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Turmoil in the recycling system continues here and around the nation. Asian markets for recycled material, particularly mixed paper and plastic have continued to dissolve over the summer. Part of our Recycle 2.0 effort is getting ahead of the problem here on Orcas. We are currently pursuing exciting grant prospects that could help get us to a future of sorting and baling recyclables. Education programs continue online and at the transfer station, helping Orcas Islanders recycle cleaner and more efficiently. If you haven’t checked the latest “What To Recycle” lists, you can do so here. Watch for more educational efforts in the weeks ahead!
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Exchange Online Store to Launch This Month!
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The Exchange gets lots of great stuff. Sometimes things that are particularly valuable, sometimes just particular. Many of these items are ideal for online sales. For months we have been discussing how to do this without bypassing the local community. We believe that we now have a solution: Unique items will be posted on our very own retail webpage at super reasonable prices. No auction, no bartering, no haggling. They will be posted on our site exclusively for a minimum of four weeks, giving Exchange customers first crack. If these items do not sell, we will feel good about posting them on regional or national platforms (ie. CraigsList, Ebay). Here is a link to the very first of our offerings!
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"Last Straw" Campaign Update
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San Juan County Public Works and The Friends of The San Juans recently launched the “Last Straw” campaign for all the islands. They asked Orcas Recycling Services to help out on Orcas—and we did! In late July volunteers walked through Eastsound and Orcas’ other hamlets and talked to businesses about limiting or ending the use of plastic straws and utensils. The good news is that most businesses have already stopped using them, are fazing them out, or plan to in the near future! Be sure to thank the businesses you frequent for participating in the “Last Straw” campaign. Learn more about the program here.
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Recap
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August 31st witnessed the first ever Orcas Recycling Services household hazardous waste clean up! Typically, the annual cleanups are run by Clean Harbors, an off-island company. But now ORS has a new waste containment unit on site that will allow us to have cleanup events on a regular basis! How often? Well, we’re not sure exactly....On the 31st we had over 35 vehicles, and filled up the containment unit to probably 65% of its capacity. We are looking at volume predictions and potential disposal costs to determine the schedule going forward. We are tentatively planning a November collection event, and there will certainly be a big event in June. When we have a schedule we will let you know!
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Orkila Leadership Group Visits ORS/The Exchange
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We were honored to have the Leadership Institute Development group of youth at Camp Orkila out to The Exchange this summer. Not only did they learn about operations at ORS/The Exchange, they also volunteered their time and helped clean up the facilities for a couple hours. Read more about this fun experience with Camp Orkila.
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Have you seen the Exchange Silent Auction Case?
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Every month we put a new collection of unique items in the display case at the front off the store, with silent auction-style sign-up sheets near-by. Pretty simple: write down your name, number and bid amount. At the end of the month, the high bidder gets a phone call alerting them of their win! This month there's a new paint-ball gun, an antique scythe, collectable Ghost Busters action figures, jazz CD box sets and more—don’t miss it!
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Cathy Vierthaler has resided on Orcas full time since 1979. She and her husband, Paul, have worked and raised their family in Orcas community. Cathy’s main occupations are being a bookkeeper, entrepreneur and grandma, and she is also interested in textiles, hiking and other outdoor adventures. She joined the board of ORS to further her commitment to the community and the local environment. She fully supports the target of being a “Zero Waste” community.
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Toby Cooper brings a passion for recycling and an aversion to landfills and trash. His time in financial services led him to often support market-based and investor-led solutions to environmental change. He has years of environmental advocacy experience, including prior careers with the professional staffs of national wildlife and land conservation organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Mountain Lion Foundation, Sacramento, CA. He and his wife, Sarah, love their island home in the Rosario area of Orcas and enjoy exploring and boating the Pacific Northwest waters.
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Orcas Recycling Services / The Exchange is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All U.S. donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent of the law. | Tax ID: 30-0785104
Our mission is to build a zero-waste community through service, education, and stewardship of Orcas Island's waste and resource stream.
donate | info@exchangeorcas.org | www.exchangeorcas.org
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