“Tinm” by Chris Fuller.

Recycle Ann Arbor and the ReUse Center thank all of the contestants for entering their pieces in the 2013 Earth Day ReUse Competition. The purpose of the competition was to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of reuse and the value of discarded materials, focusing on the reuse of material in artistic and functional ways. In total, 21 pieces were entered. In the end, we narrowed down each category to have a maximum of 5 pieces for judging.

Judges chosen from our local community gave each finalist piece a score out of 30 based on the requirements of the category they entered- functional or creative. Although we want to keep our judges anonymous, we would like to thank CTN, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, and the Ann Arbor Art Center for their involvement. Additionally, the public were able to come out and vote for their favorite entry. Winners of the public vote received an additional 10, 8, or 6 points to their judge’s score.

It is with great excitement, that we announce Chris Fuller’s entry piece entitled “Timn”, as the Grand Prize winner of the 2013 competition. Fuller entered his piece in the Functional, Ages 18+ category. “Timn” was a light-up robot lamp made from discarded materials such as a coffee pot, a typewriter, and door springs (see photo).

The judges also selected four first prize winners; each received a $200 prize.
First prize winners:

Creative

•         Ages 13-17          Tristan Brink for “Vanishing Space”
•         Ages 18+              Cayla Samano for “Seabird Anatomy”

Functional

•         Ages 13-17          Cameron Greene  for “SpongeHouse”
•         Ages 18+              Diane Thach for “Blue Apple Receipt Dress”

Photos of all the entries can be viewed on the ReUse Center’s Facebook Page here. 

We are already looking forward to the 2014 Earth Day Competition- stay in touch with us until then!

Volunteers eager to start the day.

The Ann Arbor Area Earth Day Festival is an annual celebration coordinated by the Environmental Education Network of Washtenaw (EE-NOW), a coalition of over fifteen local environmental nonprofits and agencies, and held at Leslie Science & Nature Center! This family-friendly festival drew a crowd of ~3,000+ participants on a beautiful and sunny Sunday afternoon.

In the true spirit of Earth Day, this year’s festival was again a Zero Waste event thanks to the help of Recycle Ann Arbor staff and volunteers. The goal at a Zero Waste event is to plan ahead to limit the amount of waste produced. By maximizing the use of reusable products, and distributing materials that are locally recyclable or compostable, events can achieve Zero Waste.

For the 2013 Earth Day Festival, we were able to divert 92% of the waste from the landfill! That means that the majority of the waste generated was able to be composted or recycled. Silvio’s Pizza, Pilar’s Tamales, and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op worked diligently to make sure their food services were as zero waste compliant as possible- not always an easy feat when serving food to a large crowd.

Again, an immense thank-you to the EE-NOW coordinators, food vendors, volunteers, and table exhibitors of this
event. Without your commitment to zero waste and the environment, this event could not have been such a success!

We are recruiting volunteers for our Zero Waste Volunteer Team!
If you have a passion for the environment and enjoy interacting with the public, please email us for more information. Our next Zero Waste event will be on Friday, June 14th, at the Mayor’s Green Fair.

Recycle Ann Arbor provided Zero Waste services for the event through a grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

In nature, spring is often seen as a time of renewal and change. Here at Recycle Ann Arbor, that is no different!
Read on to find out more about the new faces and new roles at Recycle Ann Arbor.

• Farewell to…Kendra Pyle, Senior Recycling Program Specialist

  After 4 years with Recycle Ann Arbor, Kendra has moved on to a new role as an Undergraduate Academic Advisor at Michigan State University. We are very grateful for all the great programs and advancements Kendra made during her time with RAA. Although she is now living in Lansing, MI she promises to continue her role as “Ann Arbor’s Green Fair” during the many local summer festivals.

• Welcome to…Christine Chessler-Stull, Outreach & Zero Waste Coordinator

  Christine was hired on in February 2013 to coordinate Recycle Ann Arbor’s Outreach and volunteer program, in addition to the Zero Waste events in the community. For the past 3 years she was employed by the City of Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation.  Previous to that, she earned her Masters of Biology with a specialization on Conservation Ecology. 
  “I love the passion that the Ann Arbor community already has for environmental awareness and advocacy! I hope to further that awareness to local recycling services, sustainable living, and how to get involved.”

• Congratulations to…Becky Andrews, Drop-Off Station General Manager

  Becky started volunteering at Recycle Ann Arbor in 2010 after moving to Ann Arbor. Soon after, she was hired as RAA’s Development and Project Coordinator. This March, she was appointed General Manager of the Drop-Off Station!
  She graduated from the University Of Northampton (UK), in 2005 with a First Class (Hons) BSc Degree in Waste Management and Pollution Control. In 2009, she earned her  MSc Distinction in Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Monitoring from the University of Ulster. “I’m looking forward to the new challenge. I aim to bring a community feel back to the Drop-Off Station, improve the experience for users, and increase diversion by adding new recycling services.”

Recycle Ann Arbor started off 2013 by partnering with 2 local organizations to help them host zero waste events! The goal at a Zero Waste event is to plan ahead to limit the amount of waste produced. By maximizing the use of reusable products, and distributing materials that are locally recyclable or compostable, events can achieve Zero Waste. Both of these events really took these practices to heart!

The ReSkilling Festival took place on Sunday, February 10th. The purpose of this event is to help people learn skills for resilient, low-energy living. Not only were materials recycled and composted, but utensils were washed so that they could be reused instead of disposed. Thanks to the 400 participants efforts, 91% of the waste was diverted from landfill!

The Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance (AACTMAD) held The Dawn Dance the weekend of Fri, Feb 22- Sun, Feb 24. The AACTMAD sets out to enrich people’s lives through traditional  music, dance, song, and art. Zero Waste efforts were provided on Saturday night only. Volunteers, including  the University of Michigan’s Circle K, were a great help to our sorting efforts throughout the event. In the end, Saturday night diverted 85% waste!

Thank you to the coordinators, volunteers, and participants of both events! Your commitment to zero waste and the environment is greatly appreciated.

We are recruiting volunteers for our Zero Waste Volunteer Team! If you have a passion for the environment and enjoy interacting with the public, please email us for more information. Our next Zero Waste event will be on Sunday, April 21st at the Earth Day Festival.

Recycle Ann Arbor provided Zero Waste services for the events through a grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

Allshred Onsite Shredding Truck

Recycle Ann Arbor’s first 2013 monthly shredding event at Calvert’s Roll-Off Containers will be held on Saturday, April 13th. The minimum charge of $10 per car has been discontinued and customers will pay just for the quantity of paper they have.

• $6 per banker box
• $4 per grocery bag

The new pricing makes Calvert’s one of the lowest cost options in the Ann Arbor area, additionally everything is shredded while customers wait, not placed in lock boxes and shredded monthly like other services. The service is highly valued by customers as it not only offers them the confidence that papers are effectively and securely destroyed while they wait, but it also gives environmental reassurances that the documents, once destroyed, are recycled in to other paper products.

In 2012 staff at RAA’s Calvert’s facility on Jackson Road enabled almost 450 customers to securely shred a total of 46,350lbs of confidential information.

The service is provided in conjunction with AllShred Services, and customers should expect the following:

• Arrive at Calvert’s between 9am and 12 noon on the second Saturday of the month.
• When traveling west on Jackson Road, turn left on to Calvert’s Drive shortly after Jackson Road becomes one lane.
• Calvert’s is located after two speed bumps on the right side of Calvert’s Drive.
• Once on site, follow the “Document Shredding” sign to the staffed tent.
• At the tent, Calvert’s staff will charge you according to the quantity of paper you have.
  
• Staff will instruct you to drive in a horseshoe-shaped route, and pull up at Allshred’s shredding truck.
• RAA and Allshed staff will assist you in placing your confidential materials within a secure Toter.
• The Toter contents are dumped, using an automatic tipper arm, into the shredding truck. Customers’ confidential material is never seen or touched before being shredded. This process can be viewed by camera on the side of the truck, and customers can pull over to one side and watch if they choose.
• The shredded material is now in the GPS-tracked and locked truck, and it is transported to Allshred’s facility.
• The shredded paper is emptied into a pit from which it is baled, weighed, logged and loaded onto a GPS-tracked tractor trailer in which it  is then transported directly to U.S. paper mills.
• The bales of shredded paper are pulped and recycled into new paper products.

For more information on Recycle Ann Arbor’s secure document shredding services, please call Calvert’s at 734-426-2280 or Recycle Ann Arbor’s main office at 734-662-6288.

Recycle Ann Arbor, announces the 2013 Earth Day Reuse Competition in celebration of Earth Day. The competition seeks to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of reuse and the value of discarded materials, focusing on the reuse of material in artistic and functional ways. The grand-prize winner will receive $500, four first prizes of $200 will also be given. The winning pieces will be displayed at Recycle Ann Arbor’s ReUse Center, 2420 S. Industrial Hwy. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Entries should be received by April 12th, 2013. The winner will be announced on May 6th, 2013.

The competition is open to residents or students of the following Southeast Michigan counties.

• Hillsdale County
• Jackson County
• Lenawee County
• Livingston County
• Macomb County
• Monroe County
• Oakland County
• Washtenaw County
• Wayne County

There are four competition categories:

Creative

•         Ages 13-17
•         Ages 18+

Functional

•         Ages 13-17
•         Ages 18+

Creative Piece

Participants should produce of a piece of artwork, which conveys an environmental message, using materials which were to be discarded. The art work can take any form (e.g. hanging art, sculptures, or ornamental) but should be no larger than 3’ x 3’ x 5’ high.

Functional Piece

Participants should produce a functional item, using materials which were to be discarded. The item should serve a useful, desired function. The function need not be innovative or unique. The purpose is to demonstrate the effective and ongoing reuse of discarded materials (e.g. garden furniture from tires or storage systems from discarded containers). Pieces should be no larger than 3’ x 3’ x 5’ high.

Entry forms and further information can be found on Recycle Ann Arbor’s website, alternatively entry forms can be downloaded directly.

During the judging period April 22nd through May 3rd, finalists will be displayed at Recycle Ann Arbor’s ReUse Center, visitors to the display will be able to vote for their favorites in each category.

Entries should be received by April 12th, 2013. The winner will be announced on May 6th, 2013.

“Earth Day, again, is that once-a-year reminder that brings our most important resource to the forefront.  It is incumbent on all of us to manage our resources and maximize their value.  The competition will be a fun and educational way to show how creative reuse of materials can lead not only to art, but also to new products and functionality, and perhaps even a new business for someone,” said Recycle Ann Arbor CEO Kirk Lignell

Gary Urick with Jack Middlebrook

Recycle Ann Arbor welcomed Jack Middlebrook to the RAA team on Monday, November 26th. Jack will be taking over as the ReUse Center Manager when Gary Urick retires on December 14th.

Gary has been the ReUse Center Manager for the past 12 years. In this time he has built strong relationships with customers and, in line with RAA’s mission, has done much to benefit both the community and the environment. He has nurtured the development of the Urbanwood section of the Center and fostered great business and customer relationships. RAA wishes him every happiness for his retirement and hopes that he comes by often.

Staff and customers alike are sad to see Gary leaving the organization but wish him all the best in the future. Customers responded to the news with both sadness and good luck wishes:

“Gary pleased to hear your good news but sad we won’t see your smiling face in our Saturday Loop. Best wishes for a well deserved and a relaxing retirement. You will be missed.”

“The Betty Brigade and I will miss you Gary!”

“Good luck Gary! You will be missed for sure!”

Gary will be transitioning the ReUse Center Manager’s role to Jack Middlebrook over the next few weeks. Gary’s final day is December 14th.

Jack has been working alongside Gary for a week, and says he is  thrilled about his new career opportunity and job challenges. He has been a part of the Ann Arbor community since the 1970′s when his family ran a ice cream store downtown on Washington called ‘The Sweet Chalet’.  He spent his summers on roller skates delivering lunch to artists in their booths during the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Jack has been a hockey player all his life and lives for the sport; he has been skating at rinks in Ann Arbor since 1978.

Jack sees great promise for the future of the ReUse Center and Recycle Ann Arbor. He will take pride in continuing to make the ReUse Center an enjoyable place to shop, donate, and mingle with the local community. He’s looking forward to meeting the regular customers and welcoming new people to shop and donate goods this holiday season and into the New Year.

Allshred Onsite Shredding Truck

Saturday, November 10th was the last of the 2012 monthly document shredding events at Calvert’s. Held on the second Saturday of the month, April through November, the event has grown in popularity. The service offers customers the confidence that papers are effectively and securely destroyed; it also gives environmental reassurances that the documents, once destroyed, are recycled into other paper products.

Since April 2012, the staff at RAA’s Calvert’s facility on Jackson Road have enabled almost 450 customers to securely shred their confidential information. Once shredded, the material is recycled into other paper products. Customers using the service shredded a total of  46,350 lbs. of confidential material in 2012. The peak month for shredding was August.

The service at Calvert’s will restart in April 2013. In the meantime, customers can still benefit from the relationship Recycle Ann Arbor has with Allshred Services, by getting preferred rates for shredding. If a customer needs a shredding service between December 2012 and March 2013, they can contact Allshred’s Sales Manager Kevin Cole.

Kevin will coordinate with customers to provide a mobile on-site shredding service. Preferred rates are offered if the customer mentions that they were referred by Recycle Ann Arbor. Kevin can be contacted by e-mail at kcole@allshredservices.com. Rates depend on the quantity of material for shredding. In many cases, coordinating with neighbors or family members will be beneficial.

For more information on Recycle Ann Arbor’s secure document shredding services, please call Calvert’s at 734-426-2280 or Recycle Ann Arbor’s main office at 734-662-6288.

Huron High Green Team. Front row left to right: Gabby Steinl, Jiaao Hou, and Jungsoo Chang. Back row left to right: Gary Huang, Julie Dejnozka, Hani Elhor, Sumeyye Korkaya

In celebration of America Recycles Day, Recycle Ann Arbor is partnering with the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the City of Ann Arbor to distribute recycling collection boxes to all classrooms this fall, which started on America Recycles Day, November 15.

To promote inner-school recycling, 33-gallon cardboard collection boxes will be placed within all AAPS classrooms and offices. The boxes will be clearly labeled to indicate the recycling of paper, bottles and cans. This will be the first time recycling collection boxes have been distributed district-wide in over a decade.

This movement was spearheaded by Huron High School’s own Green Team, made up of students Jungsoo Chan, Hani Ehlor, Jiaao Hou, Sumeyye Korkaya and Gabby Steinl. The team wanted to further develop the recycling program at Huron High, by implementing the use of collection boxes and also educating students about recycling. The Green Team wrote a recycling proposal with the assistance of RAA’s Kendra Pyle, detailing the improvements they wanted to see occurring at their school. Green Team members also created a recycling poster and video to educate students about what can and can’t be recycled.

With the help of Pyle; Nancy Stone, Tom McMurtrie and Carina Easley-Appleyard from the City of Ann Arbor; and Director of Operations at AAPS Brad Mellor, the recycling initiative was expanded to include all the Ann Arbor Public Schools. The new bins were distributed at Huron for America Recycles Day, and will be distributed to the rest of the Ann Arbor Public Schools during the week of November 26. A recycling workshop will also be held for custodial staff as part of their in service training on November 21.

Along with the collection box distribution, the Green Team has started a bottle and can drive within Huron High’s cafeteria. Their goal is to collect 2000 cans. As of Wednesday, they had collected 611 cans, requiring Vice Principal Edmonson to wear a Beyoncé wig all day. For 2000 cans, the three school administrators will surprise students with a performance at the school’s Multi-Cultural Event on December 21.

With these new programs underway, the Green Team hopes to see a significant increase in the amount of recycling for schools in Ann Arbor.

Want to show your support? Interested in helping the cause? Email us at info@recycleannarbor.org for more information.

Go Green!

Customers Unloading at Scio Township’s Clean-Up Event

Twice a year Scio Township holds a Clean Up Event. The event is an expanded version of the township’s monthly recycling event, but it takes a wider range of materials, including electronics, propane tanks, televisions, tires, and household appliances.

The service is provided by Recycle Ann Arbor (RAA). Recycle Ann Arbor’s Drop-Off Station (DOS) staff assist customers with unloading and sorting of materials, and sort and process the material after the event. RAA’s Calvert’s division transports the containers to and from the site. The event is also supported by community volunteers who contribute to the smooth running of the operation.

A total of 4.75 tons of general recycling and 1.5 tons of cardboard were collected by the end of the event. A range of electronics and freon appliances, along with tires, plastic bags, and styrofoam were also brought in.

Don’t worry if you didn’t make it to the event. You have a second chance on Saturday, October 27th, 2012, 9am-2pm, when Washtenaw County holds its County Clean Up Day. The event will be held at Eastern Michigan University, Rynearson Stadium Parking Lot, 799 N. Hewitt Rd, Ypsilanti.For a suggested donation of $10 you can recycle:

· Traditional recyclable materials – glass, cardboard, plastic, paper, scrap metal
· Freon appliances
· Household hazardous materials – cleaning supplies, motor oil, oil-based paints
· Furniture
· Old tires
· Electronic equipment

Recycle Ann Arbor staff and volunteers will be on site to help customers. More information can be found at Washtenaw County’s Website.