issues it addresses.

Tip 7

Anticipate waste

Composting at Home

A great way to reduce your impact to the environment is to begin composting at home. Not only are you reducing the amount of waste that is going to the landfill, but you are also providing yourself with wonderful soil that can used in the garden and for the lawn.

There are two types of composting methods;

• Standard Composting with dirt
• Worm Bin Composting

Learn about: at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/naturalyardcare/compost.asp

• How to pick a method
• How to set up both methods at home
• Common problems and solutions
  
• What to do with pet waste. (bury in 12" deep hole)

If are looking for a fun project to do with the kids or just want a small scale worm bin, check out this video on setting up a bin with relative easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxhEQEA0GN8

There is a NEW method for recycling food scraps and food soiled paper at home and it is called "The Green Cone". It is a cone that is placed in a sunny part of the yard at about 18" deep and all you have to do is put your food waste into the cone. It says you only need to clean it out once a year and there is no tumbling involved. The only setback is that it cost about $150, but does come with a lot of conveniences.

Check it out The Green Cone here:www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/greencone/index.html

Video's on King County's Solid Waste System

One way of educating the public is through video's of the facilities and the system.

What happens to my recyclables?
A video developed by King County showing residents what happens to waste once it leaves your curb.
http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/what-happens-to-my-recyclables.asp?mfile=KCrecycling.wmv&loc=server#video

City of Seattle Videos
The city of Seattle has created a multitude of videos that show residents the ins and outs of the system. The city of Seattle's system is different than King County's so check with the "What do I do with?" on King County's Website to make sure.
http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Recycling/Recycle_at_Your_House/HowtoRecycleVideos/index.htm

Recycling Sites for Kids

Here are some links to web pages that provide some fun games educating kids on Recycling.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Provides a lot games and activities to help educate kids on aspects of sustainability. Scavenger Hunts, Coloring Book, and much more on the issue of trash.
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/education/kids/planetprotectors/index.htm

City of Fresno
Created this game to show kids what is recyclable. Be aware that some recyclables are different, but the game is cool.
http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/PublicUtilities/SolidWaste/Recycling/RecyclingGame.htm

If you know of any other cool sites let me know and I will add them to the list.

Recycling: Closed Loop or Open Loop

When we recycle our goods there are two different paths which they may fall under; Closed Loop or Open Loop. These two different paths represent how the material will be used once it is recycled.

Some products become what they once were, i.e paper gets turned back into paper, an aluminum can becomes an aluminum can, this is a Closed Loop Path.

Other products become different products; plastic becomes fleece, old tires become an material used in playground equipment and the flooring of these areas, this is a Open Loop Path.

But there are many materials that have the chance of taking either of these paths, glass is a good example. Glass can be used as a glass bottle again, but needs to be source separated. This is because companies use a particular type of glass; green, brown, clear and if glass is all mixed, it has little value to these companies. So a lot of time glass is used as an aggregate or broken down into tiny pieces and placed back into the ground.

So a goal of recycling should be to develop more closed loop systems, which will give a longer lifespan to these materials. We could begin to classify materials like glass, paper, aluminum and others by there generation number, meaning how many times has it been recycled.

But there may be changes to the current system required in the collection and manufacturing processes of recyclables in order to achieve this. We may need to go to a model that source separates more, like in other countries and states. By doing this individual items may be returned back the maker or user like glass or possible electronics. Only the future will tell.

Recycling Challenge History

Mayor Larson's Recycling Challenge is not the first recycling challenge for King County. In 2008, Renton held the first recycling challenge for the county with 6 teams competing against each other to see who could reduce their waste by the greatest percentage.

If you are interested in the previous challenge and the contestants visit:
http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/neighborhood-challenge.asp

Some of the differences in the challenges is that in Snoqualmie families will be competing against the mayor as well as other residents, which is pretty unique. The way in which the families were chosen are different between the two cities, in Renton they were all on one block and in Snoqualmie it is open to all residents. In Renton families trash was weighed each week by King County, which was allowed due to proximity of the contestants. In Snoqualmie families will only have their trash weighed twice, once at the begining and once at the end.

Both challenges help bring awarness and excitement within communities around recycling. Each challenge has been a colaboration between the city and county, which helps build transparency and support across governmental scales. In the end all benefit from the efforts and outreach done through holding an event like this.