R ECYC L E ISSUE 6 P u b l i s h e d Au g u s t 1 s t 20 1 7
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Illustration: Alex McCain
C E L E B R AT E , C H RO N I C L E & I N S P I R E A Q UA RT E R LY P U B L I CAT I O N P RO D U C E D b y R e c y c l i n g Pe r k s . c o m
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3 CITY SPOTLIGHT 4 BACK TO SCHOOL CRAFT! 5 CITY INFORMATION ABOUT RECYCLING
6 SHOP LOCAL WITH OUR PARTNERS!
7 LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 8 RECYCLING PERKS REWARDS PARTNERS
Are you looking for a list of all the other businesses on board? We’ve got it all right here.
10 UNDERSTAND RECYCLING CONTAMINATION 12 GETTING OUT 13 CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY 14 GREEN SCHOOL SUPPLIES Recycle Clearwater, Florida, is produced by Recycling Perks. It is our goal to build awareness of recycling by encouraging people to participate in recycling every day and every week by rewarding them for recycling with discounts and freebies. YOUR CLEARWATER, FLORIDA TEAM Marybeth Dunn | clearwater@recyclingperks.com Bill Dempsey | bdempsey@recyclingperks.com
15 GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY 16 SIGN-UP FOR PERKS!
CITY SPOTLIGHT WORDS:
Heather Parsons, City of Clearwater Public Information Coordinator
How Contamination Destroys the Good in Recycling Contamination of your recyclables comes in many forms – and can be easy to miss unless you pay attention to what you place in your blue recycling barrel. Contaminants can include oil, leftover foods, toys, Styrofoam containers, plastic bags and wrappers, or anything else that shouldn’t be in your Clearwater Solid Waste/Recycling barrel. According to Stanford University’s sanitary and recycling service, “contamination happens when non-recyclable items are mixed in with recyclable items.” “Leftover foods on our paper and cardboard are problematic for us in the city’s stream of recyclables,” said Earl Gloster, Director of Clearwater Solid Waste/Recycling. That’s because recyclables that are smeared with food or grease cannot be processed at a recycling center with similar materials that are clean. Two good examples of items that frequently contaminate the recycling stream: pizza and donut boxes. Both are made of cardboard or heavy paper, and they often get dirty with grease, cheese, glaze or icing. According to Stanford, once these containers get soiled, the paper cannot be recycled because the fibers of paper will not separate from the food contaminants during the recycling process, known as pulping. The contaminants will ruin a newly made product if it is not caught before it goes to the factory during the recycling process. According to Stanford, paper is mixed with water in a large churner during the recycling process. Oil eventually separates from the paper fibers and – of course – doesn’t dissolve. The end result? New paper with oil stains. Foods aren’t the only source of contamination. Well-meaning recyclers sometimes place the wrong kinds of plastics into the stream. Plastic bags, film and wrapping can’t be recycled, and neither should tanglers, such as cords, wires and ropes. Ceramics and household glassware should be thrown away instead of recycled. Electronic waste should be properly disposed of at Clearwater Solid Waste or the HEC3 facility in Pinellas County. So discard all paper and cardboard products that have food or oils on them, and make sure all containers are empty. Please keep all other contaminants out of the recycling stream. For more information on proper disposal or what products are recyclable, call Clearwater Solid Waste at (727) 562-4920.
What to Recycle? It is critical to the city’s recycling operations that recyclers be mindful about what they are placing into the blue recycling barrel. Recycle these items only: - Mixed paper (office paper, magazines, junk mail, shredded paper, envelopes, shoeboxes… anything fiber that tears) - Newspaper - All Plastics #1-7 - Aluminum, steel and empty aerosol cans - Glass bottles & Jars - Milk & juice carton and boxes - Flattened cardboard
What Not to Recycle? These items contaminate the recycling process and are problematic for recycling processing facilities. Please avoid placing them in your blue recycling barrel: - Plastic bags, film and wrap - Tanglers such as cords, wires and ropes - Electronic waste (TVs, computers, CDs, light bulbs, etc.) - Ceramics and household glassware 3
Carton Upcycling WORDS: Sandra Hungate, Recycling Perks
Discover some easy carton upcycling crafts to do at home or at school! Give that carton a second life.
For both crafts, please rinse out your half-gallon carton with water.
3. Place the bird seeds inside of the carton. You are all set!
Carton bird feeder:
3. Turn the detached piece around and place it on your truck as your truck bed. Done!
1. Cut an opening on one side, then paint the carton as you wish.
Carton truck: 2. Break tree branches into 3-inch long pieces and glue them on to the top with a glue gun. 4
2. Cut into the carton along the lines below:
1. Turn the carton on the side and attach sticks and plastic bottle caps onto the carton with a glue gun.
CITY INFORMATION
For more information, call Solid Waste at 562-4920.
Blue recycling container: Residents are able to recycle many new items to further reduce the waste going into the landfill. Please make sure all items are empty.
“BLACK BARREL” GARBAGE CONTAINER Place garbage other than yard waste in container; close lid; be sure nothing hangs down sides of barrel. Yard waste is recycled. Bag or box uncontaminated leaves and grass clippings; cut tree limbs and brush into four foot lengths and bundle. Place at curb, not in your black barrel or blue barrel. Place container at curb no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the night prior to collection day, and no later than 7:00 a.m. that morning. Remove container from curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day following collection. Place container within two feet of the curb with handle facing away from curb. Do not place container within three feet of your recycling bin or other obstructions, i.e., mailboxes, parked cars, trees and guidewires. It is your responsibility to keep your container clean. Wash it periodically with a hose and mild soap. Drain and wrap wet garbage prior to placing in your container. Bag lightweight material (Styrofoam “peanuts,” and shredded paper, etc.) Do not place the following items in your container: hot ashes, yard waste, concrete, electronics, dirt, sod, sand, plaster, carpeting, lumber, plasterboard, tile, bricks, roofing shingles or any other construction, remodeling or demolition debris. It is illegal to dispose of the following materials in your container: tires, auto batteries, pool chemicals, toxic or flammable items or liquid paint. Paint cans will get crushed and leak onto your streets. Leave lids off latex paint cans to allow the paint to dry out, or saturate with newspaper, then place in container. Oil-based paint, other chemicals, and electronics must be disposed of at the County’s Household Electronics & Chemical Collection Center, or at scheduled mobile chemical collection events. Call (727) 464-7500 for information. * The solid waste truck is on a scheduled route, and cannot return if container is not put out as described above.
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The rewards of shopping local with reward partners! WORDS: Suzie Vance, Recycling Perks
Many communities have “shop local” mentalities, and push this through advertising, tax breaks, and other incentives. Have you ever wondered WHY they do this, and why is it important? What happens when we DON’T shop local? Are there unseen benefits to shopping locally? Why do communities promote shopping local? One reason seems obvious: more money, including taxes, stays in the community instead of becoming part of an outside corporation’s revenue. Local businesses often don’t have customers outside of the local area, so their survival depends upon residents shopping locally. If residents shop at big-box stores instead of local merchants, local merchants lose. And, big box stores offer variety and convenience that many local businesses can’t provide. In our on-the-go, over-scheduled lives, we have limited time to shop, and we often choose convenience over all else. Why would you go to three different locations to get everything you need when you can get it all in one stop? Business leaders realize this and see the loss of revenue from local taxes as a big issue. It affects their ability to function and provide services to their communities. Think of it this way: If our tax dollars as a nation were being paid to a foreign country instead of our own, our government would not be able to afford to function or provide services to its citizens. Infrastructures would degrade from lack of maintenance, social programs would be unfunded, and jobs would be lost. All because we as a country chose to spend our dollars somewhere else. So, businesses actively encourage residents to shop locally— keep our revenue here. The hope is that local residents will see the monetary value in shopping locally and will make the effort to spend more of their time and dollars in support of the community as a whole. Sometimes this works, but often, it does not.
Beyond the obvious benefits of shopping locally, are there other benefits that we may not see? Yes! How many of us long for the “good old days” where we knew our neighbors, and had time to interact with them? Where businesses were places to socialize while we got things done? Where everyone looked out for each other and felt a true sense of community? This is something that happens when we shop locally. We get to know our business owners and the people who work for and with them. They become friends, thereby widening our social circle. For many of us, true social connections have become fewer as we focus on the number of “friends” we have instead of on the quality of the relationships that we have with real friends. Make no mistake, real relationships with people we interact with on a regular basis enrich our lives. This is one of the often overlooked benefits of shopping locally. Our sense of community is enhanced because we KNOW our business owners—and they know us. They understand us and our needs much better than big box stores ever could. They are more willing to provide the goods and services that we ask for because WE are asking for them, whereas a big box store is more focused on whether or not 7 a particular good or service will lead to more sales. Customer service may take a back seat to profits when businesses don’t feel a true connection with their customers. Local businesses understand this and foster the relationships that they have with their customers, who often become friends.
What happens when residents don’t shop locally?
What are the rewards of shopping locally?
First, there are fewer taxes paid in support of the local community. This means that municipalities have fewer dollars to run the government, provide infrastructure, and provide public services like police, fire, and ambulance, and other vital services. Second, businesses close and people lose their jobs because no customers means no revenue. These former business owners, and their former employees, then join the ranks of the unemployed. They often have to seek employment away from their communities, which means longer commutes and less time with their families—and less time to shop locally.
We support our local businesses who, in return, support us. Our local governments have more revenue to provide needed services and infrastructure and to enhance our community as a whole. We develop true connections with local business owners and have a true sense of community. This sense of community enriches our lives, while the revenue produced provides comfort, stability, and security in our lives and the lives of others in our homes and communities.
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Yes, shopping locally has rewards—big ones!
WORDS: Marybeth Dunn, Recycling Perks
Grindhaus Brew Lab Grindhaus Brew Lab is a unique, film-themed nano-brewery located in Clearwater, Florida on Hercules Ave in the Space Center Hercules Industrial Complex between Sunset Point Road and Drew Street. It’s a little hard to find, but well worth the effort. Although housed in a non-descript industrial space, the brewery is hip and warm inside, with movie posters and film décor throughout. Eight to twelve beers pour from the taps, and the selections vary weekly. Beers are served in beakers. A set of four eight-ounce tasting glasses costs twelve dol-
lars and includes an optional selfguided tour; use your rewards points and it’s only $8.00. The refreshing, Oh Beehive! Honey Cream Ale is a popular beer, as is the Big Kahuna Tropical IPA. Movies are projected each week on Friday and Saturday evenings, and once a month a weekend is dedicated to a film genre or theme. The popcorn is free and other snacks are available for purchase. Complimentary grilled or smoked food is served each Sunday from 1-4 PM. HiFi Home-
brew and BBQ Supply occupies the front portion of the space and provides a cornucopia of ingredients to experiment with. The brewery is open TuesdayThursday from 3-7 PM, Friday and Saturday noon-8 PM, and Sunday noon to 6 PM. Plenty of parking is available, and the brewery is pet and kid friendly. Be sure to stop on by this friendly, neighborhood Brew Lab. The Recycling Perks Team did when they were in town! 7
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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
RECYCLING PERKS REWARD PARTNERS
representaave.
Representaave
MarybethWebb Dunn Monique deerďŹ eld@recyclingperks.com clearwater@recyclingperks.com 754-333-1606
BEAUTY & SPA
SERVICES
Get Faded Barbershop Hair by Amy at Salon Blu Hippie Holistics Island Trendz Salon & Spa Marlo Stone; Master Barber Pam Co Supply Planet Tan R2 Barbershop SolGarden Holistic Therapy
Aspirations Winery All Brides 2 Be
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Clearwater Ferry Tampa Bay Escape Room The Tropics Boat Tours Bogie’s Food and Flicks Clearwater Ice Arena Clearwater Marine Aquarium La Dee-Da Kids Spa
Sylvia’s Clubhouse LLC Tampa Bay Skating Academy Countryside
FOOD & BEVEREAGE 1933 Pub and Grill 20 Shekels Bread Bascom’s Chop House BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Dairy Queen Farmer Boy Restaurant GrillSmith - Clearwater Grind House Bar & Grill Kara Lynn’s Kitchen Lonni’s Sandwiches, etc. P.F. Chang’s - Clearwater Post Corner Pizza RickDaddy’s Eatin’ Fresh Sunset Subs Westshore Pizza Yanny’s Restaurant Grindhaus Brew Lab Jungle Bill’s Tiki Grill Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company
HEALTH & FITNESS Anytime Fitness Apollo Gymnastics Curves in Clearwater Family Life Chiropractic Hot Yoga 365
GROCERY Nature’s Food Patch Whole Foods Market
HOME & GARDEN Ability Air & Heat Affordable Inspections, Inc. Al’s Window Tinting & Custom Window Treatments Cyndee and Jack Haydon Realtors | Future Home Realty Dog Days Pools EcoDri JB Factory Flooring Sunbeam Air Conditioning Velocity Air Conditioning Gulfside Windows, Doors & More T-Bowe’s Carpet, Tile & Grout LLC
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Chainwheel Drive G & P Fashion Service HiFi Homebrew and BBQ Supply Outspokin Bicycles Lina Teixeira, Wearable Art The Path Bicycle & Ride Shop
SHOPPING AquatiCool Life MaddoxB Photography Marketleef Mobile Massage WR 3 Shades of Blue Web Design Abby Weddings Century Printing & Design Computer Repair Clearwater Downtown Vaporium Flower Market Florist FLSBS Greenlite Movers HR Universe Hunter’s Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance, Inc. If Trees Could Talk Irion’s TV Shop Lawns By Norman Pete’s Pristine Pool Service Presidential Pressure Washing Pro Wash Plus Reliable Movers and Storage, Inc. Sandra Vargas Photography Simply Refreshing Organizing Solutions uBreakiFix Valone’s Vacuums Zip Mailing Florida
Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company Clearwater Beach Paddle-Board rental Co.
More Reward Partners are joining weekly. Find them on our Facebook page! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/recyclingperksclearwater 9
Understand recycling contamination WORDS: Suzie Vance, Recycling Perks
Q: What is recycling contamination? A: Recycling contamination is ANYTHING that cannot be recycled through your local hauler. Every community is different, sometimes with multiple haulers in a single community. What constitutes contamination is dependent upon what can be recycled locally. If your local hauler accepts only paper, plastic, and metal for recycling and you put your glass bottles in the recycling bin, you’ve just contaminated the entire bin—and possibly the entire truckload of recycling!
Q: Are there some things that are always considered contamination? A: YES! Food waste is always a recycling contaminant--unless it is being collected for composting. Some other common contaminants are scrap metal, ceramics (like dishes), light bulbs, liquids in containers, hazardous waste (like household cleaners, paint, and motor oil), chemicals, batteries, plastic bags (loose or containing other items), electronics, and Styrofoam.
Q: Are there any recyclables that can also be considered contamination? A: Yes. Depending on your hauler, some types of plastics are considered contaminants. A very common plastic that cannot be recycled curbside is plastic bags. They can shut down the entire operation if they get stuck in the machinery; that’s why you will need to bring those to your local city-specific collection facility for recycling. Use your own bags for shopping. Another common item that most people think is recyclable is the paper coffee cup (for example: the Starbucks cup). None of the Recycling Perks cities can recycle paper coffee cups because they have a thin polyethylene plastic coating that is difficult to recycle.
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Q: We use a lot of paper napkins, plates, cups, etc., that don’t appear to be soiled. Can these be recycled? A: These items should be thrown into the garbage. Once you’ve used them, they’re contaminated. Even a small amount of oil or food on them makes them unrecyclable. Also, many paper products (like plates and cups) have a thin plastic lining that gives them strength or prevents leaking. This plastic lining is considered a contaminant because it is NOT what is being recycled - PAPER.
Q: My recycling is about 95% clean and uncontaminated. That’s good, right? A: It’s good, but can you do better? We all do our best to recycle properly, but don’t always take the time to do it right. We forget to rinse out a plastic bottle before putting it in the recycling bin or decide that a pizza box looks clean enough to recycle, or think that something that is made of two different recyclable materials (like paper and plastic) is recyclable. We have good intentions, but even a small amount of contamination is enough to disrupt the entire recycling process. And, the effects are cumulative. If everyone makes sure that 95% of their recycling is uncontaminated, that means that 5% IS contaminated. That may not seem like a lot, but the contamination weakens the finished product and ends up back in our homes.
Q: What can I do to reduce recycling contamination? A: Educate yourself. Call your local recycling hauler or city recycling provider and ask them what you can and cannot recycle locally, i.e., which plastics (by number), paper products, types/colors of glass, types of metals, etc. Ask about drop off locations for items that can’t be recycled curbside. Many cities offer drop off locations for paper, plastic, metal, glass, electronics, and hazardous waste. Visit your city’s/hauler’s website to get additional information. And, read Recycling Perks blogs and follow us on Facebook to continue your recycling education. Before long you’ll be a recycling expert, and have a 0% recycling contamination rate! 11
Local Events
August 8/5-6 SUNSHINE STATE OUTDOOR 8/ 25 SUMMER SIDEWALK SALES 8:30 am, Clearwater Beach Venue #3 - FREE 5 - 8:30 pm, Downtown Clearwater - FREE 8/12 PIERCE STREET MARKET
8/30
ELECTRONIC WASTE DISPOSAL DAY
9 am - 1 pm, 2 Drew Street - FREE
8 am - 3 pm, Solid Waste Complex - FREE
September 9/8 D IVERSITY DAY
5 - 9 pm, Station Square Park & 500 block of Cleveland St- FREE
9 am - 1 pm, 2 Drew Street - FREE
All Day, North Clearwater Beach - FREE
JEEPS DOWNTOWN
4 - 10 pm, Cleveland Street between East
10 am - 3 pm, 2 Drew Stree - FREE
10/19-22 JAZZ HOLIDAY 8 am - 3 pm, Coachman Park - FREE
10/25
ELECTRONIC WASTE DISPOSAL DAY 8 am - 3 pm, Solid Waste Complex - FREE
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10/28 PIERCE STREET MARKET
10 am - 3 pm, 2 Drew Street - FREE
and Ft. Harrison Avenues
PIERCE STREET MARKET
9/29-10/01 SUPER BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP 8 am - 3 pm, Clearwater Beach and Cleveland Street District- FREE
October 10/14
7 pm, Coachman Park - FREE
8 am - 3 pm, Solid Waste Complex - FREE
9/16 NORTH CLEARWATER BEACH FYRE TOURNAMENT
9/27 E LECTRONIC WASTE DISPOSAL DAY
9/9 PIERCE STREET MARKET
10/ 7
9/17 S AMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE
10/28 WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS
8 am, Spectrum Field, 601 N. Coachman Road - FREE
10/31 BOO BASH
5:30 - 8:30 pm, Spectrum Field 601 N. Coachman Road - FREE
Win a Recycling Perks goodie bag! Hey kids! Connect the dots to reveal your drawing and color it. Hey parents! Submit this page to events@recyclingperks.com to win a recycling perks goodie bag. Plus you will get 100 points if you enter the promo code RPGOODIEBAG in your RecyclingPerks.com account! *Picture doesn’t represent the precise content of the goodie bag.
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Green school supplies WORDS: Sandra Hungate, Recycling Perks
While preparing for the kids to go back to school, we prepared a short list of essential supplies that are earth and kid friendly. Some of them are even recycled!! Here’s a list of 8 must-haves to make going back to school easy and cool for both your kid and the planet. Zebra ECO Ballpoint pen - $1.99
Guess what this pen is made of? It’s made of over 70% real post-consumer plastic, like old CDs and cell phones! https://www.greenlinepaper.com/misc-products/penspencils-refills/zebra-eco-ballpoint-pen.html
Recycled Student Composition Books - $3.29 This composition book is made of a minimum of 30% recycled fibers and 30% Post-consumer waste. And you can recycle it again when you’re done using it! https://www.greenlinepaper.com/filing-school/schoolsupplies/composition-books.html
Coccoina Non-Toxic Glue Stick - $3.95
This non-toxic glue stick is safe for the environment, and you, and easily washes off with water. https://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-1834-coccoina-non-toxic-glue-stick.aspx
Crayons - $3.38
These eco friendly crayons are made from unwanted used crayon pieces, and are packaged in a recycled kraft tuck-top box. http://greenapplesupply.org/recycle-stick-crayons
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Recycled PET Backpack - $29.95 Can you believe these bags are made from recycled PET water bottles? Plus, non-toxic dyes & materials have been used. https://www.theultimategreenstore.com/p-1653-ecogearglacier-recycled-pet-backpack.aspx
Recycled Scissors - $12.09
The scissors’ handle consists of 70% plastic and 30% post-consumer content, and are infused with antimicrobial protection to inhibit the growth of bacterial odors. http://www.staples.com/Recycled Scissors...
100% Recycled Construction Paper - $1.31
This pretty, heavy-weight recycled paper is marbled with three fun colors (Pink, Blue, and Yellow). http://greenapplesupply.org/neapolitan-100-recycledconstruction-paper
Bentgo Kids - Bentgo Lunch Box - $22.39 How about giving 5% of this product’s price to the Feed the Children organization? https://bentgo.com/products/bentgo kids?variant=898776151
Give Back to Your Schools or Nonprofits with Recycling Perks The two types of Give Back Campaigns were created to provide funding to schools and local charities.
Featured Give Back Campaign A reward is created for your school or nonprofit on the Recycling Perks website and is available for an entire month. Each redemption is a $2 donation for every 20 points redeemed from eligible local Recycling Perks members! Sign-Up and Give Back Campaign A custom URL landing page along with a custom promo code is created for your school or nonprofit. Recycling Perks awards your group $5 for each unique and eligible new Recycling Perks sign-up received via your customized landing page or promo code. Ready to sign up your school or nonprofit for a Give Back Campaign? It’s easy to get started. Send us an email at info@ recyclingperks.com or contact us by phone toll free at 855-813-2154.
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Clearwater!
We would like to reward you for recycling. Recycling Perks offers great savings from your local businesses, saving you up to $300/yr.
SIGN UP
Register for your FREE Perks account at RecyclingPerks.com. It takes less than 2 minutes.
FILL IT UP
Recycle on your collection day and earn 25 points in your Recycling Perks account.
LIVE IT UP
Redeem your points for amazing discounts from local businesses.
Check out these sample rewards! Get yours at www.recyclingperks.com for FREE!
15%OFF
Any party pakage You need 50 points to redeem this reward! Offered by: Sylvia’s Clubhouse LLC. This reward is only available at the following location: 25016 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33763.
15%OFF Any item in store
You need 25 points to redeem this reward! Offered by: ThThe Posh Mermaid provides unique, quality jewelry, clothes, accessories, gifts, decor, and shoes in a wide range of styles and prices. Only available at this location: 1507 Clearwater Largo Rd, Largo, FL 33770
25%OFF Any purchase
You need 50 points to redeem this reward! Offered by: 20 Shekels Bread Bakery provides the most delicious, nutritious, and organic bread in all of Tampa Bay. Only available at this location: 1877 Drew St, Clearwater, FL 33765
FREE BAG With $25 purchase You need 25 points to redeem this reward! Offered by: Ban the Bag with Nature’s Food Patch! Use your tote, or any reusable tote, for your groceries and we’ll donate 5¢ to a different local charity each month. Only available at this location: 1225 Cleveland St, Clearwater, FL 33755
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