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Sustainable Living - Recycle
And Man created the plastic bag and the tin and aluminum can
and the cellophane wrapper and the paper plate, and this was good because Man could then take his
automobile and buy all his food in one place and He could save that which was good to eat in the
refrigerator and throw away that which had no further use. And soon the earth was covered with
plastic bags and aluminum cans and paper plates and disposable bottles and there was nowhere to
sit down or walk, and Man shook his head and cried: "Look at this Godawful mess."
~Art Buchwald, 1970
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BUF's Recycle Program
GSP Chairs Linda and Deb met with SSC and Erin and conducted a waste audit. As a result
of that audit, a few changes were made as to how we will be handling our waste. For starters, each room in the
building should have two waste cans: one for paper recycle and one for landfill. All receptacles have been labeled
and we ask that everyone pay close attention as to where you are throwing your disposables. We also ask that you not
remove the cans from the rooms. We added new receptacles for bottles/cans and BUF has signed up for the FoodPlus program
which recycles a variety of products like pizza boxes, paper towels, etc. We reduced the size of the big landfill
receptacles out back so it'll be very important for everyone to place recycled materials in the appropriate
receptacles.
The color coding and labeling of the waste cans are as follows:
Dark Blue receptacles: Mixed Paper
Accepted:
• Old mail, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, stationery, labels, cartons & bags
• Computer, fax, copy & note paper
• Shoe & cereal boxes (discard liners and flatten)
Not Accepted:
• Paper towels, plates, napkins or dirty or soiled papers
• Wax or plastic-coated papers (i.e. milk, juice or frozen food containers)
• Plastic, foiled paper, tissue paper or carbon paper
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Black: Cans, plastics and glass containers
•Accepted Glass Bottles and Jars. All colors. Labels & caps OK. Remove caps. Place loose in
bin or Toter™. Rinse bottles and jars clean. Avoid breaking glass. Bottles must be removed from 6-pak
and 1/2 case boxes, etc. and placed loose in bin or Toter™.
• Accepted Aluminum Cans, Tin Cans and Foil. Remove tin can labels and recycle with scrap paper.
Rinse all cans and foil clean. FLATTEN.
• Accepted Plastic Containers. Bottles, Jugs, Caps & Rings, Cups, Jars, Tubs Pails, Buckets & Lids
(max. bucket size - 1 gal. with metal handles removed) All colors and numbers. Labels OK. Remove lids and
caps. Rinse CLEAN and recycle loose or nested together. FLATTEN bottles - especially bottles half-gallon size
or larger.
Recycle plastic containers used for these types of products:
Beverages, dairy products, deli foods, sauces/condiments, cooking oils, soaps, detergents, cleaners
(kitchen, laundry & garage), snack foods, frozen foods, storage/freezer-type containers, hair/body care,
health/medicine, single-serve cold beverage cups/lids, hot beverage lids, caps and rings.
PLEASE FLATTEN BOTTLES - ESPECIALLY HALF-GALLON SIZE OR LARGER - Flattening bottles saves room in your
recycling bin and on our recycling truck - allowing us to collect more recyclables and make fewer trips
to the recycling center. This conserves fuel, saves time and money and reduces our impact on the environment.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Not Accepted. Window glass, windshields, light bulbs, mirrors, fluorescent tubes, ceramics or Pyrex,
insulation, Oil filters, air filters, aerosol cans, Plastic pumps, tableware, utensils, toys, Styrofoam™, thin
foam sheets, foam rubber and Plastic containers that held potentially hazardous products such as motor oil,
antifreeze, paints, pesticides, etc.
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Food Plus Recycling
One of the large receptacles in the kitchen has been designated a "Food Recycling" receptacle and has special biodegradable
bags that are used in it. There are 3 5-gallon "Food Recycling" buckets available for use as well. All receptacles are
labeled with the "Food Recycling" label. FoodPlus containers can be pulled out and used at all our social and programming
events, for paper napkins, food scraps, bones, flower trimmings, coffee grounds, wax paper-lined food containers or cups
(that don't include plastic or foil parts) - just read the yellow "FoodPlus" stickers to remind you what can and cannot go
into these bins! The 5-gallon buckets fit into the dishwasher for sanitizing after use, and are great to spread around the
kitchen for food trimmings next time you are cooking for a BUF event!
All compostable materials, including items from dairy, meat, seafood cases, deli, floral and garden shops:
- Accepted Food Scraps - fruit & vegetable scraps/trimmings, table scraps, spoiled/outdated
foods, all meat/fish scraps (incl. bones), eggshells, dairy scraps (such as yogurt, cheese, sour
cream, ice cream, milk), paper coffee filters and grounds. Expired produce, dairy and deli/salad
bar food, baked goods (can be paper bagged for neatness).
- Accepted Food-Soiled Papers - compostable/biodegradable/food-soiled papers, paper plates,
paper bowls, paper cups, biodegradable plastic plates, cups, bowls and utensils. Waxed cardboard
boxes and cartons. Dough scraps (wrap or bag in PAPER), parchment paper, soiled cardboard bases and
boxes.
- Accepted Yard Debris - grass clippings, garden trimmings, branches, leaves, weeds, stems,
flower trimmings, plants, expired floral arrangements and waxed floral paper.
- Not Accepted - plastics (incl. foil/plastic juice pouches), metal or foil, Styrofoam™,
liquids, diapers, pet wastes, kitty litter, rocks, dirt, sod, rootballs, tires, bricks, concrete,
lumber, scrap metal, garden hoses or garbage.
Materials collected in this program are delivered to Green Earth Technologies (GET) in Lynden for composting.
Composting is a natural process that breaks down organic materials turning them into a rich and beneficial soil
amendment. Compost from GET is available for sale in Whatcom County.
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Brown and gray receptacles: Landfill
The Landfill bins is for anything not recycled as listed above.
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We know it's difficult to keep the bins sorted out when you're running around either preparing for or closing down an event,
especially the Food Plus items, but we're asking that everyone make a concerted effort to get waste materials in the right bins.
Using a wide variety of media (pamphlets, website, Order of Service inserts, forums, workshops and bulletin boards), team members
will engage the congregation in an ongoing, educational conversation on the many ways to reduce how much consumer goods we use and
effective ways to reuse and recycle. We will be working with a local non-profit organization in our neighborhood, RE Sources,
which is building a sustainable living center and has any number of resources for us to draw upon. Details on topics and their
presentations will be worked out this summer and posted here. Also any RRR activities and events will be posted here.
City and County Recycle Programs
Electronics Recycling
In the City of Bellingham, Sanitary Services Co. (SSC) does electronic recycling. Many electronic products - like
computers, TV's and telephones - contain parts that can be harmful to the environment. These items don't belong in the
garbage. Recycle old or non-working electronics instead. Call SSC at (360) 734-3490 or email ssc@ssc-inc.com to schedule
curbside pickup. Anyone can drop-Off electronic equipment for recycling at 1001 Roeder Avenue Transfer Station. There is
a fee for this recycling, see
Electronics Recycling - Commercial Info. for fee information. The flyer claims residental pickup services, too. All
items collected are responsibly recycled or reused.
Whatcom County Public Works has a listing of electronics recycling companies at
Solid Waste - Electronics.
Whatcom County also puts out a brochure that outlines companies in the area that take
e-waste and what their requirements are.
Recycling Updates
Sanitary Service Company (SSC) is now recycling garden pots, lids and trays. They will accept clean containers only.
All colors, numbers & sizes accepted. Labels OK. Remove lids and recycle loose or stuffed inside containers. Drop-off
recycling only at the Bellingham Transfer Station at 1001 Roeder Avenue on weekdays between 8am–5pm. Recycling charges
apply (based on quantity).
- Plant Pots & Trays — Brush clean.]
- Hinged Containers (ex. deli & to-go containers)
- “Blister” Packs (ex. packaging used for toys, toiletries, batteries, ink cartridges, etc.)
- Buckets — Remove metal handles.
Zero Waste
Sustainable Connections has initiated a "Toward Zero Waste Campaign." Zero Waste is the concept that when we throw
something away, there is no ‘away,’ – that the very idea of ‘waste’ can and should be eliminated. Garbage that is sent to
landfills is simply taken out of its natural cycle and put into a holding place for later generations to deal with. Reducing
waste now can make for big benefits in the long run; reducing environmental and climate impacts, encouraging more efficient
uses of resources, and even saving money! Over 100 local companies have signed on to reduce their waste by 50%. Sustainable
Connections offers a variety of tools, including workshops, to help businesses reduce their waste. Recycling plays a key role
in waste reduction and so does eliminating behavior and use of materials that are not sustainable.
Past Activities/Events
E-Waste Education & Collection Drive
On February 3 and 10, 2008at 9:30 a.m. in Rm 1, GSP and Lifelong Learning co-sponsored the film "Digital
Dump: Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa" as part of the Inquiry Sunday series.
On February 24, 2008, the Green Sanctuary sponsored an E-waste drive. Sanitary Service Company (SSC) ran a pilot
program through March for its Bellingham customers. The program collected electronic waste which was then taken to
Genesis Recycling located in Aldergrove, BC for reuse and recycling. Members were encouraged to bring in all their
unused electronic devices and components for recycling.
New To You" Sale on May 19, 2007
The Women's Alliance sponsored a sale of goods donated by members of the congregation. This activity helped us to
meet our GSP goals and encouraged everyone to reduce their consumption of new products and increase reuse of existing
products. Goods not purchased by the end of the sale were donated to an organization in need.
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