In the spring of 2024, Kathy McGowan and her two teenaged sons, Roan and Bo, launched a “little experiment,” in her words, that “seeks to enhance the amazing recycling programs that already exist on Bainbridge Island and address three specific needs: cost, convenience, awareness.”
Kathy is the former Sakai parent who spearheaded a months-long plastic film recycling drive that involved the entire community and resulted in Sakai Intermediate School placing first in its category in the national Trex Recycling Challenge.
Roan explains the BI Flashdrive program this way: “We recognize that not everybody can afford fee-based, at-home recycling pick-up programs, nor do they have the time to make recycling deliveries themselves.
“BI Flashdrive solves these problems by highlighting a different recycling program each month that is free and preferably local. The ‘flash’ will let you know what is being recycled and when the pick-up date is. On that day, put your items outside your front door, and BI Flashdrive will swing by and take them off your hands [for free]. Be sure to email biflashdrive@gmail.com beforehand and let us know that you have a pick-up.”
Sign up here to be on the list for flash notifications of what items will be picked up and on which date.
Check out their Instagram account to see what has been collected in past months.
CAN YOU BE A VOLUNTEER DRIVER?:
If you are available to help pick-up items for our February Flashdrive on February 28, please let us know. We do our best to assign folks a limited number of convenient pick-up locations near their homes and to make the process as efficient and as easy as possible for them. Once we get a sense of pick-up needs, we will reach out (we have been very fortunate and usually get more volunteer drivers than we need). Thanks for considering!
MINI CALENDAR 2025-2026
(May be subject to change as more local needs are identified)
MAY 2026
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, beginning 8am
WHAT:
- Fake flowers (not dried flowers)
- Fabric approx 12″x12″ ish (PRE-cut please, any type)
- Baseballs
- Ping pong balls
- Wiffle balls
- Large Marbles
- Small Toy Figurines (dollhouse sized…but doesn’t have to be for a dollhouse)
- Small Toy Furniture (dollhouse sized…but doesn’t have to be for a dollhouse)
WHO: Mr. Kitley’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classroom, Blakely Elementary School
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO: If you have any of the items listed above, shoot us an email before the designated pick-up date. Include your pick-up location (we always ask to stay current), and have your items ready by 8am, Saturday, May 16.
June: Men’s Clothing
Suits for Service Members, Gigi Harbor Chamber of Commerce, https://www.gigharborchamber.net/suits-for-service-members
Think Father’s Day: Men’s Suits & Ties