2024 in Review
What a BUSY year it was!!!
Just the numbers:
1474 lbs of textiles diverted from the incinerator
631 lbs repaired
843 lbs repurposed
321 People served
543 Mends made
20 months in operation
7 ReCraftLab sewists hired for contracted work
2 ReCraftLab retailers (upcycled banner totes and wristlets)
7 Mend-It Cafe’s
2 Sessions Upcycle Fashion Lab for Teens @ the Library
3 Upcycle Fashion Lab adult class series taught
7 Board Members strong
3 Advisory Board Members wise
1 Expo pilot program for event waste reduction
2024 will go down as a Big Year in Spokane Zero Waste history. We got busy building programs, developing relationships and LEARNING. We learned how to be an organization, what we do well and where we need to grow, how we can engage with our community at the micro person to person level, and macro ecological level.
We piloted a waste reduction program at EXPO ‘74 50 Year anniversary. We dipped our toe in the waters of the circular economy with our upcycled brand of totes and wristlets in collaboration with the MAC and designed by local creator Beth LaBar of CoverMeCarryMe. We partnered with Spokane Solid Waste to upcycle promotional fencing into promotional SWAG for the City agency.
We made friends! So many amazing friends. Mender friends who make Mend-It Cafe magic, teacher friends who share their knowledge, creativity and good humor; collaborator friends with places for us to host our classes and events; new friends that came from far away and now call Spokane home and who bring their sewing skills to our community, Board Member friends who give their time and energy to ensure Spokane Zero Waste exists and serves its community, and donor friends who support our work financially.
We couldn’t do any of what we do without all of these people who believe in the vision, mission and leadership of Spokane Zero Waste.
Next year the plan is to go deeper, grow strong roots for our programs, events and social enterprises. We look forward to engaging with more community members in our educational opportunities, hands-on classes and events. We’ll be offering opportunities for businesses, makers, educators and Spokanites to co-create the structures and pathways that lead to circularity of resources, employment opportunities supporting sustainability, and a reduction of waste across our three areas of focus, textiles, food/organics and plastics. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones in 2025.
We’ll have more information about upcoming programming in our January and February newsletters, be sure to check our website and/or socials (instagram and facebook) for everyday tips, big picture issues and solution pathways and event and class dates. Please share our work, the more people understand waste issues the more they are empowered to change them.
And no time is better to utilize that knowledge and power than during the upcoming legislative session. Join together with community leaders and concerned citizens in grassroots activities to support waste reduction legislation and address climate issues. See more on that below.
Wishing you all a restful and restorative Winter holiday.
In deepest gratitude,
Elyse Hochstadt
Executive Director, SZW
by Shenandoah Marr
December is a time of gift giving
and receiving for many
With many stores having lenient return policies it’s easier than ever to simply return an unwanted or ill-fitting item, right? If you’re like me, you try to keep an item pristine when you open it so it can be put back on the shelf for immediate resale if it doesn’t work. Unfortunately, the truth is a bit more complicated. Items we return to large retailers are rarely offered for sale again by the same retailer. Some end up at discounted resellers, such as Spokane Discount, while others go to resale sites such as EBay, Poshmark, or Thread Up. Many are simply discarded into landfills in the U.S. or even shipped to overseas landfills. Why? Because companies simply do not want to pay to inspect and process returned items. Instead it makes better business sense to simply trash them.
To avoid participating in this wasteful practice should you receive something you don’t want this year, you have several options.
1) ReGift It -It may not be right for you, but oh so fitting for a friend or relative!
2) Reject gift-giving as part of your holiday. If you really just don’t need another “thing” let your friends and family know it’s a no-”thing” holiday. Experiences, outings & meals are all good, just no things.
To ensure you’re not giving something that may end up in the trash
Shop local. If it came from an independent or locally-owned retailer, the chances are higher that it will go back on the shelf, assuming of course it is in great condition. Be sure to ask for the return policy at time of purchase.
Check out brands that have a take-back, resell or refurbish policy like Patagonia’s Worn Wear, or Eileen Fisher’s Renew
Shop 2nd Hand and Thrift: You’d be surprised at the gems you’ll find at many of our local thrift stores. Spokane even has a variety of upscale second hand clothing shops including Fringe & Fray, Echo Boutique and others.
Shop together: If someone in your life really needs something, shop with them. It’s an opportunity to enjoy each other's company and ensure they love what they get.
Did you know? Companies such as Apple, Best Buy, Amazon, and Wal-Mart sell refurbished electronics. Many “refurbished” items are new items that have been returned. Items come with guarantees and sometimes a warranty. Buying refurbished electronics gives them a second life, saves you money and the planet's resources. The more we shop this way the more we send a message that reuse is acceptable and necessary.
by Shenandoah Marr
Green Bin Collection in Winter
Reminder: The city of Spokane has added new collection dates for “green bins”. If you currently pay for a green bin, put it out on your pick up day during the first full week of January and February. Have your food scraps, nutshells, paper towels, greasy pizza boxes, yard trimmings, pine needles, spent fresh flowers, eggshells, bread, chicken bones, paper egg cartons, and coffee filters picked up and put to good use making nutrients for soil. These compostable items are sent to our local commercial composting facility, Barr-Tech and the finished compost is sold at local area nurseries. Do not include any plastic bags or other plastic items in your green bin, plastic is not compostable and does not feed soil.
If you have a live Christmas tree, the city offers free curbside Christmas tree pick up two weeks after Christmas. Remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel prior to putting your tree outside. Flocked trees are not accepted.
by Shenandoah Marr
Sustainable, Adaptable, Equitable
and Resilient Future
The work of ushering in policies that brings us closer to a sustainable, adaptable, equitable and resilient future continues as we look ahead to the 2025 Washington state legislative session. This year will be a “long” session (years alternate between short and long) beginning January 13 through April 27th. We strongly encourage everyone to get involved in Washington’s decision making process.
You can help Spokane Zero Waste grow grassroots support for waste reduction bills by joining our policy team. We expect we’ll see the return of a bottle-deposit-return bill, the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging waste bill and a Right to Repair bill in the upcoming session along with additional bills addressing organic waste. Email shenandoah@spokanezerowaste.org for more information on getting involved.
If you want to stay informed and take action on environment and climate bills during session, sign up for action alerts sent by 350 Washington. Twice a week you’ll receive information and actions you can take to support the bills you care about. Most actions take a minute or less, but could impact our community far into the future. When concerned citizens act together, our voices are amplified and lawmakers listen. Let’s be sure to make a lot of noise in 2025!
Innovation Challenge Winner!
Spokane Zero Waste launched ReCraftLab, an upcycled goods brand in 2024. Our premier items are a large tote and an event-sized wristlet made from old banners from the Museum of Arts and Culture, (MAC). The project came to life through a partnership with the MAC, Jose Angel, graphic artist and waste reduction enthusiast and designer Beth LaBar of CoverMeCarryMe.
We asked you, the SZW audience, to help us imagine what else we can make with vinyl billboards and banners. We received many great ideas and we wish we could pick them all, but the rules are there’s just one winner. So a big CONGRATULATIONS to Meg Lybbert for her submission of a zippered storage tote. Meg’s idea was inspired by large totes made for storing holiday decor such as wreaths and reusable Christmas trees. We see potential for other uses that would typically be made of new materials. Keep an eye on our socials and this newsletter to learn what develops.
Meg Lybbert
“We only have one planet Earth and I strongly believe it’s in the best interest of each of us to protect it. Reducing waste is something we can do at all ages and at individual and household levels. I’m grateful for what Spokane Zero Waste does to promote waste reduction techniques and educate the public.”
