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| "Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day." -Shira Tamir |
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Waste Matters
Community Calendar
We know you care about the environment and waste reduction, and it's great to get outside and connect with others. Feel free to use this calendar to stay connected to the events around you and feel free to share it with others. |
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Reuse Electronics at Garten!
Check off your list and check out the selection of refurbished items at the Garten Electronics and Reuse Store. Everything in the store is 40% off Friday, November 16 only. Stop by 11am to 3pm Friday at 3334 Industrial Way NE. Salem.
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Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
Salem Progressive Film Series
Tuesday, November 20, 7pm
Grand Theatre, 191 High St. NE, Salem
Admission: $5
WASTED! THE STORY OF FOOD WASTE aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system.
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Salem Adopts New Solid Waste Collection Rate
The Salem City Council held a public hearing Nov. 13 to discuss the proposed rate change. Councilors voted unanimously to adopt the proposal with the approved rate change taking effect on January 1, 2019.
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Marion County Public Hearing on Solid Waste Rate Change
The Marion County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. regarding proposed changes to solid waste collection rates charged by franchised haulers in unincorporated areas outside of city limits. The meeting will be held in the Senator Hearing Room at Courthouse Square located at 555 Court St. NE, Salem, during the commissioners' regular board meeting.
Written testimony may be submitted until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 to:
Email: commissioners@co.marion.or.us
Mail: PO Box 14500, Salem, OR 97309
Hand delivery: 555 Court St. NE, Suite 5232, Salem, OR
The proposed rate changes will impact residential roll cart customers, commercial container drop box services, and medical waste customers. If approved, the new rates will take effect January 2019.
Factors contributing to increased operating costs for garbage and recycling haulers include increased fuel and recycling costs.
Recycling costs have been impacted by drastic changes in international recycling markets. In 2017, haulers received approximately $8.95 per ton and now pay an average recycling processing cost of $80.22 per ton. Fuel costs increased in 2018 by 34 percent further influencing operating costs for franchised haulers.
A residential customer within an urban growth boundary with 35-gallon roll cart service will see an increase of $2.88 per month from $25.28 to $28.16. Rural customers with the same service will see an increase of $2.90 per month from $27.52 to $30.42.
The public hearing will include presentations by representatives from local garbage haulers and recycling processors. Supporting material for the public hearing will be available for review by 5 p.m. on November 21, 2018, on the Marion County website.
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Reuse Rumble and Recycling Q&A
Wednesday, November 28 -7:30 pm, Doors open at 7pm
Capitol City Theater, $5 tickets
Join us for another fantastic Reuse Rumble! Challengers will battle it out over materials gleaned from the waste stream to earn the title of Reuse Rumble Champion. Industry expert judges will weigh in to answer recycling questions from the audience. The event will broadcast through Facebook Live.
Watch the last Rumble!
Win free tickets to the November show!
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Master Recycling Program Now Accepting Applications
Wednesday, November 28 -7:30 pm, Doors open at 7pm
Capitol City Theater, $5 tickets
Join the team of over 700 Master Recyclers to learn about waste reduction, recycling, and compost. The seven evening training sessions will begin on Thursday, January 24, 2019 and will continue Thursday evenings through March 7. Most classes will be held from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the Marion County Public Works office, located at 5155 Silverton Rd. NE, Salem 97305. The training also includes two field trips to local recycling and composting facilities, taking place Saturday, January 26 and Saturday, February 9 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Visit masterrecycler.net for the schedule and more information.
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Volunteer Milk Measurers Needed
We have been working on installing milk dispensers with washable cups in some of the Marion County schools as a way to reduce all the carton waste and to reduce the amount of milk that is wasted. We are doing a series of pre-installation audits to measure how many cartons are being used and how much of the milk is being wasted. If you are available to help us with this data gathering, please contact Bailey. Ideally, we’re looking for people to volunteer at both the breakfast and lunch meals on the same day. The dates are flexible, but we're looking to begin the audits in the coming weeks in Silverton and Salem. Instructions and additional details will be provided.
This volunteer opportunity counts towards Master Recycling payback hours.
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Volunteers Needed
Upcycled Holiday Crafts
Do you like crafting and helping others? We are looking for a few good crafters (2 to be exact) for the Last Minute Holiday Gift event at the Salem Public Library, Saturday, December 15 from 2 to 4pm. We'll supply the tools, craft, and materials so all you need to do is show up and help others get crafty.
This volunteer opportunity counts towards Master Recycling payback hours.
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Salem to Revise Proposed Plastic Carryout Bag Ordinance: Second Reading Nov. 26
News Release from City of Salem
On Tues., Nov. 13, 2018, a proposed ordinance to reduce the use of plastic carryout bags was presented to Salem City Council. The City Council is considering an exemption from the 5 cent fee for paper bags for businesses who currently restrict use of plastic carryout bags at check out. Staff will return with a revised ordinance for a second reading on Nov. 26.
If approved Nov. 26, the ordinance Salem City Council is considering would do the following:
Beginning Apr. 1, 2019, large retailers will no longer be distributing plastic carryout bags at checkout in order to help protect the environment, animal and human health, and to reduce litter. All retail businesses, including grocery and convenience stores, apparel and department stores, and local markets will be impacted. Retailers can provide recyclable paper bags, charging a fee of not less than five cents per bag, or reusable bags for customers to carry away purchases.
Restaurants and prepared food providers can still distribute plastic carryout bags. For stores that sell both retail items and prepared food, plastic carryout bags can only be given at checkout for prepared food items.
For further details, view the proposed plastic carryout bag ordinance: https://bit.ly/2zRpBTP
Small charge for paper bags
To encourage reusable bags and to offset the higher cost of paper bags, retailers will charge at least five cents per paper bag given at checkout. This charge is called a pass-through cost and will be shown on a customer's itemized receipt.
Retailers must provide a free carryout option to low-income customers who request a bag and show an Oregon Trail Card or food assistance voucher.
Some plastic bags still allowed
Any plastic bag without handles provided to a customer for use within a retail establishment to get products to the point of sale is still allowed. Examples include bags to:
- Transport produce, meat, baked goods, and bulk items to the point of sale
- Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where dampness is a concern
- Segregate food or merchandise that could damage or contaminate other items
Until September 1, 2019, small retailer businesses can still distribute plastic carryout bags to customers.
Background
On May 14, 2018, City Council passed a motion directing staff to research and prepare an ordinance to ban single-use plastic bags in the City of Salem, and schedule a public hearing before City Council.
The public hearing for the proposed ordinance was opened on Sept. 10, 2018 and was continued until Oct. 22, 2018. Second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Nov. 26, 2018. Typically, ordinances become effective 30 days after approval.
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Inspiring Reduce and Reuse
Marion County residents are invited to show how to avoid waste and reuse materials! November's challenge is to reduce/reuse plastic bags. Since plastic bags are NOT allowed in the mixed recycling cart (but can be recycled at local grocery stores), share your photo of how you reuse plastic bags and or reduce using them. Submit photos, your name, address, and phone number to Jessica Ramey (jsramey@co.marion.or.us) by November 21, 2018. The entry with the most likes on facebook by 7am, November 30, 2018 will win a prize and waste reduction bragging rights. Stay tuned for December's challenge: Solo Cups!
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Plastic Tub Challenge Winner!
Voters weighed in and chose Amanda's homemade yogurt idea. Amanda reduces both single-serve plastic containers and the bigger multi-serving containers of yogurt... She makes her own in her InstantPot! And the milk she uses comes in returnable glass jars so there’s literally NO waste created by making the yogurt. Now that is what we call smart reduction! |
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