Gainesville Zero Waste News

Mark Your Calendars for The Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 13th

Great American Cleanup Invite, April 13th at 9am Join us for the Great American Cleanup & Volunteer Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 13th! Presented by Keep Alachua County Beautiful, this event offers a fantastic chance to express gratitude for your community by actively participating in its beautification.

Secure your spot early for this year's event by registering at kacb.org/events. Be sure to let Keep Alachua County Beautiful know what activities you’d like to do, such as planting trees, picking up litter, or removing graffiti. Cleanup supply kits can be picked up in advance at Keep Alachua County Beautiful's offices or on the event day.

Massey Park Recreation Center (1001 NW 34th St.) will serve as the event headquarters on Saturday, April 13th. Volunteers may arrive between 9 AM and 10 AM to check in and pick up supplies. Cleanup activities should be completed by Noon that day so participants will have time to return to the park for the Thank You Party.

The Great American Cleanup is the nation's most extensive volunteer community improvement initiative, inspiring individuals to take greater responsibility for their communities and participate in litter collection. Everyone - organizations, companies, families, and individuals - is welcome to join in making Gainesville and Alachua County a more beautiful place to live.

Don’t forget to share your cleanup event photos @KACB, showcasing the positive impact you've made!

For registration and additional information about this event, visit kacb.org/the-great-american-cleanup.

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Zero Waste Week 2024: March 24th – 30th

Zero Waste Week Logo 2024, March 24th to March 30th Newer concepts require more time to sink in, so we are delighted to see Zero Waste Week 2024 – an entire week devoted to fun, thought-provoking, and empowering activities, all leading up to the International Day of Zero Waste, March 30th.

We’ll be taking a deep dive into all things waste all week long, but here are three special dates to circle on your calendar:

  • Sunday, 3/24 – Fix-it Clinic. Got a broken lamp or small appliance? Don’t throw that away yet – you can still fix it! Holes in your clothes? Those can be mended. Head to the Repurpose Project, and let the volunteers show you how to go beyond just the three R's and incorporate Repair into your waste reduction journey.
  • Wednesday, 3/27 – Happy Hour Meetup at Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville. This is a great chance to learn, listen, get all the latest Zero Waste updates in a casual setting, and meet folks from the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, local grassroots organization Zero Waste Gainesville, and local businesses championing sustainability.
  • Thursday, 3/28 – Free Learn to Compost Class. Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Our expert instructors will guide you through the process step by step. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to reduce waste and improve their soil health. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment! Registration is required.
  • Saturday, 3/30 – Coordinated Thrift Store Sales for the International Day of Zero Waste. Buying items secondhand is a great way to move toward a Zero Waste world. After all, the materials have already been extracted from the environment, processed, shipped, and packaged, and now that secondhand treasure is just waiting for you to give it a second life. Shop at one of Gainesville’s many thrift stores and enjoy even greater savings in honor of the International Day of Zero Waste.

Other events to look forward to in the week include days of support for local businesses, local legislative updates, and so much more.

Want to keep the celebration going? Get even more at gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste.

Dump the Cups – Not Recyclable

plastic and paper drinking cups with red crossed out circle No matter the type - paper, plastic, foam, blue, brown, red, clear, coffee, or smoothie - disposable cups are not accepted for recycling.

Many disposable cups are made from a combination of materials, typically paper or cardboard coated with a layer of plastic or wax, to make them waterproof. The complex makeup of these cups necessitates specialized machinery and processes, which are not widely available.

The remnants of liquid or food left in disposable cups can contaminate other good recyclables in the mix, rendering that material less suitable for recycling. Contamination not only reduces the quality of recycled materials but also increases the cost and energy required to clean and process them.

One solution to avoiding disposable is to bring your own refillable mug or cup when frequenting establishments that support this practice. Notably, Starbucks recently introduced a policy allowing customers to use reusable cups. Be sure to let the barista at the counter or drive-thru know you brought your personal cup before they start preparing your beverage.

Get Your Apartment Recycling On – Free Educational Signs!

apartment recycling station sign design As a part of the ongoing Zero Waste Initiative by the City of Gainesville, the Solid Waste Division is now providing complimentary recycling signs to Apartment and Condominium properties within the city limits. These newly printed signs aim to assist in educating tenants about accepted and non-accepted materials for recycling at collection stations. When posted, these signs will also meet the ordinance requirement for recycling educational signs in common areas where recyclables are collected.

These oversized signs measure 22 inches by 14 inches and are pre-printed with universal recycling messages suitable for both single-stream and dual-stream collection systems. The text on the signs is in both English and Spanish. Property staff will be responsible for posting the signs at each recycling collection station on their property.

If you are a property manager or owner interested in obtaining a set of these free signs, please contact the Solid Waste Division’s zero waste staff at waste@gainesvillefl.gov or call 352-334-2330. Act now, as these signs are only available while supplies last.

Zero-Waste Lifestyle: Sustainable Habits In Your Car

travel mug In our fast-paced world, cars have become integral to our daily lives, providing convenience and mobility. However, the environmental cost of this convenience might cause some people to pump the breaks. The good news is that with conscious efforts, it is possible to adopt a zero-waste mindset even while traveling in your car. Small actions add up, and collectively, we can positively impact our environment.

Here are some quick tips to minimize waste when on the go:

  1. Keep Your Reusable Essentials Handy – Invest in reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and snack containers to use in your car. By swapping disposable items for reusable alternatives, you’ll help to eliminate the mountain of disposable containers going to landfills.
  2. Say No to Single-Use Packaging – Stops at fast food drive-thrus and gas stations can produce a deluge of single-use packaging waste. Avoid this waste by carrying a reusable cutlery set, cloth napkins, and reusable straws in your car. Making even small changes will help to reduce the immense volume of single-use plastic waste.
  3. Recycling Stations for Car Trash – Keep a small bin or bag in your car to collect recyclables. When you return home or when the bag is full, empty your recyclables in your home collection bins. This simple step enables valuable materials to be used again.

Transitioning towards a zero-waste lifestyle, even in your car, requires a combination of mindful choices and minor adjustments to daily habits. By embracing reusable alternatives, promoting fuel efficiency, and making eco-conscious decisions, you can contribute to a greener planet one ride at a time.

Unraveling the Confusion Around Recycling Plastics

various recyclable plastic bottles Don’t worry - it’s not just you. Pretty much everyone is a little unsure which plastic items are accepted for recycling and which are not. However, if you can follow the two rules below, recycling plastics will be a breeze.

  1. Ignore the recycling symbol on plastic items. These codes are basically meaningless when it comes to determining the recyclability of an item.
  2. Ask yourself – “Is this plastic item a Bottle, Jug, Jar, or Tub?” If Yes, it is accepted. If No, don’t put it in with your other recyclables.

Even with the best intentions, individuals unknowingly contaminate the recycling stream by placing unaccepted plastics in with otherwise good recyclables.

Plastic items not accepted for recycling includes: plastic bags, pens, stretch-wrap, cups, tubes, foam, utensils, plastic egg cartons, microwavable trays, plant pots, plastic mailing envelopes, bubble wrap, toys, plastic coat hangers, and clamshell containers (such as deli, berry and salad containers). These plastics are of a lower grade material or are often too difficult to process for recycling.

For a complete list of accepted recyclables, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WhatCanBeRecycled. To search the Zero Waste Wizard for information on where you might be able to recycle other materials, go to gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard.

The Beauty of Picking Up Roadside Litter

cartoon image of three kids cleaning up litter in a park There's a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered along the roadside - the beauty of picking up litter with your friends. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of ways to socialize, the act of cleaning up our environment carries a unique charm that goes beyond the surface. Let's explore how picking up roadside litter can be a rewarding way to make friends and look after your community and your planet.

Here are four great reasons to get out there, strap on a safety vest, and make a difference this weekend:

  1. Show pride in your community by helping to beautify your community. No one likes the eyesore of litter, but your litter-free streets are sure to be a sight for sore eyes.
  2. Prevent our precious waterways from becoming polluted. Heavy rains, flash floods, winds, and time eventually carry our nasty litter to the very lakes, streams, and oceans we swim in.
  3. Protect wildlife that may mistake our litter for nesting material or, worse, ingest it thinking it is food. Let’s show some love for our wild animal friends and pick up our trash.
  4. Make our streets safe for children by removing hazardous items. A passerby or careless driver throwing trash out along our streets creates a dangerous environment for our kids.

To learn more about Keep Alachua County Beautiful and The Great American Cleanup, visit kacb.org. Contact the City of Gainesville for information on the Adopt-A-Street Litter Prevention Program. Check out gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste for the latest goings on in local waste reduction.

The Magic of the Zero Waste Wizard

graphic of a wizard in gray cloke with a wand and laptop Don’t know what to do with all your extra empty potion jars, broken staffs, and dusty witches’ hats lying around? Simply, visit gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard and ask your friendly Zero Waste Wizard to concoct a spell of responsible waste disposal!

The Zero Waste Wizard is the most reliable, up-to-date means for getting locally focused information on recycling, disposal, and reuse. City staff is constantly hitting the books at the School of Wizardry to keep the Zero Waste Wizard current, using information supplied mainly by app users like you.

In addition to answering crucial questions like “Is this recyclable?” a peek into the crystal ball will tell you everything from where to repair items, donate household goods, or find local scrap metal professionals.

While we think the Waste Wizard possesses all the answers, this Sorcerer of Sorting is also humble, so if you ask a question that doesn’t yet have an answer, you can suggest the addition of new items to the database of zero waste knowledge.

When you want to vanquish the dreaded foes of waste, clutter, and junk, the Zero Waste Wizard will cast a spell of all-knowing and all-seeing, giving you the answers you seek. In a world of darkness and uncertainty – “What do I do with all this old stuff?!” – let gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard light the way forward!

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