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
Highlights
Fix-it Fair
Sustainable Bainbridge and BARN are holding a second fix-it fair at the BARN on Saturday, September 20, 10am-1pm. Check in by 12:30 with your item.
We need fixers! Please contact Heather Dowey if you can help repair appliances, lamps, clothing, jewelry, bikes, vacuums, or small electronics.
Listen to BI Flashdrive Founders
Kathy McGowan and her son Roan Brumwell, two of the dynamic trio behind BI Flashdrive, spoke with Reed Price on Something to Talk About's podcast on 8/15/25. BI Flashdrive is a hyperlocal, free monthly reuse/recycling community service that picks up at your home. A more detailed description and their monthly schedule can be found here.
Scrap Metal Recycling
We've switched scrapyards -- Aluminum foil is once again accepted!
Look for the bins pictured below at the BI Senior/Community to recycle small or medium-sized 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. Anyone can attend. Children love it! (Ages 5&up recommended.) Contact Barbara Ochota for more info.
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.
#1 Way to Help Compost
Take off the produce stickers!!!
