tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46152044513790754082024-02-20T17:40:58.835-08:00Trashing My ReputationReducing, reusing, and recycling: Why we do it, why we don't, why we should do more. Who the hell cares, and why we all should care more.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-18614579678904831532011-09-01T08:53:00.001-07:002011-09-01T08:53:41.335-07:00Curbside food compostingIt's coming. Soon. Really, really soon. Curbside food composting is -almost- here. Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-45579425199079026152011-08-01T20:50:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:50:39.082-07:00Portland/Metro area: Hazardous Waste FeesFrom Metro:<br />
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Beginning August 1, 2011, Metro will reinstate the $5 fee to dispose of an average load of household hazardous waste. This $5 fee will be charged per load up to 35 gallons, each additional 35 gallons will be charged an additional $5. Also, additional charges apply for containers larger than 10 gallons. No fee for paint waste covered under Oregon PaintCare program.<br />
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Metro is reinstating this fee to help defray the costs of running the household hazardous waste program. It actually costs Metro $54 to properly dispose of an average load brought to a Metro facility.<br />
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The free Neighborhood Collection events will continue this year. There is no fee to bring your toxic trash to Metro’s community events. Check out Metro’s <a href=http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=26580>Neighborhood Collection Schedule</a>.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-2291846189819773982011-08-01T20:37:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:51:07.513-07:00Washington County (OR) business recycling workshopFrom Metro:<br />
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Hillsboro (OR) Business Recycling Workshop<br />
September 22nd<br />
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Join the Washington County Recycle at Work program, with the City of Hillsboro and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, for a free business recycling workshops. Gain a marketing advantage over your competitors — learn how to reduce the amount of waste your business sends to the landfill and save money on your bottom line. <br />
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For details contact thomas_egleston@co.washington.or.us.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-71580214058359449102011-08-01T20:34:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:51:19.520-07:00Garbage/Recycling Pickup E-schedule ToolLive in the Portland (OR) area? Not sure when your garbage or recycling gets picked up? Check online! Check out the <a href=http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=54938>Curbside Collection E-schedule</a>! So far, this only works for Portland :( Hopefully they'll expand soon to the Metro area. The E-schedule does offer a consolation prize - if the address you give it isn't in the "e-scheduler" area, it will at least come back with some useful contact info for finding someone who can answer your questions.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-66286059484357966992011-08-01T20:27:00.001-07:002011-08-01T20:27:53.657-07:00Metro puppeteer needed!Metro is looking for a (paid!) puppeteer to do educational shows for metro-area elementary schools. Looks like a part-time job over the school year. Programs to mostly emphasize waste prevention, recycling, natural gardening, composting. Looks like the scripts and props are taken care of, they just need an enthusiastic puppeteer they can rely on. <a href=http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24255>This link has much more detail</a>. <br />
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I really hope the show makes it to the elementary school I do most of my work in. I'd love to see it!Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-70758271734633828442011-07-09T06:35:00.000-07:002011-07-09T06:35:51.081-07:00Summer Solar Power ActivitiesIt’s officially summer! It's even summer here in Oregon, the land where spring comes in so late and stays so late, we’ve started changing our calendars to show the month of <a href= http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Junuary>Junuary</a>.<br />
<br />
What better time to try out some solar powered activities? These activities are easy enough to do with children, and they’re fun and interesting for grownups too. All of these activities can be done with household materials, or require only a minimal purchase.<br />
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-<a href=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/sunshine-activities2.htm>make a sundial</a><br />
-<a href=http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/sunshine-activities3.htm>make a thermometer</a><br />
-<a href=http://www.alliantenergykids.com/wcm/groups/wcm_internet/@int/@aekids/documents/contentpage/022819.pdf>make a solar powered cooker</a><br />
-<a href=http://www.alliantenergykids.com/wcm/groups/wcm_internet/@int/@aekids/documents/contentpage/022822.pdf>make solar S’mores!</a><br />
-<a href=http://mindbodysmile.com/2009/06/02/how-to-make-sun-tea/>make sun tea</a> <i>(be sure to clean your jar thoroughly, don’t leave the jar outside for more than 3-4 hours, and don’t make more tea than you plan to use in a day,– otherwise bacteria can flourish.)</i><br />
-<a href=http://www.livingonadime.com/articles/hangclothes.htm>dry your laundry on a clothesline</a><br />
-<a href=http://www.need.org/needpdf/PriSunorShade.pdf>Shade or Sun?</a> An easy experiment for young children. Also a good way to talk with children about why tree cover is so important. <br />
-<a href=http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com/water-science-experiments-2.html>water purification</a> and <a href=http://www.need.org/needpdf/IntSolarDistiller.pdf>distilling water from plants</a> This is a fun activity you can also do at the beach.<br />
-<a href=http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com/solar-energy-kids-4.html>watching ice cubes melt</a> This one can be a lot more interesting than it sounds. You use different colors of cardstock or paper as solar heat collectors. Which colors collect the most heat and melt the ice fastest? What if you change the color of the ice cube? This is a good activity for talking about how paint color and building material color affects the indoor temperature of the building. Or compare it with how your child feels dressed in light colors vs. dark colors on a sunny day.<br />
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If you decide to try an activity, will you tell me how it went? What surprised you? What did your kids learn? What are some solar-powered activities you already do?Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-21072082057795029132011-07-04T12:25:00.000-07:002011-07-04T14:05:53.300-07:00Oregon Bottle Bill ExpandedIt seems like I’m always late to the good parties. I totally missed this in my inbox till yesterday. The new Oregon Bottle Bill was officially expanded June 9, 2011. <br />
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<i>“Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law today the latest revision to the state's landmark bottle bill, which expands the scope of containers covered by attaching a nickel deposit to all beverages, including beer, soft drinks, water, juice and sports drinks”.</i>(1)<br />
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I’m pretty excited about the bill’s expansion – how many more kinds of containers are included in this bill. (By the way, did you know Oregon was the <b>first</b> to pass a <a href=http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/bottlebill/thenandnow.htm>bottle bill in the US back in 1971</a>?)(2)<br />
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Mind you, this change won’t take place right away – this will happen “no later than 2018”. The plan is for all glass, plastic and metal beverage containers except for milk, wine & liquor containers. I have to wonder why. It isn’t just because the formulations for the glass bottles differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, as we know glass soft drink and juice bottles are already made by different manufacturers. Is it because we already have ready and close recycling available for milk jugs and wine and liquor bottles? Is it because the nutritionists want to make sure we drink as much healthy milk as possible, and the state wants to be able to tax as much wine & liquor as possible? Cynical perhaps, but I can’t help wondering. <br />
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<i>”Forty years after the state passed the country's first container deposit redemption law, HB 3145 goes far beyond an incremental update. In addition to the expanded coverage of new container types, the bill pilots a new system of stand-alone redemption centers for the state. The centers would be independent of retailers and was a critical component in securing support from the grocers' lobby, which had opposed previous expansions of the bottle bill. A pilot project will take place in a to-be-determined area with a population of less than 300,000, and would also ease the requirements of nearby retailers to accept beverage containers.<br />
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"The bottle bill is one of the most successful recycling devices ever invented, but it’s showing signs of age," said the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland), in an earlier prepared statement. "The redemption experience needs to be improved for consumers. More containers should be covered and the deposit should increase if recycling rates drop."</i>(1)<br />
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"<i>This is only the second edit to the state's first-in-the-nation bottle bill during its 40-year lifetime. The first came just years ago, in 2007, when the Legislature added water bottles to the list of containers that Oregonians could return for their nickel deposit. <br />
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Lawmakers returned two years later hoping to expand the system further by adding containers for sports drinks, coffee, juice, tea and other beverages of that sort. Distributors and grocers balked, however, asking for more time to get the system used to the increased load that water represented.<br />
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Two years later, after two trial redemption centers proved highly popular, the former opponents lent their support to further expansion.<br />
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That support seems to have made all the difference; the legislation the governor signed Thursday was able to make it through both the Oregon House and Senate with bi-partisan, if not necessarily unanimous, support.</i>"(3)<br />
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I found this interesting: <br />
<i>"The bill makes provisions for the deposit to be raised to 10¢ if the redemption rate falls below 80% for two consecutive years (as determined any time after January 1, 2016). At the time of the bill's passage, the redemption rate is 84%."</i>(4)<br />
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Why make the deposit dependent on redemption rate? I’m sure there’s a good reason at the top of the legislative food chain, but I think it’s just going to confuse the average consumer. And what sort of message does it send to the average consumer? “Recycle fewer bottles, get more cash per bottle recycled”? <br />
And the nickel deposit, first established along with the initial bottle bill in 1971, just isn’t what it used to be. I’ve heard that nickel back then is equivalent to a little over a quarter now. I’d be happy with a flat increase to a 10-cent deposit, especially since you know grocery stores will keep their 24-container-per-person-per-day rule. Though with the <a href= http://oregoncity.katu.com/content/get-sneak-peek-new-bottle-redemption-center>new redemption centers</a> popping up, along with the automated bottle return machines, maybe that won’t be so much of an issue after all.(5)<br />
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Don’t get me wrong – I’m very happy about the expansion of the bill, I’m happy about the additional redemption centers, I’m happy people from all sides worked hard to make this bill pass with as much integrity as it’s got (and didn’t let it get watered down to nothing), and I’m happy that legislators & industry are open to the idea of raising the deposit. <br />
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What do you think of this bill expansion? <br />
Does your state have a bottle bill? If so, what does your bottle bill include? If your state doesn’t have a bottle bill, why is that? What do you think needs to happen for one to pass?<br />
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(1) <a href= http://resource-recycling.com/node/1810>Resource Recycling</a><br />
(2) <a href=http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/bottlebill/thenandnow.htm> Oregon DEQ Oregon Bottle Bill: Then and Now</a> <br />
(3) <a href=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/gov_kitzhaber_signs_vast_expan.html>OregonLive.com</a> <br />
(4) <a href=http://www.bottlebill.org/legislation/campaigns/oregonc.htm>Bottle Bill Resource Guide</a><br />
(5) <a href= http://oregoncity.katu.com/content/get-sneak-peek-new-bottle-redemption-center>KATU.com Get a sneak peek at the new bottle redemption center</a><br />
(6) <a href= http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measures/hb3100.dir/hb3145.a.html>HB 3145</a>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-88210689105807875632011-07-03T12:35:00.000-07:002011-07-03T12:36:27.525-07:00Backyard Makeover Photo GiveawayWe talked with over 160 people at the Backyard Makeover event at the Oregon Zoo, but only one person asked for a photo. The one lucky winner is – drum roll please – Mr. Trashmaster! His prize so far has included me adding to the herb garden in our front yard. Today I planted a bronze fennel, a thai basil, a curled parsley, and a Cuban oregano in between our other herbs. Further prize-winnings include me not pestering him (too much) while he played video games today, and probably some snogging later on. Prizes awarded this time around do not necessarily accurately reflect what will be awarded in future giveaways <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5898305180/" title="Mr & Mrs Trashmaster by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5898305180_1b5608a7c4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Mr & Mrs Trashmaster"></a><br />
<i>Isn’t he handsome?</i><br />
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On a side note – what do you think of the shirt? I’ve been working on a “Trashmaster” logo, and that’s what I’ve come up with so far.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-83899412829182080392011-07-02T13:47:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:47:03.738-07:00Backyard Makeover Exhibit at the Oregon ZooOne of the exhibits at the <a href=http://www.oregonzoo.org/>Oregon Zoo</a> is the Backyard Makeover. There are two little demonstration “backyards” side by side. One is fairly standard: lawn with a fair-sized concrete patio, a few flowers along the fence, the fence is solid wood slats, one small tree and a birdhouse. The other has a smaller area of lawn, far more flowers & shrubs (of varying height), a couple of trees, the patio is made of stone blocks and has patio chairs on it, and the fence is slatted wood that lets a bit of light and air through but still affords privacy. The game is to find the seven things the same in the two yards, and to also notice what’s different about the yards. There is also some signage about what plants are in the yards, how the second, “improved” yard allows for more and more-varied wildlife passing through, requires less watering overall and gives reasons for using less (or no) pesticides and fertilizers. Next to these two yards is a booth where volunteers are often on hand to talk about how to reorganize your yard to bring in beneficial bugs, more birds & other wildlife, how to reduce use of pesticides & fertilizers, how to compost, how & why to set up worm bins and all that good stuff. <br />
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The last few years, the exhibit has been staffed by Oregon Zoo volunteers and Master Gardeners. This year, once a month, the exhibit is staffed by Master Recyclers (such as yours truly). We might not have been able to identify all the plants in the exhibit, but we did spend all day talking about composting and rainwater harvesting and why having more bugs in your yard can be a good thing. We also borrowed a worm bin from the Oregon Zoo horticulturists and invited kids (and the grownups!) to pet the worms. The kids were fantastic! They started out as or quickly became expert worm-handlers. We talked about where worms live, how to hold them, and what worms do in the bins and in the gardens at home. We only lost one worm to a very small toddler’s instinctive squishing as the worm wriggled about and tickled his palm. <br />
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As I (or another volunteer) helped the kids pet the worms, other volunteers talked with the grownups about recycling and composting and gardening questions. Most of the volunteers had some gardening experience and one of our volunteers is a long-time Master Gardener as well, so we were able to at least give good resources if not actual answers and advice. <br />
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The Backyard Makeover exhibit is a permanent part of the zoo, with volunteers available everyday 10am-4pm. Weekdays, the booth is usually staffed by Oregon Zoo volunteers, weekends by Master Gardeners, and for the next two months, Master Recyclers will be out there as well on the first Fridays. I will be back on September 2nd. I’ll do another “take a picture with the Trashmaster, win a prize” event as well. Come on out, say hello and pet a worm with me!Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-15721103127819913822011-06-30T08:43:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:47:24.013-07:00Backyard Makeover event at the Oregon ZooI will be at the Oregon Zoo’s <a href=http://www.oregonzoo.org/habitat/>Backyard Makeover</a> exhibit tomorrow, Friday July 1, 10am-2pm. We’ll be on hand to answer questions and talk about composting, ways to increase wildlife habitat in your yard (birds, butterflies, & such), how to decrease use of toxic chemicals (fertilizers & pesticides), and generally find ways to enjoy your yard even more. Bring your questions, bring your stories, and check out the exhibit!<br />
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Regular zoo admission and $2 parking, or take the MAX!<br />
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Come by and say hi! Get your picture taking with me and win a prize! (I don’t know what the prizes are yet, but I’ll come up with something!)Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-82081114989114394562011-06-23T21:21:00.000-07:002011-06-23T21:21:22.303-07:00BoundariesToday we had some yard work done here at the secret lair of the Trashmaster. We had some guys take out 88 feet of arbor vitae. They were all sorts of efficient, using pickup truck to pull out the trees, then digging the remaining roots out by hand, with occasional use of a chainsaw for who knows what all. I was impressed with how quickly they worked. I was even more impressed that as two guys were removing the arbor vitae, another guy was sweeping up behind them. I wasn’t too crazy about the leaf-blower they used to finish cleaning up the driveway and sidewalk, but okay. The yard looks all kinds of awesome with all the additional light. It may change what sorts of fruit & veg we can grow in the garden, and where the arbor vitae was, we’re eventually putting in a new fence to replace the 60-some year old chain link fence, with an eye towards growing grapes along it. <br />
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Tomorrow is garbage & recycling pick up. I cleaned up the kitchen a little bit and took out the last couple of cans to the recycling bin. Where the yard work guys had thrown all of their trash. Not just their pop cans and Gatorade bottles and cigarette butts and fast food lunch wrappers. That would have been understandable. <br />
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No, they picked up all the trash that had gotten caught or been thrown into the arbor vitae. Mind you, we’re on a busy street in a not-at-all-fancy part of town, next door to an intersection with no less than three mini-marts, two fast food spots and a taco cart. There was a lot of trash in there. I do appreciate that the guys picked it all up. I do appreciate that they went to throw it out. But into the big, bold blue recycling bin? The one up against the house that says “mixed recycling” all over it? When the garbage can was right up against the arbor vitae, where they’d have had to move it three times just to do their work? Really? <br />
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It frustrates me on a variety of levels: If they’d just thrown it all in the garbage, then a handful of recyclables wouldn’t have made it into the recycle/reuse stream. That would have been frustrating enough. And probably not terribly difficult for me to pick them out and put them in the right bin. Dirty, icky, but not terribly difficult. But because so much garbage is in the recycling bin, now a much larger volume of stuff won’t get into the recycle/reuse stream. Unless I dump the entire bin and pick through it by hand, which, yes, I like to pretend I’m the Trashmaster, but I’m really not inclined to go to this effort. So now I’m frustrated and mad, but I’m also lazy and a hypocrite. <br />
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-~deep breath~-<br />
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I have personal boundaries. I don’t mind separating a handful of recyclable objects from a mass of other recyclable objects. But I draw the line at digging through or dumping out a 60-gallon sticky, dusty, stinky bin for what will probably result in a whole bunch of small bits of garbage (and dust and dirt and branches of holly and cat poop…). Clearly, for the yard work guys, their boundaries included not looking too hard for the garbage can, much less separating recylables from the trash.<br />
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We all have boundaries, and our boundaries are in different places for each of us. I am annoyed at being confronted with my boundary and knowing how arbitrary it really is. Given how much we recycle in our household, and given how dirty I’m willing to get while gardening, how much more work is it really to dump out the bin and sort out the recyclables, and sweep up the rest for the garbage? Today, for me, apparently it’s insurmountable. Complaining is easier. Tomorrow morning I will let the recycling collectors take whatever is in the blue bin. Tomorrow afternoon, I will start again. <br />
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<i>What is one of your reducing/reusing/recycling boundaries? What would it take to get you past it?</i>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-62454522387556680992011-06-19T14:19:00.000-07:002011-06-19T14:19:04.299-07:00Easy summer projects for kidsI've been looking around online for ideas for making puppet theaters for my kids at work. I ran across this page by <a href=http://cutiescitrus.com/fun_and_games/crafts>California Mandarins</a> with some neat ideas for reusing the boxes as children's toys & crafts. If you're not into logos, you can always cover the boxes with paper or paint. Of course, you can use just about any kind of box to make these projects too, like for this <a href=http://childhood101.com/2009/10/diy-kids-tabletop-puppet-theatre-for-under-5/>puppet theater</a>.<br />
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If I had a doorway I could use safely and easily, I'd just put up a tension rod with fabric draped over it, but I pretty much need a tabletop model. The puppet theaters I'm trying to decide between right now are this one from <a href=http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2011/03/recycle-craft-cardboard-box-puppet.html>Pink and Green Mama</a> and a version of this <a href=http://www.squidoo.com/simple-crafs-portable-finger-puppet-theater>Shoebox theater</a>. I also like that they are easy to pack up and store, which is a major plus for my classroom/office.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-49487637909141906762011-06-12T12:01:00.000-07:002011-06-12T12:01:12.860-07:00Diggerslist.comHey all ~<br />
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I thought I’d share a recent find. I just discovered <a href=http://www.diggerslist.com/>Diggerslist</a>. They’re like Craigslist, except for home and yard improvement only. They take posts on everything from lighting to doors to concrete pavers to old tubs to heavy equipment to hand tools. You can buy, sell, find stuff for free or donate items to Habitat for Humanity. You’ll need an account to make your transactions, but accounts are free. What a great way to rehome items from a remodeling job! Or find items for it! I suspect we’ll be looking here first before buying much for the yard. We’ll probably try posting things here before taking them to Goodwill too. <br />
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<i>I have no connection to this organization. I just think it’s a spiffy idea</i>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-59715325085403229932011-06-11T13:57:00.000-07:002011-06-11T13:57:17.665-07:00Reusable Sandwich BagsA while ago, <a href=http://trashingmyreputation.blogspot.com/2011/04/city-repair-earth-day-fest-follow-up.html>I mentioned I’d bought myself a Snack Taxi</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5802046646/" title="hedgehog snack taxi by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5802046646_4ac424f9e2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="hedgehog snack taxi"></a><br />
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I’ve really been liking it, but sometimes I don’t have a chance to clean it out before I need to pack the next lunch. The universe must have noticed my little dilemma, because just a week or so ago, I came across a <a href=http://www.groupon.com/portland/>Groupon</a> for <a href=http://www.reusies.com/>ReUsies</a>. How could I pass this up? So I bought a couple.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5802046574/" title="green reusie by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/5802046574_e5ff2c6809_m.jpg" width="240" height="175" alt="green reusie"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5802046756/" title="purple reusie by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/5802046756_9dfaa9028a_m.jpg" width="240" height="213" alt="purple reusie"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5801490213/" title="blue stone reusie 2pack by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/5801490213_675ef71d51_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="blue stone reusie 2pack"></a><br />
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Sure, if you’re at all crafty, the reusable sandwich bags aren’t hard to make. <a href=http://frenchsleepdeprivationstudy.blogspot.com/2009/06/snack-bag-tutorial.html>You</a> can <a href=http://www.craftstylish.com/item/43227/how-to-make-a-reusable-sandwich-wrap>find</a> all <a href=http://pukingpastilles.com/?p=760>sorts</a> of <a href=http://wewilsons.blogspot.com/2009/02/reusable-snack-bag-tutorial.html>patterns</a> on the internet. As my sewing machine is still packed away at the moment (and my sewing skills questionable at best anyhow), I went ahead and bought the bags. <br />
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This one is one of my favorites – I have an apron I made in a “learn how to sew” class made out of the same sushi fabric, and another 3-4 yards of it waiting to become a skirt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5801490427/" title="sushi reusie by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5801490427_d51fc674be_m.jpg" width="240" height="185" alt="sushi reusie"></a><br />
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I love that the bags are all large enough to accomodate a wide range of sizes and shapes of bread. I also love that the bags can go straight into the washer (inside out, and on cold/gentle, please!).<br />
<br />
I will admit: I do use plastics to transport some lunch items. I know some of you have switched to glass containers. This is a bad idea for me – I am a wee bit on the clumsy side, I throw everything in my backpack which ends up on the floor and bumped around on the bus, and I work in a small room with lots of little kids in and out all day. Having glass in this sort of situation is just asking for bad things to happen. Plus, I already own the plastic and it’s still in good shape, so there’s no reason to throw it out just yet. So, when I take messy stuff, such as the tuna & miracle whip mix that will become my sandwich, I put the tuna mix in a plastic and the bread in a reusable bag, and just make up the sandwich when it’s time to eat. Sandwiches that are less squishy, like PB&J, goes whole into the bag. I haven’t had any problems wiping the PB&J part off the bags yet, or any issues with them staining. The bags have also been great for crackers and chips. Throw in a cloth napkin, some durable tableware and a reusable water bottle, and you are set!<br />
<br />
<i>What do you use for packing your lunch?</i> <br />
<i>What are your favorite lunches to pack?</i> <br />
Need some encouragement to take pack your lunch more often? Check out <a href= http://lunchitpunchit.com/rules/>Lunch It, Punch It!</a><br />
<a href= http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&ref=auto&q=reusable+snack+sandwich+bag>Tons more reusable snack & sandwich bags</a>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-43823448323073769932011-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:002011-06-09T20:21:16.020-07:00Why I gardenIt’s come that time of year for the requisite garden posts. Which is fine with me - it means I can put off weeding for another day in order to write. <br />
<br />
<i>Why do you garden?</i> <br />
<br />
Our garden is an endless series of science demos. Watching the garden grow, trying to figure out what’s going on in it, trying to achieve certain outcomes, we have learned about biology, chemistry, the odd bit of physics, meteorology, climatology, geology, entomology and more than a little about human physiology. <br />
<br />
Our garden is entertainment. We don’t just work in the garden then pick the produce. We also walk amongst the beds just to look. Sometimes I get down on the ground to watch the bugs or to get a closer look at the flowers. We sit outside to watch the birds, to watch the cats stretch on the grass, to see the butterflies dart and dip through the branches. In nicer weather we’ll sit outside to watch the sun set. We have important and heartfelt discussions, we have silly chats, sometimes we don’t say anything. We like showing off the garden. We like sharing it with people who garden and with people who’ve never seen an artichoke outside of a restaurant before. We have parties under the spring dogwood flowers and we have parties to harvest the horseradish. <br />
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Our garden allows us, asks us to learn new skills. I picked up a power drill for the first time to make my first raised garden beds. I’m learning to can, freeze, dehydrate and pickle some of what we grow in the garden so that it will last past the season. I’m learning about composting by doing, and about worm bins and raising chickens in anticipation of doing. <br />
<br />
Our garden is great therapy. I’ve got a family history of cyclic depression. Getting outside in the sunshine, moving around, watching things grow helps me be a happier, healthier, functional me. It helps get me off my butt, out of the house, away from the TV. The garden has become one of my Happy Places. It’s exercise too. Digging around in the dirt, clipping tree branches, walking the compost from the bin to each of the plants, hauling around new plants and moving older plants. The garden gives us reasons to look forward – planning the new seed list, the first green sprouts and buds of the year, picking all the fabulous fruits & veggies, waiting for the mason bees to hatch from their eggs, looking in spring for all the birds who’d left us for the winter. The garden also gives us reasons to look back – the blueberries we ate as soon as they were ripe, discovering not just the pea pods and mustard leaves were tasty but so were the pea shoots and mustard flowers, how maybe we can make changes to how we grow the pumpkins so we can get a few more of them.<br />
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Our garden teaches us patience. Even if we wanted to do it all at once, we can’t afford to replace the rusted busted fence and arbor vitae with the nice new pretty fence and grape vines at the same time as we’re laying down the hazelnut shells for garden paths along with paying someone to dig out the blackberry infestation in the backyard (as well as next door and in the property behind us…). Nor can we do all the weeding and pruning and mowing and planting at once as it’s just not physically possible for either of us. Our wallets and bodies have limitations that require us to prioritize our projects. What do we need done right now? What do we want done right now? What do we need to drop everything for because the weather is only going to be good for two more days before the rain sets back in? <br />
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Our garden is full of satisfaction. There’s nothing quite like digging up potatoes with your own hands. Making carrot pickles that come out just right. Cooking up pasta sauce with your own tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs. Watching the flowers open just a little bit more each day of the week until they’re a riot of bloom. Knowing we’ve kept the garden organic – no pesticides, no artificial fertilizers. Knowing it’s okay for the little kids to roll around face-first in the grass and for friends to try a huckleberry straight off the bush.<br />
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Our garden is a pretty good place to be. <br />
<br />
<i>Why do you garden?</i>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-32603990933739026722011-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:002011-06-04T07:02:09.925-07:00Curbside: Paper“Trashmaster”, you say, “I read your post about where my curbside recycling goes. I even read about putting my glass out on the curb.”<br />
Awesome! I say. Thanks for reading! <br />
“Trashmaster,” you say, “I’m ready for something more.” <br />
<br />
<b>Today’s feature: Paper</b><br />
<br />
Paper is crazy-easy to recycle. You can use your junk mail, some water, some old screen door mesh and a blender to make new paper right now. Try <a href="http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/fun_n_games/printables/activities/assets/science_nature/paper_making.pdf">this site</a> or <a href="http://www.megacrafty.com/2011/02/i-first-did-this-tutorial-as-guest-post.html">this one</a>.<br />
<br />
Using recycled paper to make new paper products uses only about 60% of the energy it takes using virgin materials. That means less air pollution, less water pollution, less energy used, and fewer trees cut down. <br />
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Right. First things first. What does your hauler say about recycling paper? Not your neighbor, not your co-worker, not your brother’s wife’s weird cousin Larry, but your hauler. (Don’t know who that is? Type “recycling in [your city]” into a search engine. Go ahead. It’s okay - I’ll wait.) Find out if your hauler requires you to separate types of paper products or accepts “mixed paper”. This is important. <br />
<br />
Got your local recycling info? Fantastic! If your local hauler requires you to separate your paper products, PLEASE DO THAT. It makes life simpler for the hauler, it makes life simpler for the paper mill, and it means more of your waste products will get recycled. <br />
<br />
<b>Here’s what you need to know about recycling “mixed paper”:</b><br />
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-any color of paper can go in. Seriously. For reals. I know, there used to be restrictions like “no goldenrod”. Not anymore. <br />
<br />
-you don’t need to remove labels or staples or the spirals from notebooks or paper clips (though paper clips are easy to remove – and reuse)<br />
<br />
-you don’t need to remove the ‘windows’ from envelopes<br />
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<b>YES</b>: paper bags (no food stains!), cereal and cracker boxes, junk mail (remove free samples and sample credit cards first), cardboard, toilet paper and paper towel tubes, telephone books, catalogs, magazines, newspapers and their inserts, copier paper, greeting cards, wrapping paper (as long as it doesn’t have foil!), milk and juice cartons (even if they feel waxy - they're a weird exception). <br />
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<b>CHECK FIRST</b>: corrugated cardboard. Some haulers are fine with mixing it, others want it separate. Also, if you have a lot of shredded paper (like, from a home or small business) – check with your hauler about the size of the shreds and how much the hauler will accept curbside.<br />
<br />
<b>NO: Do not put these in your recycling cart. These materials often have chemicals in the paperboard, food residue or other icky chemicals that get in the way of making new paper products. </b><br />
-paper plates & cups (food residue, and they are often waxed), wrapping paper with foil, carbon paper, tissues, takeout food containers, hardback books (adhesives in the covers and spine), pizza boxes (these usually have food residue)<br />
<br />
Freezer food boxes – if the box is at all waxy, DO NOT PLACE IT IN THE RECYCLING BIN. Even if it says “recycle me” on it, just throw it out. There’s a very good chance it has chemicals in it to protect the food inside, and those chemicals are NO GOOD for the paper recycling process. Hopefully this will change soon.<br />
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Don’t shred all your paper! Some folks worry about sensitive documents being harvested by icky people. Fair enough. But just shred the stuff with actual personal information. You don’t need to shred the entire contents of the envelope to keep someone from gathering your account number. <br />
<br />
The problem with shredding is that it cuts the reusable life of the paper down. Paper can be recycled 4-7 times before the fibers are too short to bind together and form new sheets. Shredding paper means the fibers are cut shorter that much sooner, making for more waste sloughed off in the paper-making process. <br />
<br />
More fun facts about paper recycling:<br />
<br />
About 1/3 of all papermaking materials in the US comes from recycled paper products.<br />
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Recycled paper fibers get made into new products such as new office and notebook paper, egg cartons, corrugated cardboard, paper money, coffee filters, fiber pots for seedlings, bandages, insulation, and much more.<br />
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According to the Paper Industry Association Council, “every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space”. That’s a lot! Want more paper recycling statistics? (and really, who doesn’t?) Read <a href="http://www.paperrecycles.org/stat_pages/recovery_rate.html">this</a>.<br />
<br />
*Consider reading: <br />
<a href="http://www.paperrecycles.org/workplace_recycling/index.html">Promoting office recycling</a><br />
<a href="http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752736">Materials for elementary school teachers (or parents)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html">Paper (and other) recycling facts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/paper/">Lots of paper recycling info from the EPA</a><br />
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<i>Consider reading the rest of the "curbside" series. Just click on the “curbside” tag just underneath this post</i>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-4620846695293056732011-05-28T08:16:00.000-07:002011-05-28T08:16:58.340-07:00Zipcar errands, block styrofoam and household hazardous wasteYesterday was quite a day. It was one of the few days Mr. Trashmaster and I have off work together that doesn't involve one of us taking a sick day (he’s got a wacky work week that doesn’t much match up with my work week). We keep talking about how "there's so much we could get done if we just had a day off together once in a while!" Today was that day. <br />
<br />
We both got to sleep in. An awesome start right there. We also *didn't* get distracted by having a long involved breakfast - we got right to doing errands. Go, us!<br />
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We rented a <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/">Zipcar</a> truck for errands. We have only occasional need for a truck, and Mr. Trashmaster figured out that even if we found a $500 truck, we’d still likely have to put $1000 on it in maintenance before the year as out, plus we’d have to insure it and feed it gas. Going through Zipcar costs us about $85 to join and not quite $8/hour or $71 per day. Not bad when we really only need a truck a handful of times a year and for about 3-4 hours each time. <br />
While he picked up the truck, I finished putting bunches of cardboard down on the garden paths – I posted about this just recently. I started some laundry too. <br />
<br />
We took household hazardous waste out to the <a href="http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=571">Metro South material transfer station</a> (as it was closer to everything we were doing than Metro Central). That was mostly old paint, old cleaning fluids we don't use anymore, <i>old</i> lawn fertilizer, and some bottles missing labels - stuff you don't want going down the drain into the water table!<br />
<br />
We took a bunch of block styrofoam to the <a href="http://www.recologyoregonmaterialrecovery.com/fosterRoadRecyclingCenter.htm">Recology facility on Foster Road</a>. We also took bunch of stuff to Goodwill including stuff for <a href="http://trashingmyreputation.blogspot.com/2011/04/im-little-behind-curve-when-it-comes-to.html">e-cycling</a>. We were going to take the computer parts to Free Geek, but it was all sitting uncovered in the back of the pickup, and the rain was moving in fast. Goodwill can sell the usable computer parts and e-cycle the rest. <br />
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Holy smokes, we took care of our errands all in one go! Last, off to dim sum, followed by hard-earned naps with a side order of cats!Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-13745400156033369502011-05-24T21:34:00.000-07:002011-05-24T21:34:21.943-07:00What to do with Cardboard Boxes?So I’m all moved in and mostly unpacked. What to do with all those cardboard boxes? <br />
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If you really just want them gone, flatten them and put them out curbside on your regular pickup day <i>(check with your local hauler for any size restrictions)</i><br />
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But that's no fun! <br />
<br />
*Let your kids at them! Boxes make great rocket ships, trains, race cars, buses, and forts. Make a puppet theater! Make a lemonade stand! <br />
<br />
*Use them to haul all your extra stuff to your favorite charity resale shop! <br />
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*Make <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/no-joke-these-guys-really-do-work-out-cardboard-box">furniture</a><br />
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*Use the boxes to haul your non-curbside recyclables and household hazardous waste to an appropriate facility, such as <a href="http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=570">Metro’s garbage and recycling transfer stations</a>.<br />
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*<a href="http://www.uhaul.com/Exchange/">U-Haul</a> has a “Customer Connect” program to help connect people looking to sell, buy or giveaway cardboard boxes. Some locations have a “leave a box, take a box” area. I haven’t had much luck with this in the past, but it’s worth checking into. U-Haul will also buy back any unused boxes purchased from their stores. Just take them back along with your receipt. I had to do this because I bought a pack of the wrong size boxes. The guys at the store were fabulous. <br />
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*Make a <a href="http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-make-cardboard-box-oven.html">cardboard box oven</a><br />
<br />
* Make a <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/03/mister-make-it-and-love-it-series.html">cardboard guitar</a>!<br />
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I used almost all of mine in the garden. We’ve been working on building raised beds in the front yard, reducing the grassy area and increasing the fruit & vegetable garden. One way to kill the grass under the raised beds is to put layers of newspaper or cardboard down before piling the dirt inside. If we’d been working on the raised beds in fall or winter, I’d put the cardboard down, dump the dirt on top, and just leave it be. But we’re working on this in late spring/early summer and we want to plant soon, and because we can only work on the garden about one or two days a week, we put cardboard under the boxes only until we can get the truckloads of dirt transported to the house and we know we’re going to fill all the boxes. At that point, we’ve been taking the cardboard back out and lining the boxes with newspaper instead. Yes, it sounds like a lot of double-work, but even two or three weeks has been helping to smother the grass until we can get the dirt into the boxes. We’re also laying down hazelnut shells for pathways between the boxes. Again, we’re putting down cardboard first, only we’re leaving that underneath the shells, as we’re not planting anything there. The cardboard will eventually decompose, and hopefully by then the grass will mostly have been killed off. Yes, it will come back, but more slowly, and we’ll have a chance to keep up with pulling it out. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladerunnerpdx/5756816271/" title="Front yard by bladepdx5, on Flickr"><img alt="Front yard" height="281px" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/5756816271_83124fb259.jpg" width="500px" /></a>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-80946154430400655102011-05-24T19:29:00.000-07:002011-05-25T07:25:14.609-07:00GET RID OF IT part 2“Trashmaster”, you say, “thank you for all the great ideas for helping me get rid of my extra stuff around the house.”<br />
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You’re welcome!<br />
<br />
“But Trashmaster,” you say, “I have stuff to get rid of that doesn’t really go any of the places you wrote about.”<br />
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Not to worry. I’m not quite finished yet. <br />
<br />
“Whew!” <br />
<br />
When established households combine, as in the case of myself and Mr. Trashmaster, there is often furniture that needs re-homing. I sent my couch, coffee table, microwave oven, a small cabinet on wheels, and my TV to <a href="http://www.communitywarehouse.org/">Community Warehouse</a>. These fine folks collect and distribute furniture and other household items to low-income families. Community Warehouse works with the families’ caseworkers, so they know just what kind of items to give to each family. Because I had large items, and I was willing to work with their schedule, I was able to arrange to have my stuff picked up. They ask for a $10 donation to help pay for the truck. Totally worth it so Mr. Trashmaster and I didn’t have to figure out how to get all that stuff in the back of our car (and I didn’t have to carry the coffee table across town on the bus!). <br />
<br />
Here in Portland, we sometimes get flyers in the mail or on the doorstep reminding us that <a href="http://www.voaor.org/">Volunteers of America</a> will be by on a certain date to pick up materials. If you choose to donate to them, just set out your items on the curb or let them know it’s on your doorstep. In the case of larger items you’d rather not leave on the curb or if the weather won’t let you put your stuff out safely, call to arrange a time so you can meet the driver at the door. <br />
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Do you have leftovers from a remodeling project or from building a shed or deck, maybe? Donate to <a href="http://www.pdxrestore.org/">Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore</a> or <a href="http://rebuildingcenter.org/">The ReBuilding Center</a>. Got a spare tool box full of tools, or even some extra screwdrivers? Find your local tool library, like the <a href="http://www.septl.org/">Southeast Portland Tool Library</a>. Don’t forget to recycle that <a href="http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=521">leftover paint</a>!<br />
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I’ve also posted about what to do with electronics <a href="http://trashingmyreputation.blogspot.com/2011/04/im-little-behind-curve-when-it-comes-to.html">here</a>. <br />
<br />
And as always, in the Portland/Metro region, if you’re not sure what to do with it but you just <i>know</i> it shouldn’t go in the garbage, call Metro’s Recycling Hotline at 503-234-3000.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-71291515434111011572011-05-24T19:27:00.000-07:002011-05-25T07:24:54.123-07:00GET RID OF IT! Part 1Not only was I sick for close to three weeks, but I’m also still unpacking from a recent move – Mr Trashmaster and I recently combined households. <br />
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First things first. The best way to move all your stuff is to have less stuff to move. Want to “live more simply”? Don’t take all that crap with you! Mind you, I’d been living in a 560 square foot house for the last few years, but I still found plenty of stuff to get rid of. <br />
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“This sounds good”, you say. “I’m interested in having less crap and more space in my home and my life. But I also don’t want to chuck it all in a landfill.” <br />
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Heavens no, I say. You should know me better than that by now. If your stuff is in good shape, it’s entirely possible to a bit of money through yard sales or Craigslist. I don’t usually have much luck with this, but that’s me. I know of people who are, essentially, professional yard-sale hosts and Craisglisters. Me, I’d rather throw it in the back of the car, take it somewhere I know it will do someone some good, drop it off and be done with it. <br />
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If you’re moving house, or if you’re just spring (er, <i>summer</i> cleaning), here are some places to take – or send – your stuff. <br />
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-<b><a href="http://www.goodwill.org/">Goodwill</a></b> Tried and true, and probably the easiest for most of us, as there’s a Goodwill less than 10 miles away in almost every city of reasonable size. We all know Goodwill as the place we take all our crap when we spring clean and where we go when we need quick, cheap Halloween costumes. But do you know what Goodwill does with your stuff and your money? Goodwill “offers customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.” They help their clients (veterans, immigrants, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, etc) learn English, earn their GEDs, learn to manage their money, and much more. They also coordinate programs to mentor at-risk youth to help them stay in school, stay out of gangs, and generally make a positive difference with their lives.<br />
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Of course, there are many other charities you can donate household items to. If you have a favorite cause, and your stuff matches their requests, go for it. I mention Goodwill because it’s super-easy to find one near you, they take a wide variety of items, and because while everybody I know has heard of them, almost no one I know is familiar with the work Goodwill does outside of running the shops. <br />
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-<b>Donate to a local school or children’s program</b> Schools love children’s clothing of almost all sizes, especially for children 6th grade and younger. You would be amazed at how fast the office goes through spare clothing for lunch-time mishaps, “accidents”, paint spills, all sorts of things. T-shirts and button-up shirts are great for art smocks. After school programs can also use clothing. Have a bunch of office supplies? Especially in these lean economic times, teachers will often spend their own money to make sure their students have enough pencils, crayons, notebooks, rulers and glue for the year. Got an extra backpack or two? Students need a way to cart all their stuff to and from school, and not every family can afford to replace them as they wear out. Got sports equipment you aren’t using anymore? See if an after-school program can use it – maybe the <a href="http://www.bgca.org/Pages/index.aspx">Boys & Girls Club</a> or <a href="http://www.ymca.net/child-care/">YMCA</a>.<br />
<br />
-<b>As long as we’re on the subject of sports equipment</b> Have you heard of <a href="http://www.playitagainsports.com/">Play It Again Sports</a>? They are a national retail chain that buys and resells used sports stuff along with new stuff. (Remember them when you’re looking to start up that New Year’s Resolution too). Or <a href="http://wwwsportsgift.org/">Sports Gift</a>? They are a nonprofit that redistributes gear to more than 40,000 underprivileged children worldwide each year. <br />
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-<b>Craft materials</b> If you’ve got yarn or paint or paper or wood or bubble wrap or door knobs or just about anything that could POSSIBLY be used in an art project, or resources on how to do various kinds of crafts, try donating it to a school or a program like <a href="http://scrapaction.org/">SCRAP</a>. This organization “inspires creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community”. <br />
<br />
-<b><a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a></b> If you’ve got it, there’s probably someone out there looking for it.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-21149650307870141732011-05-22T16:10:00.000-07:002011-05-22T16:10:12.755-07:00hang in there...Ugh. The Plague of Death has finally passed, and now I'm getting caught up on all other aspects of the household. Thanks for being patient and for sticking around. The Trashmaster will return soon.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-41797928285077508502011-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:002011-05-08T10:39:06.080-07:00~~intermission~~Pardon this extended pause in blogging while I have a massive head cold. I hope to return shortly.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-85060827438736880472011-04-24T22:05:00.000-07:002011-04-24T22:05:37.727-07:00City Repair Earth Day fest follow-upI’d said I would follow up on some of what I saw at the City Repair Earth Day fest ~<br />
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<a href="http://goatrentalnw.yolasite.com/">Goat Rental NW</a> The basic idea is that these folks will rent you goats to help clear brush and invasive species from your yard. If your yard looks like mine, you’ll agree that these are good deals. I have no connection or experience with this business – if you have, I’d love to hear about it. I just love the idea of having goats meandering around my yard, taking care of the blackberries and thistles for me. They’ve definitely got good press – read <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/10/goats_hired_to_mow_southeast_p.html">here</a> and <a href="http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/09/23/need-some-land-cleared-hire-a-goat/">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cornerstonefuneral.com/">Cornerstone Funeral Services & Cremation</a> offers green burial options, including burial without embalming, funeral services at home, and cremation. The website says they also work with organ donation organizations, so you’ll still be able to be an anatomical donor. Again, I have no connection with the business, and I’d love to hear from anyone who has worked with these folks. <br />
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I did buy myself a <a href="http://www.snacktaxi.com/">Snack Taxi</a>. It’s a reusable sandwich bag. I’ve been looking for one for a while. I’ve found other similar products, but the ones I’d found were too small for the breads I tend to buy or make, or were made with fabric I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be seen with. Mine has hedgehogs romping around on it. I also bought my husband a <a href="http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/">Wrap-n-Mat</a>. It’s like a reusable sandwich bag that folds all the way out to a placemat. His is dark blue and has chalk outlines of sharks and fishes all over it. We’re both set and stylin’ now!Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-39573231517029275152011-04-24T21:35:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:35:22.131-07:00E-cycling round-upUtah just passed their e-cycling bill. Go Utah!<br />
<a href="http://le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0153s01.htm">HB 153: first fail</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com/article/utah-fails-to-pass-electronics-recycling-law.html">HB 102: second fail</a><br />
<a href="http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillenr/sb0184.pdf">SB 184: pass!</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/new-york-to-become-23rd-state-to-pass-e-waste-legislation/">New York’s e-scrap program</a> begins too <br />
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Will County in Illinois has started an <a href="http://www.vintagetechrecyclers.com/news_article_name/Will-County-Electronic-Pick-Up.aspx">e-scrap program</a> as well. It’s an already existing program, not costing county any money, and the program is now tentatively expanding. Hopefully the program will expand to the whole state soon.<br />
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And while it seems everything else in Wisconsin is falling apart, their e-cycling program has not only demonstrated real success, but it’s resulting in more jobs (and lower state fees?) as the programs expand. Check out the <a href="http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/publications/anewpub/wa1529.pdf">2010 report</a> here.<br />
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And South Carolina’s <a href="http://www.ecyclesc.com/">Free E-Cycles Day</a>! <br />
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<a href="http://www.justmeans.com/Dell-Finds-Goodwill-For-Recycling/48590.html">Dell is working with Goodwill</a> to help keep electronics out of landfills. <br />
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Meanwhile in the Portland/Metro area - don't forget <a href="http://www.freegeek.org/">Free Geek</a>, <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422">Best Buy</a>, and <a href="http://www.deq.state.or.us/ecsearch/Default.aspx">Oregon E-cycles</a> when you're ready to recycle your computer, smart phone or other electronic device.Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4615204451379075408.post-38379260898784809402011-04-24T10:13:00.000-07:002011-04-24T10:34:12.081-07:00My day in the sunA couple of brief notes on yesterday's lovely outdoor event ~<br />
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So much sunshine! Probably the last full day of sun for another few weeks, but hey, it was still sun!<br />
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I learned about another e-cycling company in Portland - <a href="http://www.cityrecycle.net/">City Recycle LLC</a>. It looks like their website is either still under construction or has some bugs. I haven't personally worked or talked with anyone in the company yet, but it looks worth checking out. According to their website, their focus is on e-cycling (recycling electronics), but they will take metals in general along with paper and cardboard. <i>If you've had experience with City Recycle, let me know!</i><br />
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I saw baby goats! No bigger than the 2-year old children scampering about. I never did make it over to their booth to find out what the goats were helping promote, but gosh it was fun watching them. And watching people pet them. <br />
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I talked with a lady about her eco-friendly burial service. More on that later.<br />
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I talked with several people who want to know when Portland will finally get our residential composting program. It's coming, Portland, honest! They gotta make sure all the bugs are worked out and all the permits are in order. Trust me - it will suck far more to start the program early and then have it taken away because Permit 146Xz12 wasn't signed off properly. <br />
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I finally got myself a Snack Taxi. More on that later. <br />
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I talked with a couple of people who reallyreallyreally want to garden but they have apartments and don't think they have space for anything. I know there are books out there that specifically address container gardening and gardening in super-small spaces. I didn't find it till this morning, but now I have something to share with people who rent a single room in a house and don't even have space in the kitchen for a pot. If you have a window, you can grow stuff! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=192890964089531&id=160914497298598">Merry Farming!</a><br />
<b><i>What are your favorite recommendations for super-small space and container gardening?</i></b>Trashmaster46http://www.blogger.com/profile/10508644267270878845noreply@blogger.com4