Have a Sustainable Summer

Posted on May 14, 2018

Summer is finally here! Before purchasing new outfits or outdoor supplies, Zero Waste Marin would like to provide residents with some quick tips on how to safely recycle and dispose of unwanted, common household items:

Shoes & Clothing

Need to swap out your winter wardrobe to make room for summer clothing?
• Donate your clothes to local thrift stores, such as Goodwill. You can claim these donations as tax deductible.
• Don’t throw your textiles in the trash! Many local retailers have programs to take back your worn out or stained clothing, towels and sheets.

Kitchenware & Appliances

If it’s time to get a new appliance, recycle your unwanted large and small appliances, including refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, and toasters.
• Donate old silverware, plates, cups, pots, pans and other kitchenware to Goodwill.
• If your appliances are still in working condition, contact local charities such as the Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity. You’ll be able to claim charitable deductions for donated appliances.
• Visit our Recycling Guide for a comprehensive list of organizations that recycle appliances or accept donations.
• For appliances that no longer work, visit Zero Waste Marin’s Electronics Information Page to learn about safe disposal options or contact your local hauler to learn about their collection options.

Electronics

Planning to upgrade your personal electronics? Here are a couple of smart reuse and recycling options:
• Sell usable electronics on eBay or to a local thrift store for fast cash!
• Consider upgrading a component of your computer, such as adding additional memory or storage, to lengthen your laptop’s life span.
• Recycle used printers and ink cartridges for free through programs like the HP Computer Recycling Program or through Quill.com.

Books

• Donate used books that are still in good condition to local libraries, thrift shops, hospitals, and used book retailers.
• Unusable paperback books and magazines are easily recyclable. When recycling, hardcovers should be removed because the glue that holds the book together is not recyclable.

Camping

• Help reduce metal packaging waste and save money on your summer camping trips by switching to refillable fuel canisters! Learn more about refillable fuel canisters or find a local retailer on refuelyourfun.org. Refillables can last up to 12 years and be refilled hundreds of times!

Zero Waste Marin works with cities and towns throughout Marin County to educate
residents about waste prevention, reuse, and repair. Click HERE to download a PDF copy of this newsletter.

FREE Home Composting Workshop

Posted on April 10, 2018
Composting.

Please join us Saturday, April 28th, 2018 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in San Rafael. This class is free for all Marin county residents. You will learn everything to know about composting at home, receive a free kitchen compost pail, and enter to win a free composting bin!

The class is located at the historic Falkirk Cultural Center at 1408 Mission Avenue, San Rafael.

For more information and to register, please email Todd Sutton at todd@wastesleuth.com  or click here for more information – SR compost class.

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22

Posted on March 29, 2018

Earth Day is an annual, worldwide event that celebrates efforts to protect our environment. This Earth Day, choose one of the following eco-conscious activities to reduce waste and pollution here in Marin County.

  • Plant a tree. Trees produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and counter toxic byproducts of burning fossil fuels – all of which help improve air quality. Plant a tree in your own backyard with your family or friends or join local volunteer groups such as Marin County’s Dedication Tree Day at Lagoon Park, where you can plant a tree to commemorate a loved one and help restore habitats for local wildlife. You can also support organizations that aim to reverse deforestation, like the Canopy Project.
  • Switch to reusable. Instead of purchasing coffee in a paper cup with a plastic top, bring your own coffee cup.
  • Shop Local. Shop for groceries at local farmer’s markets. Not only is the food fresh, but it’s virtually free of packaging! Make smart decisions about what to purchase and be sure to eat what you buy to avoid wasting food.
  • Make a backyard compost pile. Composting reduces your carbon footprint and repurposes food waste. You can purchase a backyard compost bin from your local hardware store or build your own.
  • Recycle and compost every day. Every year, Americans generate more than 258 million tons of trash. Visit the Who is My Hauler page to learn more about the recycling and composting services offered in your city or town.
  • Have you heard about Clean Marin? This new public private partnership is designed to support and encourage all the efforts in Marin that keep it clean and healthy. Find volunteer opportunities and more information at cleanmarin.org.

Zero Waste Marin works with cities and towns throughout Marin County to educate residents about ways to reduce waste and improve the local environment.

Click HERE to download a PDF copy of this newsletter.

FREE Composting Workshop

Posted on March 19, 2018
Composting.

Please join us Saturday, April 7th, 2018 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in Stinson Beach. This class is free for all Marin county residents. You will learn everything to know about composting at home, receive a free kitchen compost pail, and enter to win a free composting bin!

The class is located at the Stinson Beach Library, 3521 Shoreline Highway in Stinson Beach.

For more information and to register, please email Todd Sutton at todd@wastesleuth.com  or click here for more information – Stinson Beach workshop.

Make the Switch to Rechargeable Batteries

Posted on March 12, 2018

Single-use batteries have become a serious problem for our environment. If not disposed of correctly, they can corrode and contaminate surrounding soil and water.  Zero Waste Marin encourages residents to invest in rechargeable batteries: you’ll save money and help protect our community from exposure to toxic waste.

Rechargeable batteries are easy to purchase and can be found at local electronic stores as well as online. These batteries can be recharged approximately 100 times!

If you make the switch to rechargeable batteries, Zero Waste Marin wants to reward your commitment to the environment. The first 200 eligible Marin County residents who take the “Rechargeable Battery Pledge” will receive a rechargeable battery kit at no charge, including a charger and four AA rechargeable batteries. Pledge to make the switch by March 30, 2018.

Please remember that it is illegal to throw single-use household batteries in the trash or recycling bin. You can safely dispose of small quantities of batteries at many participating businesses throughout the county. For more information on rechargeable batteries and disposal locations, please visit the Bulb and Battery page.

Click HERE to download a copy of this newsletter.

Haga el Cambio a Baterías/Pilas Recargables

Las baterías/pilas de un solo uso se han convertido en un problema grave para nuestro medio ambiente. Si no son eliminadas correctamente, pueden corroerse y contaminar la tierra y el agua. Zero Waste Marin lo alienta a invertir en la compra de baterías/pilas recargables: ahorrará dinero y ayudará a proteger a nuestra comunidad de la exposición a desechos tóxicos.

Las baterías/pilas recargables son fáciles de comprar y se pueden encontrar en tiendas locales y en la internet. ¡Estas baterías/pilas pueden ser recargadas aproximadamente 100 veces!

Si usted hace el cambio a baterías/pilas recargables, Zero Waste Marin quiere recompensar su compromiso con el medio ambiente. Los primeros 200 residentes elegibles del Condado de Marin que tomen el “Compromiso de Batería/Pilas Recargables” recibirán un kit de baterías/pilas recargables gratis, que incluye un cargador y cuatro baterías/pilas recargables doble A.  Comprométase y haga el cambio antes del 30 de marzo de 2018.

Recuerde que es ilegal tirar a la basura o al contenedor de reciclaje las baterías/pilas domésticas de un solo uso. Usted puede deshacerse de pequeñas cantidades de pilas/baterías caseras en muchos sitios participantes en todo el condado. Para obtener más información sobre baterías/pilas recargables y ubicaciones de eliminación, visite la página Bulb and Battery en el sitio web Zero Waste Marin.

Simple and Green: DIY Spring Cleaning Ideas

Posted on February 26, 2018

It’s time for Spring cleaning! Follow these simple tips to make your own DIY cleaning supplies, donate unwanted items, and dispose of toxic products safely. For more alternative cleaning supply ideas and information, please visit our Less Toxic Alternatives page.

Cleaning Rags – Repurpose old T-shirts and towels to use as cleaning rags instead of purchasing single use paper towels.

Donations – If you are organizing and have unwanted items, please remember to donate usable textiles, clothing and shoes to local thrift stores. Visit our Textiles page for a list of free local resources.

General Household Cleaner – Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, 1 teaspoon of borax or baking soda, a dash of lemon juice or white vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water.

Mildew and Mold Remover – Mix ½ cup of borax with 1 gallon of water and scrub with a nylon scouring pad.

Stainless Steel Cleaner – Clean surface with baking soda and a soft sponge, then rinse with a white vinegar and water solution.

Window Cleaner – Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with 1 quart of warm water. Use a squeegee to wipe windows for best results.

Want to get rid of your toxic cleaning products? Drop off a variety of items, including bleach-based cleaners and detergents, at the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility that serves your community.

Zero Waste Marin works with cities and towns throughout Marin County to educate residents about reducing toxic waste.

Click HERE for a PDF copy of this newsletter.

Help Us Reduce Textile Waste

Posted on January 23, 2018

If your family members received new clothing or shoes over the holidays, then you might be thinking about cleaning out your closets to make room for these new items. Please keep textiles out of our local landfills by following these simple tips from Zero Waste Marin and our partners.

    • Are your clothes and shoes still in good shape? Bring them to a Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other local resale store. For a list of thrift stores in Marin County search for “clothing” in our Recycling Guide.
    • In a hurry? Simply drop your unwanted clothing and shoes into a nearby USAgain or Recycle for Change collection drop-box.,/li>
    • You could also make items available for free on Nextdoor.com, Facebook Marketplace, a local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook, or Craigslist.
    • Remember, textiles and shoes are not accepted in your curbside recycling container.

    Zero Waste Marin works with cities and towns throughout Marin County to educate residents about waste prevention, reuse and repair. For more information on how you can manage your textiles, please visit our Textiles page.