Tag Archive: reuse

Reuse at Robious Elementary

March 27, 2024 | Published by Julie Buchanan

Third-graders at Robious Elementary School in Chesterfield County recently put the 3R’s (that’s reduce, reuse, recycle) into action with a book swap! Each student brought in a book to be swapped for another. Teachers placed the books on cafeteria tables so students could browse and select a book to take home. “This activity was the culminating activity for our Earth’s Resources science unit,” third-grade teacher Julia Preusser said. “We connected... Read More

The 5W’s of Sustainable Materials Management

March 7, 2024 | Published by Julie Buchanan

What is sustainable materials management? Sustainable materials management is a systematic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their life cycles. The emphasis is not only on using less, but on using materials to their fullest extent. The concept may sound complex, but it doesn’t have to be. The graphic above depicts one version of a sustainable materials management hierarchy, which ranks strategies from most to least environmentally... Read More

Thrift-O-Ween: Let Creativity Run Wild with a Thrifted Halloween Costume

October 18, 2023 | Published by Julie Buchanan

The Halloween rack at Rumors Boutique goes on display in September. Spending on Halloween costumes in the U.S. is expected to reach $4.1 billion this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. That’s more than any other year in the survey’s history. Discount stores remain the top source for costumes, followed by specialty Halloween stores and online retailers. While those places may offer convenience, there are downsides.... Read More

11 Tips for Waste-Free Lunches

August 11, 2023 | Published by Julie Buchanan

If the kids are heading back to school, or you’re simply a grownup looking to go green, consider the ways you can reduce waste from school and work lunches. Small changes can make a big difference for the environment — and the wallet. 1) Choose a reusable lunch box or bag. Skip paper bags. 2) Ditch plastics that are meant to be used one time and then thrown away. We’re... Read More

Repurposing With A Purpose

August 11, 2023 | Published by Julie Buchanan

Henrico Community Food Bank Executive Director Sudeshna Das-Menezes (left) and Program Manager Lynn Williams. What’s green, has two handles and is perfect for storing boxes, cans and jars? The CVWMA recycling bin, of course! The Henrico Community Food Bank is reusing 20 of the old bins to collect shelf-stable goods for its mobile food pantry. Henrico County provided the containers, which were among those residents returned after the recent distribution... Read More

8 Steps to Turn an Old Recycling Cart into a Composter

July 13, 2023 | Published by Julie Buchanan

This article was contributed by Chesterfield resident Beth Rodgers, a certified Master Gardener and Master Composter. Wondering what to do with your green recycling container if no longer used for CVWMA recycling? Give it a new role in recycling by using it as a composting system! Composting organic waste (which means living or previously living material) makes an important contribution to the environment by reducing the methane gas that is... Read More

Reuse & Refill: 3 Zero-Waste Shops to Know

June 14, 2023 | Published by Julie Buchanan

Reduce, reuse and recycle. It’s been the mantra for years. Many of us are in the habit of recycling. We toss cans, bottles, cardboard and more into a container that is regularly emptied for us. The material is then recycled into new items, often through a chemical process. When it comes to the age-old concepts of reducing and reusing, however, we’ve had a tougher time adapting. Blame it on the... Read More

This Henrico Church Ministry Wants Your Plastic Grocery Bags (and Unused Fabric)

September 1, 2022 | Published by Julie Buchanan

Deb Farlow, left, greets Dorcas Daughters members at the West End Assembly of God during a Thursday gathering. Would you believe that a cute and functional handbag could be made from . . . plastic bags? Yes, those plastic bags. The ones we’ve been collecting for ages in our kitchens and garages. The Dorcas Daughters ministry at the West End Assembly of God are repurposing these plastic bags into mats,... Read More