The Evolution Story of the Manual

In just a couple of weeks, you will be receiving a link to the new Master Recycler Manual. I thought you might like to know a little about how this new manual came to be.

A long overdue paradigm shift

Here are the first sentences of the Master Recycler Manual written in 1991:

This is what Cell phones looked like in 1991.

"When it comes to trash, the U.S. is at the top of the heap! We generate more solid waste than almost any other country in the world."

Here’s how the new one starts:

"Imagine a day when Oregonians live well and prosperously, producing and using materials responsibly, conserving resources, and protecting the environment. Imagine a day when we recognize that the earth’s resources are finite and we begin living within those limits, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities as we do."

Friends curious what it's like to be a Master Recycler?

Sorry: cancelled due to rain!!

Master Recyclers—and folks thinking about being one—are invited to a BBQ.

Mingle with fellow recycling enthusiasts
Play fun recycling games
Hear how you can make a difference

Unitarian Universality Community Church of Washington County, 22785 NW Birch St, Hillsboro
Sunday, July 10 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Washington County, the City of Beaverton and the MRP will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie sausages, frozen treats and refreshments provided. Bring a potluck item if you like.

All ages invited. Please share with your friends who might be interested in joining us.

RSVP by Thursday, July 7

Come to Gresham Movie Night!

Gresham City Hall 1333 NW Eastman Pkw
Springwater Trail Conference Room
Wednesday July 13, 6-7:30 p.m.

City of Gresham invites Master Recyclers to watch Just Eat It, the short documentary on food waste and rescue. Eat pizza and discuss the Eat Smart Waste Less outreach campaign and tabling in Gresham. Those who view the movie can check it out to show it to others.

Shaunna Sutcliffe-Shadle RSVP (sorry no guests)

Join the Master Recycler Book Club!

Three Wednesdays: July 20, 27 and August 3, 6-8 p.m.
(It is not required to attend all three dates)
1900 SW 4th Ave rm. 7A, Portland

The new Master Recycler Manual will be released on July 6, 2016! The new Manual will replace the current Manual online in the Master Recycler members’ page of the website for all to read.

You are invited to a special gathering for Master Recyclers to discuss it together. Each evening will focus on a third of the manual (which will be assigned ahead of time) with a combination of small group discussions and the full group sharing back.

Please RSVP

What do you know?

Allen Liff (Class 61) created this fun quiz. Test your knowledge. Share it with your friends. Take the quiz .

Appreciations

Quincenturion Club

Bonita Davis (Class 52) just joined the very elite Quincenturion Club. Just six people besides Bonita have completed more than 500 hours. Along with acting as a Master Recycler Mentor for new folks, Bonita has been helping promote reuse through the ReClaim It! store and Glean art program. Literally thousands of Portlanders have been reading her monthly articles for the SE Examiner and the Sunnyside Neighborhood newsletter. Her articles have been diverse, interesting and chock full of specific resources to help folks learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

I think we can officially say Bonita is extraordinary.

Two New Centurions

Celeste Lewis (Class 54) completed her 100th hour as a Master Recycler last month. Celeste focused much of her volunteer work that will have big systemic impacts. She worked in school cafeterias to improve recovery, conducted a regional survey to find out ways to increase the sharing of school supplies and helped organize the very popular SW Portland Community Recycling events. Celeste is not done with her work! Rumor has it she is involved in informing the potential development of a SW Portland tool library and a Community Recycling event in Forest Heights!

Sara Harding Mihm (Class 59) also became a Centurion this month. Sara has so much amazing positive energy! (You might catch her playful side in the picture with squirt bottles.) She and her husband Alex Mihm (Class 62) are on the Sustainability Advisory Board for West Linn where they have been instrumental in building both government and community infrastructure to help their neighbors be more sustainable. They have been helping develop a sustainability strategic plan and researching ways to increase the curbside program options. They also build community by organizing West Linn events (a Halloween costume swap, a fall e-waste shred event, and a citywide Swap Event are just a few they have cooking now).

Certified Master Recyclers

Paul, right, with Susan Mead at the Climate Action Now booth

Paul Lask (Class 60) is officially a Certified Master Recycler! Paul volunteered at the Fix-It Fair to talk about climate and food waste (pictured here with Susan Mead). He also helped support efforts by Washington County to support businesses in their sustainability goals. One of the many cool ways he did that was by showcasing business in the community. Check out his latest article.

Alex Mihm (Class 62) completed his hours in a way that will help Master Recyclers for years to come. While 21 of the chapters of the new manual were already in the copy edit mode, the new food chapter was falling far behind. Alex met with food content experts, researched details and resources and worked with Sara Harding Mihm (Class 59) to think through the outline and form. Then he wrote 15 solid pages! He did all this in just a couple of months and caught the chapter up with the rest of the manual. Alex says he plans to get out and do more in the community for more payback hours, but this Master Recycler program coordinator is super grateful for his first 30 hours.

Alex is right in the middle of his class with the crazy facial expression!

Volunteer Opportunities

Join the summer fun. Make a difference.

July Volunteer Opportunities See July Calendar

Sunday July 3 Montevilla Farmers' Market (Be Cart Smart) Se Portland

Wednesday July 6 Forest Grove Farmers Market (Forest Grove Composts table)

Thursday July 7 North Plains Farmers' Market (recycling table)

Saturday July 9 Sherwood Saturday Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less Challenge table)

Saturday July 9 Springs at Carmen Oaks (Waste Prevention table) Lake Oswego

Wednesday July 13 Forest Grove Farmers' Market (recycling center)

Wednesday July 13 Hillsboro Farmers' Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Thursday July 14 Autumn Park Apartments (recycling presentation) Wilsonville

Friday July 15 Forest Hills Mobile Estates (recycling presentation) Cornelius

Saturday July 16 Arts Festival (recycling and Eat Smart, Waste Less table), Gresham

Saturday July 16 Beaverton Farmers' Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Saturday July 16 Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Education Center Grand Opening (Resourceful PDX)

Sunday July 17 Tigard Farmers Market (Recycling table and kids activity)

Wednesday July 20 Forest Grove Farmers' Market (recycling center)

Thursday July 21 Hillsboro Farmers' Market (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Saturday July 23 Gresham Farmers Market (Recycling and Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Saturday July 23 Sherwood Saturday Market (Recycling Table)

Saturday July 23 Repair Fair (Fixers and greeters), Beaverton

Saturday July 23 Community Resilience Fair (Recycling table), Hillsboro

Sunday July 24 Milwaukie Farmers' Market (Recycling table)

Sunday July 24 Rockwood Farmers' Market (Recycling and Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Tuesday July 26 Multnomah Athletic Club Sustainability Fair (Be Cart Smart table), SW Portland

These two events have multiple days and multiple shifts:

Wednesday - Sunday July 27-31 Oregon Brewers Fest (Event Recovery), SW Portland

Thursday - Sunday July 28-31 Washington County Fair (Recycling table) Hillsboro

Look ahead to early August!

Monday August 1 Alternative Transportation event (deadline for recycling table), HIllsboro

Any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in August Summer Food and Fun Camp (Recycling presentation), Happy Valley

Tuesday August 2nd is National Night Out. NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community. partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.

Multiple communities have requested Master Recycler information booths.

Tigard (Recycling table)

Tualatin (Eat Smart, Waste Less Challenge table)

Forest Grove (Recycling table)

Gresham (Eat Smart, Waste Less table)

Job Opportunities

More at the Master Recycler Jobs Board.

DEQ Reuse, Repair, Lifespan Extension Specialist

Closes 7/14/2016. The Materials Management section plans and implements policies and programs to reduce impacts of materials and products throughout their full life cycle, from design and production through distribution, consumption and use and management at end-of-life. The candidate will serve as senior technical expert in support of the Materials Management Section and Materials Management in Oregon: 2050 Vision and Framework for Action.

Clark County Master Composter/Recycler Program coordinator

Closed when filled. This position performs technical, as well as public relations work in the area of solid waste management. The solid waste team is responsible for the overall planning, implementation and administration of the County’s solid waste reduction, recycling and disposal systems.

Free Geek PT Receiving and Sorting Associate

Open until filled. This position involves accepting, sorting, and processing of incoming donations in support Free Geek’s reuse activities. This includes driving our 16 foot box truck for off-site collection of donations.

2016-17 Growing Gardens Home Gardens Coordinator

In Partnership with the Confluence Environmental Center, the Home Gardens Coordinator will strengthen the resources and support for families with limited resources to grow food at home. Through the efforts of this position, newly enrolled Home Gardeners will receive the installation of Home Garden beds and three years of support including seeds, starts, tools, gardening classes, mentoring and support.

Contributions to this month's newsletter include J Lauren Norris, Alicia Polacok and Wing Grabowski.