Tag Archives: recycling

CSWD Now Recycles Single-Use Batteries (for free)

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As of this past January 1st, Chittenden Solid Waste District, our local solid waste management organization, now accepts single-use batteries for free recycling at drop-off centers and the environmental depot. Batteries have a much bigger carbon footprint than most things their sizes, and they add toxicity to landfills when just thrown away, so this is pretty great news for anyone interested in a cleaner environment or fighting climate change.

batteries

Here are the details from CSWD:

Starting January 1, 2016, CSWD Drop-Off Centers and the Environmental Depot will begin accepting  alkaline single-use batteries for recycling. To date, we have been able to accept only button-cell, lithium, rechargeable, lead-acid, and NiCd batteries for recycling. We are now adding single-use batteries to the roster of recyclable batteries.

Vermont is the first state to pass a product stewardship law that requires manufacturers of single-use batteries to pay for the collection and recycling of their products. An organization called Call2Recycle is overseeing the state-wide program, setting up nearly 100 collection sites. Since 1994, Call2Recycle has kept 100 million pounds of used batteries out of the landfill across the country.

All seven CSWD Drop-Off Centers and the Environmental Depot will accept single-use and other types of batteries free of charge, beginning in January.

★ DO NOT recycle batteries of any kind in your blue recycling bin or cart. They cannot be recycled with bottles, cans, paper, and other mandatory recyclables. They must be brought to a Drop-Off Center or the Environmental Depot for recycling.

Photo by John Seb Barber

Waterbury LEAP Energy Fair Saturday

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Waterbury LEAP

Waterbury Local Energy Action Partnership will hold its 9th LEAP ENERGY FAIR
Saturday, April 11, 2015
9 AM – 3 PM    Event is FREE!
Crossett Brook Middle School Gym, Duxbury, VT

TOUR 75 exhibits and talk with dozens of experts about energy audits, solar power, heat pumps, weatherization, geothermal, biomass, pellet stoves and much more

LEARN how to reduce fuel bills, save energy and shrink emissions

PARTICIPATE  in break-out discussions on: Sustainable Transportation; Air & Ground Source Heat Pumps; Going Solar; and Weatherization.

KIDS can enjoy a free show by Marko the Magician at 11AM

FREE electronics recycling onsite

The Fair draws 700 attendees and exhibit space sells out every year. Local green energy companies that would like to exhibit at the LEAP Energy Fair are encouraged to contact Ned Houston as soon as possible at hesplanning@aol.com.  Hosted by the volunteers of Waterbury LEAP.  Visit www.waterburyleap.org for more details.

Join the CSWD Waste Warriors

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This post courtesy of Chittenden Solid Waste District

Are you a rampant recycler?
Do you carry your banana peel home when you can’t find a compost bin?
Are you on a mission to reduce waste and spread good fun in the process?

If so, we want you!  We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic, volunteer Waste Warriors to help bring our waste reduction mission to life at Chittenden County events.

waste warriors

Your Waste Warrior opportunity starts with a free one-hour training, where you’ll become a certified CSWD Waste Warrior. Come meet like-minded neighbors, have a snack, and learn how to help make composting and recycling efforts at local events successful. You’ll learn:

  • How to determine what goes into recycling and composting containers (It’s not always as easy as you think – there are a lot of different kinds of materials and products out there!)
  • How to communicate with attendees in ways that help them learn
  • How to help an event up their game in making sure as much as possible stays out of the landfill
  • And more!

Sign up today! The Waste Warrior training dates are:

  • Monday, February 2nd
    5:30-6:30PM
    Contois Auditorium (City Hall), Burlington
  • Thursday, March 12th
    5:30-6:30PM
    Contois Auditorium (City Hall), Burlington

Waste Warrior Training Signup

Use the form here to sign up for a Waste Warrior training session.

The High Environmental Cost of Plastic Bags

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Here are some reasons for us all as residents, organizations, and businesses to consider reducing our use of plastic and plastic bags.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers: $4 billion)

  • Only 1%-3% of plastic bags are recycled worldwide.
  • Industry figures show 90% of all grocery bags are plastic.
  • Plastic bags are made of polyethylene, which is a petroleum product, and their production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption.
  • It takes 1,000 years for polyethylene bags to break down.
  • The amount of petroleum used to make 1 plastic bag would drive a car about 11 meters.
  • Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade, breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways. They then enter the foodweb when animals accidently ingest them.
  • 86% of all known species of sea turtles have had reported problems of entanglement or ingestion of marine debris.
  • Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die each year by ingesting plastic bags. These poor animals suffer a painful death. The plastic wraps around their intestines, or they choke to death.
  • Less than 5% of US shoppers use canvas, cotton, or mesh bags. Please change that number by choosing reusable bags when you shop.

plastic spoon