Reuse
Reuse - Green Disposal
If you’re getting rid of an item in good shape, the most environmentally friendly way to get rid of it is to find a reuse option. Sell it, give it away, donate it or repair it.
Sell it
Items that are high quality, relatively new, vintage or collectible may have good resale value.
Options for selling items include:
Online: Check out sites like eBay, Craigslist and social media sites.
Garage or yard sale: Host your own or partner up with a neighbor or community group.
Consignment or second-hand stores. Check the Choose to Reuse online guide for reuse retailers.
Used items often found for sale include electronics, appliances, clothing, furniture, household goods and decorations, books, toys, sports equipment and more.
Give it away
It can be easy to find someone to take your used stuff.
Options for giving items away include:
Family, friends and neighbors.
Swaps: Host or participate in a swap. These can be especially effective for things that people only keep for a limited time, like clothing, toys and books.
Put item next to your trash bin the day before pick up: Odds are someone will pick it up before the waste hauler gets there.
Online: Try sites like Freecycle, Craigslist, Nextdoor and other social media sites.
Donate it
Donating your items can be an easy way to get rid of them while also contributing to local charitable organizations.
Tips for donating items:
Check the Choose to Reuse guide for reuse retailers that accept donations.
Call first for materials accepted, drop-off/pick-up guidelines, locations and hours.
Most organizations make dropping off items easy, but sites will vary. Some organizations will pick items up from your home.
Repair it
Many household items that seem broken can be fixed relatively easily.
Good candidates for repair include small electronics, fans, lamps, furniture, clothing, bikes and other household goods.
Options for repairing items include:
Fix-It Clinics: Hennepin County offers free monthly Fix-It Clinics where residents can get household items fixed and learn valuable repair skills.
Online tutorials: Search online for specific tutorials or check out iFixit.
Repair shops and contractors. Search for one that specializes in repairing your item.
More repair and DIY tips:
Often, one of the first steps in repairing an item is overcoming the fear of taking it apart. Remember, the item is already broken, so there’s no harm in trying to fix it. Be methodical in your disassembly and take pictures to help you put it back together. If you run into a dead end with your repair, search for help online or bring it to someone with more expertise for assistance.
Common ways to fix broken items include cleaning, rewiring, mending and replacing broken parts.
Many items stop working due to one broken part that is relatively inexpensive to replace, and you may be surprised by the variety of replacement parts you can find online or at a local hardware store.
The Junkfood Truck
The Junkfood Truck by SavetheFood.com
Did you know that 40% of all food in the U.S. is thrown away every year? Watch as Jane the Virgin's Brett Dier and two-star Michelin chef Josiah Citrin team up to remind us that one person's Junk Food is another's gourmet meal. Visit SavetheFood.com for tips on how to better store, cook, and save your food.
Video by: Wayfarer Entertainment in partnership with NRDC and Hope Street Group
Video found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK_7Vr-DQZU
(Runtime: 1m)
Composting
Composting
Composting is a term that is used when someone controls the decomposition (breakdown) of
natural waste, (like orange peels, apple cores, coffee grounds, etc.) and organic solid wastes (like cow and horse manure). Usually composting is done in a container or pile, where natural waste is allowed to mix together and decompose into a crumbly fertilizer or soil. Not only does composting help us reduce the amount of garbage we throw away, but composting is also an easy way to produce fertilizer and soil for the garden.
Making a Homemade Composter!
Making a Homemade Composter! by Full-Time Kid | PBS Parents
Turn any plastic bottle into your own DIY composter! Compost is a great way to think sustainably in your kitchen and turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil for your garden. This activity uses recyclable materials in to make environmental science quick, simple, and fun for young kids.
Video found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA3q07paNbE
(Runtime: 2m 52s)
What is a Cooperative Extension?
What is a Cooperative Extension?
In 1914, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partnered with a nationwide network of universities to create a system of “extension” services. The goal of these services was to provide farmers across the country with advice from local experts regarding all things agriculture and farming.
The program was a huge success, and today, there are extension services in all 50 states (though some are not associated with the USDA). Extension services routinely put on community events, hold lectures and courses, and answer gardening and farming questions from locals. Typically, an extension service has a “home base” located at a prominent university in the state, but will often have a series of county offices, too.
Contact your state’s extension service (sometimes called “cooperative extension” services) for advice on anything from combating local pests to choosing plant varieties suitable for your area. Extension services are also the place to turn to to get your garden soil tested (usually for a small fee), enroll in a Master Gardener program, or get your child involved in a 4-H club.
Most cooperative extension programs have master gardeners on staff. View list by state at: almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
University of Minnesota Extension can be found https://extension.umn.edu/
Farmers Leading The Way In Sustainability
Farmers Leading The Way In Sustainability
Many of Cabot’s farm families practice sustainable farming. Check out this video to see
Cabot Sustainability efforts: youtu.be/BxmFLdkv2Js
BLUE SPRUCE FARM
Blue Spruce Farm was the 1st in Vermont to install a “Cow Power” system. They collect the cows’ waste,
which is pumped into a biodigester and turned into energy. They generate enough electricity to support the needs of around 400 families in the state. Byproducts are then used as fertilizer and the odorless solid that remains is turned into bedding for cows. bluesprucefarmvt.com/cow-power/
LONGVIEW FARM
Cabot’s plant in West Springfield, MA supplies Longview farm with organic byproducts from butter and
milk production. Longview combines that with manure in their anaerobic digester, which converts the
waste into electricity. The electricity is then used to power the Cabot plant and surrounding community! They use the byproduct to fertilize their fields and increase crop yield. This system sequesters 85% of the greenhouse gases produced on the farm. barstowslongviewfarm.com/anaerobic-digester/
COW POTS — FREUNDS FARM
The Freund family uses manure produced by cows on the farm to create a biodegradable pot for plants. Before the manure is crafted into a pot, it goes through the farm’s methane digester—which converts the methane gas from the manure into heating oil used to heat their home and water. The liquid manure byproduct from the digester is used to fertilize fields and the solid byproduct is turned into a Cow Pot.
freundsfarmmarket.com/store/
FOSTER BROTHERS FARM
In addition to using an anaerobic digester to convert manure into power, the farm has a manure-based compost company. They use manure from their farm, and others, to produce a line of “Moo” products that include organic soils, compost, and growing mixes for farms and home gardens. moodoo.com
Activities
As part of the Small Steps to Sustainability Patch, please complete Activity 5 or 6.
Have fun with your family.
Activity 5 - EXPLORING COMPOSTING – CREATE YOUR OWN GUIDE
Organic waste, such as food waste and yard waste, make up 25 to 50% of what people throw away. While you may not be able to compost all of the organic waste you generate, composting can help to cut down on how much you are throwing away!
So, why compost?
• Compost is great for plants, lawns, and gardens.
• It can help to reduce our impact on the environment.
• Composting helps to save resources and money!
• Compost helps to reduce waste, and the amount you are throwing away.
If you want to learn more about composting, check out:
seedsnow.com/blogs/news/12889145-composting-101
Materials:
Index cards
Red and green markers
Hole punch
Metal ring
Create flashcards to help your family learn about what can be composted and what cannot be composted. Make a list of common household food and yardwaste. For items that can go into the compost, write the name in green on an indexcard. For items that should not go into the compost, write that name in red on a card.Once you are done, punch a hole in the corner of each card and put on the ring.These can be used as a resource when you are creating your own composter.
Activity 6 - BUILD A MICRO COMPOSTER
Your group can learn about composting by building their own mini-composter.
Materials:
A clear 2 litre soda bottle
Water spray bottle
Raw food scraps
Scissors
Soil
Instructions:
Remove the label and rinse your soda bottle.
Cut the top off the bottle (the end with the cap).
Place a handful of soil into the bottom of the bottle.
Follow this with a handful of food scraps.
Repeat this process until the bottle is full, finishing with a layer of soil.
Once your bottle is full, spray the top most layer of the bottle with water (it shouldn’t be too wet, but should be damp).
Place your composter in a sunny spot.
When the top soil dries out, you should spray it with water to maintain a constant level of moisture.
Watch and wait as your food scraps decompose and turn to soil. You will need some patience – the whole process will take about 8 weeks.
Take photos of the bottle once a week so that you can compare changes that take place from week to week.