Zero Waste

Zero Waste2025-05-03T21:18:17-07:00

About Us

Bainbridge Island Zero Waste’s mission is to reduce the amount of waste produced by our community, from acquisition to disposal. We aim to encourage changes in behavior that ultimately lead to a more sustainable use of resources.

Want to know if you can recycle something?
Want to know which organization might reuse your functional item?

Get the answers on our “Guide to Reusing and/or Recycling Locally” page.

Sustainable Bainbridge created BIZW in 2010. It is managed and run by all volunteers. We encourage you to explore our site, check out news posts and future events, and engage with us if anything strikes your fancy.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep current on our activities, opportunities for participation and education, and other zero waste news.

Our steering committee consists of Carolyn Hart, Diane Landry (ZW director),  Susan Knell (Terracycle collector), Whitney Lane, Jane Martin (Tableware Lending Library head), Barbara Ochota (education lead) and Anna Ullrich (Reuse/Recycle Guide hawk). We encourage you to contact us if you would like to be involved in Zero Waste endeavors.

Connect with BI Zero Waste

What We Do and How We Inform

Reuse and Recycling Information

Reuse/Recycle Guide ~ Recycling Quiz ~ Reduce Tips ~ Holiday Waste ~ Plastics Pledge

Tableware Lending Library

Borrow tableware for your next private or organizational event.

Event Assistance

Help us manage discard stations at Bainbridge Island community celebrations. Learn how to set up your own and borrow our supplies.

Archived Reports

Monthly newsletters ~ Year-end reports ~ Past campaigns

Get Involved

We are an ALL-VOLUNTEER organization. Find out how you can help.

Highlights

Attention All Lending Library Borrowers

The Lending Library reservation schedule is filled to capacity until September 8. The volunteer librarians are busy helping people borrow and reuse glasses, utensils, tablecloths and party decor for over 32 weddings and other events in the upcoming months.
We are closing the library to any new reservations for July, August and the first week of September.
You can email anytime to update a current reservation and to make a new reservation for after September 8.

Jane Martin
Earth Day Award Winner!

BI Zero Waste’s Jane Martin is one of the recipients of the 2025 Kitsap County Earth Day Awards. Jane was honored by the Kitsap County Commissioners, including Christine Rolfes, at their meeting on April 14. Read all about what makes Jane special and her contributions to our community in this Kitsap Daily News article.

Waste Management
in Kitsap County

Take a look at this nicely done story map of how Kitsap County handles solid waste. Bainbridge Island benefits from many of the programs and services described. The fees and tips sections are pretty interesting, too.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Look for the bins pictured below at the BI Senior/Community to recycle small pieces of metal that are not allowed in curbside or transfer station mixed recycling. If you can, pre-sort metal (magnetic) from aluminum. The BISCC is open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

There are metal sorting parties the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 11-12pm at the Senior/Community Center. Contact Barbara Ochota for more info.

Keep Compostable Bags
out of Yard and Food Waste Cart

Put yard and food waste in LOOSE in the cart. If you need to cover the bottom, use newsprint or a paper bag.

#1 Way to Help Recycling

Put your recyclables in your curbside bin LOOSE. The same goes for the transfer station. Recyclables bundled in plastic bags do not get opened; they are automatically landfilled.

Zero Waste (or Related) Events

Scrap Metal Sorting

May 24 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Zero Waste at the Farmers’ Market

June 7 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Scrap Metal Sorting

June 14 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Scrap Metal Sorting

June 28 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Zero Waste at the Farmers’ Market

August 2 @ 10:00 am - November 2 @ 2:00 pm

Zero Waste News

BYOC

May 2025 Bainbridge coffee shops join new statewide campaign [...]

Newsletter Signup

Subscribe to any of our Sustainable Bainbridge newsletters here. There is a general monthly newsletter that compiles articles submitted by the various SB programs and campaigns. There are also newsletters specific to certain programs.

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