Time to Talk Trash
There’s a lot to know about garbage. Your garbage cart plays an important role in our collection
system. It keeps our recycling and compost clean of materials that do not have viable markets, that degrade the more valuable materials or that cause problems in sorting.
Are putting your trash in its place?
Invite your friends to be a Master Recycler!
How do most people hear about the Master Recycler Program? From other Master Recyclers of course.
- WHAT: Clackamas County course and volunteer program
- WHEN: Eight consecutive Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. starting on March 29, and two Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm on April 8 and May 6
- WHERE: Clackamas County Bldg., 150 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City
- COST: $50 fee
- Partial and full scholarships are available without extra application requirements
Deadline for applications is Wednesday March 8, 2017 at Noon.
Details and application: www.masterrecycler.org
Volunteer Opportunities
Three exciting projects:
Gresham (Multi-family knock and talks)
January-March, times variable depending on your availability
The City of Gresham needs volunteers to help out at multifamily communities and do short education on recycling. We are conducting a study on the effectiveness of recycling bags and providing education on the bags. Flexible times and locations. More details.
New Zoo Education Center (Master Recycler Team Leads)
February-July
The Oregon Zoo has a new venue for regional conservation education! Their new Education Center is due to open in March and is designed to provide visitors with multimedia opportunities to learn about nature and conservation. The Zoo and US Fish and Wildlife Service invites Master Recyclers to set up information booths with the variety of kits and topics.
We are seeking a team of 2-3 people who would take the responsibility to lead the Master Recycler participation. You would commit to lead the effort of organizing a series of booths this spring and summer. You will decide how many times you would like to set up the booth, which topics you want to cover and check out the kits. You would also decide who will send in volunteer opportunities for the Master Recycler Calendar and take in sign-ups and coordinate shifts. More details.
Sunday Parkways (Green Program and Volunteer training team)
April-Sept
It’s not easy being green, but it becomes much easier to achieve greenness when you create a plan of action! In our tenth year in operation, Sunday Parkways is looking to make its events even more sustainable. But we need you! We are recruiting 3-4 Master Recyclers to become members of the Sunday Parkways green team that will meet once a month (in person or via teleconference) for a 6-month project to create a Green Event playbook and provide training on greener waste streams for our events. More details
January Volunteer Opportunities
Click on the calendar image to get more details.
Appreciations
Thank you to centurions and Certified Master Recyclers
Two Master Recyclers reported their 100th hour this last month. We thank them for their continued commitment.
Jackie Yerby (Class 46) completed her 100th hour organizing the food scrap composting at the spaghetti feed for houseless folks through her church at St Phillip Neri. Most of Jackie's hours, in fact, have a theme of combining faith, social equity, economy and environment. Along with these annual events, she helped small emerging businesses and non-profits with sustainability plans and green teams, including Catholic charities, cascade aides project, and community cycling center. This video is Jackie Yerby talking about her work on Justice, responsibility and climate in her job, but you can rest assured the message was the same when she was volunteering. (Be sure and have a tissue ready for this video!)
Pam Vergun is the first from Class 63 to complete her 30 hours and become a fully Certified Master Recycler. In fact, she already surpassed the certification requirements and went right on to becoming a Centurion in her first few months as a Master Recycler. And Pam is just getting started. She has been involved in Plant for the Planet which engages youth in planting and understand climate. For her Master Recycler project, she is introducing a Plant for Planet club at the International School of Beaverton so that students there can connect to conservation and climate protection. This picture is from a previous group she worked with, because so far her project is in the planning stage working with school administration, students and parents. There will be many ways Master Recyclers can help with this project soon!
Job Opportunities
There are a number of relevant openings in the Job Seekers Board including:
- Washington County Solid Waste/Recycling Sr. Program Educator
- Metro Hazardous Waste Technician
- Trainings: How to Apply for City of Portland jobs
To see all the listings and keep up between newsletters visit the Master Recycler Job Seekers Board.
Conservation news
Repair PDX meet and greet
Curious about the repair movement taking shape in Portland? Join Repair PDX for a meet and greet!
This is your opportunity to learn more about what the grassroots organization does, how to get involved, or just come meet other volunteers. Repair PDX has been hosting free repair cafés for over three years and have held 34 successful events and fixed over 1,000 items.
Consider joining the repair community to help spread repair culture. Visit repairpdx.org or email repairpdx@gmail.com for more details.
Grant opportunity
Each year, Rockwell Collins awards $90,000 in grants to protect and preserve our environment. Since its inception in 1984, Rockwell Collins’ Green Communities grant program has given nearly $900,000 to projects such as restoring rare upland wetlands, re-establishing habitats for endangered species, purifying drinking water and planting community gardens around the world.
To qualify, a nonprofit group must team with a Rockwell Collins employee or retiree (contact Brion Hurley at brion.hurley@rockwellcollins.com) with a project that improves the environment of a community where our company operates.
Examples include conservation of natural resources and raw materials, restoration or development of ecological habitats, and environmental improvements to air, water, land or renewable energy. Typical awards range from $500 to $2,500 per project with preference given to projects that will be completed in 2017.
Applications need to be filled out and submitted online by 5 p.m. Central time on Monday, Feb. 13. Grant recipients will be announced on or around Earth Day, April 22.
More information can be found at: http://www.rockwellcollins.com/greencommunities
How to Be an Agent of Change
Registration Open Now!
Five Mondays, 6:00–7:45pm or 7:00–8:45
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, (break), April 17
If you would like to make a change in a circle of influence (workplace, neighborhood, school, center of faith, or other organization), this class may be perfect for you. It will help you be a more effective change agent.
There is no charge for the class, but advance registration is required.
Contact Jeanne Roy at 503-227-2315, Jeanne@earthleaders.org