Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library
In keeping with the mission of our organization to reduce the amount of waste produced by our community, Bainbridge Island Zero Waste maintains a lending library of durable tableware items for use by island residents and island event organizers.
You may request an inventory spreadsheet by writing an email to any of the volunteer Zero Waste librarians: Jane Martin, Diane Landry, and/or Wendy Jones.
When you email us, please include the following information, which we note on our reservation sheet:
- What your event is
- When it will take place
- Approximately how many will attend
NEW: Lending is now limited to events with a maximum of 150 attendees. If your event will be serving more than this many people, but you require only a limited number of items, please let us know.
The Lending Library is staffed on an appointment basis by a small number of volunteers handling a high volume of items for numerous events (240 in 2024). It is located here. As the borrower, you are expected to wash and dry all items before returning in the containers they went out in and to notify us of any breakage, missing pieces, or malfunctioning items.
This is a free service to the community; however, the library gratefully accepts financial donations, which help support operations.
We do not purchase new items for the library, practicing our credo that reuse is better in creating less waste. In fact, many of our acquisitions have come from donations. We are always looking for white Corelle dessert and dinner plates. Please contact us if you have any you would like to donate.
If you have something else you think might be a possible addition, please let us know and include photos.
Here is a sample of our inventory:
- glasses: wine, champagne and drinking
- utensils of various patterns: forks, knives and spoons
- serving utensils: big spoons and forks, tongs, and cake/pie servers
- plates: various dinner, dessert and appetizer – Corelle and other types
- bowls: serving and individual-sized
- napkins, various
- tablecloths: various sizes, shapes and colors
- coffee makers & water dispensers
- warming trays
- vases and candle holders…and more
We do not lend tables or chairs.
If you are interested in planning a “sustainable” wedding, consult this resource guide.
With only three volunteers handling all 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