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We are going to try to make it up for the conference...email us at info@educatingtomorrow.org if you want to go.

You are invited to the first statewide

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State St , Albany , NY

(Rear Entrance Parking, Entrance is on 85 Chestnut St , www.wpcalbany.org)

Speakers Include:

Neil Seldman, Institute of Local Self Reliance

Professor Paul Connett, International Waste Management Researcher

Barbara Warren, Citizens' Environmental Coalition 

Why do we have so much garbage? What can we do to prevent it?  Looking at the trash question as a resource issue and a problem of industrial design is ushering in bold alternatives to leaking landfills and polluting incinerators in forward-thinking cities and countries around the world.  What can New Yorkers do to bring these solutions to our state and communities?

New Yorkers have a great opportunity to transform our solid waste practices as the state is finally revising its Solid Waste Policy.  National expert speakers will discuss how NY communities can start zeroing out waste with reuse, recycling, composting and remanufacturing.  The conference features speaker presentations followed by strategy sessions on key zero waste issues, including fighting incinerators & landfills, composting all organics (food & yard waste, etc),  economic development and green jobs,  pitfalls of privatization and waste prevention.  

Sponsored by Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC)
$15.00 Conference Fee includes lunch and refreshments

Scholarships are available.

More Information on the Zero Waste Conference Speakers

Paul Connett, International researcher and campaigner on waste management and recently retired Chemistry Professor.  Paul is known for his decades of work effectively fighting incinerators around the world making over 2,000 presentations in the U.S. and 50 other countries. He is the only one we know that can make waste funny!

Neil Seldman, President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Neil is known for his work effectively fighting incinerators, and for his economic perspective and promotion of alternatives like waste reduction. He is an economic development & jobs expert utilizing resources in our waste stream.

Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Formerly with Consumers Union and the NYC Zero Waste Campaign. Barbara helped to prevent the building of incinerators in NYC, led the effort to close Fresh Kills landfill and has addressed environmental justice burdens of waste.  

Zeroing Out Waste Conference

Albany , NY

November 15^th, 2008

9:30-4:30

Send to CEC at cectoxic@igc.org or CEC, 33 Central Ave. , Albany , NY 12210

Phone: 518-462-5527, Fax: 518-465-8349.

1) __  Yes, I will attend the Zeroing Out Waste Conference.

2) __   I will pay the $15 Registration Fee.

__ Sending check to CEC.

__ Will Call with Credit Card Info

3) Lunch:  ___Meat   ___Vegetarian ___Vegan.   Help us make it a zero waste event. Bring your CUP for coffee/tea!

4) Contact Information. Please fill out.  Thanks.

Name:    _________________________      

Group (if any): _______________________

Address:  ________________________      

City: ____________     State: _____   Zip: _______

Phone: _____________________________

Email:  _____________________________

Havana Outpost's corn is great, but their compostable plates and utensils are even greater. They send everything out for commercial composting (otherwise it'd sit in a landfill with the carrot that'll stay in tact for thirty years or more). Makes me wonder why so many places are putting on a "green face" by offering their drinks and food in and on "compostable" ware when it's just going to sit in a landfill with its non-break-downable friends. How much better is it than plastic? When and if it eventually breaks down--and it will before plastic--it won't leach toxics like a good venti Starbucks mocha frappuccino (a moment on the lips and a hundreds of lifetimes in New Jersey's hills). Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which evangelizes composting, only has trash bins for your BBG cafe eats--they don't even compost it.

Back to Havana Outpost. They have a lot of green events happening. Check out the article in the Indypendent that highlights one such event and Micki Josi's work to get all public schools recycling. The plight of NYC composters onward!

Educating Tomorrow’s Be Cool Recycle At School Campaign in partnership with the NYC School Recycling Action Committee is forming a new UFT Green Schools Committee to continue to organize for recycling and waste reduction in NYC public schools. 

Our first monthly meeting will be held at the UFT Headquarters and we will share information on Environmental Lesson Plans & Curriculum.

Who:        Anyone interested in encouraging schools to go green.
What:       Environmental Lesson Plans & Curriculum Discussion
When:      Tuesday, October 21 at 4:30pm
Where:     UFT Headquarters
                12th Floor Professional Committees Conference Room
                52 Broadway
                New York, New York

RSVP:   info@educatingtomorrow.org

Snacks will be provided by the UFT.

Mission of UFT Green Schools:
The mission of the UFT's Green Schools Committee is to design and help implement best management practices for greening NYC’s public schools. We believe schools must take the lead in reducing our City’s ecological footprint by providing the children of our City—our future leaders—with an environmental education and exemplary environmental programs, such as school-wide recycling and alternative to disposable tray programs.

Coquille Houshour & Micki Josi
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
http://www.educatingtomorrow.org

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

Here are the details about the workshop this Wednesday.

> I wanted to let you all know about a free worm bin training this week
> at my place of employment, Habana Outpost. BBG is coming and will do a
> training on worm bin set up and care. A kit to get started (bin +1lb
> of worms) will be on sale for 10$.
>
> AND if you are a teacher, there will be a drink special for ya!
> Otherwise, a draft beer is 2.50, and the class is free...the happy
> hour runs from 5-7pm, and the class will begin at 5:30-6pm, when a
> critical mass of people have arrived.
>
> Let me know if you want to come, and pass this along to any teachers
> you know! I have a flier for the event but the list wont let me send
> attachments...if you want it send me an email and ill reply. The
> flier features that worm in the wine glass logo, for you fans out
> there.
>
> Yours,
> Kate Zidar
> Master Composter

Hungry for home made vegetarian food and a discussion of zero waste?  Come to the first meeting of the Flatbush Supper Club.

Who:         A collaboration between GreenEdge Supper Clubs (greenedgenyc.org), Sustainable Flatbush (sustainableflatbush.org), and Educating Tomorrow (educatingtomorrow.org).

What:        A vegetarian potluck and discussion group about zero waste.

Where:      Micki Josi's place in Brooklyn (across the street from Brooklyn College) last stop on the 2/5 train.  Contact me at the supper club site for the address:http://greenedge.ning.com/group/flatbushsupperclub

When:      Saturday, November 1st at 6pm

Why:         I am obsessed with garbage.  I’m a Master Composter through BBG, co-founder of NYC School Recycling Committee, and I’m reading Garbage Land by Elizabeth Royte.  I want to talk about trash.  How can we create zero waste in our lives and spread those ideas to the masses?  How can we boycott the wasteful consumerism of the Holiday Seasons and still celebrate winter in a generous way?  How can we eliminate disposable plastics?  The list of things to talk about is endless.  Let's share our ideas on how to confront our cultures addition to consumption in a positive and productive way.

What to bring:     Your favorite seasonal vegetarian (even better if it’s vegan, wheat-free and/or sugar-free) dish, beverages, and thoughts to share.

What to do:     Start reading Garbage Land by Elizabeth Royte for the discussion (optional).   I have limited space, so PLEASE RSVP by joining the Flatbush Supper Club Group at http://greenedge.ning.com/group/flatbushsupperclub and let me know if you will be able to attend.  If you live in Flatbush, maybe you would be interested in hosting the next one?  Don't live in Flatbush, you can still come and you might consider starting or joining your local supper club in your area.

Micki Josi
NYC School Recycling Action Committee
http://www.educatingtomorrow.org

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

I just started reading Garbage Land by Elizabeth Royte.  I'd love to have people to discuss it with. Do you want to start a reading group?  If so contact me at mathjosi@yahoo.com  Let me know if you are interested in meeting up, when and where is good for you.

I found out what to do with that pesky plastic #6 that is not recyclable.... it's the stuff raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and to-go foods sometimes comes in. Just check for the number inside the very misleading chasing arrows (the recycling symbol which means absolutely squat when it comes to plastic... oh those sneaking plastic makers... they've all fooled us so well) 

You can make SHRINKY DINKS!

Instructions:

1.  Wash and dry the plastic meticulously

2.  Cut the flat part out with no stickers

3.  Draw or trace a picture onto it with perminant marker

4.  Cut it out so that there are not sharp edges

5.  Punch a hole in it with a hole punch if you want to make a charm

6.  Place on parchment paper in a 250 degree toaster oven for about 30 seconds give or take... it works best in a toaster over.  I tried it in a real oven and it took a lot longer, so maybe the temp has to be adjusted.  You will see it shrivel up and then straighten out most likely... it's not fool proof.  Probably also shouldn't breath it in... I didn't say it wasn't toxic as I imagine most plastic is. 

Let me know how it turns out... or email me and we can schedule a demonstration.  I'll try to take some pictures and post them.

I registered my school with the Go Green Initiative awhile ago after finding out about them while applying for a NYSAR3, the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, grant. I now receive newsletters about their different initiatives, such as reducing the number of photocopies made in schools.

Go Green's annual conference on greening schools, 2008 Earth Summit, is taking place in Syracuse, NY this year on Oct. 17-18. You can register now. Jet Blue flights out of JFK are affordable. Is anyone interested in attending?