| News you can use and reuse | Vol. 12, No. 4, Fall 2003 |
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| • Recycling Dropsites & Preparation • What to do With Everything Else • About Used News/Services Provided by BRING |
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| IN THIS ISSUE: Recycling Reaps Rich Rewards in Lane County Timely WASTE PREVENTION TIPS Deconstruction Up and Down Materials Exchange Online BRING Shoppers Can Boast on our Website Electronics Recycling News Local Green Schools Eligible for Grants Shoe Recycling Program Wraps Up US Bank Backs BRING Your Donations Make it Possible Consumer Action Corner: Disposable DVDs Opt Out of Catalog Marketing Database Wired to Waste Reduction All’s Fair in Repair Volunteer for BRING Rechargeable Batteries Useful but Toxic Falling, Falling Leaves A Page From the Price Guide Take A Free Class on Composting Worm Digest Worm Bin Workshops |
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| Recycling Reaps Rich Rewards in Lane County | ||
| Most people know that recycling is an important way to manage the discards generated from homes and businesses. It reduces the need for landfills or incinerators, as well as the destructive impacts associated with manufacturing new consumer goods. Using recycled materials rather than “virgin” resources is environmentally preferable first and foremost because it leaves natural systems intact to filter our water and clean our air. It saves energy, reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, reduces emissions of dangerous air and water pollutants at manufacturing plants and creates “green collar” jobs. • In 2001, Lane County recycling programs supplied industry with over 203,544 tons of paper, glass, metals, plastics, wood, construction and demolition debris and other materials to make into new goods. Recycling saves energy. The energy expended to supply recycled paper, cans and glass to manufacturers (including collection, processing and transportation), is less than the energy expended to supply new resources (including extraction, refinement, transportation and processing). Recycled materials use less energy in the manufacturing process, since they have already been processed once. • By recycling paper, glass, metals and plastic, Lane County citizens saved a total of about 3.5 trillion BTUs of energy in 2001—enough to power over 35,000 homes for the year. Recycling reduces greenhouse gases. By reducing the amount of energy needed for product manufacturing, recycling is a major player in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the dangers of global climate change. • Lane County recycling efforts reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 150,507 metric tons carbon equivalent in 2001—equal to taking 114,000 cars off the road for the year. Recycling reduces pollution. Recycling reduces pollutants from entering the air and water because recycled materials reduce the need for the more chemical intensive processing of ‘virgin’ materials. Manufacturing with recycled materials has been shown to produce less of 27 different air and water pollutants compared to manufacturing with virgin resources. • Lane County recyclers prevented 759 tons of waterborne pollutants and 204,115 tons of air pollutants from entering the environment because of their efforts. Recycling saves trees. By providing over 81,988 tons of old paper to paper mills in Oregon last year, Lane County preempted the need to process 1,192,407 trees into paper products. When paper mills use recycled content feedstock, it requires fewer harsh chemicals, less heat and electricity and a lot less water. This saves money as well as valuable resources for the community. • Lane County’s paper recycling resulted in saving 1,192,407 trees. Recycling creates jobs. Recycling’s importance in America’s economic picture is growing rapidly. According to the 2001 U.S. Recycling Economic Information Study, conducted for the National Recycling Coalition, the U.S. recycling and reuse industry employed over 1.1 million people and the “indirect” impacts on industry, (accounting firms, office supply companies, etc.) created an additional 1.4 million jobs. Recycling as an industry is equivalent to the US auto industry in size and economic importance. • In Lane County, recycling creates hundreds of jobs collecting, sorting, baling, hauling or manufacturing with recycled products. This article was written using an on-line environmental calculator provided to members of the National Recycling Coalition. RETURN TO TOP |
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| Timely WASTE PREVENTION TIPS |
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| The fall months are full of holidays and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with “to do’s.” Take a little time now, and you’ll save materials and money—and time—later. Here are some tips to help you. October Why purchase a new Halloween costume? Hand-made costumes work just as well and teach a valuable lesson to boot. An excellent easy start is the ever-useful cardboard box: Find one the right size for your child, remove top and bottom and staple or duct tape straps to it so it hangs from your child’s shoulders. Make sure it is the proper length and size for easy walking and going up and down porch steps. Now, decorate! You can make a Jack-in-the-Box, a robot, a telephone, a box of sox or any number of things. 
Use make-up instead of a mask to complete your costume. It’s safer, as masks can make it hard for your child to see properly when crossing streets and climbing up all those front porches. If you do buy makeup, buy a set that can be used again. Single-use kits are often wastefully packaged.For treats, instead of handing out over-packaged candy, try using “environmentally friendly” pencils, rulers made from recycled plastic, pencil erasers, toothbrushes, and other non-edible items that can be bought in bulk without lots of packaging. For Halloween parties, rent dishes and cups instead of buying disposable ones. For ideas about making party decorations out of stuff from around the home or office check out www.makestuff.com. Halloween preparations should always include appropriate safety precautions. Check your rechargeable flashlight batteries to make sure they’re charged up and ready. Make the most of your pumpkin jack o’ lantern. Use the flesh to make pumpkin pie, bread or muffins and roast the seeds for a tasty and healthy holiday snack. If your jack o’ lantern is still good when the holiday is over, cut it up and make more goodies or a savory pumpkin soup. If it’s beyond the eating stage, the compost pile or worm bin will transform that rotting pumpkin back to nature’s goodness.
November November means Thanksgiving and that means lots of food and entertaining. To reduce packaging waste and save money, buy products as concentrates, bulk goods, or in refillable containers. Combine waste reducing practices, such as buying coffee in bulk and storing it in your leftover empty coffee cans. Make decorations instead of buying packaged items. Many of the crafts on the www.makestuff.com Thanksgiving page use recycled/reused materials from around the home. Especially impressive are the napkin rings made from toilet paper tubes. If you host a party, set the table with cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glasses, and silverware. Consider renting more formal tableware that you might not use very often. Also, save and reuse party hats, decorations, and favors. After holiday festivities, put leftovers in recyclable containers, and share them with family, friends, or others. Donate whole, untouched leftovers from parties to a local food bank or homeless shelter. Guests may not know where, or what to recycle. Put recycling bins right next to the garbage can and let your guests know the routine—compost here, recyclables there and waste here. You’ll be educating as well as reducing waste. Compost leftover food scraps with leaves and grass clippings. If you don’t compost (see compost workshop schedule at end of newsletter), there might be a neighbor happy to take your food scraps to enrich their garden soil, (I would). When cleaning up, fill your dishwasher to capacity before running it. Running fewer cycles saves energy, water and money. If you use a sink waste disposal for scraps, avoid placing hard, thick, or waxy foods in it. This prevents the need to buy packaged drain cleaning chemicals or send parts of your sink to the landfill! If you’re going away from home for the holidays, save energy and money by turning down your thermostat and putting lights on timers. Unplug any electrical units (lamps, television, radio, computer) that will not be in use. December Holiday Cards: Just one year’s worth of America’s holiday cards would fill a football field 10 stories high! • Send e-mail or Internet greetings to friends and family, or send a holiday postcard to save paper and envelopes. • Create your own cards made out of used paper. • When buying cards, choose ones made with recycled paper. • Recycle old holiday cards. Send just the decorative front w/ no handwriting to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude Street, Boulder City, NV 89005, or call (800) 492-3562. Lane County’s Less Is Best campaign website provides an excellent guide to waste prevention for the holidays.  Shop from home either electronically or with catalogues. It can save time, stress, gas, and reduce pollution. But be forewarned, the mail order industry is filled with wasteful practices. As a customer, you are in a uniquely powerful position to encourage your favorite catalogue or on-line mail house to prevent waste. Once you have made your order, be firm about removing your name from their mailing list and not selling, sharing, renting your name to others. Ask about their packaging. Does it have recycled content? Will they consolidate orders and ship in one box? If you have an option to add a note, remind the recipient to recycle/reuse packaging at local mailing services.Gifts of time and love: Make certificates for babysitting, garden help, or other chores. Give home-made treats or crafts wrapped in reused containers. Gifts of experience: A cooking or dance class, concert, star lab or opera tickets, membership to Mt. Pisgah, Science Factory, Center for New American Dream, a special picnic date, an excursion to the coast, an evening out, monthly lunch dates all year ‘round. Gifts that keep on giving: Potted plants, battery recharging system, a savings account or savings bonds, a magazine or journal of interest to the recipient. RETURN TO TOP |
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| Deconstruction Up and Down | ||
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BRING’s Deconstruction and Salvage Crew has worked on some high profile construction jobs in Eugene and Springfield over the last two years. Starting with a job for Guard Publishing in 2001, we’ve since taken apart buildings or have done salvage in conjunction with the City of Eugene’s redevelopment of the AgriPac site for the new Federal Courthouse, the old Public Library, Peace Health’s development at River Bend, Gilbert Hall and U of O Art Museum on campus, Sheppard Motor’s new Volkswagen dealership and Kendall Automotive Group’s conversion of K-Mart on Goodpasture Island Road.
Our first large-scale commercial job, for Guard Publishing, was by far our largest. BRING acted as general contractor for the demolition of a circa 1910 house updated in the 1950’s with office and apartment wings, a 14,000 square foot edifice in all. A second, 8,000 square foot structure was also part of that contract. We stripped down the former Babes Cabaret for Sheppard Motors, removing fixtures, furniture, doors, cabinets, non-structural elements and the roof system before it was razed. Kendall Motors hired BRING to demolish a 1,000-foot long, two-story partition wall and mezzanine and other structures at the former Goodpasture Island K-Mart. PeaceHealth had us high-grade houses to remove usable materials prior to their being torn down to make room for the River Bend campus. In addition, we are hoping to deconstruct several barns for them in the fall and winter. All this activity has resulted in a wealth of lumber, plywood and other materials for resale in the Warehouse. In 2003, through the end of July, BRING’s Decon Crew has diverted over a quarter of a million pounds (125 tons) from the Short Mountain landfill. We have taken down a 200-foot fence, a 14,000 square foot building, and everything in between. The materials we’ve salvaged have been returned to the community for their original use. Deconstruction saves trees and other resources, and it can save you money.—By David Wollner |
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| Materials Exchange On Line | ||
| Wow! Have you checked out the Materials Exchange on our website lately? There are lots of new listings of interesting and useful stuff like bike tubes, thread spools, wine corks and CDs, little white boxes, film bags and house paint. If you are the type that likes things for free, browse the “materials available” and “materials wanted” listings on the Materials Exchange. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, so start hunting for your personal pot of gold! Check it out at on the BMEX page. |
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| BRING Shoppers Can Boast on our Website | ||
| Do you have a talent for recreating, reinventing and refinishing? Many of our customers buy odd items from the reuse yard and turn them into delightful, unique, high value, or sellable items. Are you one of them? Here’s your chance to strut your stuff. We’d like to start a photo gallery of reuse on our website. The page will do double duty by allowing us to promote reuse and inspire others with good ideas of how to use materials found at BRING and at the same time, give local crafters and creative BRING supporters more exposure. Raw materials must have been mostly acquired at BRING; no selling will happen on the website, but we can give contact information and short descriptions for each if you’d like. | ||
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| Electronics Recycling News | ||
| If you’re a regular Used News reader, you know what a huge problem e-waste—obsolete electronics—have become. Several bills were proposed this legislative session and one made it through to become law. SALEM—The Oregon House of Representatives approved a bill that will set up an Advisory Committee on Electronic Product Stewardship to evaluate market-based solutions to the growing problem of disposing of old computers, televisions and other electronic equipment. Senate Bill 867, which passed the House 42-9, also calls for a pilot program to recycle and reuse such products. Every year, approximately 28 million pounds of computers and television sets become obsolete in businesses and households throughout Oregon. Some states have already banned electronics from landfills, but Oregon Lawmakers recognized that just banning the material does not create a solution to getting these materials cycled back into usefulness. Economic development is the key to solving the problem. This bill addresses the challenge of managing electronic waste through a collaborative process between producers, retailers and consumers. The Senate passed SB867 unanimously on August 8th. On November 7th, The Association of Oregon Recyclers will host an electronics recycling forum in Salem. Find out more about the issue and this forum. RETURN TO TOP |
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| Local Green Schools Eligible for Grants |
 Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens. Schools in Lane County have a history of blazing the recycling and waste reduction trail. Reducing waste and recycling have excellent educational and environmental value, and provide economic benefits for teachers, schools and districts. With today’s extra tight budgets, reduced staffing and increased enrollments, maximizing school resources is more important than ever. Effective waste reduction programs provide one of the best ways for schools to maximize the return on every input and output to their system. The Oregon Green Schools Association (OGSA) was designed to help schools on that path. By developing a recognition program, they motivate, assist and inspire schools all over the state to work together with students, staff and faculty, to become more resource efficient. Working with a local Oregon Green Schools coordinator, schools can apply for the following recognition levels: Green School • OGSA Certificate • OGS Window Sticker • Letters of recognition sent to: Principal, School District, and School Parent Organization • Invitation to the annual OGS Summit Certificate of Merit Green School • OGSA Certificate of Merit Plaque • Press Release sent to local media • OGS Certificate of Merit Window Sticker • Letters of recognition sent to: Principal, School District, School Parent Organization, Local Government Representative, and Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality • Invitation to the annual OGS Summit Premier School • OGS Flag • Press Release sent to media • OGS PREMIER Window Sticker • Letters of recognition sent to: Principal, School District, School Parent Organization, Local Government Representative, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, and State Dept. of Education • Invitation to the annual OGS Summit Currently, only five Lane County schools are recognized by this program: Churchill High School, Willamette High School, Cascade Middle School, Patterson Elementary and River Road Elementary. We’d like every school in Lane County to be a Green School and are working closely with the Green Schools coordinators to facilitate that. We will gladly help schools conduct waste audits, brainstorm waste reduction projects and/or even help fill out the application. For information contact the Green Schools Coordinator and grant administrators listed below. Lane County Waste Management and the City of Eugene have created a grant program for Oregon Green Schools or those wishing to be an Oregon Green School. Twelve $250 grants are available to schools in Lane County for waste reduction and recycling program implementation needs. Schools must be Oregon Green Schools or be applying for Green School status in the 03-04 school year. Applications will be accepted between Oct. 1 and Oct. 17th, 2003 and will be awarded to the highest scoring applicants in meeting the criteria. All schools in Lane County will receive this announcement. If all funds are not distributed this fall, another granting cycle will be announced in January. For more information: Bethel and 4J School Districts: Anne Donahue, 682-5542, All other schools in Lane County: Pete Chism, 682-4339 RETURN TO TOP |
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| Shoe Recycling Program Wraps Up | |
| Lane County recyclers from the coast to the mountains helped us deliver over 4,000 pairs of athletic shoes to the Nike processing plant in Wilsonville this summer where they will be turned into NikeGrind, a sport surfacing material that saves athletes from bruises while it saving the earth from wasted resources. The program was a collaborative effort. BRING, several Lane County disposal sites, Uof O, the YMCA, the Science Factory and five schools (Cal Young Middle, Roosevelt Middle, Edgewood/Evergreen, Camp Creek Elementary and McKenzie School Dist.) collected the shoes, Weyerhaeuser donated gaylord boxes, Beverage Recyclers of Oregon (BROCO) stored and transported them and Lane County Waste Management, the City of Eugene and BRING handled the administration and outreach. 
People enjoyed the program, especially the many athletes and families who had been hanging on to a closet full of shoes because it seemed such a waste to toss ‘em in the trash. It was a delight to witness the helping hand spirit that is prevalent in our community. Many thanks to all who participated or helped make this program happen, especially Scott Ryding and the employees of BROCO. A big thanks also to the Master Recycler volunteers who sorted shoes and prepared those that didn’t meet program guidelines because they had metal parts. They saved many boxes from being unacceptable due to contamination. Here’s how you can still recycle athletic shoes: Think Reuse! Shoes of all kinds can be given to Goodwill and many other thrift stores for reuse by another family. Nike stores will accept any brand of athletic shoe as long as they do not have metal parts. St. Vincent de Paul accepts your old shoes, any brand, any type, any style. What they cannot sell in thrift stores, they can market overseas. Please tie pairs together with the laces or straps. Single, odd shoes. St. Vincent de Paul will also take unpaired shoes and, believe it or not, there is an organization called the National Odd Shoe Exchange for those requiring single shoes or pairs of differing sizes due to injury, disease or genetic disorders. |
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| Your donations make it possible! | |
| Education The key to conservation. Over 15,000 children and adults learned to Reduce Reuse and Recycle this year. Innovation New programs to meet new conservation challenges. Electronics, hard to recycle plastics, Materials Exchange. Dedication to Conservation Thirty-two years helping Lane County become Oregon’s number one recycler. Fifty two percent recovery rate! THANK YOU! Anonymous (5) Holly & Norton Cabell Sharon Chase Sue Goldish Hannelore Hagen Alice Kaseberg Roger Leonard Beverly & Graham Lewis George Henry-Schneider John & Sherold Kaib Ann Samsell Meg Schellenger |
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| Consumer Action Corner | |
| Do you have a pet packaging peeve? Do you find yourself fuming every time a new wasteful product hits the store shelves? It’s easy to get disgusted, even a little enraged, at such egregious waste. Of course, you don’t have to buy the stuff, but wouldn’t it feel great to go one step further? Next time you are disgusted by an ad for disposable cutting boards, dusting tools or other would-be wasteful product, take action! Tell the manufacturer, and the store carrying the product what you think. While you’re at it, drop us a line (or call 746-3023) and we’ll print your pet peeve with the company’s contact information and together we can prove that working together and voicing concerns can make a difference. In this issue, the “consumer action” comes from the . |
Dreadful Product #1: Disposable DVD’s Grass Roots Recycling Network wonders, “Who put Goofy in charge of product development?” Buena Vista Home Entertainment, a division of Disney, is marketing movies on new, disposable DVDs, called EZ-Ds. Released into four test markets this September, the DVD is only usable for two days once the packaging is opened. The movie can be watched over and over during that time period but when the time expires, bonding resin on the DVD reacts with the air around it, making the DVD unreadable. 
This new convenience product will no doubt increase the waste of limited natural resources. The company points out that it will offer recycling options for the discs: “Consumers can use a prepaid envelope to mail expired discs for recycling. And those who return six discs directly to Buena Vista will get a seventh free.” But folks who are attracted to this product because of the convenience of not having to return it, are unlikely take the time to make sure it is recycled.If you think disposable DVD’s are a bad idea, go to the Grass Roots Recycling Network action page to easily edit and send a letter. Or write your own letter and send it to: Disney CEO Michael D. Eisner Buena Vista Home Entertainment 350 South Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91521 |
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| CONSUMERS CAN USE E-MAIL TO OPT OUT OF CATALOG MARKETING DATABASE From the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse website, and the website of DoubleClick, an international direct marketing company: |
| When you buy something from a mail order catalog, your transaction is likely to be reported to Abacus, a division of DoubleClick, which compiles a cooperative database of catalog and publishing companies customers. Your name is then sold to other mail order companies, who contact you with their catalogs and offers. This explains why you are likely to receive several unsolicited catalogs after ordering from a mail order company. To opt-out of the Abacus database, send them an email message. Include your full name (including any middle initial) and your current address (and previous address if you have been at your current address fewer than six months). You can also send a letter or postcard with the same information to: Abacus, P.O. Box 1478, Broomfield, CO 80038. For more information, see the Abacus Catalog Opt-Out web page. It appears that people who sign up for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mail Preference Service will automatically be included on the Abacus opt-out list. However, people registered for the DMA list may also wish to register for the Abacus list, as an additional safeguard. Click here for Information on the DMA Mail Preference Service. RETURN TO TOP |
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| Wired for Waste Reduction |
 New Feature on BRING’s website.Get a peek at some of the unusual and interesting items for sale through BRING. We are posting new items on the Cool Stuff page. Also, new on BRING’s website is the improved version of the Used News that you are now reading. Instead of using a format that duplicates the print version, the newsletter will now be formatted for the website and will be easier to read, navigate, and print out only what you need for reference. Other features on BRINGs website include upcoming events, comprehensive recycling information, past issues of the Used News and links to dozens of other interesting resource efficiency sites. Less is Best, Lane County’s waste reduction information web site is an excellent jump station for ideas on how to reduce your daily discards. You will find tips on: Junk Mail, Waste Prevention in Your Home, Wasteless Shopping, The Less is Best Traveler, Waste Free Office, and Holiday Waste Prevention. The National Waste Prevention Forum has an archive web site that is very useful for looking up information on waste prevention—not recycling—issues such as reuse, product stewardship and sustainability. It is a searchable listing of all the forum conversations between the waste prevention movers and shakers nationwide. Towards a New American Dream Do you worry about your kids growing up in a consumer culture? Concerned that your faith is not respecting creation? Want to do something to get back to a simpler more meaningful lifestyle? The Center for a New American Dream is an excellent resource for information and inspiration about all sorts of sustainable living issues. They feature green buying tips; parenting in a consumer culture; consumer action campaigns and much more. FIX-IT SHOPS: An Endangered Species We found this short film (6 min.) available through Concentric Media, a nonprofit production organization. It takes an affectionate look behind the scenes at Menlo Park’s Vacuum & Fix-it Shop, which repairs small appliances. In this intimate portrait, viewers meet the people whose dedication, patience and skill contribute to their own community, as well as to the urban ecosystem by reducing unnecessary waste in landfills. Producers: Gayle Michel & Kristin Atwell Director: Dorothy Fadiman. If anyone wants to purchase it and donate it to our newly forming Lending Library, please feel free to do so. |
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| All’s Fair in Repair |
| Last month I made another trek to a TV repair shop. That’s three times I’ve taken my little 13” TV/VCR combo to be repaired in the last seven years, and three times I’ve been told, “For the amount we will have to charge to repair it, you could go out and buy a new one!” While I appreciate the honesty and the selflessness of my repair shop to say so, I still wish they wouldn’t. All three times my response has been the same, “Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should”.  Nowadays, buying new is no guarantee that an item will be trouble free. Many consumer goods, especially electronics, are designed to essentially be “disposable”—and that’s especially true of the low priced products that cost less than the cost of a repair. Though their upfront cost is less, when they break, and they often do, they usually need replacing with another new product since repair is either impossible or expensive.In my case, had I taken the advice of my repair shop and replaced my broken TV three times, I would have dumped 15 pounds of toxic lead into the landfill. Keeping my TV out of the landfill may not sound like much, but when you think how many televisions were sold in America last year, that’s a vast amount of natural resources. Research shows that the lead from electronics can leach, posing a hazard to the environment when disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Televisions and other electronics are made almost exclusively from non-renewable and often toxic natural resources. Plastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are made from petroleum oil and natural gas, copper wire and other metals are non-renewable resources mined from the earth. It was not so long ago that a television set was expected to last for at least a decade. Today’s rapid changes in technology, a huge increase in the number of cheap, (and non-repairable) goods being manufactured, and a pervasive cultural ignorance as to the consequences of this trend, has effectively rendered TVs and many other consumer goods disposable. We no longer take broken toasters, VCRs or telephones to a repair shop. We dump them and buy new ones. Replacement has become easier and cheaper than repair. I beg to differ. While the latest, greatest new gadgets and gizmos may provide some benefits, they also carry a legacy of waste. I cannot in good conscience participate in such a legacy if I can help it. Since I don’t want to give up the pleasure or convenience of owning a television, toaster or telephone, I’ll vow to keep them working as long as I can. And yes, I’m willing to pay the cost of repair again and again—even if it means I could have bought a new one several times over. At least I won’t be dumping hazardous waste for today’s children and grandchildren to take care of.—Sarah Grimm RETURN TO TOP |
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| Volunteer for BRING |
| Wanted: Junk Historian We get the weirdest stuff donated to the Warehouse. It’s fascinating to ponder where an item might have come from, what its use might be as well as the potential value as an antique. Is there someone out there who is as fascinated as we are about the history of junk? We’d love a volunteer junk historian to come in once in a while to identify items we’ve set aside and snoop around for other delights. We could feature interesting stuff on our website or even set up a little antique display area. Wanted: Office Assistant BRING seeks office help for answering phones, data entry, organizing materials, filing and more. While you’re here, leaf through the loads of information and periodicals about recycling and sustainability issues. Minimum 6 month commitment desired. Hours to be filled: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 – 5, and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 3–5. Individual schedule is negotiable. Wanted: Quarterly Newsletter Mailing At the end of every September, December, March and June, we scramble frantically to label and prepare newsletters for delivery to 4000+ mailboxes. This is a perfect for community service project for a school or scout group. It would take 3-6 people working 6-12 hours. Sign up NOW to be on BRING’s special announcement email list. Late breaking news of available “just in” building materials; new recycling programs and round up events; fun volunteer opportunities; resources for teaching and sharing the recycling ethic. We promise to keep the messages short and sweet and not flood your email box with rubbish. Send an email message to sarahg@bringrecycling.org if you would like to be added to the list. RETURN TO TOP |
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| Rechargeable Batteries: Useful but Toxic |
Three cheers for rechargeable batteries and the waste reduction they allow. Just imagine how many batteries we’d be going through if all our digital cameras, cell phones, cordless drills and remote control toys did not use rechargeables. Unfortunately, these waste reducing batteries are filled with highly toxic heavy metals and must be disposed of properly and preferably recycled. They’re quite safe in use, but when disposed in the trash, they can be problem polluters. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) recycles all portable rechargeable batteries. Their website has a handy locator to help consumers find the easiest drop off location, but even more important, small businesses and generators of these batteries can contact RBRC to set up a convenient recycling program. Locally, you can take rechargeable batteries to the Lane County Glenwood Central Receiving Station—many people call it “the dump” but it’s the most comprehensive recycling center in the county. |
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| Falling, Falling Leaves A Reusable Resource! |
| Every fall, trees drop their bounty of leaves on streets, sidewalks, bike paths and lawns around town. Managing these leaves can be a challenge for residents and city crews alike. Many street leaves are deposited into curbside yard debris carts and eventually turned into compost. And many become the responsibility of city crews and public works departments. In the City of Eugene, the majority of collected leaves are delivered to community gardens, park land and residents—upon request. The FOOD for Lane County GrassRoots Garden off of Coburg Road, is one of those gardens that receive 650 yards of leaves for their 2.5-acre site. The garden coordinator Merry Bradley says, “The secret to deep fluffy beds at the GrassRoots Garden is in the leaves. We wouldn’t have the quantity and quality of this needed produce without the leaves, it allows us to plant early and allows our crops to be rich, lush, and prolific.” Leaves are a a wealth of minerals, brought up from the subsoil through the roots of trees. A savvy gardener will take advantage of this bounty and compost these leaves or use them as mulch, reducing the need for fertilizer and water in a landscape and garden. As leaves decompose, they provide food resources for beneficial soil organisms and return essential nutrients and  organic matter to the soil.Here are five ways the GrassRoots Garden makes use of this free resource to grow the 25,000 pounds of vegetables and flowers at the garden each year. Mulching: Mulching with whole leaves, or shredding them first with a lawn mower, is a great way to reduce weeds, conserve water and add organic matter back to your garden beds. Simply place a 1-2 inch layer of leaves on top of beds to help protect them from winter freezes, or to keep root zones cooler in the heat of summer. Sheet composting: No turning necessary! Simply place a one-inch layer of composted manure, produce discards, or grass clippings over existing garden beds. Top this green layer with a one-inch layer of leaves. Repeat with thin layers of composted manure/food waste/grass, topped with leaves. Plant after 2-4 months, or dig a one-gallon size hole, fill with soil, and plant immediately with seeds or starts. Trench leaf composting: Dig out the topsoil down to the clay and place soil on top of garden beds. Pack trenches with leaves, as high as the beds. The high carbon content of leaf pathways makes it difficult for weed seeds to germinate, and if they do, easy to pull. Nutrients and nitrogen leaching from the garden beds are captured by the leaves, creating on site composting. Next fall, dig the composted leaf pathways and apply that leafy humus to your garden beds. Refill the pathways with new leaves. Remember to fertilize beds as usual, with a slow release source of organic nitrogen before planting. Casual bin composting: In a pile, or pallet bin, simply apply thin layers of leaves between thin layers of food waste, grass clippings or composted manure. Turn once over a period of four months. Over the winter, cover your compost pile with a tarp to keep it from getting too wet. Hot composting: Hot composting is the most labor intensive, but the fastest way to produce compost! Mix one part composted manure, two parts produce waste or grass clippings with one part shredded leaves. Turn the pile once a week. Compost will be ready in four weeks! For more information about backyard composting, contact the City of Eugene Solid Waste and Recycling Program at 682-5542 or visit for a schedule of free compost workshops. RETURN TO TOP |
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| A Page From the Price Guide To give you a taste of what your might find out in the BRING Warehouse, we’ve taken a page from the guide. The guide was produced by Damien Czech as a reference book for employees, but it’s too good to keep hidden.  CLICK HERE FOR LARGER VIEW |
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| Take a Free Class on Composting! |
| Ten classes are offered each year on backyard composting. The next two classes are: Saturday, Oct. 18th 10-11:30 A.M. Saturday, Nov. 1st 10-11:30 A.M. Both are at the GrassRoots Garden located at 1465 Coburg Road behind St. Thomas Episcopal Church. For more information, call the City of Eugene Solid Waste and Recycling program at 682-5542. |
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| Worm Digest Worm Bin Workshops |
| Due to the resounding success of last spring’s two workshops, Worm Digest and the City of Eugene have set two additional workshop dates: Saturday, October 4th, 10A.M. to noon Saturday, October 25th, 10A.M. to noon The workshops will take place at the Public Works Maintenance building at 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. Attendees will put together their own worm bin, complete with two chambers, drain spout, worms and all. In addition to extensive workshop information, participants receive a copy of the 24-page hands-on guide, The Art of Small-scale Vermicomposting. Residents should register early, as space is limited to 25 participants (though family members may accompany the official “participant” at no charge). Workshop cost is $20, with no penalty for changing or canceling up to one week before the workshop. Registration at the event will be $25. To register, send check/money order to Worm Digest at: PO Box 544, Eugene OR 97440-0544 or call Worm Digest at 485-0456. (Be sure to specify which workshop you wish to attend.) RETURN TO TOP |
| Newsletter layout by Nora Hagerty Special thanks to Cathy Seltzer for the illustrations. copyright© 2003 BRING Recycling. All rights reserved. |