The Power of "NO"
Learning to Say “No”
Say no to swag and promotional items you won’t use.
We continue our journey through the R’s of Zero Waste. As discussed in our February newsletter, recycling has limitations. Reuse is better, but even the most clever people can’t reuse everything. This month we explore the R’s of Refusing and Reducing, which just happen to be the most effective ways to live a low waste lifestyle.
Refusing is as simple as saying No. Say no to swag and promotional items you won’t use. Remove your address from junk mail, unwanted catalogs, credit card offers, and even email (emails, cloud storage, and full inboxes use a lot of energy). Refuse plastic utensils, individually wrapped condiments, and napkins you don’t need. When you can’t refuse, reduce.
Jessica Simpkins
Founder of Let’s Build a Community is crushing barriers to glass recycling in Spokane.
This month we caught up with Jessica Simpkins, founder of the local non-profit Let’s Build a Community, who is working to reduce glass waste. Interview has been edited for length and clarity
SZW: What would you like to share with us about your organization?
Jessica: Let's Build a Community is working to change the narrative around how we value ourselves, other people, and our resources. We're on a mission to connect creatives, corporations, and communities who share our enthusiasm for turning trash into treasure so we can waste less and enjoy life more.
SZW: What inspired you to get involved with waste reduction?
Jessica: As a girl with undiagnosed ADHD, I grew up telling myself I was a piece of trash; a waste of space. I looked for external validation from others to tell me I was worthy, which led me to make decisions which weren't authentically aligned with my interests and values. In 2021, I was so miserable living out the expectations of others that I began to wish I wasn't alive. That was the wakeup call I needed to begin reconnecting with my authentic self and discovering what was valuable to me. We all have value, even if we don't recognize it in ourselves or others. The same is true for anything that exists. There are lots of phenomenal businesses and organizations that have shown us we can create wonderful resources from things we have previously discarded. I wanted to help shed light on these terrific people and organizations and spark more conversations around how we can uncover value in what we already have.
SZW: Do you have any tips for people on how to reduce or reuse glass?
Jessica: Not only can we reuse glass containers many many times before they begin to show wear and tear, glass is 100% recyclable! We don't have glass recycling in Spokane County (yet) but here are some tips to keep more glass out of the landfill:
Soak glass jars or bottles in water overnight to help remove labels. For stubborn glue, use a mixture of any food oil mixed with baking soda, apply to the glue and let sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing off and rinsing with water.
Turn wine or liquor bottles into bird feeders, flower vases, lamps, and more!
Glass jars can be run through the dishwasher and are great for storage of all kinds (from holding pencils or pens on your desk, storing nuts or bolts in your garage, dry goods in your pantry, cleaning solutions under your sink... the possibilities are endless!)
The bottle washer, a simple solution for making glass reusable
SZW: What projects is LBAC currently working on?
Jessica: This month we're starting a bottle washing pilot with Elz Tastes and Teas in Spokane Valley and Wildland Cooperative in Greenbluff. We hope to offer bottle sanitization to other small businesses in the area who would benefit from being able to reuse their glass containers. We are also planning Junkyard Jubilee 2024, which will be a celebration of up-cycling and waste reduction in the Inland Northwest! We'll have vendors, fun activities, food, music, and more! Mark your calendars and join us at Mission Park in Spokane Saturday, September 14th!
The bottle washer, a simple solution for making glass reusable
SZW: What do you hope to see for the future of LBAC?
Jessica: In the next 12 months, we want Spokane County to have the capacity to reuse, up-cycle, and pulverize the county's glass waste into useful and valuable materials. Over the next 5 years, we will have a brick-and-mortar building that serves as a Resource Innovation Hub for creatives, innovators, and small businesses to experiment with turning trash into treasure. We plan to pull inspiration from the Innovation Barn in Charlotte, North Carolina as we create the model for this future Hub.
“Buy less, choose well, make it last” - Vivienne Westwood
Rediscovering the Art of Doing Nothing
while reducing my gasoline consumption
by Shenandoah Marr
Although I’ve been a lifelong environmentalist, I had rarely ridden public transportation, instead relying on the convenience of my own car.
Shortly after Spokane’s 2021 heat dome (which made my climate anxiety go through the roof) I read an article in a local publication titled “I don’t like heat waves, you don’t like heat waves - let’s do something”. One of the “somethings” was to ride public transportation.
Spokane Transit Authority has multiple ways to get you where you’re going including Rideshare, the City Line and Park & Ride.
You can ride for FREE on weekends between May 4-June 30 for Expo ‘74 50th Anniversary.
I struggled with knowing the author was right, yet coming up with a lot of excuses why I couldn’t possibly ride a bus. Excuses like I couldn’t figure it out (I hadn’t tried), I didn’t have time (more on that later), sharing a vehicle with strangers was weird (how elitist of me), and countless others.
I finally decided to be a little uncomfortable, knowing that getting out of one’s comfort zone can lead to transformative change, and actually try riding the bus.
I was nervous on my first ride, took photos of the schedule the website had helped me with and awkwardly asked the driver for a transfer. The driver was friendly and helpful, and after a couple of rides I realized how relaxing riding the bus is!
As a regular bus rider for nearly 3 years now, I’ve had a few challenges, like getting on the wrong bus or a bus not showing up. Overall, the positives have far outweighed these minor setbacks.
I no longer get angry sitting through multiple red lights, waiting to make a left turn, or having people cut me off. My partner noticed I am calmer and more relaxed when I get home. I fill my gas tank every 6 - 8 weeks. I no longer worry about sliding on icy roads. I meet a lot of people I would never otherwise encounter. I have “bus friends” I miss if too many weeks go by where I don’t see them.
And as far as the not having time excuse goes, I find I actually have more quality time to myself. Sure, the bus does take a few minutes longer than driving, but I read, listen to a podcast, or sometimes just do nothing. When was the last time you gave yourself permission to just sit and do nothing?
Spokane Zero Waste will have 3
“Aim for Zero Waste” stations set up in Riverfront Park this Saturday for Expo’s Opening Ceremonies and 2 on Sunday for Bloomsday.
Come learn why we’re working towards a Low-Impact Waste ordinance for events in our City Parks, what that looks like and how it benefits our whole community.
ACTIVIST TIP - Check out what’s going on at Beyond Plastics. There are opportunities to speak out against plastics. Many of these actions take just a couple of minutes and have real impact when people put the pressure on!
