Wednesday, May 28, 2014 • The Islands’ Sounder
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ORS, The Exchange Recycling Guidelines
Rinse out any residue prior to recycling and flatten all items as much as possible Reducing waste is even more effective than recycling. Before you buy, use or discard an item, ask yourself: “Can I recycle this after I use it? Can I purchase this item with recycled content to stimulate the recycling market?”
Accepted • Mail (including window envelopes) • Magazines, catalogs • Newspapers, inserts • Junk mailers • Phone books, paperback books, office paper • Shredded paper (in clear plastic bag only) • Paper food boxes, egg cartons • Paper grocery bags • Paper cups (clean and empty) • Paper milk and juice cartons
• Soymilk boxes and plastic dairy containers • Yogurt cups • Frozen food boxes • Plastic bottles, jugs (labels okay, caps okay if screwed on, no dome tops or straws) • Nursery pots and flats • Glass bottles, jars (all colors, caps or lids okay if screwed on) • Aluminum, “tin” cans • Aluminum foil and aluminum food trays • Empty aerosol cans The following should be dropped off at the Orcas Island Transfer Station • All batteries • Uncontaminated antifreeze • Motor oil • Televisions • Microwaves • Computers, monitors
Not accepted • Food residue; foodsoiled paper • Paper towels, plates, napkins, tissues • Prescription vials • Soiled “to go” food containers, plates, cups, utensils • Styrofoam packaging, peanuts, forms and dock material • Bubble, shrink food wrap • Needles and syringes • Disposable diapers • Cloth and rags • Construction, demolition materials • Ceramics and dishes • Mirrors, window glass • Household batteries • Light bulbs of all types • Hazardous waste and toxic containers • Propane bottles • Gas cans and tanks
REcycliNG FROM 1 lic facilities, visitors will both stimulate the economy and produce substantial additional waste. ORS took over operation of the Orcas Transfer Station in September. Since then, they have developed a strong board of directors, a mission and a master plan to improve safety and traffic flow and they also expanded the hours for public access. At the county council meeting on May 20 at Orcas Fire Hall, ORS presented their progress including development of a rate adjustment plan to adjust to increased operational costs. “In just six months, we’ve accomplished quite a bit,” said board president Tim Blanchard. “We have a lot more to do, and we’re grateful for continued community support. It has been a tribute to the waste reduction values of Orcas Islanders, and we rely on it.”
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Recent ORS projects include expanded collection of batteries, electronics, cooking oil for biofuel conversion and fluorescents. ORS has incorporated a water catchment system, improved the tipping floor structure, and invested in heavy equipment to reduce costs. ORS is exploring and testing programs for composting, hazardous waste, and anaerobic digesters, which could one day be a solution for the county’s noxious weed disposal problem. More public outreach is planned including education in the schools, a “found” art show, and a Raise the Roof fundraiser for a new Exchange building. As for the question of when we will have a new Exchange, ORS is optimistic: “The next step towards a new reuse center is fund-
ing,” says Moe. “We are actively pursuing grant funds to pay for the road and site work that must happen before we can put up any new structure. I think if we can secure grant funding soon, if the permitting happens fast, and if the community comes together to help fund the building construction, we could have a new Exchange operating in the fall.” “Our subcommittee is hard at work developing plans and designs for The Exchange. Every idea is still on the table,” Blanchard said. “We’ve had amazing community support from OICF, Port of Orcas, The Funhouse Commons, the Library, Public Works, and many island businesses and individuals. We’re committed to a dramatic reduction of Orcas waste. We believe that’s what the community wants us to do.”
Two energy fairs coming up soon Two energy fairs, slated for May and June, will offer San Juan County residents a chance to save money, win prizes, and help the San Juan Islands community increase energy resilience and become an energy-saving model for the nation. The fairs are co-hosted by OPALCO and Islands Energy. These family-friendly events have something for everyone: free energy saving kits, prizes, workshops, solar crafts, and live music. Highlights include a solar home tour, electric vehicles, and demonstrations of energy-related technologies. Islands Energy, led by the San Juan Islands Conservation District, has partnered with OPALCO’s Member Owned Renewable Energy (MORE) Committee, to coordinate these three Spring fairs – each will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event on San Juan Island happened on May 17. The remaining dates are Saturday, May 31 at the Lopez Community Center and Saturday, June 7 at the Village Green in Eastsound. For more info on OPALCO’s rebate program go to www. opalco.com/energy-savings/rebates/ or call the OPALCO Energy Savings team at 376-3586. Visit www.sanjuanislandscd. org for more information and updated news on the fair.
Prune Alley plans still in discussion by COLLEEN S. ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
County Manager Mike Thomas is clear on one thing regarding the Prune Alley project: plans have not been finalized. “There was some miscommunication with the county and the Eastsound Planning Review Committee regarding county ideas. It’s only conceptual at this point – nothing is set in stone,” Thomas told the Sounder. EPRC proposed a streetscape design that public works is now fine-tuning. The upgrades include building a curb gutter sidewalk and parallel parking and angled parking between Fern Street and Main Street. “We are still having a discussion on what the streetscape will look like,” Thomas said. “The process has not concluded. We are working with EPRC continually.”
The next EPRC meeting is on Thursday, June 5 at 3 p.m. in the Eastsound Fire Station. Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend. Thomas is hoping to finish the Prune Alley plan in the next month or two with the first phase starting in the fall and phase two beginning in 2015. Many in attendance at last week’s council meeting on Orcas urged the county to maintain Eastsound’s rural character.
Laura Gibbons expressed concern about the proposed sidewalks running through her property’s old plum tree and requiring disruption of her Madrona trees’ roots. Thomas said it was the first he had heard about the project interfering with that property’s trees. “It feels like what public works is proposing is not what the council approved initially,” said Patty Miller, who is a former council member. Eastsound resident Leith
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Templin said the project is necessary but needs to be done with care. “It does need to be updated – it is a hazard,” Templin said. “We need sidewalks. But we need to be careful how it’s done.” Council chairman Rick Hughes told those in attendance that he does not support the ideas that public works initially unveiled. “We are going to do this in a responsible way – my heart is in this project too,” he said.
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