Would you like to try the most powerful waste reduction search tool ever produced for our community? Our Zero Waste Wizard will have you believing in magic again! Simply type the name of any material into the Zero Waste Wizard, and instantly get information about drop-off locations, including hours, a map, and directions. The best part is that it’s all presented in a hierarchy prioritizing repair and donation, recycling, and disposal.
Try out the Zero Waste Wizard online at gainesvillefl.gov/WasteWizard. The all-powerful Zero Waste Wizard offers:
A collection of over 400 searchable materials.- Specific instructions for preparing materials different materials.
- An expanded and constantly evolving list of local reuse, donation, repair, sell & trade, and service options.
- Detailed information on each location, including hours open, a viewable map, and one-click directions.
- Translation into many languages, including Spanish & Chinese.
- Accessibility on mobile devices, so users can quickly look up materials on the go.
- The ability for users to offer material search suggestions.
Gainesville neighbors do a great job recycling, composting, and diverting waste from landfills. The new Zero Waste Wizard will make it even easier to determine what items can be recycled and reused. The Zero Waste Wizard will help support the City’s efforts to divert waste from our landfills.
Appreciating Our Refuse Collection Crews: A Job Well Done
Behind every clean street and tidy neighborhood is a group of unsung heroes – the refuse collection crews. Every week, they brave early mornings, inclement weather, and challenging conditions to keep our communities clean and safe. While we may take their work for granted, it’s important to recognize the dedication and effort that goes into this vital service.
Refuse collection is no easy task. Workers handle heavy loads, endure unpleasant odors, and navigate through all kinds of weather, from sweltering heat to freezing cold. It’s physically demanding and often done at the crack of dawn, ensuring that our streets are spotless before we even start our day.
The work can also be dangerous, with workers having to stay vigilant around moving traffic, sharp objects, and large machinery.
As a community, we can show our appreciation in small but meaningful ways. A friendly wave, a “thank you” as they go about their work, or even leaving a small token of gratitude like a nice card can make a big difference. These simple gestures remind our refuse crews that their hard work is recognized and valued.
By showing appreciation, we not only brighten their day but also foster a sense of respect and community spirit. Let’s take a moment to thank these hardworking individuals who help keep our world clean, one bin at a time. Share your appreciation for their hard work with @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram.
What is Zero Waste?
Have you ever heard people use the term ‘Zero Waste” but really weren’t sure what that meant? How can there be ‘zero waste’ anyway?
According to the Zero Waste International Alliance’s (ZWIA) peer reviewed definition, Zero Waste is “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of all products, packaging, and materials without burning them and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
Just what does all of that mean, and how can you do your part?
Responsible production – We can’t change what companies do, but we can “vote with our dollar” and support local, typically smaller companies, like at the farmers’ market.
Consumption – Do I really need a free water bottle, even though I brought my own reusable one?
Reuse – Before throwing it away or even recycling it, can I use it again? Recycling a glass jar is great, but using it as a jar repeatedly is infinitely more practical and less wasteful.
Recovery – Roughly 50% of our waste stream consists of valuable resources we can put to good use to good use by recycling.
Without burning (burning trash) – also known as “Waste-to-Energy,” which can release harmful substances, such as PFAS, to the land, water, and air. These substances can harm our land, water, animals around us, the food we eat, and our health.
We may never reduce waste all the way to zero, but we can follow the Zero Waste hierarchy and do our best for our planet, its resources, and our health.
If you’d like to keep learning about international Zero Waste efforts, please check out zwia.org. For local Zero Waste, gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste and @ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram have got you covered.
Setting Up a Home Zero Waste System - Start Small and Build Sustainable Habits
With the rising popularity of Zero Waste, we all want to know how we can join the party. It turns out it’s easier than we thought, and we can do our part right here at home.
The greatest contributions to the Zero Waste movement are the ones we can sustain – day in and day out – and the ones that don’t cost us anything. So, before you run out and buy the latest gadgets and greenwashed doodads, you’re already reducing waste by starting with what you have at home.
- Be scrappy – your food scraps are more than just a single-use item. Bones, vegetable peels, and other inedible parts of food can be used as a soup starter or bone broth. Keep a small container or bag in your freezer, and put scraps in after every meal. When it gets full, make vegetable broth. Don’t let those good nutrients go to waste! After you make broth, the scraps can be further processed in a backyard compost pile, leaving the nutrients in circulation for the continued benefit of your environment.
- Be water-wise – for many, modern life means an abundance of fresh, clean, potable water. Unfortunately, this can cause us to take this precious resource for granted. Start by turning on the water only while you’re using it – no more letting the water run down the drain while you brush your teeth. For the next level, consider the benefits a greywater system might bring.
- Box it up – collect your recyclables in a small box on the kitchen counter, under the sink, or near the trash can. Setting up a space for your recyclables indoor – one you’ll actually see – increases the chance of recycling more of our precious resources, like metal, glass, and paper.
Home is where the heart is, and it’s also where the best Zero Waste changes can take place. Make gainesvillefl.gov/ZeroWaste your home away from home, and follow ZeroWasteGNV on Facebook and Instagram