Skip rinsing your plates before putting them into the dishwasher. On
average you will save 15 gallons of water per load. Plus, you will save time!
http://www.krew.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5E2C3924-5066-4A3B-9229-D66850B72948/0/TipsonRecycling.pdf
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Heroes of August: Christina Umbarger, Camellia McKenzie, and Cindy Schlimmer
This month we recognize school cafeteria managers Christina Umbarger, Camellia McKenzie, and Cindy Schlimmer, who took the initiative to help start recycling programs in their schools. Coordinating a recycling program in any school can have hurdles, especially when dealing with hundreds of students in a busy environment. That is why with the help of our RRR Hero of April, Cori Anders, the Town of Gilbert Environmental Services Outreach team approached cafeteria managers with a proposition: Get your kitchens recycling. Not only is it sustainable, it sets a positive example for our youth and can potentially save the school money. After the meeting, these three cafeteria managers decided to take the plunge and make a positive change in their community by committing to start recycling programs in their school kitchens.
With no formalized pre-existing program to work from, the door is wide open for these managers to make big changes in their schools. They do not have a background in sustainability but they all have a passion for the environment. School kitchens go through packaging and materials very quickly throughout the day. These elementary schools have 600-900 students and serve between 300 and 600 lunches a day. By taking the lead on becoming a sustainable kitchen, Umbarger, McKenzie, and Schlimmer are saving hundreds of pounds of trash from being put into landfills. By starting to recycle in the kitchens they are also motivating students, teachers, and staff to recycle in their classrooms and in the offices. The cafeteria sees the most consumption and disposal of any part of the school and by working here they are truly getting at the heart of the problem.
Umbarger, McKenzie, and Schlimmer prove that you do not have to pursue a career in science to make a positive environmental difference. They have found a way to include sustainability into their everyday lives and jobs, which is a lesson that everyone can find value in. It was evident during our visits that the students who come to the cafeteria every day look up to and respect these managers. They are not only helping reduce trash and conserve resources, but they are also helping our community’s children become better stewards of our environment. That is why Christina Umbarger, Camellia McKenzie, and Cindy Schlimmer are the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Heroes for the Month of August!
If you would like to help with recycling efforts at these or any of our Gilbert Public Schools, please e-mail us at recycle@gilbertaz.gov or give us a call directly at 480-503-6459.
If you know someone who you feel should be recognized as an RRR hero, please email us at recycle@gilbertaz.gov.
Earth Friendly Tip #7: Share Responsibility!
Because we are a little behind on our tips, here is an awesome infographic from Recycle Bank. Share the responsibility of keeping our Earth clean and green by following through on some of these tips and ideas!
Earth Friendly Tip #6: Borrow instead of buying
Libraries save you money. Instead of buying books, magazines, movies, music, audio books, and other items, you can borrow them from your local library.
This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books. Your local public library is free and accessible.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Hero of July: Steve Burke
Steve Burke, a Town of Gilbert resident for over 20 years, is a textbook example that you don’t have to be an artist to make art. Retired for 34 years from the U.S. Marshals service, Burke was looking for a hobby and happened to see an old Schwinn bicycle thrown out by his neighbor. Though Burke has never attended an art class nor worked with a wrench, he took the bike to his garage and tinkered with it until he configured a masterpiece.
Burke now focuses on refurbishing/up-scaling Japanese or American-made bicycles because of their heritage. He knows they will last and they are frequently made of American steel. After garnering much interest from the public in his home (garage) business operation, Steve opened a shop in Gilbert. Unfortunately, Steve’s shop relied heavily on foot traffic from a local sports bar and when that business closed, so did much of Steve’s walk-in customer traffic.
Neighborhood support of Burke’s dream and talent to make usable art from discarded objects led him to Glen Blackmore, owner and operator of the Eclectic Monkey Emporium in Mesa. Blackmore, like Burke, has a passion for converting discarded industrial items into works of art. It became a match made in heaven. Together, Burke and Blackmore challenge each other to complete projects, shop yard sales to salvage unique pieces, and gradually restore the Eclectic Monkey’s unique building.
Starting in August, Burke and Blackmore will start hosting Technology, Entertainment and Design “TED” talks at the store twice a month on Fridays and Saturdays with a speak-easy garage theme. There will be drinks, food provided by local vendors and, of course, Burke and Blackmore will showcase their completed up-scaled art pieces. During the last week of the each month, the up-scaled art will be offered for purchase. Then, the process will start again with both men creating new innovative one-of-a-kind art pieces to be sold the following month.
Burke is excited to be working with Blackmore and together they envision a great future for the Eclectic Monkey Emporium. Though Burke continues to volunteer his time in support of local Gilbert sustainability efforts, he wishes to make a larger impact in his own community by someday opening another eco-friendly up-scaled art shop within town lines. With his artistic talent and a healthy knowledge of “going green,” (thanks to attending a Chandler Gilbert Community College class on sustainability,) Burke is sure to realize his dream. Because of his passion for sustainability, his enthusiasm for community involvement and his dedication to working exclusively with recycled material, Steve Burke is our Gilbert Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Hero for the month of July!
If you know someone who you feel should be recognized for as an RRR Hero, please e-mail us atrecycle@gilbertaz.gov or give us a call directly at 480-503-6459.
Earth Friendly Tip #5: Turn off lights when you leave the room; unplug unused electronics
The energy used in the average home can produce more than twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the average car. Use less energy at home to help protect our environment.
Unplug unused electronics. Your electric meter is often adding up kilowatt-hours when you don’t think you’re using an appliance. Unplug toasters and cell phone chargers when they’re not in use.
Earth Friendly Tip #4: Use Cloth Diapers To Reduce Waste
Disposable diapers are the third most common consumer product in landfills today and each diaper may take up to 500 years to decompose!
Did you know one baby in disposable diapers will contribute at least one ton of waste to your local landfill? Try using an eco-friendly (and cost effective) alternative: cloth diapers! For more information click the link below…
Trash Trea$ure: Drawer to Magazine Rack DIY
Hello, Waste Reducers!
Once again, this project can be adapted to fit various needs, but what is awesome about it is that it’s amazing storage. By taking old drawers and license plates you can make beautiful, personal wall shelves. Here we go!
1. Find old drawers, clean them, and remove the fronts.
2. Paint them to coordinate with your room. We decided to create a crackled/weathered appearance by first painting the drawers a solid color, letting that dry, applying a layer of Elmer’s glue, waiting till it was tacky, and then top coating with a different color. As the glue dries, it shrivels the paint and creates the finish.
3. Clean your old license plate and affix it to the front. We suggest using strong glue to hold it into place, especially along the bottom edge.
4. Dress it up with some old hardware. We used the old handles from another piece of furniture, sanded them, painted them, and sealed them. We then used hot glue to attach them to the license plate and the drawer.
5. Hang it up or set it down, and enjoy! If you hang these drawers on the wall make sure to use an appropriate mounting kit. You can also free stand them on a table or on the floor.
And it’s that easy to make some extra storage! You can use it as a magazine rack or store glassware in them for easy access. The ideas are endless!
Final cost: Nothing! It truly was a free project. Similar wood magazine racks can cost $50.
Earth Friendly Tip #3: Stop Idling!
Every moment spent idling your engine means wasting gas, as well as rougher wear on your vehicle. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for start up. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, worth around $78.2 billion!
Source:http://www.cgc.maricopa.edu/community/communityaffairs/connection/Pages/2011-10-01studentlife.aspx
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Hero of June: Mark Hunsaker
This month we would like to celebrate one of our own! Mark Hunsaker, a Vietnam War veteran and Arizona native, has been a Town employee for the past 17 years. Mark and his wife, who he met while they were employed by GM as high-speed run test car drivers, are parents to six children, 16 grandchildren and foster parents to many others.
In keeping with Mark’s generous nature, he volunteered himself and several of his children to participate in the planting of “Sustainability Gardens” for residents of the Gila/Pima Indian Reservation. Now three years later, Mark (with occasional assistance from his children and grandchildren) continues to donate up to 30 hours each week, assisting Gila/Pima Indian Reservation residents to plant and maintain sustainability gardens.
Seeds that are donated from local nurseries are planted and nurtured to maturity in five greenhouses located on the reservation. Mark works with local Gila/Pima resident Sonny Backwater and others who tend to the tomato, pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, melon and bean seedlings until they are hearty enough to be transplanted to the gardens. From there, Mark may be called upon to do anything from building fencing and preparing the land for planting, to installing complete irrigation drip systems. Mark works closely with the residents, teaching them along the way so that they are not only able to maintain their new gardens but also able to assist neighbors in building their own.
Mark is a real hero to his fellow employees. He is our go-to guy, the man to get things done. One of his duties at the Town of Gilbert is to educate residents on how to compost. After educating them, he and other Environmental Services staff deliver compost bins free of charge to residents for home use. Mark is a true steward of our environment and we are proud to claim him as not only an active member of the Gilbert community but also as an employee of the Town. For Mark’s passion for environmental sustainability and commitment to help others, we salute him as our June RRR Hero of the Month.
If you would like information on how to participate in the “Sustainability Garden” project, you may contact Mark at 480-229-0921.
If you know someone who you feel should be recognized for as an RRR Hero, please e-mail us atrecycle@gilbertaz.gov or give us a call directly at 480-503-6459.
Trash to Treasure 