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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:00:15 GMT -6
My town is looking for volunteers for their recycling/energy board. I'm not exactly...ahem...qualified, but I want to volunteer because I'm passionate about it and I feel like it's a good place to start making a difference locally. Help me write a cover letter with some good suggestions so they'll know I'm not just a pretty face. 😛
Right now their biggest focus is on getting residents to recycle more and putting solar panels on some of the town buildings, but they couldn't get enough volunteers to get the solar thing to happen as they intended. They're looking for grants now, but are clearly daunted and asking for ideas besides solar.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:02:45 GMT -6
Also, if you have small scale green ideas, put those here, too. It doesn't have to be all town politics.  |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:03:09 GMT -6
^^^i have no idea what he's saying.
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Post by charlotte on Aug 13, 2017 16:25:07 GMT -6
I feel like some recycling/energy efficient initiatives within the local school and government buildings would add up to make a big difference. Ie do meal services in these buildings use environmentally friendly materials for cooking/storage/serving? Do they recycle materials appropriately? Is there education going on in schools to teach the kids about recycling/composting?
I don't know what I'm talking about lol. Just throwing ideas out there.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:31:14 GMT -6
I feel like some recycling/energy efficient initiatives within the local school and government buildings would add up to make a big difference. Ie do meal services in these buildings use environmentally friendly materials for cooking/storage/serving? Do they recycle materials appropriately? Is there education going on in schools to teach the kids about recycling/composting? I don't know what I'm talking about lol. Just throwing ideas out there. Yes! They definitely go into schools, but it seems like only on earth day so obviously that could be improved. I was thinking about trying to get local restaurants to take the no plastic pledge for take out orders in July. Like no plastic bags, straws, packaging. But I know it's a big deal to order different paper products and I'm not sure what the incentive will be for them. Social media-ing the crap out of them, I guess, but I'd have to get a following first for it to make a difference. |
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Post by ovenrack on Aug 13, 2017 16:32:21 GMT -6
I feel like some recycling/energy efficient initiatives within the local school and government buildings would add up to make a big difference. Ie do meal services in these buildings use environmentally friendly materials for cooking/storage/serving? Do they recycle materials appropriately? Is there education going on in schools to teach the kids about recycling/composting? I don't know what I'm talking about lol. Just throwing ideas out there. Yes! They definitely go into schools, but it seems like only on earth day so obviously that could be improved. I was thinking about trying to get local restaurants to take the no plastic pledge for take out orders in July. Like no plastic bags, straws, packaging. But I know it's a big deal to order different paper products and I'm not sure what the incentive will be for them. Social media-ing the crap out of them, I guess, but I'd have to get a following first for it to make a difference. Or even stuff like a pledge to ASK if people want plastic cutlery for their takeout, or whatever other junk usually comes with it. Mmmmm I love takeout. |
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Post by charlotte on Aug 13, 2017 16:33:20 GMT -6
ovenrack that's a really good idea. We never use the plastic cutlery when we bring take-out home.
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Post by ovenrack on Aug 13, 2017 16:33:32 GMT -6
Does your town have paper shredding or electronics recycling? Those are quite popular here. 1x or 2x a year. It's sponsored by the Boy Scouts, I think.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:36:59 GMT -6
Good idea, OR. Or maybe doing the legwork for them and offering more sustainable goods at the same cost as plastic? If the town could get a budget to pay the difference? No idea what that would be, but I have a wholesale connection who could tell me.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:37:45 GMT -6
Does your town have paper shredding or electronics recycling? Those are quite popular here. 1x or 2x a year. It's sponsored by the Boy Scouts, I think. There is electronic recycling, but not paper shredding that I know of. Good idea. |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:41:52 GMT -6
I would also love to see a push to compost. My FIL was telling me his town turns the yard waste into compost and it's available to residents for free. I would love to see restaurants be able to have a separate dumpster for food waste for compost. And maybe someday residents. Or a campaign for residents to start their own compost piles.
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Post by charlotte on Aug 13, 2017 16:45:03 GMT -6
Regarding composting-- I wonder if it's something more residents are interested in but they aren't quite sure how to get started? A local library or community center might allow you to distribute fliers with some basic tips/info or even hold an introductory class?
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:47:07 GMT -6
Regarding composting-- I wonder if it's something more residents are interested in but they aren't quite sure how to get started? A local library or community center might allow you to distribute fliers with some basic tips/info or even hold an introductory class? Yeah I definitely considered that. I like that idea. Also, the high school has an agricultural program and they might be interested in hosting something. |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 16:54:12 GMT -6
Wow. Amazon has biodegradable disposable cutlery, 100 each of spoon, fork, and knife for $6.40. That is really affordable.
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mapleme
Amethyst
Posts: 6,072 Likes: 16,089 
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Post by mapleme on Aug 13, 2017 17:04:20 GMT -6
Good idea, OR. Or maybe doing the legwork for them and offering more sustainable goods at the same cost as plastic? If the town could get a budget to pay the difference? No idea what that would be, but I have a wholesale connection who could tell me. As a business that has been asked this sort of thing, what is most definitely needed is a easy alternative. Some Zero Waste people came to the farmers market trying to get us to be zero waste but would give us no alternatives or ideas or solutions, so it went nowhere. Folks have asked me to not use plastic to package my cookies, but there is no non-plastic air barrier container even close to the same price range ("compostable" plastic is air-permeable). Take out is easier because there are a lot of companies doing take out, so options abound. But do some legwork first. Find a handful of options to show them how easy the switch would be. For OR's idea about asking about plastic cutlery (which is awesome), bring a table tent type sign that they can put out that says something like, "Do you need plastic cutlery? We won't waste it if you don't need it!" (Or whatever). Business owners have a ton on their plates and need to be spoon fed everything that isn't their #1 priority. I belong to a progressive policy group for small business owners and I'm amazed at what they accomplish. It's because they have a member "handler" that makes it super easy for us all to participate. She emails us to see if we want to (speak at a press conference, write to/talk to a legislator, etc), then finds out what's important to us about the issue, then writes out the copy, giving us free rein to make changes. It works amazingly well. |
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baymare
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Post by baymare on Aug 13, 2017 17:06:53 GMT -6
Does your town have zero sort recycling? We just moved from a town that had it to a town that doesn't, and much less is recycled here. I don't know how expensive it is though.
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mapleme
Amethyst
Posts: 6,072 Likes: 16,089
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Post by mapleme on Aug 13, 2017 17:11:26 GMT -6
Wow. Amazon has biodegradable disposable cutlery, 100 each of spoon, fork, and knife for $6.40. That is really affordable. Check Webstaurant Store and MrTakeOutBags for wholesale bulk pricing. |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 17:12:18 GMT -6
Does your town have zero sort recycling? We just moved from a town that had it to a town that doesn't, and much less is recycled here. I don't know how expensive it is though. We do have that already and it's awesome. |
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mapleme
Amethyst
Posts: 6,072 Likes: 16,089
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Post by mapleme on Aug 13, 2017 17:14:20 GMT -6
Does your town have zero sort recycling? We just moved from a town that had it to a town that doesn't, and much less is recycled here. I don't know how expensive it is though. When towns go Zero Sort they usually save money. Many recyclable make money for a town (aluminum and cardboard, among others), and the easier it is for people to put them back in the system, the more money the town makes. It helps cover the cost of stuff like glass that is a net loss for a city (unless they are redeemed and reused). |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 17:22:02 GMT -6
Thank you for the input, mapleme. I figured as much. I will do the research and offer easy options if indeed I do get chosen and get to execute plastic-free July. As for your business...it might be cool if you offer your cookies/granola stacked in glass jars for the month of July for an extra dollar or whatever it costs you. Wouldn't that be a cool Facebook post? "Are you going plastic free for July? Well you don't have to go cookie free, too! We now have that option during checkout on our website." |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 17:29:21 GMT -6
^^^ or metal tins, actually. Better for shipping and everyone loves bakery goods that come in a metal tin. It's science.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 17:30:25 GMT -6
I'm actually thinking that's such a good idea, you should offer it year round. What a nice gift!
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stringy
Opal
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Post by stringy on Aug 13, 2017 18:18:54 GMT -6
Does your town offer people to buy rain barrels or compost bins on the cheap?
We actually have compost bins at our town dump which is interesting. And we can recycle just about anything. But then it's pay as you throw per bag of real trash which I agree with but find annoying.
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Post by ovenrack on Aug 13, 2017 18:20:52 GMT -6
Yah, a lot of towns offer rain barrels and individual compost buns for sale at a discounted rate. Like, the town website (and fliers) explaining what to compost, how to compost, etc. and a good deal on the cost for one.
I'm sure rainbarrels dot com or whoever makes a killing when these towns sign up.
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Post by ovenrack on Aug 13, 2017 18:22:12 GMT -6
I dream of compost pickup. There are some companies starting who will pickup like trash/recycling for a minimal cost. They're really into restaurants.
It's usually mostly in big cities though. But I have high hopes for the future.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 18:23:49 GMT -6
Does your town offer people to buy rain barrels or compost bins on the cheap? We actually have compost bins at our town dump which is interesting. And we can recycle just about anything. But then it's pay as you throw per bag of real trash which I agree with but find annoying. No, but I think we should. |
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 18:25:44 GMT -6
I dream of compost pickup. There are some companies starting who will pickup like trash/recycling for a minimal cost. They're really into restaurants. It's usually mostly in big cities though. But I have high hopes for the future. Right? I dream of compost pickup, but definitely see restaurants as the beginning. But I can see how it could piggyback for residents on yard waste and I get all excited. |
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mapleme
Amethyst
Posts: 6,072 Likes: 16,089
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Post by mapleme on Aug 13, 2017 18:25:57 GMT -6
I dream of compost pickup. There are some companies starting who will pickup like trash/recycling for a minimal cost. They're really into restaurants. It's usually mostly in big cities though. But I have high hopes for the future. Vermont has started to require composting, but is all, "figure it out for yourself!" Which is really annoying. I get that there are a ton of small composting companies around here, but it would be nice if compost could be offered with our trash and recycling pickup. |
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Post by ovenrack on Aug 13, 2017 18:26:55 GMT -6
Gawd Grumpy, you're gonna wow those elderly town hall stalagmites with all your GGTSSG ideas.
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Post by grumpycakes on Aug 13, 2017 18:39:58 GMT -6
Gawd Grumpy, you're gonna wow those elderly town hall stalagmites with all your GGTSSG ideas. Thank you! I certainly hope so! |
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