April 2018

Sometimes, I feel like I take trash for granted; it can seem like an unavoidable part of the throwaway culture that we live in. Like trash is somehow an integral part of being human.

Of course, there’s nothing inevitable about trash. Unlike death and taxes, waste is far from certain.

It’s not even natural! If you live on the earth long enough, you’re bound to notice eventually: Waste is actually a design flaw.

To put it another way, waste is an indicator of an inefficient system.

Over the years, our community has created policies and invested in facilities designed to improve the efficiency of our own local system.

These policies & facilities help us make better use of our resources and minimize — or even eliminate — waste.

Facilities like our Materials Recovery Facility (built in 1993!), where we sort more than 80 million pounds of blue bin recyclables each year to be sold and made into new products.

Or Green Mountain Compost, where last year we turned 10 million pounds of food scraps into compost that will naturally improve local lawns, gardens, fields, and farms, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

If you live, work, or play in Chittenden County, these are your facilities. You should come see them for yourself: We’ve already published a bunch of public tour dates, and we’ll be adding more through the spring, summer, and fall.

Of course, a well-designed system relies on knowledgeable people. So we’ve scheduled dozens of backyard composting workshops and Waste Warrior trainings, too.

Visit www.cswd.net/learn to find out more.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. We’re looking for a new name for this email newsletter; something less generic than “the NewsFlash.” Something more creative and subtle than “Trash Talk” or “Waste Words.” I’d love to hear your ideas. Just hit reply and let me know!

Tours, Workshops & Trainings

We just scheduled a bunch of public tours and workshops in April & May. Registration is now open!

This quiz is all about compost; or, more specifically, composting. Do you know what goes in a backyard compost pile? How about what we accept in our drop-off composting program? Put your composting knowledge to the test with this fun, quick quiz!

Do you open your garage with a satisfied smile — or with a submissive sigh? Have you been daydreaming about the oasis of organization it could be?

This is your spring cleaning garage guide to finally turn your garage into the bastion of waste-free efficiency and order you’ve always wanted.

Got a question? Just ask our A-Z list! From donation & recycling options to the landfill (last resort), we can tell you what to do with just about anything.

CSWD to raise tip fee at MRF

You may have heard about China’s recent impact on recycling around the world. While most of our recyclables stay in North American markets, we are still affected by global prices. As a result of anticipated revenue shortfalls, on May 1, 2018 we are raising the fee for large loads of recyclables brought to our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Vermonters collected 81,000 pounds of batteries in 2017

Call2Recycle, Inc., the appointed battery stewardship program in Vermont, is pleased to announce that 81,000 pounds of single-use (primary) batteries were collected for recycling by Vermonters in 2017, a 24% increase over 2016.

CSWD Executive Board Meeting: Details

Earth Day!

CSWD Full Board Meeting: Details

Green Up Day: Details