Budget Too Tight to Replace Broken or Tattered Goods? Don’t Despair
This holiday season, if your budget is too tight to replace broken household items or if it’s too costly to send it for professional repairs, here are options. Solutions that are kinder to your wallet and the environment.
Budget too tight to replace or professionally repair broken or tattered items? Here’s a potential solution to fix the problem while being kind to your wallet and the environment.
Image by Yao Charlen from Pixabay
Repair Cafe
Saturday, December 14, 12-3 pm @ Leaven Community
Address: 5431 NE 20th Ave., Portland
Volunteers will be fixing small appliances, mending garments and repairing bikes. Please use this link to let them know what you plan to bring so they’re prepared.
DIY Lamp Repair
Repair PDX is hosting a another workshop event. Below are details provided in their recent outreach.
DIY Lamp Repair. Thursday, December 19 from 5-7 p.m. Bring your own lamp or repair one of theirs. Tools will be provided and experts will walk you through the process step-by-step, so no experience is necessary. Mark your calendar and plan to join Repair PDX at 5431 NE 20th Ave. Click here for details and registration.
Granted these opportunities are limited to those in parts of the Portland metro area. If you live elsewhere, check to see if local organizations in your neighborhood or city host repair events. If not, and you’re especially crafty or creative, start your own. Gather other handy folks in your community to donate their time and talents to offer a repair event. Start small, grow in a way that makes sense to you. Combine it with a new and gently used clothing and toy donation drop-off in support of local non-profits of your choice. Such a beautiful gift giving back to those in need in your community.
Earth Day is Everyday
Like Hallmark holidays, I’m not a huge observer of Earth Day. That might seem incongruent with my eco-messaging. Not really. To me, everyday we ought to be mindful of our impacts on our local and global homes. Safe foods, clean environments, healthy water and air, none of these are relevant only one day a year. I find the origins of Earth Day unfathomably inspiring in light of the current political divisions in the US and world-wide. Before 1970, post-industrial revolution innovations were fraught with dire environmental consequences. It took widespread participation and commitment locally and nationally from both political parties and all sorts of professions and laypersons to rectify and remediate the damage. A common cause, a common value united us as humans to strive for environmental protection and conservation for global benefit.
If you notice an outrageous number of ‘L’ words in this week’s tip below, it’s because it’s being simultaneously run in the organizing and lifestyle technique alphabet series.
On Earth Day 2024 and everyday, look around. What can do to enhance your local and global living spaces? Find ways to conserve? Take actions to protect the land, water, and air? Leave this world a livable place for future generations?
In 1970, the first Earth Day Legitimized growing public concerns about the lamentable and deleterious effects of water, land, and air pollution on human and planetary health. The power of 20 million like-minded Americans taking to the streets in demonstration and support of our global home, launched the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and a host of landmark environmental protection laws supported by laudable leadership from liberals to conservatives residing on both sides of the political aisle. This legacy led to burgeoning international policy initiatives. Since those early days, numerous loathsomely lethal chemicals have been banned, leaky landfills have been sealed, rivers in flames have lapsed, levels of dangerous substances in our food sources have been lowered. Litigation against those legally liable for hazardous environmental contamination has provided for compulsory site cleanup and financial loss-recovery penalties.
What can you do in support of Earth Day and every day?
Repair, Reuse, Save Money, Avoid Waste—The Next Repair Café is Coming Soon along with other Skill-Building Resources
Sow the seeds for a greener 2024. Repair your broken goods. Mend your tattered garments. Reuse to save money and avoid creating more waste, at least for the near future.
Mark your calendars. Set your alert reminders. Gather the fixable items gathering dust. Bag or box them up, set them aside for the upcoming Repair Café hosted at @ ADX, 417 SE 11th Avenue.
Saturday, February 3, 2024
If you’re favorite mug is broken, yet fixable, why not make it last a little longer with a Repair Cafe restoration?
Image by LoggaWiggler from Pixabay
10 am-1 pm
Walk-ins are welcome
Use this link to let the hosts know what you’re bringing so they’re prepared.
If you’re the type who likes to dig into DIY projects but lack the skills or know-how, check out Makewith Hardware and Learning Center. They offer a variety of workshops to impart “resilience skills” as they call it to maintain your home, fix and repair, emergency prep, food gardening, et. al. in an inclusive, welcoming environment.
While these tips apply mainly to the readers in the Portland, OR metro area, don’t let that stop you from seeking resources closer to your home. In fact, if you have an entrepreneurial or civic spirit, start your own repair café or tool library in your community with these step by step instructions.
What’s Behind That Label?
Over 30 years ago, I worked in the Solid Waste office at the US Environmental Protection Agency. It was the late 1980’s/early 90’s, and way back then one of the topics “du jour” was product labeling. We waded through confusion and uncertainty involving standards for product and packaging labels. Arriving at a consensus within the agency, among states and municipalities, within industries for defining labeling terms such as “natural”, “organic”, and even “recyclable” seemed remote. You may think what’s the big deal? It’s simply an adhesive sticker adhered to a box or bottle.
Labels guide decision-making, from brand names to product descriptions. They convey information to invoke a level of trust for consumers. Labels will let you know whether your child is at risk for an allergic reaction. Labels warn of chemical dangers. Labels are information. But what if that information is faulty or misleading? Can you believe everything you read or rely upon? What’s behind the labels?
Today, 30+ years since I left the EPA, eco-labels and chasing arrow logos arewidely used yet there’s evidence of scant movement toward descriptive clarification, what’s behind those labels. Strict FDA regulations govern labeling food ingredients. As someone contending with numerous food allergies and sensitivities; it’s vital for me to know if a product contains a suspected allergen. Labels are helpful. It’s not so helpful when one of the ingredients happens to be a spice derived from a particularly pernicious allergen. Some Chai tea brands for example, like the one at my favorite coffee shop, sports a detailed label until you get down to the very non-specific catch-all “spices”. Which spices? Who knows? That’s not only frustrating, the results can either be tasty or nasty.
What do these labels really mean? Image by Jürgen Olfen from Pixabay
Yes, we’ve identified standards for defining organic products in order to comply with the national Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The organic label doesn’t tell the entire story, at least not in this country. The reality is in the US claiming “certified organic” is rather nebulous. Leaching water and run-off, wind-blown, or species-transported contamination owing to pesticides and fertilizers and other treatments from surrounding conventional farms potentially compromises organic practices on certified farms. A bee keeper recently informed me that there is no true organic honey in the US. According to him, bees forage within a 5-mile radius easily traversing from organic flowers to non-organic. I’ll probably continue to defer to organic honeys, but I’m questioning the expense and self-assurance that I’m making the best possible choice.
Historically, California has led labeling standards and eco-activism. CA is reportedly home to the largest number of certified organic farms in the US. They tend to be a step ahead with packaging too. In June 2022, “California passed [1] SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, a new packaging law that requires 100% of packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable. 25% of plastic packaging be reduced. 65% of all single-use plastic packaging be recycled”. Their ambition is laudable, geographically limited, years away (2032), and going to require producers to get on board. Mostly how are they defining recyclable and compostable? I won’t even get into how the focus really needs to be more upstream with waste reduction overall and purchasing practices. I’ve covered that in other tips.
But let’s get back to semantics. Natural, what does that mean when orange juice is labeled as natural? Well arsenic is natural. Do you want uncontrolled quantities in your orange juice? I’m not suggesting there are high levels of arsenic in OJ, but “natural” is a questionable term.
Then there’s “recyclable”. Companies can claim that their packaging or products are recyclable. At least theoretically. This is particularly troublesome with numerous plastics. For example, black “to-go” containers are recyclable, but suppose no recycling repositories exist anywhere near you or in general that accept black or color plastics. Are they really recyclable? Claiming recyclability is an effective marketing tool because as a consumer you can rest easier believing that your purchase is purportedly eco-friendly. That feels good. But marketing is just that. It’s designed to make you believe that you need the product, and you are doing the right thing by purchasing that particular brand.
Here’s a recent example in which products, packaging, and labels have been called into question. Great to know that these Tom’s of Maine and Colgate toothpaste tubes are redesigned to be recyclable, a “first of its kind”. Is your municipality or nearby recycling depot accepting them? Are the recycling facilities able to distinguish these tubes from other non-recyclable toothpaste tubes when processing vast volumes of waste? Or will they be landfilled along with the others despite the claims and your best intentions? Read this Washington Post article to learn more about how confusing this arena is, and why in the last 30 years I haven’t noticed much progress in eco-labeling.
1 SB 54: Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
Clothes for future spring donation
Parting with old clothes is hard. Even if it no longer fits right or garments are beyond repair, saying ‘goodbye’ is tough. But you can do it. Take a breath and know that someone will benefit somewhere, somehow.
When you're finally ready to donate apparel, there are strategies to make the most of your giving as well as your time, energy, and fuel. Seasonal donating is a thing. What do you need to know to ensure that your donation is useful and accepted? Read on.If you avidly donate clothing, you’re likely well aware of how the process works. However, for those who haven’t previously embraced donating old or no longer wanted or ill-fitting clothes, here are a few helpful hints before you head out.
1. Your Idling Apparel is Another Person’s Treasure
Clothing donations are sorely needed as the economy has taken more and more hits. The days of covid have left lingering economic side-effects. Hiring freezes and layoffs are taking detrimental tolls on wallets and bank accounts. Free and affordable options are truly helpful to those doing their best to make ends meet. Families needing to stretch dollars for housing and food have little to expend on clothing and outerwear. Your contributions may help to warm toes and clothe bodies as the cold months approach.
2. Would You Gift That?
Do you want to wear tattered, stained or thread-bare apparel? I know some fashions are curiously designed to look pre-worn. Let me rephrase, worn as though they’ve been through playground mayhem. Keep in mind, for the most part, donation centers are looking for clothing in good, wearable, presentable condition. For some apparel such as wedding gowns, typical acceptance is within 5 years of initial sale to ensure aligning with current trends.
Launder donations prior to drop-off. Give your intended donations a good once over. Would you give them as gifts to someone you care about? If not, donation may not be the route. Don’t give up hope of releasing those items, there are other options. Goodwill normally accepts less than perfect (far less than perfect) items. You may have concerns about donating to organizations like Goodwill for your own reasons; however, for these types of items, you might be able to set aside apprehensions. Whatever works for you, works. I’ve organized clients who insisted their fur coats only go to Goodwill, while others didn’t want even the rattiest clothes to go within a mile of the drop-off. We all have our preferences.
Well-worn, much loved sandals. Great for grabbing the mail. Too far gone for Soles4Souls? If no donation centers will accept them, there’s textile recycling.
Understandably you might shy away from organizations that ship to third world countries. I agree if they’re solely dumping our waste on others. The flip side is that your old sneakers donated to Soles4Souls could end up supplying inventory to start or grow a business in a remote village so that a woman can escape an abusive relationship and feed her children.
Search the internet for local organizations expressing need and verify their current protocols.
Textile recycling, as mentioned in previous tips, if available in your area, is another avenue to keep fabrics out of the landfill a little longer and onto other uses. And, out of your space.
3. Seasonal Donations
Winter coat and jackets ready for the donation center drop-off now.
Consignment stores, thrift shops, and other charitable organizations tend to accept clothing and outerwear donations based upon upcoming seasons. Now would be a great time to explore your residence for outgrown or no longer desired coats, jackets, boots, and fall/winter clothes. Toss them into your car in a non-visible storage area, for safety sake, if you’re not going to donate immediately. The next time you’re out running errands, drop them off before the seasonal demand changes. Place a note on your dash or arm rest as a donation reminder if you’re likely to forget that the bag is tucked away.
4. Know Before You Go
Save time, hassle, and gas. Before heading out do a little legwork. Accepted items change frequently as do donation hours, even locations. Although donation center stores may be open, donation acceptance days/times may differ. Check out updated protocols. I recommend calling if websites haven’t been updated in a while. Know before you go.
5. Donating is Awesome but…
This may sound preachy, but here it goes…the textile industry isn’t just fashion and glamour. “One of the most polluting industries is textiles and clothing; its detrimental ecological footprint is caused by high energy, water and chemical use, the generation of textile waste and microfibre shedding into the environment during laundering (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Due to lengthy supply chains and energy-intensive production methods, apparel and footwear industries generate 8–10% of global carbon emissions, superseding emissions from the aviation and shipping industries combined (European Parliament, 2021). Furthermore, it has been estimated that up to 20% of industrial wastewater pollution is caused by textile dyeing and finishing (Morlet et al., 2017).”[1] Not to mention unsold clothes are often landfilled rather than given away. Higher end companies and “fast fashion” brands reportedly burn and shred unsold items or export to other countries to circumvent regulations in home countries. According to the US EPA, “Landfills received 11.3 million tons of MSW textiles in 2018”.
The magic happens upstream before making any purchases. Take a beat to assess for need/want, fit, quality, enhancement, affordability, storage space, and whether it will transcend temporary trends. The longer it lasts, the kinder to your wallet and the environment.
[1] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.973102/full
[2] https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data
If you’re outdoorsy or plan to enjoy time outside, ensure that you have the proper gear for comfort and safety.
Living in the Pacific NW, and being fairly active outdoors, I’ve come to appreciate stores like Recreational Equipment Inc. also known as REI for keeping my fingers and toes warm and my body dry. If you’re outdoorsy or plan to enjoy time outside, ensure that you have the proper gear for comfort and safety. If you enroll as a REI member for a one-time $30 fee, you’ll receive greater savings and annual co-op rewards in March based upon eligible purchases made throughout the year. Not bad.
I’ve never been a shopper. I don’t like to scour for aesthetically-pleasing, proper fitting clothes. Trying on clothes, even less so. I relent when I absolutely have to (my hubby and friends will vouch for that—their raised eyebrows and sidewise glances at my age-old dresses haven’t gone unnoticed). I’m on a mission to downsize. When I finally make purchases, I prefer to support local, small businesses or companies with a strong environmental ethos and supportive customer relations. I want to know they care beyond enriching their bottom-line.
REI appears to live their mission. They believe “a life outdoors is a life well-lived!” They strive to advocate for the outdoors so you can enjoy it. Here’s a glimpse of their approach:
For items you no longer need or want, they offer a trade-in program at all their stores in order to keep your items in use as long as possible. A store associate will evaluate your gear to determine if they meet program requirements. Approved good condition gear could earn instore credit. Their online trade-in catalogue will give you an idea of what’s eligible and how much your item might be worth. Declutter your home while outfitting someone else for their outdoor adventures.
Shop for pre-owned goods to spare your wallet from a “new item” hit. If pre-owned isn’t your thing, they offer brand new inventory too online, at their stores, and through the REI outlet. Check out their expert advice care and repair articles to ensure the longest life out of your investment as possible.
Shoppers and traders in the Portland metro area take note that REI celebrated the grand opening of Re/Supply Clackamas in Clackamas Town Center on Saturday, September 2. This store specializes in used gear including footwear and apparel.
Whether hiking in the mountains or walking along city streets, keep your toes and fingers warm and your body dry.
It’s great to own appropriate gear. Getting out and using what you’ve got is what it’s all about; otherwise, pass good condition equipment and apparel on to those who will enjoy it at affordable prices. If you’re not ready to start adventuring on your own, group classes and guided tours are happening throughout the country. More information is available at the REI events page.
Note: The Practical Sort does not receive promotional compensation from REI or other businesses featured in the weekly tips.
Staple That
One minute I’m completely dry on generating a weekly tip, the next an email popped into my inbox. More about that in a second. Another serendipitous moment for which I’m psyched. Yay!
Earth Day was celebrated this past Saturday (April 22). I marked the day via dropping off recyclables at a nearby event sponsored by James Recycling. A friend and I sorted and combined our boxed goods, carpooled to the collection, then celebrated our household weight loss by adding a few calories to our waistlines. Yum. The story behind James Recycling is remarkable, and their success is laudable beyond measure. Kudos to James and his mom Kathi, the founders and operators, for their passionate dedication to community and the environment.
That event wasn’t what arrived in my inbox, it was already on my calendar. The new notification announced that “It’s Recycling Day Everyday” at Staples with a bevy of recycling services on-site in the store, by mail, and through the Business Advantage Program, by pick-up. Please note: I’m not endorsing the company or any products, simply promoting opportunities to off-load your recyclables. Keep in mind that minimizing is superior to recycling, so I suggest only purchase what’s essential or helpful.
The recycling services are not only free; Staples offers rewards for certain items. Restrictions apply so be sure to read the fine print. I tried to ascertain the outlets for their recyclable products, but couldn’t find out too much in the limited time I had available aside from the Sustainability proclamations and environmental impacts claimed thus far.
These are the items that can’t be recycled in store. Their list of mail-in restricted items is longer. Be sure to check that out if you opt for mailing your tech devices.
The company offers an App to track your recycling visits, rewards points, and community progress. Aside from collecting an assortment of tech devices (they state any data is securely destroyed before recycling devices), some types of batteries and printer cartridges, I was intrigued to learn that they now offer recycling of pens, markers and mechanicals pencils, phone and tablet cases and CO2 soda stream cylinders.
Staples progress claimed thus far as part of their recycling program
Using certification standards set by the EPA, USDA, Rainforest Alliance and other organizations, Staples’ ECO-ID program enables quicker identification of products listed as environmentally-friendly based on several attributes such as post-consumer recycled content; renewable or bio-based content; remanufactured products, and refillable/refilled products.
Visit this link for more Staples recycling details.
Playing it Forward (Technically No Longer Playing at All)
Like many of you, there are some things I hold on to way beyond their “use by” date. Yep, even neatnik organizers do that.
The Result of Another Cyclonic Purge
During another cyclonic purge, in what used to be my children’s playroom, I came across my old piano books and sheet music. When I say old, these are from my very early childhood. I pulled out some of the music over the years to fiddle (mixed metaphor???) with my daughter’s abandoned keyboard. The keyboard was a gift to her from a international concert pianist who also happens to be the mom of one of her long-time friends.
Looking at this photo mostly brings back horrifying recital experiences. Why did I keep these so long?
I Wanted that Old Time Rock n' Roll
Most of these languishing books contained music that I resisted playing as a kid, then why was I holding on to them??? I wanted to play my favorite rock tunes. My strict, Dutch, classically-trained piano instructor wasn’t on board. Americana was about as close to modern as she was willing to accede. If I didn’t want to play those songs back then, there is little chance I’d be drawn to them now. I take that back, there were a few beautiful melodies such as Fur Elise, a rather elementary rendition owing to my less than virtuosic skills, that I sought out occasionally. But honestly, not enough to justify another pile of books stowed away in an old file cabinet with drawers that repelled opening. The top drawer was prone to collapsing downward when it finally released. Why keep something that is non-functional, eating up space, and whose only purpose was to store unwanted music books?
Bye Bye Space Hog
I convinced my husband that it was time to let that space hog go. He loaded it into the car, and dropped it at a donation center. That left me with a pile of music to deal with that I couldn’t bring myself to toss into the recycling bin. Off to check out donation opportunities at ThePracticalSort.com’s Resource page. Please don’t laugh, but while it may seem obvious to you that I should turn to my own website, I can’t tell you how often I forget and go directly to the internet to search. This time, I knew where to go and the best part is available resources are sorted by category on my site. Simply go to the photo directory and link down to the correlated section(s).
Voila, An Ideal Resource
Play it Forward, a Portland resource for access to no-cost instruments, instruction, and inspirational performance opportunities.
Voila, instantly I found Play It Forward (PIF), a local non-profit founded by pianist and composer Michael Allen Harrison and his wife Marietta. PIF was “born from the ashes of defunded public education music programs. [The] programs provide reliable access to no-cost instruments, instruction and inspirational performance opportunities. Our goal is to remove barriers of income, historical inequities, proximity or any other obstacle that stands between a child and access to the musical education that all children deserve.” And, if that isn’t altruistic enough, they “provide no cost piano and guitar lessons by partnering with local nonprofit, charter schools, public schools and after school programs to bring lessons to children where they are — at school! Each student in the program gets a gently used instrument from the community that is theirs to keep”.
I felt relieved by the decluttering and buoyed with the hope that community children with aspirations to learn to play an instrument (my piano music pile also contained my son’s old drum music, and my 4th grade Tonette instructional book) might benefit from sheet music that wasted away for too many decades. I also wish to thank Play it Forward staff for graciously arranging to meet me at a convenient location for the drop-off.
Save, Save, Save…Make the Switch & Enjoy the Savings
Ouch, prices are exceedingly high. Holidays are around the corner, and budgets are tight. Want to score some extra pocket money? Save space in your house? Conserve environmental resources and landfill space? Bonus: you really don’t have to do much at all. Sound too good to be true?
What’s the secret? Make the switch. That’s it. Rather than paper napkins, use cloth napkins. For everyday use, you don’t need anything fancy unless visually appealing fabrics will entice you to make the change.
The Price to Your Wallet
Cut your napkins to a suitable size. Mine are 16” x 16”. The bigger the size, the more you can refold for another clean side. Use dark or busy patterns to camouflage stains.
Granted, there might be an initial investment; however, there are ways around that. If your budget is too tight to purchase a new set, scout around the house for an old table cloth, bed sheet, or other suitable linen. Cut them to napkin size. What’s napkin size? That’s up to you. Mine are 16”x16”. Why so big? Rather than launder after each use, I can refold them into different configurations over a few days so that there is a fresh side per meal. Use dark colors or busy patterns to camouflage stains. If a meal is super messy (think buttery corn on the cob, barbecued ribs), then the napkins get tossed into the laundry bin sooner rather than waiting until linen laundry day rolls around.
I estimate since I’ve been using cloth napkins, I’ve saved $20+/year, much more than that while the kids were still living with us. That may not seem like much or worth the effort to launder them each week, but I can allocate that difference to higher quality consumables, something fun like coffees with friends, or put those additional funds toward extra special holiday gifts. This year it’s more likely to make up pricing differences such as the more expensive turkey.
If you’re not super handy with a sewing machine, look for pre-cut, fun, eco-friendly fabrics in the remnant bin of your local fabric store. Scout around resale stores for re-purposed linens. If you’re a whiz at sewing, scour your piles of outgrown, “beyond donation” kids’ clothes or some of your old clothes. Make table napkins from those. Use this as a family project opportunity. The kids can select the fabrics they want, allow them to personalize with suitable decorations (ones that can withstand constant laundering and be gentle to their skin). Try eco-safe fabric paints to apply their names to their napkins. Be as crafty as your imaginations conceive.
Ditch Paper Towels
My paper towel holder hangs empty.
Another way to save is to avoid or lessen the use of paper towels. I haven’t purchased paper towels in years. I do have some on hand for emergency situations such as cleaning up cat or human barf. Some circumstances call for sanitary expediency and deference to the limits of my less than iron-stomach. Before making the switch, I calculate that the paper towel budget hit was $20-$30 year. For cleaning rags, go for utilitarian over fancy. Old towels, cloth diapers, socks, ripped or stained shirts, tattered linens make suitable dusters, counter swipers, toilet wipers, and spill cleaners.
Neatly stored basketed rags in the kitchen drawer for spill clean up and countertop protection.
Toss dirty rags in the washer for linen day laundering
The Price to Your Storage
Next, take a look at your napkin and paper towel storage areas. Those bulky items take up quite a bit of real estate. What else could you be neatly storing if those weren’t hogging up so much room? I house my cloth napkins neatly stacked in a cute basket. Rags are stored in various locations throughout the house such as under bathroom sinks, over-the-door pocket holder in my laundry room, and in a basket within a drawer in my kitchen for easy clean ups. Kitchen rags serve as protection under cutting boards and my countertop compost bin. They contain spills, and the countertops remain cleaner which means less scouring on cleaning day.
The Price to the Environment
Single use paper goods impose both upstream and downstream environmental detriments. From deforestation, to manufacturing pollution, transportation impacts, and landfill clogging among other eco-detriments. If your trash bill is based on the amount of trash you produce, every bit of reduction is a benefit to your wallet.
One Habit Awaiting Adjustment
Now to my confession, I’m still not ready to convert to cloth hankies. With my year-round allergies and constant runny nose especially during flu seasons and pandemic situations, I’ve been opting for a more hygienic option for now. I use every bit of the tissue until it nearly disintegrates before tossing. I don’t think a cloth supply would keep up with my constant usage. However, I’m open to changing that habit when my allergies lessen.
If you haven’t already made the switch, are you open to giving it a try? What can you use a few extra bucks for? Where have you been looking for a smidge more storage? What minor changes are you willing to make to reduce eco-impacts? What have you got to lose aside from a budget drain?
What do you do with tattered textiles? Here are some ideas.
What should you do with ripped, tattered, torn, stained old clothes and miscellaneous textiles? Well if you’re living in certain parts of Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho, I have a suggestion. But first let’s start with repurposing.
- If clothing is irreparable, meaning if holes can’t be mended by either you or a tailor
- If stubborn stains won’t disappear
- If there is enough usable material
- Then use the textile as a rag.
My husband uses old shirts for scrubbing our grill’s grates before each use. We also use them for wiping down dirty garden and hardware tools. Before we gave away our lawnmower, he carefully cleaned the lawnmower blades using old shirts when the blades got completely gunked up with grass, weeds, and dirt. When his hands get super grimy working in the garage, he cleans them in the garage tub sink then wipes his hands on rags.
I put old textiles to use, especially ragged socks, dusting and wiping down counters around the house. Slip 2 socks on your hands for extra fast cleaning in areas you really dislike such as scrubbing around the toilet.
Eco World donation bins may look different in your location yet accepted and non-acceptable items are the same.
When all else fails because the material is no longer useful, here’s the idea I referred to above. If you live in the Portland, Oregon metro area, you may have noticed pink Komen for Cure the donation bins. These are also receptacles for any soft goods and textiles regardless of condition or quality, including fabric scraps. Drop-off clothing, shoes, belts, purses, bedding, pillows, stuffed animals, towels, accessories, and small household items. They don’t accept anything wet or containing mold or mildew, electronics, furniture, or glassware. In the other states, the bins operated by EcoWorld Trading may look different.
If you don’t have a bin located near you, opt for the free home pick-up PorchIt program. You can sign up at justporchit.com or by calling or texting 1-800-965-6519. All items must be in any kind of bag and not boxes or loose. In Oregon, the service area is from Portland to Eugene, Astoria to Florence, and in Washington they cover Cowlitz and Clark counties. Aside from the states mentioned above, EcoWorld is planning to grow their textile recycling and donation programs throughout the country.
EcoWorld donates usable clothes, accessories, and housewares among 198 affiliate non-profit organizations. Anything those organizations can’t use, are returned to Ecoworld for next step consideration at Ecoworld’s expense. Trashing is a last resort. They export donations for second-hand use to an organization in Guatemala with whom they have a close working relationship to ensure proper handling of the goods. Again, unusables are returned to Ecoworld at Eco’s expense. Partner organizations that don’t need material goods receive monetary proceeds from generated revenues.
Unusable textiles are remanufactured into carpet pads, insulation, and underlay at an upcycling factory in Los Angeles.
How in the world do you dispose of used mascara wands in an eco-minded way? Check out Wands for Wildlife.
Need to offload stuff from your home? ThePracticalSort.com’s waste reduction and disposal resource page lists numerous organizations that collect donations, repurpose goods, hold repair cafes, etc. I try to keep the resources updated, not an easy task. Always call ahead before heading out the door just in case. New places appear, old organizations disappear, requirements and protocols change rapidly, and accepted goods rarely stay the same. Every so often I come across a non-profit that blows my mind for their creativity for repurposing hard to manage waste while also working toward reducing human impacts on the planet. One example is Wands for Wildlife. Who knew that old mascara wands are being repurposed into wildlife grooming tools and equipment cleaners? I didn’t. Now I do.
Although Wands for Wildlife doesn’t directly work with nature’s creatures, they collect and deliver to wildlife caregivers used mascara wands per guideline instructions. Basically only send non-frayed, cleaned brushes with no residual mascara. They ask that multiple wands be wrapped in towels that will be repurposed for animal care. Monetary donations are requested to help offset costs of getting the brushes to the caregivers.
Wands for Wildlife’s Wand Art program reuses surplus mascara wands to inspire youth and adult artists to create pieces that serve as messages about human impacts on the environment. Completed art projects are also used as habitats and sustenance for wildlife.
Tubes and other beauty packaging are NOT accepted by Wands for Wildlife, instead they refer over to pactcollective.org for in-store drop-off or mail-in if you’re not located near a program collection bin.
Pact is working to change packaging design and to reuse hard to recycle packaging such as “plastic packages smaller than a yogurt cup, squeezable plastic tubes, pumps, caps, colored glass, and other common beauty formats that are highly unlikely to be recycled in curbside programs”. “Pact aims to find the highest and best use for the empty beauty packages we collect. We prioritize getting materials back into consumer packaging or durable goods over downcycling or chemical recycling. The least favorable option for packaging end-of-life is incineration, or “waste-to-energy.” We only do this when there is no other use for the package.”
This Earth Day augment your gardens with pollinator attractants. Pollinators such as honey bees, birds, fruit bats are vital to our ecosystem, agricultural crops, and beautifying our surroundings with a limitless variety of floral colors and shapes.
Happy Earth Day 2022!
Today marks 52 years since the first US mobilization of environmental protection action and now global movement aka Earth Day. How will you celebrate?
Here are 10 ideas for a more eco-friendly day.
1. Only purchase essentials or things you truly desire (that’s also a huge budget-saver).
2. Go organic. Supporting organic farmers means less pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals infiltrating our soil and drinking water. Also healthier, less synthetic laced foods ingested.
3. Avoid plastic. I realize this is difficult especially after personal use containers for bulk goods have been restricted due to the pandemic. There are so many health and environmental reasons to avoid plastic. Repackage into non-plastics for food items when you get home.
4. Research alternative energy sources. Granted there are costs and downsides to alternative fuels. Nothing is perfect. For economic reasons alone, the price of gasoline might have you wondering about other options.
5. Plant your own produce and herbs. If you have the space (even a window sill), there is nothing like picking your own food. The freshness is unbeatable.
6. Augment your gardens with pollinator attractants. Pollinators such as honey bees, birds, fruit bats are vital to our ecosystem, agricultural crops, and beautifying our surroundings with a limitless variety of floral colors and shapes. According to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, “Go Native! Native plants are the heart of a pollinator friendly garden. Research shows that native plants are 4 times more attractive to pollinators than non-natives, so planting natives in your yard will supply pollinators with the nutrition they need to thrive”.*
7. Plan your errands. Strategically route your errands to minimize drive time and gas consumption. If possible, travel during non-peak times to avoid traffic jam idling. The fewer trips, the less gas you use, the greater the savings. With the current price of gas, that’s definitely a bonus.
8. Carpool or share errands. The next time you run to the store, check with friends or neighbors to see if anyone else needs to go or if you can pick up a thing or 2 to save them a trip. Seniors will especially appreciate the offer.
9. Remote work. Yes, many folks are slowly returning to the office. Others have a choice to stay remote or only go into the office as needed. If working from home is viable, your transportation budget will thank you.
10. Reduce and reuse comes before recycling. Recycling is not at the top of the eco-pyramid for a reason. It comes with its own challenges. While it’s preferable to landfilling, the more we minimize through thoughtful purchases, consumption, and reuse, the less we have to dispose. There is also an upstream benefit to minimizing. Less virgin materials are mined, deforested, transported, emitted into the air, water, ground, etc.
These are just a few ideas. You likely have many more. And yes, I realize that being eco-responsible is confusing and confounding at times. There is a cost/benefit to every decision we make. The beauty is that you have a choice.
*https://ento.psu.edu/research/centers/pollinators/public-outreach/cert/cert-steps-step1
Take the Mystery Out of Recycling
You’re in the midst of a major room clear-out project. Everything is zipping along. Boxes are set up for what to keep, what to toss. And you’re in a tossing groove. But wait, does that go into the recycling bin? How about this? Eventually your mind gets boggled until you either give up or throw items into the wishcycling bin hoping that it will be accepted. Unfortunately, wishing can’t always make it come true. And loads can be rejected due to contamination, items that don’t belong or they’re in unacceptable condition. We ran into that problem when China, one of the biggest importers of the world’s waste paper and plastics put the brakes on. Among the reasons was soiled and contaminated materials. In turn, without markets for the waste, municipalities halted their collections or diverted recycling to the landfill. So, it’s important that we try to follow the rules as best we can without losing our sanity.
It’s not uncommon to be confused by what goes into the curbside recycling bin, if you have curbside recycling services at your home or apartment. I’m often stumped by certain products or packaging. Nearly every job I work, a client runs into a “does this or doesn’t it” go into the recycling bin situation. I’ve been known to reach out to my “experts” for guidance. Sometimes the recycling numbers are an indicator of what goes where. Other times, they are simply a number and a chasing arrow logo representing the type of plastic content. Does the bottle have a neck? Is it clear or colored plastic? What shape is it? Is it 6 oz or larger? How the heck do you keep it all straight and remember especially as guidelines change faster than hemlines? Since plastics will be melted down, I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around shapes being the determinant. However, some machines can only process certain shapes. Plastic bags can jam machines and gum up the works. There are reasons for some rules.
Fortunately, the city of Portland mails periodic collection guides (click to download) with clear illustrations and descriptions about what goes into the recycling, compost, and trash bins. I keep mine near my recycling bin for reference. Your city or town may do likewise. Yet what about the object in your hands that isn’t in any of the photos on their guide? If you are confused or unsure, contact your waste hauler for guidance. Portland Metro is a handy resource for disposal guidance and where to take disposables aside from the trash bin. Simply enter the object and your location into their search engine. I have to admit many times my object is not in their directory. Ran into this last week with smoke detectors. Fortunately, a local e-waste depository told me to bring them in.
Portland.gov/garbage-recycling guide. Your hauler guidelines may differ. Please be sure to check their collection instructions.
There are city-wide services that will provide curbside pick-up and recycling event depots for the items not collected by your hauler. For example, James Recycling in SW Portland was started by a young man who wanted to make an eco-impact. James Recycling sponsors events around the metro area collecting a wide range of non-curbside recyclables, e-waste, batteries, Christmas tree lights, bottle caps, corks, etc. His pick-up services offers a wider range of collected goods. The geographic area is limited to mainly SW Portland. Check the website for service details.
You may have noticed what look to be old fashioned milk boxes (yes some of us are old enough to remember those) by your neighbors’ doorways. Those are Ridwell bins. Ridwell offers front door pickup for hard to recycle items in the Portland Metro area.
I hope this info and resources take some of the mystery and time waste frustration out of your clean out project.
In the long run, rechargeable batteries are a saving grace. Image by Thomas B. from Pixabay
Want to get more bang out of your holiday shopping dollars? In light of inflation, that will be tricky. Stretching every penny is more important this year than in the recent past. So what can you do? Before you hit the pavement or launch your internet search, consider adding the following to your list. Rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.
Ok, I realize that the initial outlay for rechargeable batteries is far pricier than disposables. How could that possibly be a cost savings when the price can add over 5x the cost of disposables? And that’s before you add in the price for the charger which may run somewhere between $15-$30 on average for a decent charger. Charging speed (slower is better for extending battery life), number of slots, types of batteries and other features will affect the bottom line.
Here’s the pay-off…while you’ll fork out more upfront, in the long run your investment will be worth it, perhaps even up to 1000x more. According to BusinessInsider.com, rechargeable batteries can be reused 1000 times or more. Your wallet will appreciate that. So will the environment. Estimates are that Americans dispose 3 BILLION batteries each year. Batteries are relatively small I get it, but they do eat up landfill space. Furthermore, leaky batteries are an environmental hazard. OJ for breakfast is wonderful, battery juice in our groundwater, not so much. I’ve seen plenty of crushed batteries on streets and sidewalks oozing.
If you think those usage numbers are exaggerated, look around your home. Note all the household, hand-held, wireless devices requiring battery-operated power. Flashlights, toys, tv remotes, gaming devices, power tools, small appliances, and more. Most devices require multiple batteries. Frequent use chews them up rather quickly. That’s why my family turned to rechargeables years ago. Keep the spare batteries charged, then pop them into the device while the zapped batteries are restored to new life in the charger. You’ll always be ready to roll.
Need suggestions for the type of charger that fits your needs? Read this best battery charger review in BusinessInsider.com from March 2021. The Practical Sort does not endorse or recommend any of the brands listed, so use your best judgment.
Rechargeables have numerous advantages but you also have to play it safe. Here are safety tips to keep in mind.
1. The most important by far is never recharge disposable batteries. Never. In fact, keep your disposables separate from your rechargeables so that you don’t make a flaky mistake.
2. It’s recommended that you recharge same brand, same battery size together. Mixing can be hazardous. Charge batteries in the device that they came in, if appropriate. Check with manufacturer’s instructions if you’re unsure about charging methods.
3. Always charge on non-flammable surfaces. In other words, not on fabrics such as on your bed. Bad idea. Charge batteries while someone is home just in case sparking or a fire breaks out from a defective battery.
Find a battery charger that best fits your needs. Image by analogicus from Pixabay
4. To prolong battery life, cooler temperatures are better for battery storage. Therefore, try not to store them near your oven, on top of the refrigerator, or near other heat sources.
5. To extend your battery life and avoid potential hazards, only charge the batteries until they’ve reached full charge. Slower charging reportedly extends battery lifetime.
6. Until you’re ready to dispose dead batteries, “store them in a non-metal container in a cool dry place until you can properly dispose of them. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taping the terminals of used batteries with electrical tape or by placing each battery in separate plastic bags. Terminals that rub against each other could cause a spark. Never put loose batteries in a drawer or area where they may come into contact with metal items such paper clips or steel wool.”*
7. For safe, eco-disposal options, check with your municipality or search the internet for recycling opportunities for rechargeable battery recycling. You can also check this battery Call2Recycle recycling drop-off locator. They request that you make special arrangements for disposing damaged, defective, or recalled batteries by contacting customerservice@call2rrecycle.org.
This holiday season, save money (in the long-run), save the environment, and save yourself unhelpful last minute runs to the store for new batteries when the remote drops dead.
*https://www.call2recycle.org/consumer-safety-tips/
Have you noticed I’m not a plastics fan? I don’t heavily promote recycling. It’s not my immediate go-to for eco-practices. However, the reality is plastics aren’t going away, and frankly plastics serve many uses. It weighs less than glass; therefore, it’s cheaper to transport. It’s a safer alternative for handling than glass when little ones are in the household. Believe me I know, I have the stitching scar to prove it. Glass, according to many health and environmental studies, is safer health-wise, so please don’t think for a second that I’m advocating that plastic is overall safer than other alternatives. It simply has become our packaging default.
300 million tons of plastic waste requires handling and disposal each year. Where does it go? Image by Pixabay.com.
Since plastic is an integral part of our consumer economy, finding ways to sensibly dispose the 300 million tons of plastic waste generated each year hasn’t been overly successful. Yes, that’s 300 million tons. Outlets for recycling may be changing, at least in the Portland Metro area in the near future.
If you live in or near Portland, you may be familiar with Agilyx. Agilyx uses a chemical process to break down post-consumer polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) back into monomer form for manufacturing into new products. Their Tigard, Oregon facility offers 24-hour free, drop-off for #6 plastics.
Recently, Agilyx announced a technological expansion to breakdown a broader range of plastics as part of their post-use plastics circularity endeavor via it’s new subsidiary Cyclyx. Last year, Agilyx leveraged its plastic feedstock management system to create a Cyclyx to “develop new supply chains that will aggregate and preprocess larger volumes of post-use plastics than current systems can support.”* In the last few weeks, Cyclyx announced a series of new members in their international plastic feedstock consortium such as Reynolds Consumer Products, Casella Waste Systems (solid waste, recycling, and resource management company), MilliploreSigma (supplier to the global life science industry), and Sonoco (one of the largest diversified global packaging companies).
While keeping in mind that the breakdown process is chemical and recycling is resource intensive and not a solution to our ever-growing post-consumer waste, this is a monumental movement toward plastic reuse and oil conservation. And while this measure provides relief, it’s critical to not lose sight that eco-efforts must begin upstream, before we get to the recycling facilities. Reducing our consumption means a lighter footprint on the environment, more money remaining in your wallet, and less space gobbled in your residence.
Watch for further developments on the consortium growth, and as Agilyx formulates plans for collecting the other post-consumer plastic waste.
Sources:
Agilyx News
*Agilyx Announces the Launch of a New Feedstock Management Company
unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution
Until recently, I had no idea about the Best Buy Trade-In program for electronics. Their website includes a value estimator for cellular phones, gaming hardware, laptops, digital cameras, smart watches, video games, and media streaming equipment. Be certain to read the trade-in details for product eligibility and limitations by location and quantity. Payment is offered via a Best Buy gift card.
For electronic products with no trade-in value, they offer recycling services regardless of point of purchase, manufacturer or age of the product. Check out their list of items which is fairly extensive including exercise equipment, car audio and GPs systems, ink and toner, camcorders. They also haul away appliances. Various fees apply.
I haven’t used the program yet. If you have, I’d love to know about your experience.
National Take Back Medications Day
Start gathering your old prescription and OTC medications because National Take Back Day is just a few weeks away. Here are the details.
Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and collection may look very different this year due to Covid so be sure to verify location information before heading out. You can find a site near you by clicking here. If you’re unavailable on Take Back Day, see if a friend can cart away your unwanted meds. And throughout the year (under non-Covid conditions), there are sites available such as pharmacies and police stations for drop off. Please be safe when you head out.
From the DEA website, “According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.” Take Back Day is an ideal opportunity to safely rid medicine cabinets of any pharmaceuticals that are no longer needed.
For many years the message was to flush them down the drain. However, medicines in our water supply can adversely impact fish, aquatic plants, and even humans as we consume the water. It is true that our bodies may not fully metabolize medicines ingested meaning it potentially passes through us into the wastestream. Wastewater treatment plants may not catch 100% of the substances. Therefore, chemicals can leach into the environment. Therefore, we should be mindful about flushing the medicines in their entirety.
Not all Take Back locations collect medicinal creams, sharps (hypodermic needles), or mercury-containing thermometers, so verify before you go. Sharps are extremely hazardous to haulers as well as other humans and animals therefore, they are not permitted in the trash. Approved sharps containers are available at Metro hazardous waste facilities, pharmacies, and medical supply stores. Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas residents can participate in the Metro container exchange program. For $5 you can purchase a container, then exchange it for free each time you return a full bin. Note, there is an additional $5 hazardous waste disposal fee for up to 35 gallons.
Thermometers containing mercury should be disposed at Metro Hazardous Waste facilities or take them to Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events.
If you were unable to participate in National Take Back Day, here are some suggestions for proper disposal at your home according to the FDA along with additional information.
Disposing Medicines at Your Home
“Disposing medicines in household trash: Almost all medicines can be cautiously thrown into your household trash. These include prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, creams, and inhalers.
Follow these steps:
Remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter. This makes the medicine less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to someone who might intentionally go through the trash looking for drugs.
Put the mixture in something you can close (a re-sealable zipper storage bag, empty can, or other container) to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out.
Throw the container in the garbage.
Scratch out all your personal information on the empty medicine packaging to protect your identity and privacy. Throw the packaging away.
If you have a question about your medicine, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.
Disposing of Inhalers and Medicinal Patches
Inhalers used by people who have asthma or other breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and narcotic pain relief patches such as Fentanyl should also be disposed by following handling instructions. Inhalers could be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator. For additional disposal guidelines if the instructions are unclear, contact your local waste hauler or trash and recycling facility.”
As mentioned above, it is wise to remove all personal information from labels before disposing medical waste in your trash or at any of the collection facilities. You can soak the labels in water to aid in removal.
Watch for details about next year's National Take Back Day.
Rezone Your Recyclables
You want to pare down, but the recyclables pile up. Life’s fairly groovy if your trash hauler offers weekly curbside recycling. It’s even better when they offer a wide range of acceptable waste. But what if that’s not your situation? What if you need to wait until the next community recycling event rolls around or until you have the opportunity to drive to a drop-off center? Or what if all the nearby recycling centers are closed due to a pandemic?
Zone and label your sorted recyclables
In the meantime, we can get a jump start and neaten things up as we go along. Community events typically require presorted recyclables. With 7 or more categories of plastics, storing can result in a hailstorm of unsightly piles that you need to sort through slowing you down before heading on your way. To save time, if you have room, which I know is a rarity, presort. With a few easy steps (provided you have storage space), you can create a system that will allow swift action. This system in the photo was designed for typical items included in a local twice yearly recycling event as well as some local drop-off sites such as Agilyx for polystyrene foam or plastic bag bins at the grocery store. If you are located in the Portland, Oregon metro area, Agilyx has 24 hour/7 days a week drop-off access.
Consider making the trips a social event (under “normal” circumstances or do so following safety guidelines. Carpool to save gas, have an extra set of hands for toting, and pass waiting times much quicker. A zoned recycling system enables others to quickly combine their waste into your labeled boxes. As a reward after you drop-off the recyclables, go to lunch to celebrate (in a safely distanced way of course).
Pre-Clean
- Wash all recyclables before tossing them in your bins or boxes. Vermin or bugs will make your life tougher and waste time.
- For peanut butter, coconut oil, jam jars, and tomato paste cans, and other sticky gooey containers, toss them in the dishwasher to save scrubbing time and excess water use. Plastics may melt a bit causing deformation, but if you’re not reusing them, no harm. Just be careful not to nest them too close to your favorite dishes or glassware.
Create Labels
- Make labels for items that you frequently need to store such as plastic bags, plastic caps and lids, numbered plastic containers, household hazardous waste (HHW), electronics, textiles, etc.
- No need to waste lots of time on fancy labels unless that will entice you to use the boxes.
- Use large print so they’re easy to read.
- Use scrap cardstock or cardboard. The thicker the paper, the longer it will last. Repurpose cardboard from dry cleaning shirts if you have any.
- Color code for quick identification if you like.
- Some plastics are unlabeled or difficult to read, therefore, set aside a box for “unknowns.”
- Rather than taping or using adhesive labels, try binder clips so that if items need to be reallocated because a box is too small and another is too large, it will allow quick transitions without wasting resources.
- You may wish to create a miscellaneous label for the odds and ends like water filters or items you will be sending to facilities such as Terracyle.
- Grab some boxes. Repurposing is preferred if you have extras lying around.
- With covid, I’d advise letting boxes you’ve acquired from stores to sit for a few days to air out before working with them.
- Liquor stores are a resource for used, clean boxes.
- Be wary of boxes that have held fresh foods as there could be undetected bug infestations in the cardboard.
- Boxes tend to work better than bags as they are sturdier and upright, but use what you have available.
Note, not all the plastic # codes are shown here because several are included in the weekly bin pick up by the waste hauler. Those containers are placed directly in the recycling bin.
If you need additional ideas for organizing your recycling zone, reach out to ThePracticalSort.com.
Here’s a reuse tip to avoid plastics while also protecting your clothing. As I dressed this morning, I noticed a layer of dust accumulating on my favorite black sweater/jacket. I’m done wearing that for the season. I could have fetched one of my husband’s old #4 plastic dry cleaning bags to throw over it. Instead, I had a lightbulb moment. I have a supply of old pillowcases lined up for the donation center. I grabbed one of the longer ones (my jacket is nearly knee length) along with my seam ripper.
This pillowcase was a gift years ago, and while its surprisingly well made (it featured 4 layers of seams to rip through), the material is uncomfortably rough so I never used it.
I eyeballed where a hanger would need to be threaded through the material and then began ripping about a ¾” inch wide hole in the seam (through all 4 layers of thread). Voila, instant cover for my jacket. Pillowcase reused. Plastic avoided.
Long-term storage of clothing in plastic is not recommended. The material is meant to breathe, and plastic, well by now you likely know my feelings about plastic. It doesn’t mean I don’t use it, but I try as best I can to avoid it whenever possible.
Go grab those old pillowcases to protect your fine clothes. BTW, I imagine over time I may need to reinforce the ends of the hole so it doesn’t rip further than intended, but I didn’t have time to do that this morning.
My next project is creating a labeling system for all the coverings I made. This jacket doesn't necessarily need a label as it hangs longer than the pillowcase. All the covered clothes are sorted by section (jackets, pants, dresses, skirts). I could lift each bag to find the piece I'm looking for which would only take a second, but in the meantime I will ponder a labeling method. More to come on that.
For more practical home organizing tips, visit ThePracticalSort.com/tips.
Need some virtual assistance plowing through those piles? Set up a free phone consult for practical solutions today.
Pandemic Purging
If you’re like many of us who are using the Sheltering in Place (SIP) confinement to eradicate the excesses that have been piling up for years, organizing the pantries and closets, tackling the garage and basement boxes and bins, you may have discovered a glitch in the process. If you haven’t started yet, here’s something to consider before taking the first step. Where will the unwanted stuff go?
Pandemic purging is a super time to eradicate paper stacks
Under normal circumstances, for some people making that decision isn’t easy. Now compound that with the temporary closure of your favorite charities, thrift shops, donation centers, and possibly even the material waste disposal drop-off centers. Yes, that throws an enormous monkey wrench into the picture. Do you still need that monkey wrench? But don’t give up hope yet and surely don’t waste this opportunity to finally convert that battleground into your field of dreams.
1. This is an ideal time to address stacks and boxes of paper. Currently, paper recycling pickup is still occurring around the Portland Metro area for those with regular service.
Any papers that you are certain won’t be needed for the new Federal tax deadline of July 15, 2020, toss them into the recycling bin or shred. After shredding dump the shards into a lawn bag or other paper bag, staple the bag closed, then recycle. No one wants our paper snowflakes littering their lawns. Not sure which paper to keep or release? Check out this paper retention guide, Are You Drowning in Paper. These are general guidelines. For all financial or legal uncertainties, please confer with your CPA or Attorney for guidance.
2. There are some non-profits serving vulnerable community members remaining open and in need of donations. Here are examples. Call ahead to ascertain hours of operation, acceptable items, drop-off protocols, and parking options or visit their websites since call centers are low on staff and busy with services.
There have been rumors of folks leaving donations outside of centers and other improper disposal around the city. While intentions may be good, the risks and hazards are causing contamination concern and pollution.
Local Drop-Off Programs
The Sunshine Pantry remains open during the pandemic and accepting a variety of food, paper, and hygiene goods. Consult their website for details.
The Sunshine Pantry
13600 S.W. Allen Blvd., Beaverton, OR 97008
503-841-9418
Image by manfred Kindlinger from Pixabay
LEGO Replay program accepts any loose LEGO pieces, sets, or elements for donation reuse
The Portland Rescue Mission accepts all types of clothing for men, women and children along with a long list of other priority items. Note: donations are not being received at Shepherd’s Door. Please take food, clothing, blankets and hygiene products to their Burnside Shelter location.
Portland Rescue Mission Burnside Shelter
111 W. Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97209
503-906-7690
Rosehaven Day Shelter is accepting limited items and supplies during the Co-Vid 19 shutdown due to limited volunteer resources and precautions. Monetary donation are greatly appreciated.
Drop off Donations between 9m and 12pm Monday – Friday
Rosehaven
1820 NW Irving Street, Portland
503-248-6364 x-303.
Leggings (all sizes)
Underwear (new only, we particularly need size 5 up to size 9)
Sweat pants (all sizes)
Hoodies
Shoes (especially need sizes 7-9)
Jeans (especially need size 4,6,8)
Flashlights
Backpacks
Chapstick
Luggage
Tents
Tarps
Sleeping bags
Backpacks
Blankets
Hand Sanitizer
Empty Travel sized bottles
Hand Warmers
Gloves
Coats
Rain Ponchos
New, unopened hygiene products
Shelf Stable Foods
Plus Sized clothing (all styles)
Community Warehouse in Portland and Tigard are accepting the following items only in order to ensure sanitary services and minimal contact from 10 am - 4 pm weekdays.
Community Warehouse Portland
3969 NE MLK Jr Blvd
Portland, OR 97212
503.235.8786
Community Warehouse Tigard
8380 SW Nyberg St
Tualatin, OR 97062
503.347.2147
Donations Accepted:
Kitchen tables
Kitchen chairs
Dishware (plates, bowls, cups, and silverware – no china or metal-rimmed dishware)
Cookware (pots, pans, cooking utensils)
Small appliances (microwaves, toasters, coffee makers)
Sofas (no sleeper sofas, sectionals, or recliners)
Armchairs
If you have other furniture or household items to donate, please hold onto them until Community Warehouse is ready to accept other donations. With each of the organizations, be sure to contact them before heading over as there could be changes to hours, accepted items, etc.
Mail-In Programs
If you have mounds of no longer wanted LEGOs, you can donate them at Lego Replay. Print out a free shipping label at their website and UPS or FedEx will retrieve the box. This pilot program accepts any loose LEGO pieces, sets, or elements.
Soles4Souls accepts new and gently used shoes and clothing to lift those in need out of poverty.
Give Back Box which works in conjunction with LEGO Replay also accepts household items such as clothes, shoes, toys and jewelry. Print out a free shipping label and reuse one of your previous merchandise boxes to donate. Give Back Box cannot accept large electronics, any liquids, fragile, hazardous or volatile items, or ammunition. Visit the website for additional packing and shipping instructions.
Soles4Souls accepts new and gently used shoes and clothing to lift those in need out of poverty. During the Co-Vid 19 crisis and the recent tornadoes in Tennessee, donations are critical to help them with their mission. Normally there are shoe bins available at some area shoes stores, but as that is not the case at the moment, you can create a Zappos account if you don’t already have one and print a free mailing label. Then drop the box off at a local UPS store. They ask that each box remain under 50 lbs.
If you have extra books, you might wish to drop some into book lending boxes around your neighborhood. Do so only if you feel comfortable. Wear gloves and let borrowed books sit untouched for a few days before reading.
In the event you cannot get out to deliver your goods or have nowhere to dispose currently, here’s a temporary option. Sort and pack up all unwanted items. If possible find a place to neatly stack your boxes or bins against a wall. I realize that in tight quarters this may not be feasible. For safety, don’t stack them more than 3-4 boxes high. Put the heaviest boxes at the bottom. Clearly label them for contents and intended destination.
If you need to store them outside, it’s best to use waterproof bins and put them under an eave or as close to shelter as possible, and toss a waterproof tarp over them to keep them dry. Secure the tarp so it doesn’t blow off exposing the boxes to the elements. A tarp underneath is also advisable. Note that even in basements or garages, vermin can easily infiltrate so be sure to check the integrity of the contents again before you pass them along.
While these suggestions may not be practical for your particular situation, please keep in mind that all this upheaval is temporary (fingers crossed), and that once we return to normalcy, there will be greater disposal option availability. In the meantime, if you have opportunities to purge and rearrange, make the most of it as long as you can do so safely.
Save $ on Trash Bin Liners
Do you like to line your small trash bins with plastic bags? Bummed that the bags are slowly disappearing from store checkouts (even if you agree that’s best for the environment)? Then here’s a no-additional cost, reuse idea you’ll love.
If you purchase toilet paper or tissue boxes in bulk, reuse the plastic to line your bins. Use caution when tearing open the packaging to preserve as much of the integrity of the wrap as you can. And voila, you’ve saved money, you reduced extra waste deposited in the landfills. Win/Win!
I typically dump the contents of the plastic into a larger paper bag that houses my kitchen trash. Then I reuse the plastic until it’s worn out. The kitchen trash can typically go a few weeks before it needs to be dumped into our outdoor garbage bin depending upon if the kids are back home or we entertain (like that happens during Co-Vid). If anyone in your home shows signs of illness, get rid of the plastic bag along with the trash on trash day.
Image by silviarita from Pixabay
Hilton Hotels donated 2 million pounds of toiletries” after partnering with Clean the World in March 2019 amounting to “7.6 million bars avoiding the landfill
My son knows how ECO efforts warm his mom’s little heart so he shared this Youtube video with me while he was home for the holidays. Want to know the difference one person can make by instigating change? Improving the environment? This video only takes a few minutes, and it is truly inspired.
I’m not a soap bar user, haven’t been for years. Even when I travel, I bring along a small refillable bottle of my favorite cleanser. BUT, if you’re a bar soap user, and don’t wish to take the partially used bar with you when you check out of the hotel, then leave it on the soap dispenser. Housekeepers in participating Hilton, Marriott, and Disney World Resort hotels will grab the remains for remanufacturing into fresh soap bars for people in need in the US and internationally. Disease prevention and waste reduction wrapped up in one heroic project started in 2009 by a frequent traveler who noticed that countless partially used soaps are wastefully tossed daily.
In the first 7 months, “Hilton donated 2 million pounds of toiletries” after partnering with Clean the World in March 2019 amounting to “7.6 million bars avoiding the landfill”. Hilton has pledged to “keep all their hotel soaps out of landfills by 2030”.
Kudos to the hotel chains who have bought into this reuse project. And cheers to the innovative minds of Clean the World who thought beyond the trash can and diverted 20 million pounds of hotel waste so far from landfills and get them to those in need.
Reduce Your Waste Project Founder and Sustainability & Waste Reduction expert Betty Shelley & Talking Trash Host Peggy LaPoint Talk Trash on Kink 101.9 podcast
Talking Trash
If you are an eco-geek or confused by proper trash disposal or wondering why markets for disposables are not as robust as we would like, check out Talking Trash a green tips podcast with host Peggy LaPoint at 101.9 Kink FM. Talking Trash is presented by the Energy Management & Water Conservation Programs at Lane Community College.
Reduce Your Waste Project Founder and Sustainability & Waste Reduction expert Betty Shelley
Each episode explores sustainability, solid waste disposal, recycling, reuse vs single use products and packaging and so much more.
My dear friend and Eco guru extraordinaire Betty Shelley of the Reduce Your Waste Project was featured on Episode 32. As a Master Recycler, former Recycling Information Specialist at Metro Regional Government in Portland, and Northwest Earth Institute Founders Award honoree, Betty is a wealth of information about upstream and downstream waste reduction. She uses guilt-free socratic teaching to encourage to make mindful purchasing decisions.
Other episodes examine the utility of Repair Cafes, electronics recycling, zero waste initiatives and so much more.
Metro’s new recycling resource RecycleorNot.org is a super handy quick reference
Recycling guidelines are getting more and more confusing as market demands shift. Staying on top of the latest curbside requirements is tricky. It’s important to remember that recycling is not the top strategy in our Eco-tool belts for environmental stewardship.
The most solid advice The Practical Sort can offer is to reduce intake by being mindful of purchases. Buy only what you need or the things that will truly knock your socks off. If you’re not sure about an item, pass it by. Your budget will thank you and your home storage will be more ample.
But you have things that need disposal now, what do you do? Not certain if something is recyclable curbside in the Portland Metro Area? Check out this new online resource RecycleorNot.org for a quick reference on which disposal bin to use. Metro also likes to remind us that “when in doubt, throw it out” into the trash can rather than contaminate and gum up the works. Contaminated loads lead to loss of markets for our waste.
Recycle or Not is a community resource created by Metro and local government partners.
Sticky Situation
I am almost embarrassed to admit this since I feel like I am supposed to be up on all the eco-stuff, but every so often when working with a client or even in my own home, I am compelled to do some homework to determine whether a particular item is recyclable or not. Rules change and different haulers have their own set of guidelines for what they will recycle or not. It can be confusing at times even for those of us who used to work at the EPA in the Recycling Program.
Over the last few years, I have been inundated with address labels from various non-profit organizations who use these gifts as a direct marketing fundraising tool. Sometimes the organizations are responsive when I ask them to stop sending gifts and remove my information from their database. Other times, not so much. Yes, it is rather frustrating taking the time to phone them once let alone multiple times. I totally get it that they need to spend money to make money, my preference is that they save the money they spent on my labels and postage, and spend it on their constituency (just my 2 cents worth or more like 55 cents for current postage). Now if I lived to be 200+, I don’t think I could possibly use up all these labels. Rarely using the USPS is not helping my efforts to deplete the label piles. Some people love getting labels, notepads, and other novelties, and that’s great. According to some statistics, the over 60-70 crowd are especially appreciative and more likely to respond in kind with a donation. Me, not so much, and if they pegged me in that demographic, they have double hurt their cause.
Adhesive labels CANNOT be recycled by the Portland metro trash haulers. Request removal from mailing lists to avoid label accumulation.
To make matters worse, these adhesive labels CANNOT be recycled by the Portland metro trash haulers. So when you receive these gifts in the mail, if you do not intend to keep them, they need to be trashed. The pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) on the label backing do not dissolve in water which is how the recyclers process the paper into pulp for making new paper.
Additionally, according to a Recycling Tip on All Green Electronics Recycling website, “The particles from PSAs are difficult to screen out or filter from this pulp and can become lodged in paper-making equipment. The particles can even become lodged in the paper itself, creating holes or weak spots in the paper that can cause the paper to rip or tear easily and cause jams in printers and copiers.”
The caveat is that one address label on an envelope does not cause a huge amount of contamination for the load, but the entire packet is a no-no.
Beware of using your shredder to destroy the labels, they could destroy your shredder.
Those hefty bags and boxes overflowing with donatables that you have been tripping over for months have finally been carted away. You walk around your home soaking in all the unimpeded pathways, cleared countertops, and organized bookshelves when your stomach drops faster than an amusement park roller coaster. It dawns you that a few years ago, during a home remodeling project, you stored some heirlooms and other valuables in unlikely places for safekeeping. As panic consumes your body, you tear through the house in search, but to no avail. With fingers crossed, you reach out to the Thrift Shop, but your merchandise immediately turned over. You are now in a deflated heap of tears.
Shake out shoes and boots before donating.
Inspired by the recent Marie Kondo Netflix fad, donation centers are experiencing an extraordinarily high influx of household goods. Transferring unwanted items out of our homes into those experiencing desperate need is heartwarming and mutually beneficial. Unfortunately, on occasion, I hear sad tales of valuables given away inadvertently. A recent news story featured a mom who donated a reusable mug to Goodwill. Unbeknownst to her, there was $6500 in the mug. Her son had sold his car on a Sunday, the banks were closed, so he chose to keep the money safe in a mug stowed in a cabinet at his mom’s home as he was in the midst of a move. Timing is everything.
A few weeks ago, a woman confided to me that she would love my help in organizing her home. Yet she is hesitant and deeply troubled. Fighting back the tears, she explained that she recently donated a pair of boots. She had forgotten that some time ago, she had placed her engagement ring and a family heirloom in the boot for safekeeping. This loss left her understandably devastated and fearful about making another misstep in her attempts to clear out any excess. I felt her pain and the sadness in her voice was still so fresh.
A receipt falls out of a shaken book.
We all make mistakes and yes, some are more heartbreaking than others. And, I know that she needs time to grieve and process this loss. When she is ready to move on, I will be there for her. With both of these incidents happening back to back, it was a reminder to me to share with you a very important tip.
Before taking your goods to the donation or recycling center, remember that old KC and the Sunshine Band song, “Shake, Shake, Shake!” Shake out your shoes, shake clothes and check every pocket, feel around for hidden pockets as well. Gently shake out books there could be cash, checks, receipts, or love letters inserted in the pages. I find this especially true with seniors who through the years stash valuables in unlikely places. Open boxes, bins, lidded cups, pots, and pans and carefully search every nook and cranny. Don’t presume you know what the contents are because someone aside from yourself may have tossed something in for safe-keeping. Or as in the example above, you may have done so, but forgotten.
Next time you decide to it’s time for those old clothes, books, decorative trinkets, college mugs to be on their merry way, take the time for one last dance with them and shake, shake, shake!
Rechargeable batteries, CFL bulbs, and plastic bags recycling bins at Home Depot
How Do I Get Rid Of This Stuff? Here Are Some Handy Options
Check out these bright new recycling bins at my local Home Depot. Disposal options are available for compact indoor or outdoor non-tube fluorescent light bulbs, non-leaking rechargeable batteries (batteries used in tools, cellphones, and laptop computers), and plastic shopping bags. As not all Home Depots offer the same recycling opportunities, please phone ahead to verify what they are collecting. And yes, I am bummed that they are providing those rolls of plastic bags. Baby steps I guess. Note: since this tip was originally written, Home Depot recycling options may have changed. Be sure to call first.
If you have other items for which you are not certain where or how to dispose, check out earth911.com. This site provides scads of valuable information on how to prepare materials for recycling, ways to reduce waste accumulation, and locations near you for disposal if available. Plug your zipcode into the recycling locator and it will search the database. If exact matches are not found, it will suggest alternatives for related materials. That is helpful in the event you did not word your search precisely.
And if you really want to geek out on this stuff, earth911 offers quizzes to test your knowledge about recycling and waste disposal. Yikes, I have to admit I was stymied by some of the questions.
#HomeDepot, #Earth911, #CFL, #plasticbags, #batteries
Use your pre-heating shower/bath water for your gardens and flower pots
When Beauty Comes with a Price
Wow, the weather this spring and early summer in Portland has been spectacular. I can't complain about the dry, mild winter either. Not to burst any bubbles, but the beauty and lack of rain come with a price. We experienced the second warmest January and May on record. As for "Junuary", we had some chilly, gray days last month, yet the lack of precipitation is concerning as we approach the height of fire season and witness the current wildfires in the state. According to PortlandWeather.com meteorologist Rod Hill, "Portland may go into summer with the least amount of April-June rainfall in more than 30 years!" And we are on track for the driest April-June on record.
A Powerful Visual
Have you ever considered how much water runs when you are awaiting the shower or bath water to heat to a comfortable temperature? This powerful visual was an eye opener for my husband and I. Recently I began filling 1.5-2 watering cans before the water is tepid. My watering cans are over 2 gallons which renders enough to water all my flower pots. Emptying the dehumidifier soaks some of the smaller garden beds daily as well.
Save Money, Save Water, and Save Your Plants
Using this wasted bathwater and if you own a dehumidifier, using that water for your gardens is a great way to save on your excess water usage, reduce your water bill, and keep your plants and flowers alive. One caveat, be ever so careful of the weight of the cans. Support your back and knees as you lift it out of your shower or bath stall to avoid injury. In fact, one trick is to only fill it halfway, turn off the water, hydrate your plants, then start again if you have time. This may sound crazy, but when the first can gets about half full, I open the bathroom window and pour the water down onto the hydrangea bed below. Then I turn the water back on and finish filling the bucket until the water heats. After my shower I bring the can(s) downstairs for use when the plants start begging for TLC.
Mesh bags tote groupings of fruits and vegetables
Do you bring reusable sacks with you to the grocery store? If so, that is awesome. You are doing your part to save trees or prevent plastics from ending up in the waste stream and clogging our oceans and other water bodies. Furthermore, you are likely saving money since many stores award cash-back for bringing along your own bags.
But when it comes to produce are you still grabbing plastic or paper bags from the dispensers? Until recently I was doing the same although I reused them until they were at the point of shredding. Then a friend gifted me some Norwex produce bags which I love. You can also use mesh laundry bags. These bags help to keep my homologous fruits and vegetables together so I can easily toss them in the refrigerator bin when I get home.
Use a zippered cloth bag for loose items like beans and peas
Or another idea, I had old throw pillows which I no longer need and inside were zippered cloth bags which held the stuffing. I have repurposed those for produce and laundry. These bags are perfect for items like fresh beans and peas.
Finally, I have gotten to the point where I rarely bag my leafy produce anymore. I used to be concerned about what it came in contact with in my cart. However, as I reasoned it through, as long as I keep it in the top section of the cart, segregated from my meats it is likely no dirtier there than it was on the farm, handled by a multitude of shippers and store clerks and nestled among the other heads of lettuce, spinach, beets or whatnot.
After each use, I toss them in the next load of laundry so they are fresh for the next trip to the store. I keep all my grocery sacks nested inside the largest bag on the headrest of my car seat so that they are always with me if I stop on the fly.
Donate Your Sewing & Quilting Equipment & Supplies to Change a Life
A very special thanks to April K., a recent Simplify Your Green Lifestyle workshop attendee, for this super tip and these local resources for donating or purchasing sewing and quilting machines and supplies.
Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility where incarcerated women are given the opportunity to learn a new life skill through the Coffee Creek Quilter's Program
Two local sewing centers support the Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility where incarcerated women are given the opportunity to learn a new life skill through the Coffee Creek Quilter's Program (CCQ). The students' first two quilts are donated to charity. The student may choose to keep the third quilt or gift it to a loved one. Graduates are given a quilting release kit in which to use to apply their skills when the return to life after incarceration.
Montavilla Sewing Centers
montavillasewing.com
Montavilla Sewing Centers will service donated machines prior to sending to Coffee Creek Women's Correctional Facility's Quilting Program either for student use or for CCQ to sell to fund their programs.
Montavilla Sewing Centers will also accept full yardage fabrics, thread, batting, and sewing tools for donation in support of Quilts of Valor. "The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to cover U.S. service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. "
“The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to cover U.S. service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
In the market for a machine? Purchase a used sewing machine or get an estimate on a trade-in.
Portland
8326 SE Stark St
Portland, OR 97216
503-254-7317
Mon. - Sat. 9:30am - 6pm
Sun. 11am - 5pm
Beaverton
4955 SW Western Ave
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-619-6619
Mon. - Sat. 10am - 6pm
Sun. 11am - 5pm
Gresham
971 NE Kelly Ave
Gresham, OR 97030
503-661-2102
Mon. - Sat. 10am - 6pm
Closed Sundays
Quilter's Corner Store
quilterscornerstore.com
12580 SW Broadway Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-644-5678
Tuesday– Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm
The Quilter's Corner accepts donations of sewing tools (rotary cutters, seam rippers), sewing machines, cotton yardage (no scrap), quilting and sewing books.
These items support the quilting program at Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility either for use by the program or to raise funds for ongoing support.
For many more donation, recycling, thrift, consignment, and green building resources, visit The Practical Sort's Resources page by clicking here.
Don't Flush
Were you able to partake in National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28? If not, options exist around the region for dropping your unused, partially used, expired, and unwanted medications safely and securely at any time. For a list of permanent prescription disposal drop-off locations in Oregon, click here. This is the perfect excuse to incorporate cleaning out your medicine chests in an environmentally responsible way as part of your spring cleaning.
Medications dumped down the toilet can adversely impact fish, aquatic plants, and even humans as we consume the water
To avoid prescription and over the counter drugs getting into the wrong hands, for years the message was to flush them down the drain. However, medicines in our water supply can adversely impact fish, aquatic plants, and even humans as we consume the water. It is true that our bodies may not fully metabolize medicines ingested meaning it potentially passes through us into the wastestream. Wastewater treatment plants may not catch 100% of the substances. Therefore, it can reenter the environment. Unfortunately, this is rather unavoidable, so we should be mindful about flushing the medicines in their entirety.
Not all locations collect medicinal creams, sharps (hypodermic needles), or mercury-containing thermometers, so verify before you go. Sharps are extremely hazardous to haulers as well as other humans and animals therefore, they are not permitted in the trash. Approved sharps containers are available at Metro hazardous waste facilities, pharmacies, and medical supply stores. Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas residents can participate in the Metro container exchange program. For $5 you can purchase a container, then exchange it for free each time you return a full bin. Note, there is an additional $5 hazardous waste disposal fee for up to 35 gallons.
Thermometers containing mercury should be disposed at Metro Hazardous Waste facilities or take them to Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. Click here for a spring 2018 schedule.
If you were unable to participate in National Take Back Day, here are some suggestions for proper disposal at your home according to the FDA along with additional information (click here).
Disposing Medicines at Your Home
“Disposing medicines in household trash: Almost all medicines can be thrown into your household trash. These include prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, creams, and inhalers.
Follow these steps:
Remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter. This makes the medicine less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to someone who might intentionally go through the trash looking for drugs.
Put the mixture in something you can close (a re-sealable zipper storage bag, empty can, or other container) to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out.
Throw the container in the garbage.
Scratch out all your personal information on the empty medicine packaging to protect your identity and privacy. Throw the packaging away.
If you have a question about your medicine, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.
Disposing of Fentanyl Patches
Some prescription drugs — such as powerful narcotic pain medicines and other controlled substances — have instructions for flushing to reduce the danger of overdose from unintentional or illegal use.
One example is the fentanyl patch. This adhesive patch delivers a strong pain medicine through the skin. Even after a patch is used, a lot of the medicine remains. That’s why the drug comes with instructions to flush used or leftover patches.
Disposing of Inhaler Products
One environmental concern involves inhalers used by people who have asthma or other breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read handling instructions on the labeling of inhalers and aerosol products. These products could be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator. To properly dispose of these products and follow local regulations and laws, contact your trash and recycling facility.”
— fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm
As mentioned above, it is wise to remove all personal information from labels before disposing medical waste in your trash or at any of the collection facilities. You can soak the labels in water to aid in removal.
Watch for details about next year's National Take Back Day.
What to Do With Foam Packaging?
Did you receive holiday gifts embedded in polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) packaging? Your trash can is likely overflowing after the celebrations, and you might be loathed to toss the foam into the landfill. Polystyrene generally does not biodegrade which makes it a useful packaging material and insulator for our hot beverages.
Labeled as PS #6 for the recycling symbol, it is rarely accepted in curbside or other recycling programs. But we need to be mindful that polystyrene is hazardous to animals and marine life who could mistake it as food and it is highly flammable. As of 2006, Portland was one of roughly 100 localities* to ban polystyrene foam use in restaurants, yet there are a multitude of other uses. Chances are you received at least one gift package that contained the foam.
So what do you do with it? Far West Fibers is no longer collecting it, but Agilyx in Tigard has a no-fee 24/7 collection receptacle at their facilities (business or large quantities require special arrangements).
Their patented process can transform the foam into crude oil. They also produce a liquid used in food packaging, pharmaceuticals, construction, durable goods. etc.
According to their website "Agilyx is committed to demonstrating not only the economic viability of our technology, but also the environmental value. We have completed an extensive Life Cycle Analysis on our process to measure carbon impact against traditional forms of crude oil extraction, with the results indicating a significantly favorable environmental impact."
Drop off your polystyrene at:
Agylix
7904 SW Hunziker Street
Tigard, OR 97223
If you need more information contact them at: 503-271-3160 or visit their website for additional facts.
*en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene
Last Bits
Some may say I am cheap. I prefer to think of myself as eco-minded, thrifty, and resourceful.
Before tossing a used up bottle of shampoo into the recycling bin, I opted to turn it upside down to ensure that it was fully depleted. I could tell there was about 1/4" of shampoo left inside, but the container's design made squeezing out every last drop difficult.
Ten days later I was still using that same bottle of shampoo. I often use this technique with jars of ketchup, mustard, honey or any other liquid that is too viscous to pour out easily as it nears the end.
You might wish to place the bottle inside a sturdy, water-proof container in the event the product leaks out. To keep the bottle propped, I situated it between the wall and a larger bottle out of the reach of the sprayer so that the lid does not fill with excess water.
By year's end, I will save nearly $40 and recycle 5 less bottles!
Recycling School Supplies
The end of the school year is approaching. You will be clearing out backpacks, old papers will be recycled, and used crayons added to craft boxes, but what do you do with those old binders that may have seen better days?
Office Depot/Office Max has teamed up with Terracycle to offer a binder recycling program. Empty binders in any condition/any brand are accepted.
How it Works...
Participating is completely free and very easy. Simply bring your old empty binders to any Office Depot® OfficeMax® store and a store representative will provide you with a $2 Instant Savings off a same day binder purchase (see rules and restrictions).
Binder Recycling: Get $2 off the purchase of any new binder when you recycle any binder in the same transaction. Discount applies only to binders purchased and will not be applied to any free binders with a purchase. Multipacks count as 1. Discount excludes tax. Binder to be recycled must be empty. No cash/credit back. Not valid on prior purchases or purchases made with Store Purchasing, Procurement or Retail Connect Cards. Limit 6 discounts per household/business.
For more information and to locate participating Office Depot/Office Max stores, click on the link to visit the Terracycle/Office Depot/Office Max Binder Recycling Program website.
Need a hand getting things in order before school lets out for summer break and your schedules goes topsy turvy? Contact ThePracticalSort.com and we will get you sorted.
