Inside this issue

Welcome Back Jack
HHW Collection
ARD
Fair Winner
Celebrate Green
Holiday Shopping
Holiday Recycling
Holiday School Contest
No Drugs Down the Drain

They're Making A Difference

Situated in the southwest corner of Mahoning County lies the small rural Village of Beloit. And while the population of Beloit is just shy of 1,000 residents, their recycling efforts are anything but small. In Beloit, recycling is a priority.

Beloit’s recycling drop-off site is located at Fire Station # 2 on Main St. In addition to the standard recycling bins, the site provides a sharing table and “Little Free Library.” The sharing table serves as a materials exchange program while the library allows residents to borrow books for their reading pleasure. It’s interesting to note that the library is contained in a repurposed console TV.

In addition to the environmental programs offered at the drop-off site, recycling is also prominent at the Beloit Village Park. There are recycling receptacles scattered throughout the grounds and a “Little Free Library” for children’s books. The Little Free Library at the park is constructed from recycled plastic lumber.

The Green Team appreciates the Village of Beloit for prioritizing re-use and recycling initiatives. They are a shining example of a community that is truly making a difference.

Left: A patron peruses the sharing table at the Beloit drop-off site.

Right: The Little Free Library is a popular feature at the Village Park.

School Recycling Opportunities

Mahoning County schools do a wonderful job of recycling paper in the classrooms and many schools go a step further by collecting food and beverage containers too. However, did you know there are special recycling programs available to schools for unique materials? Items like old crayons, cell phones, inkjet cartridges, empty glue sticks, highlighters, permanent markers, ink pens, and scotch tape dispensers can be upcycled through one of Terracycle’s brigade programs. Through Terracycle and its partners, these items that were once destined for landfills can be fashioned into a variety of useful new products.

If you would like to learn more about these unique recycling opportunities, visit the Terracycle website at www.teracycle.com.

Left: Mrs. Lewis poses with a group of students at Springfield Elem. School.

Right: Mr. DeMart poses with students at Dobbins Preschool.

Welcome Back Jack!

If you’ve noticed more pumpkins than usual growing in the Mahoning Valley, please be advised that this is no accident. Each year during October, Green Team educators visit Mahoning County schools with an exciting presentation about backyard composting that includes an interactive story, colorful costumes, and - you guessed it - pumpkins! The story, titled Pumpkin Jack is a heart-warming tale about a boy named Tim who creates a friendly jack-o-lantern affectionately named “Jack.” After Halloween passes and Jack begins to rot, instead of throwing Jack in the trash, Tim places him in the garden and waits for the magic to begin. Throughout the seasons, Tim experiences the wonder of nature’s recycling by observing Jack’s transformation from jack-o-lantern to seed to pumpkin again. After Tim harvests his new pumpkin, he carves a face and welcomes back his old friend.

After reading Pumpkin Jack students each receive a mini pumpkin to decorate and take home and are instructed to allow nature to recycle their old pumpkins into new pumpkins for next Halloween. In 2020, the education department distributed
nearly 1,000 pumpkins and 2021 promises to be even bigger. By all calculations, the valley should soon be swimming in a sea of orange.

If you’re one of the parents whose child brings home a mini-pumpkin from the Green Team, please support this environmental lesson by following through with the pumpkin activity. Remember: You’re children are counting on you.

Fall Hazardous Waste Collection

The Green Team is once again providing an opportunity for collecting household hazardous material. On Saturday, Oct. 2, The Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be held at the Canfield Fairgrounds from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. The collection hours listed below are designated by last name:

A-F 9:00 am-11:00 pm G-N 11:00 am-1:00 pm O-Z 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

The following HOUSEHOLD items will be accepted:

Thinners Automotive Fluids Pool & Photo Chemicals Bleach

Antifreeze Used Motor Oil Solvents Poisons

Aerosol Cans Propane Cylinders Acids Stains

Lighter Fluid Adhesive/Glue Mercury Greases

Roof Coatings Car Batteries Household Cleaners Pesticides

Varnish Gasoline Oil Based Paint Herbicides

Caulks Cylinder Fluorescent Lights

Latex paint will not be accepted. Dispose of Latex paint by hardening with sand or kitty litter and placing with regular household waste. Also, please note that compact fluorescent light bulbs may be recycled at Home Depot or Lowes. If you have any questions regarding this special collection, please contact the Green Team.

Attention:

Take used nursery pots & flats to VanPelts or River’s Bend Farm. The pots will be sterilized for re-use.

America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day (ARD) is observed on November 15 and is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products.

When material is recycled it becomes new again. Plastic bottles can become carpet or playground equipment. Glass bottles and jars may be recycled into new containers or glassphalt.

On America Recycles Day, take the pledge. Learn - Find out which materials are collected for recycling in your community. Act – Reduce personal waste by recycling. Share - In the next month, encourage one family member or one friend to begin recycling at home or at work.

For more information about this subject, visit greengeeks.com.

Congratulations

Congratulations are extended to one lucky winner who stopped by our Canfield Fair booth and played: “Recycle & Win.” Valley resident Elaine Hamilton won a $100.00 Visa gift card after her name was selected from over 230 entries as part of this educational activity. I think that Elaine & everyone can agree that this is really something to crow about!

Celebrate Green

There is no better time than the holidays to host a zero-waste party. In fact, considering the amount of overconsumption that occurs between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is the perfect time for this type of event.

You should begin planning your party one month in advance to give yourself ample time for preparations. Once you have chosen a date, send out electronic invitations or post invites on social media. After you have received a head count, buy only the amount of food that you’ll need for the evening. When possible, select locally sourced options and foods that are in season. Once you have determined your food menu, consider drinks. Purchase beverages in Earth-friendly, recyclable containers and always remember to forgo the bottled water. Instead, opt for a carafe of fruit-infused water that will taste as delicious as it looks. Of course you’ll want to serve that water in something special. The holidays are an ideal time to get out the crystal goblets along with your decorative china, cloth napkins, and festive table cloth.

At the end of the evening, ask your spouse or a friend to assist you with the clean-up. Ensuring that everything is in it’s proper place will give you peace of mind and a feeling of deep satisfaction in knowing that you have done something kind for the Earth.

Green Holiday Shopping Tips

To make your holidays less stressful and more eco-friendly, consider these “green” shopping tips.

Start Early: Complete your shopping before the holiday rush. This will allow you more time to spend with family and friends.
Shop With A Reusable tote bag: Prevent plastic bags from entering the environment. This gesture will conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.
Give the Gift of Experience: Purchase a gift pass for a local museum, zoo, or nature center. These activities will create memories that last a lifetime.
Buy Presents that Support Conservation: Consider a wildlife adoption package, native seeds with gardening tools, or a backyard bird feeder with seed and a field guide.

Greenwashing

While its important to celebrate the holidays in an Earth-friendly fashion, it’s also important that consumers are informed and not misled by “greenwashing.” Greenwashing is defined as “disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.” In other words, it’s a misleading marketing strategy designed to sell products.

So...how can consumers spot greenwashing? The key is to be “aware.” If something sounds too “green” to be true, do the research and find out. Websites like Earth 911, Planet Home, and One Green Planet contain volumes of information on the subject that can help consumers recognize greenwashing and take steps to avoid it.

If you would like to learn more about greenwashing, visit one of the websites listed above or conduct your own internet search. You just might be amazed at what you discover!

Holiday Recycling Drives

Each year during the holiday season, an extra 5 million tons of waste is generated --- 25% more than usual! To address this issue, the Green Team is sponsoring two special recycling drives.

Wrap It Up Again! is the wrapping paper and greeting card drive scheduled for December 26 through January 15 at our recycling drop-off sites. Remember to remove all ribbons and bows and to exclude foil wraps.

The Christmas Tree Recycling Drive will be held December 26 through January 31 at designated recycling drop-off sites. Trees will be donated to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for use as wildlife habitat.

Last year Mahoning County diverted nearly 5,000 pounds of wrapping paper and greeting cards along with 102,000 pounds of Christmas trees from the waste stream. Let’s make this year an even bigger success. Remember---every little bit counts.

Be an angel …
and recycle your old towels, blankets, and empty feed bags. Angels for Animals is in need of this material for their animal charity. If you would like to donate these items, please drop
them off at the shelter located at 4750 State Rt. 165 in Canfield.

No Drugs Down the Drain

The official DEA Drug Take-Back Day is October 23, but Mahoning County residents can drop off drugs at several locations throughout the area that have permanent sites. These sites, most of which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, can be found at the following locations:

Austintown PD 92 Ohltown Rd. Austintown, 44515
Beaver Twp. PD 601 W. S. Range Rd. N. Lima, 44452
Boardman PD 8299 Market St. Boardman, 44512
Canfield PD 104 Lisbon St. Canfield, 44406
Goshen PD 14003 W. S. Range Rd. Salem, 44460
Lowellville City Hall 140 E. Liberty St. Lowellville, 44436
M. C. Sheriff’s Office 110 Fifth Ave. Youngstown, 44503
Milton Twp. PD 15992 Milton Ave. Lake Milton, 44429
New Middletown PD 10711 Main St. New Middletown, 44442
Poland Gov’t. Center 3339 Dobbons Rd. Poland, 44514
Sebring PD 135 E. Ohio Ave. Sebring, 44672
Struthers City Hall 6 Elm St. Struthers, 44471
YSU PD 266 W. Wood St. Youngstown, 44555
Springfield PD 3475 E. S. Range Rd. New Springfield 44443

For further information about recycling and other solid waste management programs, visit our website at
www.greenteam.cc
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