Hello Neighbors,
Working at CSWD, I am surrounded by co-workers who are truly committed to reducing the amount of waste they produce. Reusable water bottles abound! At previous jobs, frozen meals were my routine. Peel the film back, pop it in the microwave and lunch is ready!
My first week at CSWD, I continued my same habit. Quick, easy, done. No one here told me to stop doing what I was doing but I am a keen observer of my peers. Co-workers brought in delicious leftovers in glass containers – lentil soup, chicken pot pie, garden zucchini with plenty of cheese! My frozen meals were looking less and less appetizing. Plus, I noticed that quite a few of my frozen meals had black plastic trays that I now realize are not recyclable. Pitching them into the trash bin does not feel right to me. So again…I am inspired to make some new changes.
- Bring those leftovers – I love to cook and I am focusing on reducing my food waste. So, bringing those delicious leftovers to work just makes sense. My lunches are tastier, cheaper and I do get to show off my culinary skills to my co-workers. I am a little competitive.
- Reusable containers are easy – From simple mason jars for soups and salads to the fancy stainless-steel bento box for my sandwiches, options abound.
- Ditch the black plastic – Some days in my rush to get out the door, I forget my beautifully packed lunch on the counter. I still purchase the occasional frozen meal to stash in the work freezer for those forgotten lunch days. The big difference is that I buy meals that have clear or recyclable white plastic trays. Take some time next time you shop to examine your options; they are out there.
You have heard me say this before, my goal is not perfection. Small changes can make a big difference for my wallet, my health and for the environment. Care to join me for a bite?
How do you slim your lunchtime WASTE-lines? Send me a note and I will call out my favorites in the next digest.
Warm regards,
Alise
Alise Certa
Marketing & Communications Manager
All About Glass
The complicated realities of recycling your bottles and jars
Glass recycling is a complicated subject, and probably nothing like what you’re imagining. We detailed the specific steps of how glass is recycled in Vermont in “The Rocky Road of Glass Recycling—Part 2 of our Keep Calm and Recycle On” series.
In this article, we dig even deeper into the history, current realities, and future hopes for the 6,500 tons—that’s 13 million pounds!—of glass bottles and jars recycled every year by CSWD.
Surprise!
Libraries loan more than just books.
What do a telescope, a heart-shaped cake pan, and a life-sized Jenga set have in common? You can borrow all these items from a library here in Chittenden County!
You’d be surprised at all the things they’ll lend besides books, magazines and DVDs. Several libraries right in our neck of the woods have a “Library of Non-traditional Things” (LONT) you can check out, use as needed, then return — all for free.
Back-to-school shopping?
Try back-to-school swapping!
“Recycle Rhonda” visits schools around Chittenden County, engaging students, teachers, and administrators alike about the importance of reducing our reliance on the landfill, and what we can do about it.
Want to get out of the classroom? Rhonda can take you on a field trip to see how we manage the community’s recycling, food scraps, and more!
Friday, October 4 – Sunday, October 6
Lil’ Vermonters Consignment Sale at Expo
Make money on the child-related items your family is no longer using and save money on a huge selection of gently used clothes, shoes, toys & gear for your family.
Here’s a list of just some of what you can consign & buy…
In Other News…
The Rover makes its final stops for the season
The CSWD Environmental Depot in South Burlington is our year-round facility designed to accept your hazardous waste. For those who can’t make it to South Burlington, The Rover visits every town in Chittenden County once per year and collects some of the same materials (from households only).
September 28: Bolton – Fire Station
October 12: Huntington – Huntington Highway Garage
October 19: St. George – St. George Town Center
Seven Days article: Are Chittenden County Recyclables Getting Recycled?
“As the recyclables market became oversaturated, prices sank, and U.S. cities scrambled to find new buyers. Americans were faced with the terrifying realization that recycled materials don’t take care of themselves. Nothing is recyclable unless someone wants to buy it.
So what about Chittenden County? What’s happening to our bottles, cans and cardboard after they leave our hands?”
RAD TV Presents: Working Toward A Zero-Waste Society – Chittenden County, Vermont and Beyond
Our own Michele Morris speaks on this recent panel discussion of RAD-TV (Rights and Democracy) Live. Give it a listen!
Across the Fence episode: UVM students explore market possibilities for recycled glass
CSWD’s Director of Operations, Josh Tyler, was featured on this episode of Across the Fence. He’s working with a UVM class to find new ways and new markets for crushed recycled glass.
Paint Sale
5-gallon buckets of Granite Gray are now $35 for a limited time only at the Environmental Depot!