Resolution for Recycling

Senate Resolution 521 was passed recently in the US Senate. The following is a summary of the resoution sponsored by Sen. Carper of Delaware.

"Expresses support for: (1) improvement in the collection, processing, and consumption of recyclable material throughout the United States in order to create well-paying jobs, foster innovation and investment in recycling infrastructure, and stimulate the economy; (2) strengthening the U.S. manufacturing base in order to rebuild the domestic economy; (3) a competitive marketplace for recyclable materials; (4) the trade of recyclable commodities; (5) U.S. policies that promote recycling and recyclable materials, that promote using recyclable materials as feedstock to produce new basic materials and finished products, and that establish the equitable treatment of recycled materials; (6) research and development of new technologies to more efficiently and effectively recycle materials such as automobile shredder residue and cathode ray tubes and to remove materials that are impediments to recycling; (7) Design for Recycling to ensure that a good can be recycled safely and economically at the end of its useful life; and (8) the participation of U.S. households, businesses, and governmental entities in recycling programs. Recognizes that the U.S. scrap recycling industry is critical to the future of the United States."

Even though this passed by unanimous consent, there is still resistance to environmentally-friendly measures as unnecessary and costly to the economy. We need to continue expressing our concerns to our legislators. You can find the full text of the resolution at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=sr112-251 .

Waste Management and Publix team up to Compost in South Florida

Garbage titan Waste Management  (WM) is teaming up with grocery store titan Publix to compost Publix's waste at a facility in Okeechobee County next to Waste Management's humongous landfill.

Waste Management's critics who regulary state that WM is only interested in landfilling and burning waste must be stunned by the announcement.  After all, doesn't WM need to maximize it's other assets so that it can maintain stock price and insure large bonuses for executives?  Has the world been flipped on its head?

Not exactly.

Publix has been seeking a partner for composting of its waste for sometime.  They struck a deal with a Pompano Beach company in 2008.  It failed.  This was a huge threat to WM.  WM controls all privately owned disposal sites in Florida south of Saint Cloud.  Publix is South Florida's largest employer.  It's stores are everywhere.  Thus, diversion of this waste would have a significant impact on stock price and bonuses.

So, here comes the partnership.  What a great example Publix has set. This shows how purchasing decisions can change the world and how a corporation can make a difference in a community by demanding something better. As far as WM, there is never a wrong reason to do the right thing.

Good luck to Waste Management and Publix.  Here's the press release.

Learn more about home backyard composting here.

Rainbarrel Workshops Return to Trash to Treasure

Trash to Treasure is proud to announce the return of rainbarrel workshops.  Our rainbarrels are reclaimed juice concentrate barrels that have been outfitted to be collect and distribute the water from your roof.

Learn about stormwater and water conservation from community expert John Shave at the workshop.

See below for more information.  T2T members get a discount.  This is a great time to become a member.

Trash to Treasure Tshirt Now Available

Trash to Treasure is proud to present our line of repurposed, hand screened t shirts.  We took previously worn (though sometime not) shirts and our t shirt artist used silkscreens to produce one of a kind clothing.

Our shirts have slogans or identify web sites that promote reuse or climate change.  ilovetrash.org redirects Trash to Treasure's web site.  350.org is the home of all things climate change. Show your support with your Trash to Treasure Recycling Crew shirt.

Shirts are $5 for T2T members and $10 for nonmembers.  They are available at Trash to Treasure and will soon be available on line.  Funds go to keeping our doors open.

T shirt artist at work

 Thanks to Noemi Klipfel, Melodie Blaize, Piero Rossini, Casey Eckels, and Mike Heimbach for their screening.

Do you have blank or mostly blank t shirt that you would like to donate?  Drop off at Trash to Treasure during our normal hours.

Time to Pull Out the Sweaters

Check out the fashions in Wyoming . . .

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2011/11/huge-charlie-brown-sweater.html

Excerpt from article in Sierra Club "The Green Life" newsletter

• "Morlock made Sweater in 2010 after receiving a small stipend from a
  temporary public art call. Inspired by another craftsperson who'd built the art
  spot out of an old chairlift, Morlock began experimenting with discarded
  materials and soon found herself with colorful rolls of leftover mylar — the
  same stuff that makes Dorothy's shoes sparkle — from a Florida
  sequin-and-spangle factory that went out of business. A hundred painstaking
  hours later, there was Charlie Brown's sweater. And it was huge.The piece —
  which will be on display at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California, through February 2012 — is 13 feet high, 9 feet wide, and 7 feet deep. It's
  truck-sized.+

Swap-O-Rama-Rama 3.0-Saturday November 12th 4-12 @ the Bubble

Dirty Peaches Clothing and Trash to Treasure are proud to present South Florida Swap-O-Rama-Rama 3.0 to be held at the Bubble 810 NE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Saturday November 12 4PM to Midnight.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing.

The first Swap was held at Trash to Treasure.  Check out the video.









Here is a video from last year's event.

CityLink Beerfest 2011 to Benefit Trash to Treasure

Once again this year, Trash to Treasure is teaming up with CityLink to put on South Florida's only Green Beerfest.

What makes it green.  Working with Trash to Treasure volunteers and the beer vendors we are able to recycle over 80% of the waste by weight.  We also capture the bottle caps and wine corks for our members.

Thanks to our friends over at Southern Waste Systems (SWS) for providing the recycling for the glass bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard.

Once again this year, we will work with Edge Recycling to recycle the sample cups and ice bags.

Also, this year we will be featuring Lomeg the bottle cap artist.  Take a look at his work.

Join us December 2 at Huezinga Plaza for a great time.  Buy tickets here.

Can you find the Trash to Treasure Recycling Crew in this video?

Check out T2T's Mike Heimbach working hard during last year's Beerfest:

Oceana Job Opportunity-Campaign Organizer

Campaign Organizer – Climate and Energy Campaign
Miami, Florida
Department: Policy

Oceana
Join the only international nonprofit dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the
world’s oceans. Oceana’s campaigns are directed at achieving measurable policy
changes to prevent the irreversible collapse of ocean life. Results are achieved
through science, law, advocacy, organizing public support, and communications.

Position Description
Manages campaign in Miami to stop expanded offshore oil and gas drilling and to
promote action on climate change in local, national, and international forums. Builds
public engagement on offshore drilling and renewable energy. With direction from
Campaign Manager, works independently to execute a campaign plan and carries out
the tasks necessary to meet campaign objectives. Tracks timelines, and reports on
progress to Campaign Manager. Manages a varied and high volume workload and
requires initiative to work on own to meet deadlines and accomplish tasks. This
position will be temporary.

Principal duties and responsibilities include:

1. Build a broad, effective campaign including, but not limited to, grassroots
coalition building, earned and paid media acquisition, legislative advocacy, science,
public engagement, repeat volunteerism, and development of a self-sustaining and
continuing foundation of support.

2. Execute the campaign in conjunction with a team of professionals. This will
include working with other field staff, on-line activists, legislative and
communications professionals, vendors, consultants and others.

3. Regularly report on progress of the campaign, and lead the charge for
overcoming obstacles to ensure goals and objectives are met.

4. Perform additional duties as needed and/or assigned.

Qualifications

1. At least 2 years of campaign experience, with at least one in a management
position. This should include experience engaging volunteers and building a
foundation of support for a policy outcome.

2. Demonstrated success building, and cultivating new relationships in a way
that persuades individuals to support the organization’s agenda and generates
measurable results.

3. A proven track record in grassroots field organizing and public speaking.

4. Experience in coordinating media relations.

5. A track record of being detail oriented, with good organizational skills and
follow-through.

6. Demonstrated initiative to self-motivate, to work with diverse communities,
serve as a team leader, and achieve Oceana’s goals.

7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to multi-task.

8. Computer literacy, particularly with Microsoft Office applications.

9. An ability to work well with others.

How to apply

Please send your cover letter and resume to mdundas@oceana.org with Campaign
Organizer – Climate and Energy Campaign in the subject line. Check out our website
www.oceana.org to learn more about who we are and what we do. EOE.