Zero Waste

Zero Waste2023-11-11T12:56:14-08:00

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.

We have yet to resume in-person meetings for the general public. Occasionally we hold Zoom meetings with special speakers. (The events calendar below will keep you informed of those occasions.) Our steering committee consists of Carolyn Hart, Diane Landry (ZW director), Alison Kettering (program speaker liaison), Susan Knell (Terracycle collector), Whitney Lane, Jane Martin (Tableware Lending Library head), and Barbara Ochota (education lead). We encourage you to contact us if you would like to be involved in Zero Waste endeavors.

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 nonprofit event.

Zero Waste Event Assistance

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

Styrofoam Collection

Find out where and what to recycle and how to prepare.

Archived Reports

Monthly newsletters ~ Year-end reports ~ Past campaigns

Get Involved

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

Highlights

ZW Meeting and Guest Presentation

Wednesday, November 29, 5-6:30
5-5:30 Brief reports from project leads and grant recipients
5:30-6:30 Heather Trim, executive director of Zero Waste Washington.
Heather will speak about the upcoming 2024 WA waste reduction legislative proposals with Q&A.

Scrap Metal Recycling

Zero Waste has begun partnering with the BI Senior Center to set up a year-round collection of small pieces of metal that are not allowed in curbside or transfer station mixed recycling. The Senior Center is open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

Look for the display below and drop in keys, hardware, lids (make sure they are clean), beer caps, etc. Do not include food or drink cans, as these go with regular recycling.

Author Conversation

J.B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping, speaks with Buy Nothing co-founder Rebecca Rockefeller at Bainbridge High School on October 4, 2023.

Recruiting Volunteer Tableware Lending Librarians

With only three volunteers handling all the requests, we are reaching out to see if any of you have an interest in becoming a tableware lending librarian. Some handy attributes include

  • attention to detail (reading and filling in a simple spreadsheet to make sure orders don’t overlap)
  • free time and flexibility (mutually agreed-upon meeting times to preview, check-out and return)
  • enthusiasm for reuse and supporting community events (meetings, weddings, memorials services, celebrations) to happen in a greener way
  • because of LL location, proximity to central BI a plus

If this sounds up your alley, please email Jane Martin, who will show you the library in person and explain the procedures. Thank you for considering!

Does Recycling Work?

Watch this video made by the Association of Mission-Based (nonprofit) Recyclers that will open your eyes as to why our recycling is so contaminated.
At the end, they offer real solutions that you can advocate for with your government representatives.

#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 Events

Zero Waste Meeting with Special Guest

November 29 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Zero Waste News

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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