Upcoming Events:
TEXTILE DRIVE
Saturday November 23:
8am - 3pm. Annual Textiles Drive, Riley Plaza. Bring all clean textiles - ripped or with holes matters not!
E-WASTE
Last Saturday of each month, 8am - 12noon at 5 Jefferson Avenue. Limits: TV/CRT: 2
White goods: 1
Small electronics: no limit. Proof of residency/ownership required.
Contact Julie Rose at jrose@salem.com or 978.619.5679 with questions or to volunteer.
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On NPR's Fresh Air Terry Gross interviewed Journalist Adam Minter about his new book "Junkyard Plant: Travels in the Billion-Dollar trash trade." Adam grew up in a three generation junk dealer family in the midwest and has spent the past ten years reporting on recycling and related issues in the developing world. This is a great interview and sounds like an interesting book.
Click here to listen!
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Smoke Detector Recycling
Many smoke alarm detectors end up in the trash, but they don't have to! CuriePackSM offers an economical solution for these environmentally sensitive devices. To learn more, please click here:
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Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is proud to unveil the newly developed standardized symbols for recycling, food scraps and trash:
Click here for more information! |
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News You Can Re-Use
November, 2013 Issue 3
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Hello!
October was a productive month and November offers plenty more opportunities for us all to reuse-recycle and reduce, not to mention refuse! The month started off on November 3 with a free showing of the highly recommended movie "Bag It: is your life too plastic?" now available at the Salem Public Library.
Rapidly approaching is the Annual Textiles Drive Saturday November 23, 8 am - 3 pm. Bring all clean and dry textiles! Ripped, with holes, matters not! There is also the monthly e-waste drop-off for Salem residents on 11/30, 8 am - noon, and below are holiday tips from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
We are always looking for volunteers to staff our events; perhaps you are even interested in putting your up-cycled creations on display? If so, please email Julie at jrose@salem.com.
Warm Regards,
Salem Recycles
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DID YOU HEAR? Salem is the latest of cities to launch a pilot compost program!
This spring, the city of Salem will launch a pilot compost program similar to those already in place in Hamilton, Wenham and Ipswich: Lockable composting bins with lids and wheels, and a smaller countertop container, will be provided to approximately 1200 residents, thanks to a grant from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
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The biodegradable waste will be picked up weekly with the regular trash collection. Details of the program will be worked out this winter by a team at City Hall.
Residents interested in participating in the pilot program should take the survey at www.greensalem.com or contact Julie Rose at jrose@salem.com or phone: 978.617.5679.
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Holiday Tips to Reduce, Recycle and Reuse:
- Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don't need a bag for small or oversized purchases.
- Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper or funny papers. Also remember to save or recycle used wrapping paper. Give gifts that don't require much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates.
- Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used during the holidays. Remember to recycle any paper cards you receive. You can also try sending electronic greeting cards to reduce paper waste.
- About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Buy rechargeable batteries to accompany your electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger as well. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away, and can save money in the long run.
- Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Doing so will not only save energy, but will also help your lights last longer.
- Approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year. After the holidays, look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. Your town might be able to use chippings from mulched trees for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers.
- To help prevent waste from cutting down and disposing of live trees, you can buy a potted tree and plant it after the holidays.
- Have a create-your-own-decorations party! Invite family and friends to create and use holiday decorations such as ornaments made from old greeting cards or cookie dough, garlands made from strung popcorn or cranberries, wreaths made from artificial greens and flowers, and potpourri made from kitchen spices such as cinnamon and cloves.
- Consider the durability of a product before you buy it as a gift. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money.
- When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item's recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.
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