MATERIALS MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION SETS OREGON TOWARD A NEW VISION
Imagine a day when Oregonians live well and prosperously, producing and using materials responsibly, conserving resources, and protecting the environment and climate. Imagine a day when we recognize that the earth’s resources are finite and we begin living and working within those limits, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities as we do.
Last month, the Oregon Legislature passed new laws which will turn our state and cities towards a robust implementation of this vision.
A Master Recycler’s experience at the Recycling Event of the Year
By Zanna Ahern (Class 58)
Desert Rain House, Bend Oregon. Photo by Zanna Ahern.
Thanks to the generosity of Betty Patton and Recycling Advocates, I attended the Association of Oregon Recyclers conference held in Bend from June 3-5. It was fun being in a (large) roomful of like-minded people -- just like in the Master Recycler class.
Lauren asked me to share my experience.
Spread the word about how cool it is to be a Master Recycler!
WHAT: Washington County 8-week spring course and 30 hour volunteer program.
WHEN: Eight consecutive Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. starting on September 9 and two Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm on September 19 and October 17.
WHERE: Hosted by Washington County at Washington Street Center 225 S. First Avenue, Hillsboro
COST: $50 fee to cover course materials.
Partial and full scholarships are available without extra application requirements.
DEADLINE: August 5, 2015 at noon.
Please send people to www.masterrecycler.org
Appreciations
A NEW CENTURION
A huge thank you and congratulations to Kate Hamel (Class 57)! She is the second in her class to become a Certified Master Recycler and first to become a Centurion.
She has been doing amazing creative work in Washington County. She organized about a dozen Master Recyclers to go door-to-door in apartments to answer questions and offer bags for recycling at 15 apartment complexes. She offered presentations to kids and she staffed the Eat More, Waste Less booths in Forest Grove, Sherwood and Hillsboro.
Two very exciting projects she organized was a reuse swap event in an apartment complex (a model that many other cities/counties in the area want to learn from) and a repair cafe in Spanish called Compartir Cornelius at Centro Cultural.
Certified Master Recyclers
Many thanks to four newly Certified Master Recyclers.
Anne Elvers (Class 49) promoted recycling at the Washington County Fair, Tansbourne Whole Foods and several Earth Day events in Washington County. She also dug into the food waste prevention campaign this spring. Anne even talked with her fellow officemates about setting up durable dishes, napkins and towels in the break room.
Susan Powers (Class 49) focused much of her volunteer time promoting our wonderful community resource: The Rebuilding Center. She was at a ton of home improvement shows helping folks think about salvaging material in their next project. Clearly reuse is in her heart as she also participated at Trash to Treasure (swap event) and the Cracked Pot (recycled art).
Megan (right) with classmate Kim Reid promoting the Rebuilding Center.
Megan McCoy (Class 58) also talked with folks about the ReBuilding Center, food waste prevention and recycling and composting at some fun events this spring and summer. She kicked it off at the Fix-It Fair, Earth Day and at Cracked Pots. But Megan has focused much of her energy in the Lents Farmers Market in her own community. She has been working with the market to help them with waste prevention, recycling and composting and even went out to Forest Grove to see how they have tackled waste there. She has also joined a team of others in her class offering a rotating information table at Lents .
Sara Harding Mihm (Class 59) is the first in her class to certify. Sara has done some cool things with her 30 volunteer hours. From the Tigard Farmers Market to the Beaverton Bark for Life, Sara has talked with folks about toxics reduction, food waste prevention, and recycling. She has also been helping Clackamas County develop new web and social media tools to promote business composting and then went to the West Linn streets with fellow Master Recycler Lisa Clifton to promote business composting.
Sara Harding Mihm (third from left, front row, with her mom).
Volunteer Opportunities
Visit the Master Recycler Volunteer Calendar for more opportunities.
August 8, 2015
Tualatin Farmers Market Tualatin Commons (Eat Smart, Waste Less Challenge table)
Rockn’ Round the Block (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
African American Alliance Homeownership Festival (CAN: Food table)
August 9, 2015
August 12, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
August 13, 2015
August 14, 2015
North American Organic Brewers Festival (event recovery)
Rockwood Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
August 15, 2015
Multnomah Days (two opportunities)
August 15, 2015
Gresham Farmer’s Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
North American Organic Brewers Festival (event recovery)
JADE District International Night Market (event recovery)
August 16, 2015
Milwaukie Farmers Market (recycling info table)
North American Organic Brewers Festival (event recovery)
August 18—23, 2015
Clackamas County Fair (Resource Conservation & Solid Waste table)
August 19,2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (recycling center)
Bethany Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
August 20,2015
Gresham Natural Resources and Sustainability Committee
August 22, 2015
JADE District International Night Market (event recovery)
August 23, 2015
Milwaukie Farmers Market (recycling info table)
Southeast Sunday Parkways (CAN: Food Table)
August 25, 2015
Back-to-School & Wellness Conference (CAN: Food or Be Cart Smart table)
Hillsboro Tuesday Marketplace (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
August 26, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (recycling center)
August 27—29, 2015
Festa Italiana (event recovery)
September 2, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (recycling center)
September 5, 2015
July 30—August 2, 2015
Washington County Fair (two opportunities)
July 30, 2015
July 31, 2015
Hazelwood Community Fair and Movie (Recycling Advocates info table)
August 1—2, 2015
Gladstone Community Festival (Recycling Info & Green Cleaning Alternatives table)
August 1, 2015
Beaverton Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
Powellhurst-Gilbert National Night Out (Be Cart Smart table)
August 4, 2015
Forest Grove National Night Out (recycling info table)
Fountain Park Apts National Night Out (recycling info table)
Metzger Community National Night Out (recycling information table)
August 5, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (recycling center)
August 6, 2015
August 8, 2015
Tualatin Farmers Market Tualatin Commons (Eat Smart, Waste Less Challenge table)
Rockn’ Round the Block (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
African American Alliance Homeownership Festival (CAN: Food table)
August 9, 2015
August 12, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
August 13, 2015
North American Organic Brewers Festival (event recovery)
July 30—August 2, 2015
Washington County Fair (two opportunities)
July 30, 2015
July 31, 2015
Hazelwood Community Fair and Movie (Recycling Advocates info table)
August 1—2, 2015
Gladstone Community Festival (Recycling Info & Green Cleaning Alternatives table)
August 1, 2015
Beaverton Farmers Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)
Powellhurst-Gilbert National Night Out (Be Cart Smart table)
August 4, 2015
Forest Grove National Night Out (recycling info table)
Fountain Park Apts National Night Out (recycling info table)
Metzger Community National Night Out (recycling information table)
August 5, 2015
Forest Grove Farmers Market (recycling center)
August 6, 2015
Conservation News
On the Road with AOR: Recycling in Health Care Facilities and MRF Tour
Providence Health and Services, 6322 NE Halsey St, Portland
Tuesday, August 11, 8:30 am – noon
Learn about recycling in health care facilities and tour Providence Health and Services’ material recovery facility. Medical waste experts will discuss special considerations for medical facilities. The panel includes our very own Michael Geller (Class 30), Regional Sustainability Manager for Providence Health and Services, Oregon. Members: $45; Nonmembers: $65
For more information, visit Association of Oregon Recyclers, online.
GLEAN Exhibition 2015
Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, 8371 N Interstate Ave, Portland
Exhibit runs Aug. 14 to Sept. 6
Opening reception: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14
allery hours: noon to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday
Five local artists were chosen by a jury of arts and environmental professionals to participate in GLEAN, an environmental arts program that will send them digging through discards to bring attention to excessive waste generation and reuse issues. Each have been busy conjuring innovative ways to reassemble trash into at least 10 pieces of art, which will be on exhibition in mid-August.
For more information, visit Metro online.
Job Opportunities
Visit the Master Recycler Job Board for more opportunities.
Content for this issue provided by Zanna Ahern, J Lauren Norris, Alicia Polacok, and Wing Grabowski.
https://cityofvancouver.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/COV/job/Environmental-Services-Manager_24-0139