By Daniel Hiestand
Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator
Last month, I gave you "homework" on finding out if your bank matches your sustainability values using Mightydeposits.com. The website can help you learn more about your bank’s values and compare it to other institutions to see how much money it invests in the communities it serves, if it supports fossil fuels, etc.
This month, I will issue you a challenge (which is homework, but it sounds less daunting, maybe?). So here it is: choose at least one day per week during June to ditch your car and use other means to get around. Let's call it the #CarFreeLane Challenge.
Think of it as an early World Car-Free Day. That day, which happens every Sept. 22, "is a worldwide initiative to encourage motorists to take a break from driving and explore alternatives."
Depending on where you live, this will be easier for some than others. But with some creativity, you can ditch your cars, hop on a bike or bus, or walk. These efforts can benefit your wallet, the planet, and your body!
And for those who want to inspire others, tag yourself on social media as participating. Tag your image #CarFreeLane!
Get involved with BRING’s new 'Toolbox Tactics'
Imagine the frustration of staring at a leaky faucet, a broken light switch, a hole in the wall, or a wobbly table, and feeling utterly clueless about how to fix it. Or what about having a creative vision for a functional design update and feeling insecure about where to start?
For most of us, these feelings are not uncommon.
Many homeowners and renters haven't had the chance to learn home improvement and repair skills in their lifetimes. Even with plenty of online instructional videos and resources, there's still nothing quite like hands-on training and practice before tackling the task.
BRING is addressing these challenges by introducing Toolbox Tactics, a new program slated to launch this summer designed to build practical skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to your dwelling. BRING hopes to change the way people approach do-it-yourself and repair projects around the house. Toolbox Tactics classes will cover each of the basics, including electrical, plumbing, reusing and refurbishing materials, carpentry, flooring, lighting, patching and painting, and more.
Toolbox Tactics’ development started in December when BRING sent out a survey to social media followers to gauge program interest. Out of nearly 250 responses, the overwhelming majority indicated they are “Very Interested,” and identified as being at either a beginner or intermediate skill level. There is a clear need for our program in the community.
Of course, it wouldn't be a BRING program unless it emphasized the importance of incorporating reusable materials into each project! Just a little bit of knowledge and planning goes a long way. By learning how to repurpose materials, students will not only save money but also do their part to reduce waste locally, which benefits all of us. Learn more at www.bringrecycling.org/help-us-launch-toolbox-tactics/.
SES Program a hit at AANHPI Heritage Celebration
Waste Wise Lane County was happy to re-launch the Sustainable Events Services (SES) program at Guy Lee Elementary in Springfield on May 17 during the 2nd Annual Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Celebration.
Waste Wise Lane County offers the SES program in partnership with the city of Eugene and Action Rental-All & Events. The SES program provides durable dishware and water bottle refill stations to event producers who want to avoid disposable paper plates, plastic forks, plastic cups, and other materials that end up in the trash. The SES program delivers dishware cleaned and sanitized for events (specifically with 250 attendees or more) and collects the dirty dishes after its conclusion—all for much less than the cost of purchasing disposable food service ware.
The AANHPI Celebration diverts hundreds of dishes, bowls, and eating utensils from the landfill with the help of a team of wonderful, hard-working Master Recycler Program volunteers (see photo). Thank you to everyone who participated!
Do you know of a large event that could use the program? Learn more at lanecountyor.gov/wastewise-events.
Are you enjoying the newsletter? Are there topics you wish we would cover? Please share your thoughts with us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading.
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