Master Recycler Members’ Password Change
New password: recycler
For over 15 years, Master Recyclers have had to enter the word “master” to get into the members section of the Master Recycler website. That changed this month to “recycler” (no caps).
The word master in the name Master Recycler Program is based on an academic concept that predates this country. People receive Master’s degrees and become Masters of trades after showing that they have skill in an area. However, even though the term may not be rooted in American slavery on plantations, it evokes that history. Words like 'slave' and' master' are so folded into our vocabulary they speak now to the history of racial slavery and racism in the US.
While the offensive nature of expecting Black Master Recyclers to enter the phrase ‘master’ to get into the members section of the website was raised several years ago. I am deeply sorry that I did not make this change before now.
Master Recycler YouTube Channel Grows!
Keep those videos coming!
Master Recyclers videos are featured in our own YouTube Channel in English and Spanish. Some have shared skills in reuse, others celebrating Earth Day. Some are super glossy, while others are simply elegant. Several even recorded online presentations.
As part of your Master Recycler hours send your fun thoughts, ideas, and passion. Text your video to 503-545-8976 or email to masterrecycler@portlandoregon.gov
New Distance Learning Tools for Youth from Metro
Want to spend some of your Master Recycler hours engaging young folks in your life?
Metro has new online resources for youth and families who are interested in learning about reducing their waste, responding to climate change and protecting natural resources. There’s interactive videos and activity sheets each separated for different age groups.
Enjoy these videos and activities with the young people in your life. Then Report Your Hours!
Master Recycler Opportunities
Tuesday August 4, 3:30-5:30
Portland Sustainability at Work online presentation team training
Join Genevieve Joplin at Sustainability at Work and Lauren Norris with the Master Recycler program.
Help Portland business green teams stay connected while they work remotely. Master Recyclers are invited to join a Portland Sustainability at Work online presentation team. Come to the training on Tuesday to:
get training on the new power point focused on recycling at home and work
learn skills on online presenting
sign up to be a member of the team
RSPV to receive a link to the zoom training. Masterrecycler@portlandoregon.gov (If you can’t make the time, we will record the training. So please RSVP that you would like to be on the team.)
Wednesday, August 12, 6-7:30
Master Recyclers of Color Monthy Meetup!
This meet up is a space for any individual that identifies as a person of color (POC) interested in waste and recycling to convene and organize. Many of us have taken a Portland Metro Area Master Recycle course, but please note that any POC can attend the meetings and enrollment or completion of the class is not required.
This an opportunity to bring those of us who work in the reuse/recycling/waste industry together. We'll share opportunities, resources, and challenges or just to commiserate about the industry. Participation counts toward your Master Recycler hours!
Join Zoom Meeting on your computer or phone
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84822105091?pwd=eCtWZnQwL2JPUlFIdEcrcHRidGwyUT09
Join by dialing with your phone
669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 848 2210 5091
Passcode: Tkd59E
Wednesday, August 19 2:30-4:00
Zoom Presentation Training with Lauren Norris
We are all learning to connect with the community in new ways. If the new Master Recycler online presentation tools look intriguing, but you are feeling apprehensive about trying them out, join in this low key atmosphere to learn how to use them.
Appreciations
a new Centurion
¡Gracias a Martha Yañez (Clase 73), quien es la segunda persona de la clase del Centro Cultural y Condado de Washington completar 100 horas!
Para sus primeros 30 horas, Martha dio clases de manualidades y alternativas de químicos en el hogar para el programa de Centro Cultural, Adelante Mujeres, y un grupo de su iglesia en Easter Seals.
Martha es parte de los Prometores Ambiental del Condado de Washington. Promotores Ambientales es un programa comunitario enfocado en la educación y capacitación en temas de reciclaje y sostenibilidad ambiental. La meta es informar, concientizar e inspirar compartiendo opciones para lograr una comunidad sostenible. Después que era necesario practicar distancia social, Martha empezó ofrecer una serie de videos en la reutilización de materiales. ¡Sus creaciones son increíbles!
Para decir gracias a Martha mandamos el botón “Centurion” que usan los Expertos Recicladores junto a su insignia cuando han completado más de 100 horas (¡Por supuesto, está hecha de una tapa de botella reutilizada!)
Thank you to Martha Yañez (Clase 73), who is now the second person from the Centro Cultural/Washington County class to complete 100 hours!
For her first 30 hours, Martha gave classes on crafts and alternatives to chemicals in the house for community events at Centro Cultural, Adelante Mujeres, and an Easter Seals group at her church.
Martha is part of the Environmental Promoters of Washington County. These promoters are a community program focused on the education and capacity building in the themes of recycling and sustainability. The goal is to inform, raise awareness and inspire, sharing options to reach a sustainable community.
After it was necessary to social distance, Martha and the prometores began to offer a series of videos. Her focus is always on creative reuse. Her creations are incredible! To say thank you Martha will receive a Centurion Button. Master Recyclers wear these next to their badges to they have completed more than 100 hours. (Of course, they are made of reused bottle caps!)
Certified Master Recyclers
An impressive number of Master Recyclers completed their 30 hour commitment this month. Impressive especially given the challenges of engaging communities at a safe social distance.
Check out the amazing work these folks have done!!
Alexandra Gorbunova (Class 62) jumped at any chance to reach out to people in her native language Russian. Sasha’s first outing years ago was to go door-to-door in an apartment building with many Russian-speaking residents. She wrote that she spoke to one older gentleman that had all sorts of recycling questions that he had for years but didn't know how to get answers. She said, "It was exciting to help people in Russian". She helped at more apartment communities after that as well as several community events in Gresham where the Russian community congregated. She even helped the Habitat for Humanity Restore translate materials and store signage. She finished her hours with a zoom gathering offering sustainability tips and resources in Russian. She is even thinking of offering some presentations on Russian Radio and TV shows in the area!
Kelly Yearick (Class 69) engaged residents on toxics reduction tips at the Washington County Fair and PlanetCon. But she spent most of her Master Recycler hours starting and organizing a green team for Forth where she works. Being a company that advances electric mobility, sustainability is already in their bottom-line. But the green team focused on projects to improve operations, composting and recycling. They even invested in a soda stream to reduce the use of one-time bottles and cans. Kelly didn't let a little thing like everyone working remotely keep the Green Team from meeting. She completed her 30 hours by conducting their first virtual Green Team gathering.
Laura Gumpert (Class 71) focused most of her projects in East Multnomah County where she took the class. Laura kicked off her hours helping with the Gresham Earth Day celebration and staffed a Be Cart Smart table at the East Portland Sunday Parkways. She also helped with a few special projects with Trash for Peace where she works. She helped organized an Eco-Baby Shower in the Gladstone Square apartments and a sharing closet at Rockwood Station with fellow Master Recycler Silvia Teyub Ke (pictured with Laura).
Abigail Herrera (Class 72) dabbled in events like the North by Northeast Safe Homes Health Fair and the City's Fix-it Fair talking with participants about toxics-free cleaners and body care. But she is really one to take on projects. She helped the Creative Science School advocate for milk dispensers instead of cartons during lunch and helped plan for the Cully Neighborhood Cleanup (unfortunately canceled by COVID). But Abby says she really found her home at a Trash for Peace program called Ground Score. She used her communications and marketing skills to support the association of environmental workers to create low-barrier jobs for those facing work and housing insecurity. She has also been volunteering with their People's Depot that was featured in the video below.
Billie Brock (Class 76) took the class this winter. She put her Master Recycler knowledge right to work at the February Fix-it Fair at Floyd Light (pictured on the left). Billie also talked up recycling at the Urban League and added tips and resources on proper food storage and recycling in the Northeast Killingsworth Meals on Wheels deliveries. She completed her 30 hour certification by joining in a Safe Homes event at NxNE. They collected needles for disposal, distributed milk and yogurt food boxes and signed families up for a free CSA for 8 weeks through a Black-owned farm. She plans to stay involved helping fellow Master Recycler Lisa Arceneaux write articles for the NE AARP chapter newsletter and many other projects. She says "I'm just getting started!"
David Milhouse (Class 76) had a solution for a Citywide problem. Portland distilleries had donated an endless supply of 80% alcohol to distribute to families as sanitizer. The problem was that they didn’t have a way to get the sanitizer from the giant vats to the families. In comes Mr Milhouse, who collects bottles and cans. He separated out the water bottles from his regular loads. The bottles were run through the dishwasher and stickers were added. Over 700 low-income BIPOC families received the life-saving sanitizer with their food boxes and other supplies.
Isaiah Talton (Class 76) who is now an officially Certified Master Recycler! Isaiah has the sustainability bug! He'd been participating with Trash for Peace since he was a little kid. He was eventually hired as Environmental Promoter coordinator for them and an Intern with Metro. Then he decided he wanted to dig deep into the topic by becoming a Master Recycler. He took the course with the North by Northeast Community Center class this winter. Since then, he has been spending his Master Recycler hours working in his Dekum Home Forward community. He worked with youth there on a creative reuse Instagram project, worked with residents on a wormbin compost demonstration, went door-to-door in the community so that neighbors could weigh in on Metro materials, and even did an in-depth conversation with the youth on climate change. Isaiah is one of the youngest Master Recyclers and he is just getting started!! He is really moving into the space to think about environmental justice and what role he can play in that movement. (Photo by Metro staff Faith Cathcart during a class tour of the Recology compost facility)
Daisha Tate (Class 76) offered presentations on toxics, food and recycling during her family Zoom gatherings this spring. She also helped organize distribution of sanitizer with reused bottles through a church project. She spent the bulk of her hours organizing and participating in two events by North by Northeast Community Health Center. One was a sharps needle disposal event (pictured in the center) and Safe Homes Healthy Homes event. Daisha isn't done yet! She plans to be the point person for technical assistance on a digital access project to help fellow classmates use new computers funded by Metro so that they can more effectively reach out in this new online world.
Diane Williams (Class 76) also participated in the Master Recycler class hosted by North by Northeast Community Health Center. She spent much of her hours sharing her passion for sustainability with her neighbors and family. She chatted with them about deconstruction, compost and gardening, and recycling. Diane participated in several Safe Home Healthy Homes events at the Center. She Certified at the one that was last month. They organized extra efforts to make it safe for people in the community to access the important resources they shared. People could drop off sharps or medication, they offered a food box filled fresh produce and/or dairy, they handed out starter kits of plants and compost for gardens, and they signed up over 50 families for a free CSA with a Black-owned farm funded by the Equitable Giving Fund. (This photo of her sitting was from last year's Juneteenth event).
Jobseekers’ Board
The Master Recycler Jobseekers board has some exciting opportunities listed including:
Oregon DEQ
Scrap
ReStore PDX