Troy is a Certified Master Recycler!
On Friday, another member of our Zero Waste team was honored as one of Lane County’s newest Master Recyclers. Way to go, Troy! Through this Lane County Waste Management Division program, each Master Recycler receives rigorous training to gain an in-depth understanding of solid waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and compost education.
And it doesn’t stop there! Students are required to commit 30 hours of volunteer time to share their newfound expertise with the community. Troy has been collecting twist ties for the non-profit group M.E.C.C.A. (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts). MECCA is dedicated to diverting scrap materials from the waste stream into creative endeavors. Kids are using these ties instead of glue to make art projects that can be dismantled and transformed into little masterpieces again and again. Troy has also been collecting large plastic herb bags for the Eugene Mission. These bags are being distributed to homeless people as much needed rain ponchos, bag covers, and to collect recyclables from street litter.
Troy is excited to share the important knowledge and skills he's learned, so check out his top three tips for greening your waste at home:
Tip #1
Did you know that product packaging accounts for 30% of waste in our landfills? To reduce your impact be sure to avoid single serving packages, wash and reuse empty containers, buy in bulk whenever possible, choose pre-used items from thrift stores, and look for goods that are packaged in compostable, recyclable, or 100% post-consumer waste materials.
Tip #2
You can reduce 50% of the waste you produce at home by setting up a compost pile. Composting is a great backyard project, but can also be done by apartment dwellers. This process creates a nutrient rich soil from the controlled decomposition of your food and yard waste. Prized by gardeners, this "black gold" will feed your garden beds and eliminate reliance on those chemical heavy commercial fertilizers. Don't have a yard? Nice compost makes a great gift!
Tip #3
This is the simplest and possibly the most important tip of all! Avoid plastic and paper shopping bags by bringing your own reusable totes. Stash them in your bike basket, the trunk of your car, on the coat rack by your front door, your desk drawer at work, in your jacket pocket or purse - really, any and every place to help you grab and go. If you do find yourself empty handed, get creative and reuse your plastic bags like this or maybe even like this! Paper bags can be used in so many awesome ways too before you recycle them. They can also be composted.
These are just a few easy ways to reduce the amount of trash we generate each day. What practical or creative advice do you have to share that can transform our relationship with waste? We are all ears!
Over the last three decades, the Mountain Rose Herbs Team has created and recreated thousands of recipes. This article is the result of many of our staff's combined herbal expertise and passion for herbalism. We hope you enjoy these time-tested recipes.
Troy is a Certified Master Recycler!
On Friday, another member of our Zero Waste team was honored as one of Lane County’s newest Master Recyclers. Way to go, Troy! Through this Lane County Waste Management Division program, each Master Recycler receives rigorous training to gain an in-depth understanding of solid waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and compost education.
And it doesn’t stop there! Students are required to commit 30 hours of volunteer time to share their newfound expertise with the community. Troy has been collecting twist ties for the non-profit group M.E.C.C.A. (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts). MECCA is dedicated to diverting scrap materials from the waste stream into creative endeavors. Kids are using these ties instead of glue to make art projects that can be dismantled and transformed into little masterpieces again and again. Troy has also been collecting large plastic herb bags for the Eugene Mission. These bags are being distributed to homeless people as much needed rain ponchos, bag covers, and to collect recyclables from street litter.
Troy is excited to share the important knowledge and skills he's learned, so check out his top three tips for greening your waste at home:
Tip #1
Did you know that product packaging accounts for 30% of waste in our landfills? To reduce your impact be sure to avoid single serving packages, wash and reuse empty containers, buy in bulk whenever possible, choose pre-used items from thrift stores, and look for goods that are packaged in compostable, recyclable, or 100% post-consumer waste materials.
Tip #2
You can reduce 50% of the waste you produce at home by setting up a compost pile. Composting is a great backyard project, but can also be done by apartment dwellers. This process creates a nutrient rich soil from the controlled decomposition of your food and yard waste. Prized by gardeners, this "black gold" will feed your garden beds and eliminate reliance on those chemical heavy commercial fertilizers. Don't have a yard? Nice compost makes a great gift!
Tip #3
This is the simplest and possibly the most important tip of all! Avoid plastic and paper shopping bags by bringing your own reusable totes. Stash them in your bike basket, the trunk of your car, on the coat rack by your front door, your desk drawer at work, in your jacket pocket or purse - really, any and every place to help you grab and go. If you do find yourself empty handed, get creative and reuse your plastic bags like this or maybe even like this! Paper bags can be used in so many awesome ways too before you recycle them. They can also be composted.
These are just a few easy ways to reduce the amount of trash we generate each day. What practical or creative advice do you have to share that can transform our relationship with waste? We are all ears!
Over the last three decades, the Mountain Rose Herbs Team has created and recreated thousands of recipes. This article is the result of many of our staff's combined herbal expertise and passion for herbalism. We hope you enjoy these time-tested recipes.
