Back-to-School 2020: Keep your routines while being resourceful

School days will look different this year. Portland-area schools announced that the fall semester will be online at least until November. While details are being sorted, kids may still need or want items to help get them started on the right path. It is also a time to rethink how materials come into your home. Many community resources are available to assist parents in these online, no contact, distance learning times. 

Routine is important 

Read about 12 ideas to keep back-to-school traditions going, even during a time of uncertainty and learning from home.  

If you still need supplies, shop online or in-person at SCRAP Creative Reuse for paper, markers, pens and colored pencils, and online at Free Geek for refurbished technology.  

Donate supplies 

Have surplus items to donate? Schoolhouse Supplies is seeking donations. You can make an appointment to donate; and as always, teachers can shop for supplies.  

Stay informed 

PDX Parent has information for parents about the upcoming school year and ways to connect. Portland Public Schools continue to offer information about the new distance learning model. 

Check out other back-to-school resources in our previous kids in school posts. 

Earth Day turns 50

Those wanting to connect with community to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will find many local virtual activities to engage in. Get gardening tips, learn to make your own greener cleaners and find activities to share with the kids.

Here are a sampling of events, ideas and resources. Check out the Resourceful event calendar for these and more.

Virtual Week of Action

From April 20 through 24, Southeast Uplift will be hosting a Virtual Week of Action to support more sustainably just practices in our community. This year, the District Coalition Office is sharing tool kits online, live stream talks, activities and more in different categories; climate change and energy, bees and trees, compost and food, reduce toxins and creative reuse, and of course, Earth Day!

You can also sign up for regional online workshops. A few include:

• How to create a backyard habitat on a budget, hosted by Columbia Land Trust.

• Learn about recycling right and help keep sanitation workers healthy, offered in English and Spanish, from Metro staff and the Recycle or Not campaign.

• Keep food longer and save money with Eat Smart Waste Less.

Learn more and register for workshops by visiting the online resource organized by the City of Gresham.

Style and Sustainability Workshop

All this time at home may have brought to light changes you would like to make to your space.

The Style and Sustainability Workshop is an online workshop offering a slide show and video tutorial to show attendees how to build their room decorating boards.

Join owner and chief designer of Mobius Home, Lynn Feinstein, to learn how to source mindfully manufactured furniture, explore creative upcycling, introduce color and current trends, and unveil the principles behind cohesively pulling together the many items you already own to work in your refreshed spaces.

You will leave the workshop with a clearer vision of your space and knowledge on how you can support a sustainable lifestyle with the decisions you make for your home. 

There is a fee for this workshop on April 22 from 7-8 PM.

Lynn Feinstein has been a guest blogger on Resourceful PDX in the past. Check out previous posts under Home Improvement.

Ecochallenge

Connect the dots between your values and the impact of your actions with Drawdown Ecochallenge. Find ways to take action on the 100 most substantive solutions to global warming. Earn points and see your positive impact grow. Take the challenge and see how a few weeks of action add up to a lifetime of change for you and the planet.

Give the gift of ‘gently used’ this holiday season

Purchasing used items as holiday gifts is an alternative that reduces waste and saves money.

Find fun and unique items and feel good about re-gifting at the Cracked Pots second annual holiday pop-up shop. This year, the pop-up shop is in the St. Johns neighborhood commercial district in Portland and features 40 artists that utilize reclaimed materials, with all items at least 80% upcycled. Enjoy the festive spirit as you shop for something especially meaningful for your loved ones!

Read how residents feel about shopping for used goods at ReClaim It! and Community Warehouse in a previous blog post.

The annual Holiday Gift and Toy Swap, hosted by Swap Positive, is another way to find alternative gifts for kids and adults alike. This event needs you to RSVP ahead of time. Swap Positive also hosts swaps throughout the year for you to bring unwanted or unneeded items to share with others. Who knows, you may just find something that becomes a treasured gift to pass onto a loved one.

If you’re ready to bring a gift exchange to your office, choose to reuse. How about a silent auction with used goods to benefit community groups that share values with your workplace? Find 15 gift exchange ideas for your office holiday party.

For more inspiration, here are 9 ways to reduce waste over the holidays.

Reuse pop-up fills zero waste needs

The term ‘zero waste’ is being used more and more these days. It could be because of what we see and hear in the news: several environmental crisis on an international scale, such as recycling disruptions and issues with single-use plastics. This has led to new efforts, or a new sense of urgency, to minimize waste, reduce consumption, and promote product reuse and repair.

This zero-waste movement is alive and well in Portland - from community-based efforts to businesses promoting a lifestyle of less.

One of these businesses is Utility.

Utility promotes refill and reuse by selling personal and home care products from bulk and encouraging shoppers to bring their own containers. Each ingredient in every product is researched, so customers can be assured they are using products that are safe for their health and the environment. The store also sells plastic free versions of commonly used items, such as toothbrushes, kitchen sponges, etc. The majority of products are produced locally and made to last.

Rebecca Rottman and Nadine Appenbrink started Utility in April 2019 as a way to help mitigate local plastic pollution and provide Portlanders an opportunity to buy products that are safe for their health and the environment. “We were both tired of having to go to multiple places just to buy shampoo and laundry soap that didn’t have petrochemicals and other harmful ingredients, were safe for the environment and had refill options. Inspired by the many “zero waste” shops popping up in cities around the U.S. and internationally, we decided to start Utility in Portland”.

Although Utility follows some tenets of the zero waste philosophy, Rebecca and Nadine refer to themselves as a “low” waste business rather than “zero”.

Nonetheless, here are some of the ways Utility aligns with zero waste:

●     Sells products from bulk instead of individual plastic bottles.

●     Encourages and promotes the reuse of containers.

●     Carries products that contain only natural ingredients and safe for humans, animals and the earth.

●     Sources from local producers as much as possible.

Utility currently operates as a pop-up shop and online store with local delivery only, no brick and mortar...yet. Pop-ups have been held at retail stores like J. Crew and Nike, bringing these tenets to employees and consumers around Portland.

Bring your own containers

There are pop-up events happening around Portland. Look for upcoming dates online and/or follow them on Instagram. 

Utility will be partnering with eco-conscious and reuse promoting businesses such as GO Box, Gather Resale and Patagonia this fall.

Read about other zero waste initiatives in Portland and get more tips to reduce waste at Resourceful PDX.

It’s almost back to school! Tips for a no-waste lunch

School days are right around the corner! One area that parents have some control over for back-to-school savings is lunch related. Packing a lunch for students saves money, resources and helps prevent waste.

No-waste lunch tips

Pack your lunch in a reusable bag or a lunch box

Wash and reuse

• plastic containers for sandwiches, soup and snacks

• plastic water or juice bottles

• locking plastic bags for crackers, carrots, cookies

Bring your own

• reusable forks and spoons

• cloth napkins

Save packaging – buy large, pack small

• Choose large bags of snacks like pretzels, chips and raisins over individually packaged ones

• Pack single servings in reusable containers to save resources

By planning and creating weekly meal plans, you can reduce waste while shopping, too. Stock the fridge in one trip, and you’ll save time and resources too.

Check out other back to school resources in our previous kids in school posts.

Bring your own bags to reduce waste at the grocery store

Reduce and reuse

You can help reduce waste by reusing plastic bags of any kind. If you reuse them even once, you’ll end up using half as many. Keep them in a place where they’ll get reused, like your car or your kitchen.

Plastic bags and plastic wrap cannot be recycled at home. Throw them in the garbage.

Keep plastic bags of any type out of your recycling bin. The same goes for plastic wrap, which includes things like cling wrap and the packaging for toilet paper and paper towels.

The City of Portland has had a plastic bag ban since 2011 and Oregon passed a statewide ban this legislative session. That means plastic bags will no longer be available at stores throughout the state, and there will be a fee on paper bags.

Plastic bags and plastic wrap create big problems. They can end up as litter, impacting the environment. You can make a difference by reusing them or not using them in the first place.

So now is a good time to remember to bring your own bag. Pack your durable containers in reusable bags to take to the store and that can be used for years. As a bonus, many grocery stores offer a refund if you bring your own bag. 

Tips to remember reusable bags:

·         Return bags to your car or bike.

·         Store bags near your house keys.

·         Keep a small bag in a purse or backpack.

·         Put a reminder on your grocery list.

Want help sorting it out?

Recycle or Not is a new community resource created by Metro and local government partners in the greater Portland, Oregon, area. These agencies are working to reduce waste and protect the environment by sharing information about how to recycle right.

Read (or listen) to this NPR story about sorting out plastics at the grocery store.

Choose to refuse

Say no to unnecessary take-out items because these items belong in the garbage

• Take advantage of the discounts local businesses offer for bringing your own coffee mug and reusable shopping bag.

• For to-go orders, take only what you need.

• If you don’t need the straw, fork, spoon, cup, condiments, containers, or a bag, say so! Hundreds of Portland restaurants and bars have switched to offering straws only upon request or asking if you need single-use items.

• Another step to reduce single-use waste is to have what you need when you need it. Make a to-go kit for your car, day bag or bike bag that includes grocery bags, a coffee mug, silverware or small containers for leftovers.

A costly habit

Single-use items — from paper napkins and coffee cups to straws and plastic bags — have been in the news a lot lately, and for good reason. We use many items for just a few minutes before throwing them away. Disposable products may provide convenience and ease at home and on the go, but they require natural resources, energy and water, which increases carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

In Portland, all plastic and paper to-go items should be tossed in the garbage.

They do not belong in the recycling or compost bins, even if they claim to be compostable.

With a little effort we can reduce the disposable stuff we throw away to prevent waste and save money.

When is “compostable” not compostable?

Items labeled “compostable” or “biodegradable” belong in the garbage. The labels are well-intentioned, but they’re not always accurate. Many products that are labeled “compostable” or “biodegradable” don’t break down at our local composting facilities.

Do not put them in your recycling or compost bins.

Find more inspiration from a previous post about the 10 things you can do to reduce your waste and read a New York Times article about people trying to live plastic free (spoiler: It’s hard, but doable!).

Ready to pledge to go plastic-free in July? You can do that too!

Reuse, recycle and dispose of unwanted bulky materials at Portland events

Clean up for spring at Portland Community Collection Events

Portlanders can clean up their garages, basements or other clutter-filled areas and head to one of over 35 Community Collection Events scheduled this spring. Materials accepted at collection events vary, but the sponsoring neighborhood association or community group may offer a combination of bulky waste collection, an onsite reuse section and a litter pickup activity.

A variety of community groups are providing this convenient service for a reasonable donation or fee. Besides bulky items like furniture, mattresses and appliances locations may accept items for recycling and reuse, like scrap metal and household goods.

The City of Portland’s Community Collection Events, also known as Neighborhood Cleanups, offer neighborhood, community and nonprofit organizations funds for proper disposal of bulky household waste that may otherwise be disposed of inappropriately. The events prioritize recycling and reuse over disposal.

These events do not accept the following items: Hazardous waste materials; all construction, remodeling or demolition materials; all kitchen garbage; residential yard debris and trimmings; commercial landscaping; roofing; waste and recyclables collected curbside; and waste not allowed at a regional transfer station. Learn more about asbestos containing materials at the Metro transfer stations.

Your support in protecting community volunteers and transfer station staff from exposure to asbestos and keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe is appreciated.

Interested in reusing and sharing? Many groups and organizations are free and offer Portland-area residents’ simple ways to move useful materials through the community and into the hands of others who need them.

• Resourceful PDX has a map of where to take items for donation, plus places to borrow, swap and repair your stuff.

• The Oregonian posted a list of local places to donate clothes.

• Metro has compiled a helpful list of charitable organizations you can contact for pick up or drop off usable items.

Have bulky items at other times of the year? Your garbage and recycling company can remove large items that are not reusable or recyclable for an extra charge anytime of the year.

Need a list of this year’s events? Contact the Curbside Hotline at 503-823-7202 to find a Community Collection Event near you.

Buy to Last with BuyMeOnce

The holidays are a great time to reconsider what we buy.  A recent article in the New York Times about buying items to last resonates this time of year because Resourceful PDX is about thoughtful consumption. The article highlights one woman’s journey to find long-lasting items that are built to last. The story features Tara Button, the creator of BuyMeOnce. Their tagline reads: We find the longest lasting products on the planet. To save you stress, to save you money, to save the planet.

The gist is to move away from throwaway. Seeking items that can last a lifetime may seem old-fashioned, or from another era. However, disposable items or those that are made to break (also known as planned obsolescence) are a waste, in more ways than one.

Instead, BuyMeOnce suggests seeking items for yourself or for others that stand the test of time. From socks and sweaters to blenders and mixing bowls, you can search for what you need or want, and get ideas for the holidays too.

Categories online include:

·         Kitchenware

·         Living

·         Electricals (i.e. appliances and gadgets)

·         Leisure

·         Beauty

·         Kids, women’s and men’s items

If you must give a gift of something, consider an item that the receiver wants, needs and is built to last their lifetime.

Find out more about BuyMeOnce. And check out the Resourceful PDX blog for more local options to buy smart!

Think repair for the holidays with over 200 local shops

Did you know you can find repair shops all over the Portland region through an online database?

Portland Repair Finder is dedicated to helping more people fix more things. The organization makes tools, knowledge and resources easier to find, and helps tell the stories behind repair work. They believe that repairing things is good for the local economy, community and environment, and it is empowering and fun.

The creator of this online tool is Joel Newman. He started the website in 2017 to become a comprehensive access point for repair of all kinds around Portland. His background is in art and design - and bicycle repair.

Joel (right) fixing a bike at a Repair Cafe.

He said over the next year they will be revising the search and filtering features, as well as growing the database of repair shops and resources. The ability to search the site by item as well as by mode of repair– whether that's a needed tool for a DIY fix, expert advice or professional repair– is key to showing people the range of options available, and getting more people involved.

“One of the cool things about repair work is its ability to add life to a favorite item or keepsake. If you get a favorite pair of jeans or shoes mended or restore a piece of furniture or jewelry that has been in your family for generations, it’s much more unique and memorable than buying something new.”

Give the gift of repair

With the holidays upon us, now’s a good time to find alternative gift ideas. Look at who you plan to buy for this year. Would they benefit from a gift certificate from a jeweler, cobbler or for a gadget? Could a family heirloom be repaired, old photos be restored or a favorite outfit brought back to life through alteration? There are 200 businesses included on the Repair Finder.

And don’t forget about free repair events in the region. Both Repair Cafés and Repair Fairs take place around the Portland region throughout the year. Think of these events as an ongoing way to get small repairs made to keep your possessions in circulation and in use. The Resourceful PDX event calendar lists all the repair events taking place, along with other community events.