June 2015

All Fired Up?
Waste Zero at your Summer BBQs

Article authored by Recology Cleanscapes

If you're planning on throwing another shrimp on the barbeque this grilling season, be on the “cookout” for ways to “steak” a claim on behalf of the environment. Here are some tips for reducing waste this summer:

Avoid food waste and packaging

• Use electronic invitations (such as evites) and RSVPs to get a head count and avoid wasted food
• Purchase bulk food and supplies with either recyclable, compostable or minimal packaging
• Provide each guest a cup with his or her name on it to reuse
• Use durable and washable plates, cups, flatware and linens. When this isn’t possible, choose compostable or recyclable service ware; find some great bulk options here.

Keep it local!
Farmers markets across Washington offer seasonal fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and more from local farms. Purchasing your food from a farmers market shrinks the environmental impact of your gathering by reducing the miles it took to get to your table. Plus it supports the local economy!

Make it easy for your guests
Set aside a clearly marked three bin system for your guests to properly dispose of waste—one for food waste and food-soiled paper, recycling, and garbage.

Leftovers
Wondering what to do with leftovers? Eat them, freeze them or give them away by offering them to your guests as they leave! Any other food waste, including bones, can go into your food and yard waste cart and it will be made into compost.

Featured Tip: To rinse or not to rinse?

Before recycling, empty and rinse containers so they can be made into new products. Leaving a lot of food residue causes contamination, taking recyclables on a long trip to the landfill – the place we wanted them to avoid in the first place! No need to send them through the dishwasher, but clean recyclable containers– use a spatula or soak them and rinse. Get a full recycling refresh on your local garbage haulers website.

Food: Too Good To Waste

With summer approaching, check out these tips on prepping and storing fruit so you use it all up before it spoils:

• Rinse and dry fruits with a skin, such as apples, for easy snacking. To avoid mold, don’t wash berries until you’re ready to eat them.
• Slice or chop ripe fruits, such as melon, on the day of purchase and place in clear storage containers in the fridge so you don’t forget to eat them up.
• Got fruit that needs to be used up today? Slice and place them in the freezer for later or blend them into a smoothie for a great afternoon treat!

Announcements:

City of Federal Way’s Canning & Food Preservation workshop on Wednesday, July 8, 6-8pm. For the address and additional details, see the City's Green Living Workshop website.

The Household Hazardous Wastemobile is in Auburn every weekend throughout the year at the Outlet Collection (formerly SuperMall), 1101 Outlet Collection Dr SW. The roving Wastemobile will be in Enumclaw, Covington, Bothell/Kenmore/Woodinville, Snoqualmie/North Bend, and Redmond from June July. Check here for more details.

King County’s GoGreen Night at the Movies@Marymoor July 21; movie starts at dusk at Marymoor Park, Redmond.

Shoreline Solar Project’s 12th annual Northwest SolarFest July 25, 10am-5pm, Shoreline Community College.

You can find King County’s Food: Too Good To Waste and Recycle More information tables throughout the summer at various events. Visit this event calendar to find out when and where.

When Buying Nothing Feels Really Good

You know what’s even better than recycling and composting? Reducing what we buy and reusing what we can, all while building community with our neighbors! The now worldwide Buy Nothing Project makes this easier than ever. Find and join your neighborhood’s hyper-local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. See how giving something and expecting nothing in return can feel really good.

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