Turning Waste into Wardrobe: A Successful Fall Clothing Swap
On Wednesday, October 9th, the Skagit County Solid Waste Division proudly hosted the Skagit County Clothing Swap. We’re thrilled to share that the event was a huge success, with 293 attendees, 10 dedicated volunteers, and 5 hardworking staff members. Together, we helped find new homes for about 2,185 clothing items! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event possible, especially the Skagit County Fairgrounds for their support!
The Solid Waste Division understands the serious issue of textile waste in the United States. In 2018, an astonishing 11.3 million tons of textiles ended up in landfills (EPA, 2018). To combat this, we encourage reusing and repurposing clothing. By participating in our Clothing Swap, community members helped keep textiles out of landfills while finding new homes for their clothes. This event offered free clothing to residents of the county.
The Clothing Swap was filled with energy and positivity, with families and individuals excited to take home new clothes. Many attendees expressed their appreciation for this event and shared how happy they were to see it happening.
Image, Zoe Slabodnik
Glass still accepted in curbside recycling programs
You may have heard that as of October 1st, glass is no longer accepted for recycling at Skagit County Transfer Stations. This change resulted from the closure of a glass manufacturing facility in Seattle, which left us without a local option for processing recycled glass.
Previously, you could drop off glass containers at the Skagit County Recycling and Transfer Station, the Clear Lake Compactor Site, and the Sauk Transfer Station. Now, we ask that you dispose of glass containers with your household garbage. Unfortunately, any glass that was being accepted for recycling at the transfer stations will now go to the landfill.
This issue isn’t just local; it’s affecting many counties across our state. The unexpected closure of a bottle manufacturing plant in Seattle this summer has caused a significant drop in demand for recycled glass. Typically, recycled glass is turned into new bottles for wine and beer, but with less demand for these bottles, there’s less need for recycled glass material.
Good news, though! Glass is still being accepted in curbside recycling bins, so you can continue to recycle glass from home. Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these changes together!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Margo Gillaspy, Solid Waste Division Manager, at margog@co.skagit.wa.us
The Climate Element will help shape our community’s goals and policies to reduce emissions and prepare for climate-intensified natural hazards. The Skagit County Solid Waste Division understands that putting food waste and other organic materials in the landfill can hurt the environment and contribute to climate change. Which is why we’re inviting YOU—residents, businesses, students, and organizations—to share your thoughts and priorities! The survey is available in English and Spanish and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The survey is open from October 11 to October 31, 2024
There is no "away" photo
Each month we will post a photo of something we saw that landed on our tipping floor, with the hope of provoking thought about how the item could have been disposed of differently.
Microwaves
 Image, Zoe Slabodnik
When it's time to get rid of your old microwave, consider these responsible options. You can donate it to a second-hand store or give it away through the gift economy. If it still works, selling it online on platforms like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace is another option. Additionally, many local appliance recycling locations accept microwaves for eco-friendly disposal. These choices help reduce waste and support your community.
Microwaves can be recycled at the following locations in Skagit County:
Both locations allow for free drop-off of broken and working microwaves.
Recycling Tip Of The Month
One Recycler Asks: Do Service Trucks Mix Recyclables and Garbage?
In Skagit County, garbage trucks and recycling trucks are separate vehicles operated by different service providers. Recycling trucks are operated by Waste Management, a private company contracted by the cities. In contrast, most garbage trucks in the cities are managed by the cities themselves.
Confusion about whether garbage and recycling are mixed often comes from the different ways companies collect waste. Some companies use split-body trucks, which have two separate sections for garbage and recycling. But not every company uses these trucks, so some customers get two different trucks—one for garbage and one for recycling. Services across Skagit County do not use split-body trucks.
Some companies collect both garbage and recycling in the same truck to help the environment and recycle more effectively. However, others believe this can be a problem because mixing them can cause contamination. When garbage gets into recyclables, it can lower their quality and may even lead to recyclables being sent to a landfill. These different methods can make it hard to understand how waste is handled.
That’s a great question! Thanks for asking, and be sure to stay tuned for our next discussion about recycling.
 Image, Creative Commons licenses
Trade Your Treats: Swap Costumes, Save the Planet this Halloween
Costume swaps are a fun and sustainable way to celebrate Halloween while reducing waste! Similar to a clothing swap, at a costume swap, people come together to exchange costumes they no longer want or need. Instead of buying a brand-new costume, you can bring items from your closet and trade them for something new to you. Look through your wardrobe—there might be pieces you can combine to create a unique costume. If you can't find what you need at home, check out local thrift stores for affordable and creative options. By participating in a costume swap or reusing costumes, you not only save money but also help the environment by reducing waste!
 Image, Burlington Public Library Instagram Page
Smash Pumpkin Waste, Savor Every Bite
Feed Yourself
Pumpkins are not just for decoration; they’re also delicious and versatile in the kitchen. Before purchasing a pumpkin for Halloween, check if it’s edible afterward. Good choices include sugar pumpkins, kabocha squash, butternut squash, delicata squash, Hubbard squash, and Cinderella pumpkins. After Halloween, you can use your pumpkin in various recipes, from soups to pies. Just ensure the pumpkin is still in good condition and free of excessive rot. Remove any decorative items. Painted pumpkins should not be used for cooking. By choosing an edible pumpkin, you can enjoy tasty meals while reducing waste.
Don’t forget to give those pumpkin seeds a cozy roast this Halloween season—they’re the perfect crunchy little treats to enjoy while you celebrate all things spooky!
 Image, Creative Commons licenses
Feed Animals
Check out the following guidelines on how to feed your unpainted, decoration-free pumpkins to animals. Pumpkins should not have excess mold or rot on them, and still be in somewhat edible condition.
 Image, Allen Miller for WSU Extension
Feed Worms (Compost!)
Is your pumpkin ready to go back to the patch? Moldy pumpkins, or those that are really starting to rot can be composted.
-
Curbside Green Waste Carts
If you have curbside green waste service, place your spent pumpkin into your green waste cart for quick composting. All green waste picked up from curbside bins in Skagit County travels to local, industrial composting facility, Skagit Soils.
For curbside yard waste pick-up outside of city limits contact Waste Management at
1-800-592-9995 or visit their website.
-
City Yard Waste Facilities
-
Mount Vernon
1010 Shop Lane, Mount Vernon
Open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Solid Waste Division operates a yard waste disposal facility for residents living within the city limits that are signed up for city garbage service. Not for use by commercial lawn care providers.
Halloween pumpkins are free of charge for drop-off during open hours.
-
Sedro-Woolley
1675 S Third St, Sedro Woolley
Opens first Saturday in March, closes first Saturday in November
Operates Mondays and Saturdays from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Halloween pumpkins are free of charge for drop-off during open hours.
-
Home Compost
After Halloween, don’t throw away your pumpkin! Instead, add it to your composting pile. As it breaks down, it will help create rich soil for your garden. This reduces waste and helps your plants grow! Here are some easy steps to compost your pumpkin: chop it into smaller pieces, mix it with leaves and kitchen scraps, keep a balance of greens and browns, and make sure it’s moist but not soggy. If you're worried about attracting rodents, try using a system specifically designed for composting food scraps. Plans for these systems can be found here and here. Be sure to cut off or wash away any decorations that aren't biodegradable, such as glitter, stickers, or melted candle wax before adding pumpkins to the compost pile.
 Image, Christine Bruckner for Illinois State University
Upcoming Events
Each season the Solid Waste Division's Education & Outreach team offers chances to learn methods for making less garbage. We'll also highlight other local events focused on reducing waste, repair and repurposing materials. Get your recycling, composting, and waste reduction questions answered, and take home materials to help you succeed. Catch us this month at a local event or free workshop near you!
Come see what's new at the Costume Swap! We have some pretty awesome costumes this year and new costumes are hitting the swap daily! The Costume Swap is completely free and open to all. It is not required to donate in order to participate. If you do have some costumes you'd like to drop off please bring them to the front desk. The Costume Swap will run until October 31st. BPL does ask that any used costumes be washed before being donated and that no weapons, used makeup, or personal wares from costumes be donated.
Throughout the month of October
During regular library hours
820 E Washington Ave, Burlington
Sunday, October 27th
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Skyline Cabana, Anacortes
This free, family friendly event will feature guided study site tours with our research team, a fun trivia competition, an under-the-sea themed costume contest for children, marine mammal education, delicious refreshments, and a raffle/silent auction with a chance to win exciting prizes.
Join with community for a potluck of delicious light bites as we learn more about the Growth Management Act and how it can support communities like ours in building towards a resilient future. Transition Fidalgo is delighted to host guest speakers Eddy Ury and Marlene Finley, who will share more about this topic from 7-8 p.m. This will be a hybrid event, so if you would like to watch the presentation via Zoom please click here.
Tuesday, October 29th
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and potluck begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Anacortes Senior Center
1701 22nd Street, Anacortes
Join Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group in celebrating Make A Difference Day by planting trees to enhance habitat for salmon and all the species that benefit from healthy salmon runs.
Saturday, October 26th
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Carey's Slough 48°31'48.3"N 121°59'15.7"W, Sedro-Woolley
Please RSVP here
|
