Keep Golden Isles Beautiful recently announced that the School Recycling Challenge will return this year. The focus of the annual challenge is to reduce landfill waste, and KGIB invites the public to support schools in the endeavor, which will last Oct. 5-16. “This year’s challenge again focuses on three items not accepted in our local recycling programs — oral care products, pens/highlighters/markers and cereal bags,” said KGIB executive director Lea King-Badyna. “By recycling these used items that are normally tossed in the trash, we are able to make an immediate impact on waste reduction.” Partners in education, PTAs, businesses and members of the public are invited to take part in the challenge, by collecting and donating the items to participating local public, private and home schools and institutions of higher education.

There are several reasons why someone might not want to toss a pregnancy test in the trash. Pregnancy tests are an extremely private matter, and leaving them in a waste bin — where others could potentially see it — may feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the small plastic sticks often end up in landfills, as their electronic screens prevent them from being considered recyclable.   Luckily, though, there is a privacy-oriented and sustainable option in the works right now, led by a female-run company called Lia Diagnostics. They are currently working on the first-ever flushable and compostable pregnancy test, and not only will it ensure your private information is kept private, but it's also a super sustainable option. Needless to say, we're extremely excited about this green innovation.  

Lia is a next-level innovation in the world of women's health.

Lia was founded in 2015 by two women named Bethany Edwards and Anna Simpson, according to Tech Crunch. They realized that the pregnancy test industry was outdated by about 30 years, so after Bethany conducted some research for part of her Master's degree, she decided to create a product that would benefit both women and the environment.   Of all the plastic that ends up in landfills every year, two million pounds are made up of plastic pregnancy tests, per Tree Hugger, which inspired them to create something made of plants, protein, and minerals. The tests are completely biodegradable, flushable, and compostable. They can degrade into soil within 10 weeks, and they're 99 percent accurate, providing the same result as any other test.   The best part? They have a larger target zone to minimize splashing. A dream experience, if you will.   A few minutes after peeing on the Lia pregnancy test, users will either see a single line for not-pregnant, and two for pregnant. Typical pregnancy test things. The FDA apparently approved Lia in December 2017, and they're currently in the process of getting their product on Amazon and on their website. Once they become available, a pack of two will reportedly go for somewhere between $13 and $15. We're definitely hoping they go on sale soon.

There are several ways you can stay green during your pregnancy process.

From using Lia in the beginning, to choosing environmentally-friendly snacks, finding natural pre-natal supplements, and picking out sustainable maternity wear, there are so many different ways you can be climate conscious amid your pregnancy journey. For example, candied ginger and citrus peel — which help curb morning sickness — can be found in the bulk section of your grocery store.   Once you find a natural and ethical brand of prenatal supplements, TerraCycle has a reusable vitamin bottle program you should definitely join. There are also several ethical maternity brands, from Boob Design, to Top Secret Maternity, Maternitique, and A Pea in the Pod. Believe us when we say the options are truly endless.   Flushable pregnancy tests are the future of conceiving. We aren't sure of when exactly they will be available, but don't worry, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled.

The ugly truth about beauty products is that disposing of the detritus they create isn’t easy. For one thing, mascara tubes, foundation sponges and anything else that could be contaminated by microbes or bacteria is actually considered a biohazard, which means you shouldn’t even throw it in the regular garbage.   Beyond that, most cosmetic containers can’t be recycled, even if they’re made of plastic or glass. Blue bin guidelines generally “do not include any material that has liquids, and that can contaminate other materials in the bin,” says Ernel Simpson, a V.P. at TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based company that has branded itself the go-to for all things “unrecyclable.”   Luckily, TerraCycle offers a few beauty-disposal options. Empties from its partners—Burt’s Bees, Bausch + Lomb, DECIEM, eos, Gillette, Tom’s of Maine and Weleda—can be dropped off at those stores, or sent directly to the recycling company for free.         Devotees of other brands can purchase a Zero Waste Box, fill it up with cleaned out lotion bottles and lipgloss tubes, and send it over to the company for recycling. (There are also Zero Waste boxes for everything from plastic snack packaging to cigarette butts and used chewing gum.)   Here, a few other companies trying to help green your cosmetic disposal routine.       The beauty giant was thinking about recycling well before it was trendy. Its Back-to-M.A.C. program dates back to the 1980s: customers who bring in six empty M.A.C. makeup containers receive a free standard lipstick, lipgloss or small eyeshadow. The brand says it reuses more than 100,000 pounds of material in the U.S. and Canada each year, and anything that cannot be reused is incinerated at waste-to-energy facilities.         A partnership with TerraCycle makes L’Occitane a convenient drop-off hub: customers who bring in empty beauty containers from any brand receive 10 percent off during their store visit. The brand has also pledged that every single one of its bottles will be made of 100 per cent recycled plastic by 2025.       The eco-conscious company’s goal is to get naked—a bunch of its products, from shampoo to body lotion, are sold entirely packaging-free. Last year, customers bought two million shampoo bars, keeping millions of plastic bottles out of landfills or the ocean. Liquid products come in the brand’s signature black pots, made from 100 per cent recycled plastic. Customers who return five empty pots get a free face mask.         Another TerraCycle partner, the Body Shop’s Return. Recycle. Repeat. program collects empty packaging from any brand for recycling at all of its Canadian locations (excluding products marked flammable or hazardous, such as perfumes). Bonus: club members get $10 worth of points when they bring back five Body Shop brand containers. It also launched a program last May to buy plastic waste collected in Bengaluru, India, which is recycled into shampoo and conditioner bottles.         Everyone from B.C. to Manitoba can take advantage of this Western chain’s extensive recycling program, available at all of its stores. Makeup isn’t accepted, but small beauty appliances such as hair dryers and curling irons are, as is most packaging, like the hard plastic and Styrofoam that cradles products bought online, as well as batteries and lightbulbs. In the last 10 years, the Canadian retailer has recycled more than 113 million pounds of waste—enough to fill two container ships.  

This summer, many of us are missing those quirky and unique celebrations of Ithaca — our festivals.   While I’m devastated that our community is missing out on our festivals this year, let’s take this as an opportunity to pause, to rethink and to make sure that when the festivals return, their focus is on celebrating what makes Ithaca so special: a town of caring, community-minded and forward-thinking people who are connected to their landscape.   Before the pandemic occurred, I observed increasing single-use plastic waste at these events, specifically the Chili Cook-Off, Chowder Cook-Off and the downtown concerts, but not limited to these events. I was especially disheartened after the Chili Cook-Off this year and wrote the following plea:   “On Feb. 8, we braved the cold to participate in our annual Chili Cook-Off. As ubiquitous as long lines and puffy winter coats, single-use plastics piled up in trash cans everywhere. Drawing visitors from both hills and beyond, the Chili Cook-Off is one of the festivals that introduce our students and visitors to Ithacan traditions.”   When I first came to Ithaca as a college student, it was a place where a progressive future seemed possible. I remember seeing compost bins at CTB and Wegmans and thinking, if we can make sustainable habits commonplace, there’s hope.   The sight of brightly dressed volunteers directing festival visitors on how to compost was quintessentially Ithaca. Our town seemed to be populated with caring, educated people acting to make the world they believe in, even when it’s not glamorous, being the change. But that is not the case. Instead, we’ve made ourselves disposable.   In the last few years, we have gone backward from compostable portion cups and wooden spoons being a common sight to nonrecyclable sample cups and wine glasses proliferating at every downtown concert. (The Tompkins County recycling center does not accept #6 plastics, and the center recently issued a warning statement that the level of contamination in recycling bins is too high.)   Unrecyclable #6 portion cups and spoons are given out at many Ithaca events like Chowder Cook-Off and Chili Cook-Off. Unless someone takes on the revolting and tedious job of gathering up, washing out and drying each cup and then purchasing an expensive TerraCycle box to send these cups for recycling, these items are landfill fodder.   When their useful life is over (15 seconds on average), they have nowhere to go but to take up space in a local landfill or to pollute our waterways.   It’s time to reverse that disposable mentality and act to remove single-use plastic disposables from our festivals and events. Seasoned Ithacans know the perks of bringing your own mug (bigger portions, supporting local artisans, showing your swag, no guilt!) and can be seen with gloved hands wrapped around a variety of colorful, handmade mugs, at times even balancing multiples in muffin tins. But let’s make it easier for our visitors to do the right thing and be a role model for sustainable cities once again.   For their part, I believe the downtown Ithaca crew would prefer not to continue purchasing single-use plastics. But change hasn’t come, and who is working with them to make this possible?   It takes everyone to break the plastic habit, from those who implement reusables and representatives who demand top-down policies to vendors purchasing better containers and a system of responsible waste management.   The city is culpable in this. There needs to be somewhere for compost and trash to go, and the current system is especially cumbersome for events.   I understand that nonplastic options are expensive. Doing the right thing is expensive, but bending to the throwaway economy is more expensive in the long run.   And we don’t have to. We have options, whether it’s a returnable system like the Dish Truck, zero-waste services such as Impact Earth or compost haulers like Natural Upcycling.   We have vendors who take the initiative to be creative, like serving samples in mini bread bowls or clamshells. We should celebrate this creativity and incentivize reusability.   If we want change, we must not only appeal to moral, earth-loving sensibilities but also to wallets. We must incorporate the real cost of creating and disposing of plastics into our equations so that they are no longer the cheapest option.   Anyone who follows the news can see how far behind we are when it comes to single-use plastics. We tout the beauty of our gorges, and our local waterways are an essential part of our local environment and economy.   We can see the impact of plastic pollution firsthand when visiting Stewart Park, Treman Marina or Myers Point, as colorful bits wash up on our lakeshores. A bit farther away, Casella is in the process of expanding upstate New York landfills. We don’t have to look as far as people suffering from burning plastic trash heaps in Indonesia to see the effects of our actions — this is our backyard. This is our problem.   Plastic litter should be everyone’s concern. It breaks down to microplastics, which we consume. The average person eats an estimated credit card’s worth of plastic in a week, subjecting ourselves to unstudied health effects.   Purchasing plastics funds the fossil fuel industries and contributes to climate change and injustice as poor countries struggle with mountains of our trash. We took a stand against fracking in New York, but as Ithacans, we’re poised to support it in the coming fracked-plastics boom unless we find alternatives to single-use plastics at our festivals.   Communities across the country are taking action to stop plastic, and we are not the progressive icon any longer. Many towns have passed ordinances to reduce the use of single-use plastic, launched public education campaigns on the issue and stopped using single-use plastic items like plastic water bottles at municipal facilities. We should be one of them.   I love our festivals, but a single bite of chili or a sip of craft beer is not worth the guilt of knowing that my cup will pollute our landscape for the next thousand years.   We know better. It’s time to do better. Let’s give students and visitors a taste of what it’s really like to be an Ithacan.   The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic creates additional challenges around reducing waste. The plastics industry is lobbying hard to reverse plastics bans and funding studies to make single-use plastics and wrappings seem like the only safe option, but that is not the case. We know that washing is the most effective way to stop the virus.   The pandemic has brought us closer together, with many community members and organizations stepping up to help one another in this time of need. Ithaca is a community of intelligent, creative and innovative people. I know that if we work hard, collaborate and stick to our ideals, we can create solutions to the problem of waste at our festivals. The next time we celebrate together, it should be both safe and sustainable.  

Below are questions and answers that were posed in our Getting Real About Plastics and Recycling Webinar. CEC staff and webinar panelists have endeavored to answer these questions to the best of our ability and have provided additional resources for you to dig deeper into topics discussed. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Kathi King, Director of Outreach and Education at CEC or Penny Owens, Education and Community Outreach Director at Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Did you miss this webinar? Watch it here.  

Recycling

  Question: How do we know what is and is not recyclable in Santa Barbara? Answer: Every city and county has different guidelines for what can and cannot be recycled. We recommend visiting your region’s city and county waste sites for more information. Here are a few resources for our region:

• Review MarBorg Industries’ website for information on how to dispose of anything – and stay tuned for details on how to handle mattresses and bulky items. If you have questions, contact Customer Service at (805) 963-1852 or Sarah Stark at sstark@marborg.com.
• Visit the City of Santa Barbara’s Trash & Recycling website for information on trash and recycling services and waste reduction ordinances. If you have questions, contact Hillary Allen at HAllen@santabarbaraca.gov.
• Check out the County of Santa Barbara’s Less Is More website for waste reduction resources and to learn more about hazardous waste, electronics recycling, home composting, and much more.

  Q: Do I need to pay attention to the numbers on plastic items? A: Ignore the numbers on your plastic items – those were never meant for public consumption and are used by plastic manufacturers to identify the type of plastic used. See the resources listed above for what can and cannot be recycled in our region.   Q: How do I identify which types of plastics can be recycled? A: Visit MarBorg Industries’ website and click on “plastics” for information on what types of plastics can and cannot be recycled, including bottle caps, plastics used to store food, laundry detergent bottles, styrofoam and other common items.   Q: How do I recycle odd items, like water filters, ballpoint pens, etc? A: Reach out to the company that made or sold the item to you to find out if there is a recycle program for that item. Oftentimes, there is. TerraCycle also offers a Zero Waste Box which allows you to recycle almost any type of waste, from your coffee capsules to complex laboratory waste (there might be a charge for this).   Q: Are single use bags and other film plastics that cannot be placed in my blue bin recyclable? A: Film plastic is any type of plastic that can fold easily in your hands: plastic bags, bubble wrap, cling wrap, etc. Ablitt’s is no longer accepting film plastic drop-offs in their lobby, but you can make an appointment when they have a designated drop-off day. Email sales@ablitts.com to request to receive information about upcoming dates. Learn more about plastic film recycling on CEC’s website or Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s website.   Q: Are consumers doing a good job of sorting their recyclables? I heard that if we do not sort our blue bins correctly, those mixed recyclables usually end up in the landfill. A: About 60% of what goes into the landfill currently should not go there at all. From that 60%, half is recyclable and half is compostable. The Santa Barbara County Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division is actively trying to tackle this issue and reduce the amount of recyclables and compostables that go into the landfill.   Q: Why don’t we partner with companies like Terracycle to recycle hard to use plastics? A: There are some programs like that, but it does require having a bin to collect it and then to send it to them – and there is a charge for their collection bin and the mailing. There is also a lot of energy used to transport the materials to them.   Q: Can I tour the Tajiguas Landfill? A: The County of Santa Barbara does give great tours of the landfill, but not at the moment due to COVID-19. Check out www.lessimore.org for more information.   Q: Do the local agencies work cooperatively to accept the same thing? A: They do if they are contracted with the same landfill or transfer station.  

Plastic Use Reduction

Q: How can you reduce your plastic use at the grocery store while also keeping your produce clean and protected from the germs on the check out conveyor belt? A: Bring your own reusable bags, produce cartons or containers for loose items – and wash them when you get home.   Q: I read that reusable bags are actually ultimately worse for the environment (resources and energy used to produce, etc). What guidelines should we follow for building our reusable product inventories? A: Well let’s be careful with that statement! Organic cotton bags need to be used 100+ times before they become better for the planet than plastic. Continue to use your reusable bags but make sure to be mindful about purchasing more bags. I know a lot of companies give out bags as gifts.   Q: What happens to all the dog poop picked up with plastic bags – are they recyclable? A: A plastic bag that contains dog poop is not recyclable and must be put in the trash. Unfortunately, using compostable dog poop bags is actually worse for the environment than plastic bags since the compostable bags emit methane in the landfill. Here’s a tip: Reuse a plastic bag you already have (bread bags, etc) a second time for dog poop collection.   Q: Why not work towards replacing plastic film packaging with old fashioned cellophane or waxed paper? A: Cellophane is also petroleum based and non-recyclable. Wax paper (especially the cloth-based reusable kind) is definitely better but not as user-friendly which is likely why it has lost its popularity. We are open to lots of reusable options, but one that we like is Stasher – a reusable zip lock style bag made of food grade silicone.   Q: How do we get more people in our community interested in upcycling and pre-cycling? A: We welcome ideas but we are most interested in source reduction – not using these items in the first place will reduce pollution, especially for the underserved communities who bear the burden of living near extraction and manufacturing.   Q: In our Homeowner’s Association, the board cannot get residents to pay close attention to what they put in the recycle bins. I make signs and put them on the bins, but I don’t think everyone is reading the signs or paying attention to what they can and cannot put in the bins. What can I do? A: Getting everyone on the same page can be tough. We suggest scheduling a presentation by one of our speakers at an upcoming meeting – virtually on zoom or in person once those meetings are possible again. Recycling is less expensive than trash so it behooves everyone to recycle as much as possible to keep costs down. Framing it economically might help encourage people to recycle more thoughtfully.  

Policy

  Q: Is there a reason a more uniform plastic is not used for everything? A: Plastic is used for so many different types of items that uniformity would be very difficult.  Some items need to be flexible (i.e. water bottles) while others need to be rigid to hold heavy items (like food trays). The manufacturers don’t have any incentive to move toward uniformity since they are currently not responsible for disposal.   Q: Why is there a disconnect with regulation and downstream waste management? Why are restaurants required to use biodegradable material if we have no proper way to dispose of them? A: Pressure should be applied to companies to accept responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products. We’re not aware that restaurants are required to use biodegradable/compostable products unless in a jurisdiction (i.e. Berkeley) with residential food scrap collection.   Q: There are restaurants in Carpinteria stating they will lose their license if we use our own containers or bags. What can the consumer do about this? A: You can let them know that there are no such regulations. As of January 1, 2020, new law AB619 makes it easier for people to bring their own containers to restaurants. However, during COVID-19, it is understandable that restaurants are being cautious. One suggestion is to ask them to plate your food (on a real plate) and transfer it to your reusable container yourself. You can also ask the cashier at the grocery store to put your items back in the cart for you to bag outside the store.  When I see that restaurants that I like or stores where I shop are returning to reusable food ware and allowing reusable bags again, I make sure to give them positive feedback.   Q: Why don’t we make it illegal to produce packaging that is not recyclable? A: That is the goal of the bills we outlined in the webinar – it will take a lot of political will for that to happen, but your action can help:

• Support the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 – sign here.
• Help ensure the groundbreaking California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act has enough signatures to qualify for the statewide ballot – sign here.
• Demand that Amazon stop polluting our planet with single use plastic pollution – sign here – and opt to bundle all your purchases to arrive together to reduce the footprint of your transactions.

  Q: Why do we not have a national recycling law in the United States? A: The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 addresses that issue at the federal level. Trash collection has historically been up to local jurisdictions since geographical regions (desert/forest) influence waste management decisions.   Q: Do you know of any national referendum to reduce the types of plastics used by U.S. companies and require recyclable plastic? A: Yes, it’s the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 that we talked about briefly in the webinar. It will take a lot of political will for it to pass.   Q: Changing utensils to biodegradables makes no sense if we don’t have a proper way to dispose of them. The lack of recycling due to a lack of secondary market isn’t an excuse to not recycle. Companies like Terracyle have proven this. Why don’t we partner with them to recycle all our plastics? How do we address that problem at the small local level? A: Action that we take locally can translate into greater action. We saw that with 200 bag regulations that led to statewide action on bags. We are using so much plastic that it’s too much for one company to manage. Companies like Terracycle are providing a niche service that requires people to mail them their items so there is added energy needed to transport our recyclables to them. As it is, we do not reclaim the energy used to create these items in the recycling process, even if it’s local. And, as we mentioned in the webinar, extracting the oil and manufacturing it into plastic also takes a lot of energy and often takes place in underserved communities where the pollution is making people sick.   Q: News reports say overseas (China, SE Asia) are no longer taking our recyclables. Now what? A: We need to rely more on reusable items. China’s acceptance of our plastic waste was mostly a mirage, since they either burned, landfilled or allowed a great deal of it to get into the environment.   Q: Does CEC foresee that one day we might eliminate the need for landfills? A: Landfills are unlikely to be eliminated but they can certainly be improved. The new ReSource Center scheduled to open at our landfill early next year is supposed to pull recyclables and organics from trash, increasing our recycling rate and turning the organic material into energy that will power several thousand homes.  

COVID-19 and Plastic

  Q: Has COVID-19 led to people using more single use plastics? Is there any way around this now, and in the future? A: COVID has led to increased use of single use plastics. You can read more about this issue in our blog. We encourage you to ask your local grocery store to start accepting reusable bags again if they are not already – and request reusables whenever you can.   Q: Are grocery stores allowing customers to bring in reusable bags during COVID-19? A: Some are and some are not. Tri-County Produce has allowed reusable bags during the pandemic and others are starting to allow them again. Ask your local grocer and encourage them to consider allowing reusable bags again. If your store still does not allow them, ask the cashier to place your items back in your cart and bag them outside of the store in your own bags.   Q: What is the best practice (amount of use, cleaning, disinfecting, etc) for using reusables with COVID? A: There is very little evidence of any surface transmission of COVID-19 – read more about why reusables are considered safe in this article.   Q: It would be helpful if county Public Health would issue a statement regarding reusable bags and regular plates/utensils at restaurants. Many local businesses are following their guidelines. A: That’s a great suggestion. We will pass that on to our contacts at county health. You are welcome to reach out as well – the more they hear from the public, the greater likelihood that they will take action. Read more about the letter signed by over 100 public health professionals about the safety of reusables.   Q: We typically eat in at restaurants to avoid to go containers. During COVID-19, everything is now served in to go containers whether you eat in or take out. Is this a city mandate – or can we put pressure on restaurants to switch back to reusable plates, cups and utensils? A: Using to go containers is not a city mandate and providing feedback to places that you patronize is really important. You can also read or reference this letter signed by over 100 county health professionals emphasizing that reusables are as safe as disposables.   Q: How is CEC working with local and national government officials to help us reduce plastic consumption? How do you maintain a positive attitude? What about greater polluting countries around the world?  A: We are pushing for state bills to reduce plastic production and consumption – and you can too by contacting Assemblymember Limón and Senator Jackson. We have advocated for seven regional bills to limit distribution of single use plastic items. These successes help keep us going even when it seems like an unsolvable problem. Sharing the burden helps too, as does connecting with so many concerned people like we did during the webinar. You can read more about CEC’s #ditchplastic work – and how you can get involved – on our website. Thanks for your support!  

Composting

  Q: Can compostable plastics be recycled? A: Every jurisdiction that has a compost program has different rules. The city and county of Santa Barbara does not accept compostable plastic in their compost; if it looks and feels like plastic, Santa Barbara treats it like plastic and it must go in the trash.   Q: What about biodegradable packing peanuts? A: Great question! They are water soluble and made from natural, nontoxic sources, such as wheat and corn starch. Toss them in your kitchen sink and run water over them until they dissolve. You can also add them to your compost where they will break down quickly.   Q: Is Santa Barbara developing a food scrap program? A: The food scraps “or composting” program is currently only available to commercial customers. The ReSource Center will have an anaerobic digester to help process excess organics and keep them from entering the landfill. Both MarBorg and the County do sell backyard compost bins if you are interested in having one for your personal use.

Ocean plastic pollution is a nightmare. The more you read about ocean plastic waste, the more you realize how much you dispose of on a daily basis.Your bathroom is no exception to the rule and oftentimes leads you to discarding the same plastic items over and over. (I’m looking at you floss and toothpaste.) There is no singular solution for plastic pollution but these items will help curb it. Here are our top ten bathroom replacements to prevent ocean plastic waste:

Deanna Giulietti is an actress and activist. While much of her TikTok is devoted to pop culture, Giulietti strayed from her usual format to share an intriguing mascara hack. No, it’s not one that will get you longer or fuller lashes, it’s a lot bigger in scope than that — it helps animals in oil spills.   “If you have an old mascara that you’re going to throw away. Don’t throw it away,” she explains. “Instead wash it with some Dawn, put it in a Ziplock bag and mail it to Wildlife Refuge.” Giulietti is referring to Appalachian Wildlife Refuge’s Wands for Wildlife program.   “They use these wands to scrape away oil and mites and infections from wildlife. C’mon, we’re saving the animals!” she says.   To mitigate an influx of wand donations, the refuge only accepts them twice a year. Luckily, six months to a year is about how long a mascara usually lasts anyway. You can send your spoolie brushes in October and April every year to the address below:   Appalachian Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 1211, Skyland, N.C. 28776   Quite unsurprisingly, Giulietti’s informative tip received 1.6 million views. Mascara-lovers were excited by the idea.   “This is a PSA we all need printed in big bold letters on the bottle,” one TikTok user said.   “Wouldn’t it be cool if mascara brands would advertise this or even include instructions and address labels?” another wrote.   “I do this but they only take them at certain times of the year. So stockpile!” one person suggested.   If you’re dying to get rid of those mascara wands ASAP, however, you can recycle them and other cosmetic packaging with TerraCycle.

Cult French clean skincare brand Caudalie has officially the opened the doors to its first Canadian flagship Boutique Spa in Toronto.   Called the Caudalie Hazelton House, the new 1,100 square foot boutique (located in Yorkville) includes a retail space as well as a spa that will offer a full range of Vinothrapie treatments. Given that the province is still currently in phase two of reopening, facial treatments are currently unavailable (these will be available for booking when Toronto enters phase three), however body treatments can be booked immediately. There are social distancing measurements in place, including allowing clients to use the skin scanner tool whilst guided by a therapist to analyze their skin needs and be given a personalized regimen, as well as the wearing of masks by staff and clients during treatments.   Design elements in the boutique have been inspired by vineyards in the brand’s home of Bordeaux, including a grapevine chandelier, white oak wine barrel merchandising fixtures and marble inspired by the tiles from the brand’s first spa. Plus, the brand has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty Caudalie products from consumers and keep waste to a minimum.   Speaking of the boutique’s opening, Caudalie’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas said, “Opening a flagship location in Toronto is an important milestone for Caudalie, one that we’ve been looking forward to for a while. The history, culture and energy of Toronto excited us to connect with this beautiful city, share our brand story and immerse Toronto into the DNA of Caudalie.”   After months of working from home, there’s probably never been a better time to book yourself in for a little (or a lot of) pampering.   To book your appointment, visit caudalie.ca or call 437 215 1267.

I mean yes, you can also totally watch the Netflix show and learn everything you need to know to get started! But the book's packed with extra motivation and tips. (Although I don't think it's the end-all be-all of how to live, I've used her system for my clothes and shoes, and it really does work.)   Get it from Amazon for $9.69, Barnes & Noble for $14.99, Indiebound, or find a copy at your local library.   (If the whole system seems a little — or very — impractical to you, though, I also recommend Rachel Hoffman's book, $12.65 on Amazon). Yes, basically you're paying for your stuff to be recycled (the reason your curbside collection doesn't take all of the things = recyclers want to make money. If they can't make money on it, then you have to pay for it to happen). Read more on Terracycle, and order a small "everything" box (well, almost everything) for $199, or a beauty products and packaging pouch for $41.   There are also tons of free recycling programs through Terracycle, where the companies pay for you to recycle the stuff you bought from them (that your municipal program won't accept). And these aren't only hippie/earthy brands! They include Brita (yes, the water filters and jugs), Colgate, eos, Febreeze, Hasbro Toys, and many others. Promising review: "I will never be a person that folds underwear. It's never going to happen. That photo that comes with this product? Not me. But a simple tool like this turned out to be what it takes just to know where things are. Left. Center. Middle. Any organizer made of cloth was out. I wanted something rigid but adjustable. If an organizer has soft sides, it's going to end up underneath the things it's supposed to be separating.   These fit firmly where I put them and there are no corners to snag clothing or hurt your hand on when you reach into the drawer. Well engineered product. I created three sections to my large top dresser drawer by adding the partitions front to back. I am so pleased with the difference that I am ordering two more sets so I can do my other drawers also.   These OXO dividers cost more than the flimsy ones, but if I wasn't able to buy these, I would just not buy organizers." —SeattleBookMama   Get a set of two on Amazon for $19.99. They also work well for dried rice and beans in the pantry; you can easily measure out exactly how much you need for a recipe. And you can use 'em one-handed: an easy press opens the pour spout, then you pour, and press again to close.   Promising review: "I will have to say these are the best food containers I have ever bought. I bought them for my cat food; they stay sealed up perfectly and they pour out great. They are very well built and sturdy." —Tamara   Get the pack of three on Amazon for $39.99. They're all sized and shaped to be as efficient with your shelf space as possible.   Promising review: "I never thought I would super organize my cabinets. I purchased these with the effort to reduce waste (using ziplocks etc) and extend the freshness/shelf life of my pantry items. I absolutely love them. This is the perfect starter kit for a smaller kitchen or family. Then purchase more when you realize which container sizes are best for you and your needs!" —SLTelescope   Get the pictured five-piece starter set on Amazon for $49.95 (available in eight different sets, with different sizes, depending on your needs).   Thumbnail image credits: 1, 2. Promising review: "I purchased this shredder three months ago. Love it!   I was looking for something basic for my home office.   Pros:   - Instead of cutting vertically ("strip-cutting"), this shredder chops the sheets both horizontally and vertically ("cross-cut"). Instead of having some long spaghettis of papers, you get some little pieces of spaghettis, much harder for somebody to infer the original content.   - Automatic mode: the shredder starts automatically when you insert a sheet (you can disable this behavior). It will stop on its own if you don't insert anything else.   - The security trigger locks the shredder as soon you remove the head from the bin.   - Transparent window to see through to know when to empty the bin.   - Not noisy and it doesn't take much room.   Cons: Nothing for now." —Andrew   Get it on Amazon for $40.99. (If you have lots of shredding to do though, you could even just bring it to your local UPS or FedEx store, where they'll take care of it for you.) Get them on Amazon for $7.99 each (available in ten colors). Reviewers love it for their home office or small office, and multiple teachers say they love it for organizing and separating the papers from each of their classes! Note that it fits 8.5x11 papers, but *not* regular-sized manila folders.   Promising review: "This was a perfect product for organizing my most important papers and business documents, in a way that would be easy to access and still look cute. I love the fact that I can fold it up and grab it and run with it if I need to. Great product, nice and sturdy." —Vanessa Green   Get it on Amazon for $12.48.   It holds 48 total bottles, 24 on each side, so you can always find the color you want with a single glance.   Promising review: "I bought this after trying a makeup style caboodle for polish and looking for many many more. This is better than advertised. ESSIE, OPI, POP-ARRAZI, SINFUL COLORS, SH INSTADRY, SH TRIPLE SHINE, SH XRREME WEAR, WET AND WILD, SH HARD AD NAILS and COVER GIRL all fit perfectly in the standard size boxes. My JULEP colors fit two in a compartment!   The first row has adjustable dividers, you can use them to keep odd-shaped bottles or do what I do: use one side for my nail stamper, dotting tools, and the drying drops and the other for foam wedges and nail pens. It looks way neater easily tucked under my vanity instead of the baskets and baskets of polishes I had to hunt through!" —Clouds   Get one on Amazon for $27.89. Ignoring the backward Apple logo (weird choice, Amazon seller): this may also help with your eyestrain and posture, by putting your screen at a more ergonomic height.   Promising review: "WONDERFUL product. Perfect height for my needs, sturdy construction, and it looks amazing. The drawers are surprisingly deeper than I was expecting, going the full depth of the stand and have enough height for three Xbox One games to lie flat in them. The under-riser space is tall enough and wide enough to fit my keyboard and my Gunnar gaming glasses with a bit of room left over. The cut out for your cups in the near right of the top I found to be a little small, and unless I put very short teacups there, actually interferes with my view of my monitor. Fits my Google Mini perfectly, though! Keep in mind this is NOT a veneer, this is through and through bamboo, so it will be a little heftier. This works for me, but if you've got a desk with a weight limit, it's something to consider. There IS a little cutout for cables in the back of the stand, but I can't comment on how effective it is because of my personal set up. It looks big enough to safely pass at least three HDMI cables and a standard monitor power cable through, though. —Terry B.   Get it on Amazon for $43.99. As reviewers note, these don't really work for high-heels over two inches tall (one reviewer made it work but you can tell the second heel isn't neatly stacked under the first; it's on its side). But they'll do wonders for the rest of your collection.   Promising review: "I love to be organized so when I came across the Shoe Slotz product to organize my shoes on the shelves in my closet, I was excited to try them. They were easy to set up and they work great! I still had more shoes that needed to be organized so I immediately ordered another box of 10. My shoe shelves look so organized now and this product solved a problem for me. Shoe Slotz are great and I highly recommend them." —Laurden2   Get a set of 10 on Amazon for $26.99. This is great for kids who leave stuff all over the house, because if their basket's very full, they can just carry it to their rooms to put things away (then bring it back to the stairs). And you don't have to deal with their clutter! From Sew Many Ways.   You could also set up a similar system using small basket drawers ($79.70 on Amazon), if you don't have stairs in your home. (Or use the basket system, just stack 'em elsewhere!) No kids but kind of clutter-y yourself? Try this system with a single basket, drop crap in as you find it, and dedicate 10 minutes every day to put stuff away.   Get a set of four medium-sized baskets that could work for this for $51.99 and a pack of 16 clip-on chalkboard labels (for writing each person's name!) for $9.97, both on Amazon. It comes with 11 labeled divider categories for easily getting and staying organized.   Promising review: "This is the best coupon holder I have ever had — it has plenty of categories as well as blank labels for you to tailor to your own requirements. It's sturdy and also fits over the bar of the shopping cart (although I avoid that as there are enough germs). I replaced an old one I have had for 20 years — this one is far superior and has already saved me the cost of it through the coupons that I now can find so quickly." —Book Ninja Get it on Amazon for $5.59. Promising review: "These work fantastic! I got two boxes (four bags total) and fit four king comforters, two pillow cases, one queen comforter, one twin comforter and one queen sheet set. I even could've added one more twin comforter if I had one. Now all of these are in our den behind the wall and sectional space! Ready for guests! I do put nice smelling fabric softener sheets in mine just to keep it fresh. You do have to be gentle with the zipper but it goes right back on if you're too hard on it." —Darling Harlet   Get a pack of six on Amazon for $15.56. This also works well for CDs, if you still have 'em laying around — and still listen to them.   Promising review: "I mean, this thing is HUGE! We got rid of all the dvd cases (OMG THAT WAS SOOOOO HARD! We agonized over doing it, but we're adults now. We don't NEED the cases with the pictures and the inserts and, you know, we need to maximize space and stuff. Just put all your DVDs in this binder and stop being so crazy hung up on the cases! We fell into a bit of a depression after throwing all those cases in the recycle bin. I made two batches of chocolate chip cookies to get us through. We're doing better now, thanks for asking.) and keep our DVDs in this thing. It really does save a bit of space. :)" —T&B   Get the 128-capacity binder for $15.99, or a bigger 400-capacity binder for $30.49, both on Amazon.   Well, not exactly half the space; it basically uses more of the vertical inches in your drawer, vs spreading out over the left and right.   Promising review: "I have a tiny kitchen with only three drawers, so space is at a premium. My silverware organizer took up almost all of one drawer, so this organizer is a godsend. You can fit quite a few spoons etc. in each slot. My beater attachments fit perfectly into the top two hollows. I will say I have to flip my forks over face down in order to be able to shut and open my drawer, but then the drawer itself is kind of shallow. You NEED this if you have a small kitchen with few drawers!" —mialro   Get it from Amazon for $6.79. You can either mount it to the wall or hang it over the door, and it comes with a lock, if you want to keep kids out of it!   Promising review: "Beautiful, sturdy armoire. The one thing people should be aware of: It's not very deep. I primarily bought this armoire for all my bulky bead necklaces, but the doors would not close, so I had to rethink my plans. I have a ton of necklaces, bangles, earrings, etc., so I was able to get them all in here and I really like how visible everything is! I originally wanted to purchase an armoire with drawers, but then you still have to search all the drawers to find what you're looking for. With this, I just open the door and voila! The lights go on as soon as you open the door, which is handy. It is also very low profile and lockable and I must say that it holds a lot." —Eucharia Pieraccini   Get it on Amazon for $129.99+ (available in five finishes). Promising review: "I initially wanted something that would screw into the bottom of the cabinet, but I'm finding out that I didn't need it. These shelves are sturdy and heavy. They are amazing easy to put together. The drawers slide in and out easily as well. I quadrupled my storage space. I have shelves under a 36-inch vanity. I am able to store tall cleaning products on the top shelf and scrub pads, etc. in the sliding drawer. BTW, one reviewer mentioned how smaller items might fall through the openings. I did run into this issue; however, I came up with a quick fix. For my drawer with smaller items, I just inserted a shoe box top into the drawer — keeps everything neat and prevents smaller items from falling through — problem solved!" —Amazon Customer   Get one on Amazon for $24.87 (available in chrome and bronze). Each of these comes with a stack of 10 index filing cards you can use for a simple labeling system, like separating out each of the year's vacations.   Promising review: "They're upscale sturdy shoe boxes that hold hundreds of my old 4x6 pictures. Comes with unattached lid and packet of large dividers to write on. I have three boxes and will purchase a few more. They work great stacking one on another and do not take up a lot of space. I like how neat and organized I have all my old photos now; I keep them on a bookshelf for family and other guest to pull out and reminisce over. Great conversation piece rather than leaving them hidden away in a closet as I had for years." —JoLa   Get them from Amazon (currently only available in a natural brown cardboard color) for $11.76 each — or get a similar product for $10.28+ each (available in eight colors). Promising review: "This product is fantastic! It was easy to mount and hanging things is a breeze. My house is very old with no extra closet or pantry space. I needed to clean up the dreaded corner of shovels and a mop. Luckily this product was able to do that — and it comes with hooks. Since it's hung by my back door in the kitchen I can hang my aprons and purse on it. This little piece is very sturdy and so are those little hooks. My double-zippered purse is full of weight and it holds like a charm. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's just looking for a sensible option." —Shellybeenz   Get it on Amazon for $14.99. It also works well as a pretty bench at the end of any bed to store things like sheets and blankets.   Promising review: "Great quality. I've had this item for almost two years and use it as a footstool in front of my sofa. It hides games that I use often and my laptop. Minimal wear/tear and easy to clean!" —Mindy Phillips   Get it on Amazon for $137.38+ (also available in brown leather and light grey. If you're on a super tight budget, also check out this well-reviewed dark grey ottoman, $50.31 on Amazon).  

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — In an ongoing effort to make Bloomfield a more environmentally conscious and sustainable community, the township has purchased and installed two “Zero Waste Boxes” for residents to recycle used water filters. The boxes have been installed at the DPW at 230 Grove St. and the Municipal Building at 1 Municipal Plaza, first floor.   “Our township has put in a great deal of effort over the past several years into making Bloomfield a more environmentally friendly and sustainable community,” Mayor Michael Venezia said. “These zero-waste boxes will allow for residents to responsibly dispose of used water filters so that they do not end up in a landfill. I commend our DPW and recycling committee for their leadership in bringing this to Bloomfield.”   Residents may recycle their used water filters at the DPW on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or the Municipal Building during regular business hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.   “The introduction of this program illustrates the passion of the members of the recycling committee in coordination with our DPW and Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department to support initiatives that are environmentally sustainable for our community,” Councilmember Nicholas Joanow said. “Our recycling coordinator, Louise Palagano, needs to be acknowledged for her leadership in providing another valuable service from the recycling committee for our residents.”   “The TerraCycle zero-waste boxes provide an easy way for people to recycle items, such as water filters, that are currently not accepted in our town’s curbside recycling program,” recycling committee member George Drossinos said. “This is part of our town’s effort to increase the diversion of hard-to-recycle items away from landfills.”