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I was lucky enough to sit down with my fellow Waste Reduction Coordinators (Griselda, Bailey, and Alan) to discuss our New Year's Resolutions from the past and present. Here's a quick list of what we are implementing in our homes.
 1. Make your home efficient.
Bailey lives in an older home and did a home weatherization audit. Since then, he has sealed air leaks in his home, added an attic fan, and installed a heat pump. Outside Bailey added a water sensor to his irrigation system and avoids pesticides in his lawn and garden.
 2. Thrifted Wardrobe
All of us discussed our love of thrift shopping since reuse is so important, and there is an overwhelming amount of discarded clothing. The EPA estimates 14.3 million tons of textiles were generated in 2012, or 5.7 percent of total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. Shopping second-hand is a great way to keep garments from the solid-waste stream while helping provide income for non-profit groups.
 3. Creative Compost
While Salem-Keizer residents are lucky to have curbside compost, worm bins are an easy way to compost and a fun thing to share with children. Both Bailey and I look forward to creating worm bins and worm towers in our backyards.
 4. Reduce Food Waste - Griselda has a system to use veggie peels and parts to create broth, and she also makes homemade baby food. This year she wants to stick to her meal plan better, and promote more food waste reduction at work and throughout the community as well. Alan shared his tip of freezing leftovers to extend the life of food, as well as making dinners more convenient on busy nights.
 5. Reuse- I'd love to see a community street swap where neighbors give away things they no longer need. We also like to use craigslist and freecycle to give away items and look for gently used things. For more ReUse ideas, visit ReUse Network and let us know your favorite thrift shop or reuse organization on facebook!
To hear more of our Green New Year's Resolutions, tune into KMUZ (stream online at KMUZ.org, listen on the itunes app, or dial in at 88.5 fm) on January 1st at 1pm. We'd also love to hear about your favorite green tips. Drop us a line on facebook or email us. Your tip might just show up in the next Master Recycler newsletter!
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For the past 15 years, kids have been celebrating and learning about the earth with us through their art contributions. We would like to invite students in K-12 programs and homeschools in Marion County, Oregon to participate in this year’s contest to promote Earth Day 2015. Our theme this year is Green Footprints.
The Earth Day Committee will choose one Grand Prize winner for the official 2015 Earth Day posters, advertisements, and website that will be used to promote our event. We will display all winning and honorable mention poster entries at the event as well as award a First Place Prize to one student in each of these categories: grades K-3; grades 4-7; grades 8-12. All poster entries must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 31, 2015.
For questions regarding the poster contest, please contact Alan at 503-365-3188 or apennington@co.marion.or.us. For prizes and rules visit Marion County online.
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 Mid-Willamette Valley Home Show
Friday—Sunday January 16, 17, & 18th
Oregon State Fairgrounds
Master Recycler volunteers are needed to staff our booth at the Mid-Willamette Valley Home Show as we focus on publicizing ways to cut waste, recycle more, and compost everything one possibly can. Get those volunteer hours done while having a fun and enjoyable experience! Contact Alan Pennington via email or 503-365-3188 to sign up.
The following shifts are available:
Friday: noon - 3 pm 3pm - 6 pm
Saturday: 9 am - noon, noon - 3 pm, 3 pm - 6pm
Sunday: 9 am - 1 pm, 1 pm - 5 pm
Girl Scout Waste Reduction Outreach
On Saturday, January 24th, we are looking for a Master Recycler to volunteer to present to a girl scout brownie troop of 2nd and 3rd graders. This will be a fun way to engage the youth with waste reduction education that allows them to earn a badge toward implementing the 3 Rs. The sorting game is available as well as the Saving Little Pieces video to make the presentation a snap. Contact Alan Pennington via email or call 503-365-3188 to sign up.
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Do you have an environmental education event that you'd like to promote? Email Jessica or give her a call at 503.365.3180. And be sure to add the Green Community Calendar to your google calendar as well!
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E-Waste Recycling
Did you get a new electronic toy this holiday? Don't forget to recycle your prehistoric electronics free of charge (up to 7 devices/day including monitors, printers, computers, mice, keyboards). It's now illegal to throw these items in the trash, so be kind and recycle!
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Fourteen students from Marion County were honored for their award winning artwork that was published in the Recycle Art Calendar at the Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.
In an effort to promote waste reduction and recycling in local schools, the Mid-Valley Garbage & Recycling Association and Marion County Public Works – Environmental Services teamed up to create a recycle art calendar contest. Beginning in April, students throughout Marion County began submitting illustrations that addressed this year’s theme“Waste Not, Want Not.” This contest is intended to serve as vehicle for exposing students to art in the context of recycling and resource conservation.
Please join us in congratulating these student artists:
Luis Perez Early College High School 11
Ariadne Rodriguez Early College High School 12
Mckenzie Haskin Livingstone Adventist Academy 6
Avery Tupper French Prairie Middle School 6
Abigail LeMoss Early College High School 9
Jennifer Porras Livingstone Adventist Academy 6
Madelyn Fish Livingstone Adventist Academy 6
Annie Biondello Livingstone Adventist Academy 5
Lauren Bolivar Lee Elementary 3
Alexis Reeves Hammond Elementary 4
Priscila Arechiga French Prairie Middle School 6
Emma Anne Hurley Judson Middle School 7
Oscar Rinza Livingstone Adventist Academy 6
Erick Ortiz‐Howe McKinley Elementary 4
Calendars are free and available online or by calling 503-566-4159. Residents can also request free calendars from the Mid-Valley Garbage & Recycling Association at 503-390-4000.
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TerraCycle offers Brigades®, a national program to collect previously non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste. We'd like to compile a list of schools that participate so we can help promote the collection and recycling of these hard to recycle items. If you participate, please take a moment to let us know what you collect and if you accept them from the public.
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Last Chance
The 2015 Marion County Master Recycler Program still has a few spots left. We will still accept applications as space permits through Monday, January 5th, so spread the word!
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