4th Quarter (December) 2024 Enewsletter

Legislative session starting soon, holiday party, zero waste holidays, farm pilots launching....and more

Zero Waste Washington drives policy change for a healthy and waste-free world. We envision a just, equitable, and sustainable future where we all produce, consume, and reuse responsibly.

Please join us for

Zero Waste Washington’s

Annual Holiday Party

Friday, December 6, 2024

5—6:30 pm

Via zoom

Please register so we can send you the zoom link:
https://zerowastewaparty.bpt.me

or email: Michelle@zerowastewashington.org

Grab a cocktail or other beverage and join us for

great community, quick updates, and fun

trash-themed interactive game show!

By Michelle Alten-Kaehler, Membership Coordinator

As you know, waste is an issue around the holidays. EPA estimates that between Thanksgiving and New Years, we generate about one million extra tons of waste each week! But as we celebrate with family and friends, we can find new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We have gathered ideas and services to help you make your Northwest holiday more sustainable.

Recycle your lights!

Holiday lights sparkle, brightening our dark Pacific Northwest winters. But what should you do when they completely burn out, leaving you with a box of tangled wires and bulbs? In the landfill, they will sit for hundreds of years and, if littered, can ensnare wildlife. The solution? McLendon Hardware Stores and a variety of other locations in the Puget Sound area offer holiday light recycling programs with drop-off services. Or you can use a mail-in program to ship them for recycling.

Please do not put them in your curbside recycling bin! They cause major problems at the recycling sorting facilities because they act as tanglers and catch up in the equipment.

• King County Holiday Light Recycling Drop Off Locations: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/waste-services/garbage-recycling-compost/solid-waste-programs/ecoconsumer/green-holidays/holiday-lights-recycling

or check out your county’s website

• Mail-in Light Recycling Program: https://www.holidayleds.com/free-light-recycling

Live trees — A holiday gift for salmon!

If you are searching for an alternative to a cut or artificial tree, an Everett nonprofit has an idea for you. Adopt a Stream Foundation offers potted live trees that you can return to plant beside a salmon stream (you can just leave the tree next to their gate after the holidays)! Or you can add it to your own garden, creating habitat for other wildlife.

Lynsey Sandum, Education, Communications, and Media Manager explains, “People are interested in shifting their lifestyle away from using chopped-down trees. We provide a living tree. They enjoy the trees, then return them to the planet.”

They have five different species and multiple sizes.

• Holiday Trees for Salmon, The Northwest Stream Center: https://www.streamkeeper.org/product/holiday-trees-for-salmon/575?cs=true&cst=custom

Choosing between artificial or cut?

If you are considering an artificial or cut tree, you may wonder which is more sustainable. Retailers import artificial trees from across the globe, generating greenhouse gases in the process. Manufacturers make them from plastic, polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, a difficult-to-recycle plastic. Ultimately, they end up in our landfills. PVC can also give off lead dust, polluting our indoor air. Thus, we recommend natural trees. After the holidays, it is critical to recycle them to avoid methane gas in landfills and create useful wood chips and compost. Consult your city or service provider’s website to learn about curbside pickup and recycling for holiday trees.

Many jurisdictions and others in Washington will accept your trees for composting or chipping. Here are a few listings:

• Spokane tree recycling: https://spokaneriver.net/wastedirectory/recycle_type/christmas-tree/#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Spokane%20and,Stations%20Clean%20Green%20collection%20sites.
• King County holiday tree recycling: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/waste-services/garbage-recycling-compost/services/recycling/tree-cycling
• Scout recycling in Vancouver, WA: https://www.scouttreerecycling.com

Also, a plethora of wooden-crafted trees, reusable from year to year, are available on Etsy, other websites, and even in home décor shops. Some are life-size and collapsable, and you can decorate them with your treasured ornaments.

Low-waste gift wrap

Gift-giving generates so much waste. Paper that shimmers with gold, silver, or plastic cannot be recycled. But Sara Smith, based in Maui, started Wrappily Eco Gift Wrap to reduce the impact.

“We all deserve a gift wrap we can feel good about!” she explains. Wrappily prints sustainable gift-wrapping paper on 100% recyclable and compostable newsprint, using neighborhood newspaper presses in Washington State. Even Wrappily’s ribbons are made from natural fibers. When the holidays are over, you can reuse Wrappily paper and bows and put those that are tattered in your recycle bin or even your backyard compost.

• Wrappily (Wrappily is milled, printed, packed and shipped from Washington State): https://wrappily.com

Post-holiday culinary creations

According to data from the national food waste think tank, ReFED, the average American family spends about $3,000 on wasted food each year. Unique recipes can make cooking with leftovers a delicious adventure: how about a tasty bread pudding made from remaining Hanukkah sufganiyot jelly donuts. Do you have an odd assortment of pieces of leftover cheese? Try Jaques Pepin’s fromage fort recipe and create a delicious spread for New Years! Tired of turkey? Turn it into a turkey and squash Sri Lankan-inspired curry! Here are a few recipes to inspire you:

• https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/turn-your-stale-jelly-donuts-into-this-sweet-bread-pudding-recipe/
• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a60477973/turkey-and-squash-sri-lankan-inspired-curry/
• https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fromage-fort

And now it is time for a joyous, low-waste holiday!

If you have suggestions of zero waste initiatives and reuse stores for us to highlight, please contact Michelle at michelle@zerowastewashington.org

By Nayeli Campos, Community Outreach and Policy Coordinator

Zero Waste Washington has been working closely with farmers to tackle waste on farms across Snohomish, King, Kitsap, and Pierce counties. Through interviews with over 50 farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers, we’ve learned about the pressing waste challenges they face—particularly with plastic.

We are now launching four pilot projects that are designed to address farm waste, reduce landfill use, and save farmers money. These projects are informed by farmer input and funded by a Public Participation Grant from the WA State Department of Ecology. Here’s a quick overview and update on how we’re turning research into action.

Upcycling woven bags with Refugee Artisan Initiative

Colorful woven polypropylene bags (commonly used for bulk items like feed, grain, soil, fertilizer and more) can have a second life. We’re partnering with the Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI), a nonprofit that provides refugee and immigrant women with work opportunities by teaching artisan skills to upcycle materials.

Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) is in need of a consistent stream of woven bags. This pilot project will create a reliable pipeline of bags to support both the artisans and our shared mission to divert waste.

Cost-sharing durable nursery trays

Many farmers we spoke with are eager to switch to durable nursery trays, which can last for decades compared to the standard trays that break after just a few uses. Standard trays are inexpensive (about $1 each) but need frequent replacement, leading to both financial and environmental costs. Durable trays, while sturdier and longer-lasting, cost $8–$15 per tray—a price many farmers can’t afford upfront.

To make this solution more accessible, we’re offering a cost-share program. Farmers will pay just 50% of each durable tray, allowing them to invest in a long-term solution while cutting down on plastic waste.

Trialing reusable CSA and produce delivery boxes

Wax-coated cardboard boxes are commonly used for CSA deliveries and produce distribution, but they can’t be recycled or composted due to their plastic (polyethylene) coating. Additionally, the boxes can only be reused around 3-15 times before they are worn out. While switching to reusable plastic CSA boxes may seem counterintuitive, these boxes are designed to be reused hundreds of times, significantly reducing waste in the long run. And they can be recycled at the end of life.

We’ll be offering farmers free trials of reusable boxes to test in their systems.

Collecting used nursery trays and pots

Plastic nursery trays and pots usually end up in landfills because recycling options are limited. To address this, we’re partnering with a company that specializes in recycling these materials into new trays and pots.

We’re working to identify local locations willing to serve as collection points for these materials. By creating a local recycling pipeline, we’re giving farmers a way to recycle broken trays and pots.

Farmer feedback needed!

We’re currently sending out a short 5-minute survey to farmers to gauge interest in these four pilot projects! If you’re a farmer or know anyone in the farming community who might be interested in reducing their plastic waste and testing out new resources, please consider sharing this survey with them: Agricultural Waste Project: Interest Form

These pilot projects are just the beginning. With your input and support, we can make a lasting difference by reducing farm waste, protecting the environment, and saving farmers money.

Stay tuned for updates, success stories, and ways to get involved. If you’d like more information or have insights to share, feel free to reach out to Nayeli at nayeli@zerowastewashington.org.

Left to Right: Amanda Miller (Executive Director, South King Tool Library), Harpreet Kaur (Policy Strategist, Zero Waste Washington), Senator Claire Wilson (Representing Washington’s 30th Legislative District)

By Harpreet Kaur, Policy Strategist

Zero Waste Washington recently supported the South King Tool Library with outreach at their clothing swap event, that was a great success. The event saw over 150 participants “shopping” for new-to-them items, contributing to both community building and sustainability.

The South King Tool Library hosts clothing swaps a few times a year, offering residents an opportunity to donate items they no longer need and find new ones in return. Any leftover clothing is then donated to local second-hand stores, further supporting the community. By repurposing donated clothing, an estimated 7 tons of carbon was avoided if those clothes had been newly manufactured.

Zero Waste Washington hosted an outreach table at the event. Elected officials volunteered at the event, further highlighting the community’s commitment to sustainability.

The South King Tool Library is more than just a tool-sharing organization; it provides access to tools and training to help maintain neighborhoods, foster community-building, and reduce unnecessary consumption. Their work especially benefits low-income residents and underserved populations, while also focusing on waste reduction and habit formation.

So, if you live in King County, next time you’re ready to donate your clothes, consider heading to the South King Tool Library. It’s a great way to support the community and contribute to reducing waste.

By Andrea Ramirez, Sustainability Analyst

Zero Waste Washington has partnered with the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC) to host an internship program for high school students from Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. The internship focuses on raising awareness and developing messaging about toxic chemicals in household durable products. The project goal, through education and outreach, is to encourage community members to swap out toxic-containing items and replace them with safer alternatives.

Black plastic

Results from research about toxic chemicals in black plastics have shown serious concerns regarding black plastic kitchen utensils as well as toys and hair accessories. Research in the EU starting in 2018 was recently reconfirmed by our partner Toxic Free Future. Black plastic is often made from recycled plastic including, unfortunately, sometimes plastic from electronic waste such as laptops and TVs, which might contain flame retardants and heavy metals, such as lead.

Many consumers are completely unaware of these toxic chemicals, and this causes an extended problem when these products are exposed to heat. For black plastic utensils, this means that the chemicals may leach into the food when cooking.

Black plastic kitchen utensils swap out

As part of our internship program, the high school students conduct door-to-door community swap out, handing out a fact sheet that they created about toxic chemicals in black plastic kitchen utensils, health impacts and safer alternatives. The goals are to educate low-income families in South Park, test the messaging on the fact sheet, and finally encourage community members to swap out some of their black plastic kitchen utensils for a safer alternative.

The messaging is created in English and Spanish, which is key to facilitate communication and understanding of the problem. This fall, interns visited around 100 houses where most people who answered were interested in swapping more than one item. Spatulas and ladles were the utensils families reported they commonly used when cooking.

Other swap-out events

We are looking forward to working with other partners to help organize swap-out events for the community in King, Snohomish Pierce and Kitsap counties, and beyond. Modifying the current recycling system is a long-term goal, but in the meantime, we’ll keep not only educating people about exposure to toxic chemicals but also, explaining about safer alternatives.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Andrea at Andrea@zerowastewashington.org

By Sara Dandy, Communications and Outreach, Furniture Repair Bank

For over a year, the Furniture Repair Bank has been diverting furniture from the landfill through donations, but this summer we began LITERALLY stopping furniture waste at the source!

Thanks to a grant awarded to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Repair Bank team is now contracted to collect furniture at Seattle’s North and South Transfer Stations multiple times a month. The purpose of this project is to capture usable but unwanted furniture and coordinate the distribution of the collected items to residents in need, which happens to be exactly what the Repair Bank does!

Collection events

The program kicked off in August with two pilot collection events. On both days the trucks were packed full with furniture in less than five hours! This was all furniture that was directly headed to the landfill.

Many of the items we diverted only needed a good cleaning, some needed more extensive repair and refurbishment. This furniture is now providing comfort in the homes of the families we serve. The program is set to continue through June of 2025 with three collection events per month. If you’d like to volunteer to help at these events or have furniture to bring, check the Repair Bank calendar for event schedules.

Xenia at TEDx!

This fall, Furniture Repair Bank director Xenia Dolovova presented at the inaugural TEDxEdmondsCollege event! The theme of this groundbreaking event was Rethinking Resilience—challenging traditional notions of resilience by shifting the focus from individual triumphs to the transformative power of collective action. The event featured an impressive lineup of passionate, forward-thinking speakers who are driving change by fostering resilience within their communities and beyond.

Xenia reflected on lessons of resilience learned from her hard-working grandparents, who, despite limited resources, used their talents and creativity to provide for her and her sister. These values of perseverance and ingenuity inspired her journey and ultimately led to the founding of Furniture Repair Bank at Zero Waste Washington. The Repair Bank empowers volunteers to learn practical skills while supporting their community.

If you’re interested in volunteering with the Repair Bank, visit our website to learn more.