Volunteer for Change: A Guide to Environmental Community ... · volunteer projects related to solid...

United States EPA530-K-01-002Environmental Protection May 2001Agency www.epa.gov/osw

Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5305)

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ContentsRReeuussee PPrroojjeeccttssOne Student’s Trash is Another Student’s TreasureUniversity of Richmond: Richmond,Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Volunteers Save the Environment and Help the DisadvantagedLearn Shop, Inc.: Montgomery County, Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Refurbished and Reused Computers Improve LivesShare the Technology: Rancocas, New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Aiding the Sick and Helping the EnvironmentThe RACORSE Network and HomeCARES: Oakland, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Creative Reuse Benefits CommunityThe Resource Center: Chicago, Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

RReeccyycclliinngg PPrroojjeeccttssKentucky Homemakers Go Back to SchoolAllen County Homemakers Association: Allen County, Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Recycling Aluminum Cans Helps Students SucceedCans for Kids: Southport, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Volunteers Demonstrate Innovative Ways to RecycleKeep America Beautiful Midlands: Columbia, South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

CCoommppoossttiinngg PPrroojjeeccttssMaster Composters Provide Valuable ServiceAlameda County Waste Management Authority: Alameda County, California . . . . . . . . .11

Evergreen Students Turn Garbage Into GoldThe Evergreen State College: Olympia,Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

HHoouusseehhoolldd HHaazzaarrddoouuss WWaassttee PPrroojjeeccttssGrassroots Efforts Blossom Into County-Sponsored ProgramCity of Tucson/Pima County Household Hazardous Waste Program:Tucson,Arizona . .13

Generations Unite for Spring House “Greening”Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Spokane County: Spokane,Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

RReessoouurrcceess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

GGlloossssaarryy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Contacts listed in this document are current as of the printing date. Note thatphone numbers and Web site addresses can change frequently.


WWeellccoommee ttoo tthhee wwoorrlldd ooff vvoolluunntteeeerriissmm aanndd ccoomm--mmuunniittyy sseerrvviiccee!! Whether you’re an experienced volunteer orlooking to participate in service projects for the first time,many

benefits and opportunities await you.Volunteerism provides people with theopportunity to enjoy new experiences,meet new people, learn new skills,and put ideas and talents to work.Most importantly, volunteerism allowspeople to make a difference in their community.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a federal governmentagency whose mission is to protect human health and the natural environ-ment. EPA’s Office of Solid Waste (OSW) is committed to ensuring theresponsible management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste. OSW’sgoals are to conserve resources by preventing waste, reduce waste that can-not be prevented, and ensure that all waste is properly disposed of.

OSW is also committed to furthering its education and outreach efforts bypromoting volunteerism and community service programs to people of allages.Through a variety of service projects, people throughout the countryare realizing that one of the most powerful ways to learn about wastereduction, recycling, and composting is through hands-on experience.

AAbboouutt TThhiiss BBooookklleett

This booklet contains just a few examples ofvolunteer projects related to solid waste man-agement. Many other community groups andorganizations exist throughout the UnitedStates. We hope these stories will inspire and

motivate you to participate in a localvolunteer program or evenstart one of your own.

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The ABCs of VolunteeringWhen selecting a volunteer opportunity, consider the following criteria:

• The types of activities are you good at and like to do.

• What you would most like to learn by volunteering.

• Whether you want an ongoing, regularly scheduled assignment, ashort-term assignment, or a one-time assignment.

• Whether you want to work alone, with a group, or with a friend or fam-ily members.

• What kind of people you want to work with—both in terms of who isreceiving services and who your co-workers might be.

• Whether you are willing to participate in a training course or want tostart your volunteer work immediately.

If you’ve decided you want to help out with the issue of solid waste, includ-ing waste reduction, recycling, composting, or household hazardous waste,consider contacting the following types of organizations:

• Your municipality’s solid waste management program, recycling cen-ters, or special household hazardous waste collection sites.

• The Master Composter, Master Recycler, or Master Gardener program inyour community.

• The 4-H or Cooperative Extension offices in your local community oryour state.

• The local Volunteer Office in your community.

• Local college or university environmental groups.

• National environmental organizations with branches in your area.

• Local environmental groups.

• Organizations listed in the Resources section of this booklet.

To find these groups, use the local phone book orthe Internet, call specific organizations and askwhether they are looking for volunteers, and checkcommunity bulletin boards, local newspapers, andspecialty magazines.

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When Lisa Heller and her student volunteers at the University of Richmondorganized their first “recycle sale” in 1999, they had no idea how popular itwould be. What started as a small campus event has now blossomed into

a national effort, with programs springing up at college campuses nationwide andthe initiative being featured in The New York Times and People magazine.

Now operating under the guidance ofHeller’s nonprofit organization known as“Dump and Run,” these volunteer-run eventsrecover valuable items students hastily dis-card at the end of the school year and resellthem to new students in the fall.“Merchandise”at these sales runs the gamutfrom televisions,VCRs, and computers to fur-niture, designer clothes, and unused toi-letries. Profits from the sales, as well as anyunsold items, are donated to charity.

Student volunteers print flyers to pro-mote the event, place collection boxes incommon areas, and use rental trucks to col-lect and transport the materials to a storage facility on campus.Volunteers sort dona-tions into categories and then organize and hold the yard sale.

Although the program is enjoying great success and is normally well-received, stu-dent volunteers at Richmond pointed out several challenges:

• Many people assume that if items are trash to them,they’re trash to everyone,andthey don’t bother to put perfectly good,useful items into the donation boxes.

• The most common item that students donate is clothes. It isimportant to educate the community thatother items are also salvageable.

• The community supportsthe recycle sales, butsome university pub-lic relations staffmembers might besensitive to badpress about howwasteful theirstudents are.

Contact:Dump and RunLisa HellerP.O. Box 397Brooksfield, MA 01506

Phone: 508 579-7188

Web site: <www.dumpandrun.org>

E-mail: <[email protected]>

One Student’s Trash is

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With the mad rush to leave school on the last day of classes, students oftenleave unneeded items in their lockers.To prevent these materials fromending up in landfills, 35 middle schools in Montgomery County,

Maryland, agreed to participate in an annual effort to recover and reuse items aban-doned in lockers and give them to needy students elsewhere.

Program organizer Louise Newcomer createdthe “Drive for Locker Supplies”program, which shesees as a creative way to address both environ-mental and educational issues.After the last dayof classes in 1999, she organized local volun-teers—including some students—to return toschools to clean out what remained in students’lockers. In the program’s first year, volunteers col-lected an estimated $50,000 worth of notebooks,pencils, calculators, and other miscellaneousitems, including a closet full of unclaimed coats.

The school system provides packaging sup-plies and storage facilities for the recovered

items. Newcomer arranges to transport the usablegoods to underprivileged students in other states.“Many people don’t realize thatschools less than an hour away do not have even the most basic items such aspaper, pencils, and rulers,”Newcomer said. Newcomer also sends some supplies toother countries, such as Nicaragua and the Phillippines.

“We’re helping students in other schools, helping ourown schools divert massive quantities of trash from thesanitation system—which reduces their dis-posal costs—and we’re helping the envi-ronment by preventing waste,”Newcomer said.

Although this endeavor is the firstof its kind in any public school system,Newcomer believes the programcould easily be replicated inschools across the countrybecause they all experiencethe same glut of “trash”at theschool year’s end.

Volunteers Save the Environment

and Help the DisadvantagedLLeeaarrnn SShhoopp,, IInncc..:: MMoonnttggoommeerryy CCoouunnttyy,, MMaarryyllaanndd

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Contact:Rev. Kevin and Louise Newcomer Learn Shop, Inc.P.O. Box 1754 Wheaton, MD 20915-1754

Phone: 301 942-1074 Fax: 301 942-1329

Web site: <www.learnshop.org>


In 1995, Barry Cranmer wanted to donate a computer that he no longer neededinstead of throwing it away.“It was a perfectly good machine,”he said,“but Ididn’t know how to locate someone who would benefit from it.”Believing others

might be in the same situation, Cranmer started Share theTechnology.

This project has two components. First,volunteers salvage used computers by repair-ing, upgrading, and donating them to non-profit organizations, schools, the elderly,low-income families, and people with disabil-ities.A network of 20 volunteers operates inthe group’s New Jersey workshop. Oncevolunteers refurbish the computers, theywork with recipient organizations to set upthe equipment. Ultimately, Cranmer wouldlike to establish a broader network of volunteersto provide in-depth training for recipients and otherswho lack basic computer skills.

The second component is a national database of people seeking and donatingused equipment.“We’re matchmakers—we give people the opportunity to find eachother,”Cranmer said. More than 2,400 individualsand organizations have posted donation requeststo the database.

In addition to helping the environment, Sharethe Technology provides a broader social bene-fit.“Our volunteers help decrease the gapbetween the technological haves and have-notsby providing entry-level computers to needyorganizations,”Cranmer said.

Ironically, the greatest challenge the projectfaces stems from its success: lack of a permanenthome. Due to the number of donations received,the organization requires additional space forprocessing and storing the equipment.“We're even turning down donations ofPentium computers,” remarked Cranmer. Resolving this issue is a top priority for theorganization, he said.

Refurbished and Reused

Computers Improve LivesSShhaarree tthhee TTeecchhnnoollooggyy:: RRaannccooccaass,, NNeeww JJeerrsseeyy

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Contact:Barry Cranmer Share the Technology

Phone: 856 234-6156

Web site:<www.sharetechnology.org>


As a surgical nurse in Oakland, California, Liisa Nenonen was dismayed bythe amount of waste generated by the medical community and wonderedhow it could be recovered and reused. In 1994, Nenonen established

RACORSE (Recycling,Allocation, and Conservation of Operating Room Suppliesand Equipment).

One of the organization’s most successful programs is Home CARES (Collection& Redistribution of Equipment and Supplies).Volunteers from this program collectnew and used home health care and medical equipment and supplies donated byhospitals, doctors offices, and individuals—everything from hospital beds to walk-ing canes. Nenonen and her volunteers then distribute these items to uninsured,

disadvantaged, ill, and elderly people.

According to Nenonen, the program’s success liesin the quantity of supplies that exist and the lack ofadequate disposal methods. Nenonen explained thatonce someone has recovered from an illness or died,many families are unsure of what to do with theirloved one’s medical equipment. Many popular dona-tion agencies frequently will not accept medicalequipment. Because such a great demand exists,Home CARES is inun-dated with supplies.

A network of vol-unteers help make Home CARES a success.Some manage donation sites, while othershelp run the office. In addition, more than300 occupational therapists volunteer onbehalf of their clients to pick up equip-ment from the donation center. In thefuture, Nenonen hopes additional volun-teers will assist picking up and deliveringequipment.

In addition to running the Home CARES pro-gram, RACORSE also donates excess medicalsupplies to international relief organizations andrecovers discarded surgical containers for artclasses in inner-city schools in a project thatNenonen calls “School Saves.”

Aiding the Sick and

Helping the EnvironmentTThhee RRAACCOORRSSEE NNeettwwoorrkk aanndd HHoommee CCAARREESS::OOaakkllaanndd,, CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa

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Contact:Liisa NenonenRACORSE Network2619 Broadway, Room 207Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: 510 251-2273


Whether it’s glass, rubber, wood, paper,pencils, or a variety of other materials,Chicago communities depend on the

Creative Reuse Warehouse—staffed by volun-teers—to meet their art supply needs in an envi-ronmentally friendly fashion.

Donated primarily by nearby industries thatwould otherwise throw these items away, the artsupplies are usually leftover, imperfect, or over-stocked items.Volunteers play a key role in oper-ating this waste prevention program by pickingup the donated materials and transporting themback to the warehouse in addition to recording,stocking, and shelving all donated items.

The demand for these materials—many of which would be dramatically moreexpensive in art supply stores—is immense.“Teachers and artists are most gratefulfor this opportunity and obtain a large percentage of their supplies from us, buteven other members of the community benefit from the materials we offer,” staffmember Kristine Greiber explained.

Despite the success of the program, the warehouse faces several challenges,many of them financial.The nominal fees received for materials are

absorbed by operational costs.The warehouse continues tostruggle to find funding for a permanent home and to

create outreach materials to help spread theword.

The warehouse is one of eightprojects currently run by the

Chicago Resource Center, an areanonprofit organization.The centerbegan more than 30 years ago with abasic recycling program—the old-

est and longest-runningrecycling program inChicago.

Contact:Kristine GreiberCreative Reuse Warehouse 721 W. O’Brien StreetChicago, IL 60607

Phone: 312 421-3640

Web site: <www.resourcecenterchicago.org>

Creative Reuse Benefits

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Volunteers from the Allen County Homemakers Association (ACHA) workedwith its environmental committee to educate K-5 students about recyclingduring Kentucky’s 1999 Clean-Up Week.

A team of five retired teachers delivered short presentations on the benefits ofrecycling to more than 50 classrooms and 1,500 students during the week.They alsoexplained the types of materials that could be recycled locally. In addition, volun-teers taught the students about the value of reusing materials,including the importance of sharing items with others, partic-ularly those in need.

The students got an A for their efforts.Through informal classroom evaluations, 90percent of students demonstrated anincreased awareness of the importanceof recycling and could name the types ofrecyclables collected at the local recy-cling center.

Volunteers were confident that their reuse andrecycling messages would extend beyond theclassroom, too.“The kids get so excited,”said vol-unteer Patty Hogue.“They will go home and talkto their parents about recycling tonight.”Thehomemakers also prepared parents’ packets con-sisting of free collection bags and an information-al brochure on recycling.

In addition, local newspapers, television, andradio helped publicize the event, further spread-

ing the recycling message throughout the county.The extensive media coveragealso raised expectations that the program will be continued next year.

In addition to visiting local schools,ACHA members recently organized a com-munity “Recycling Days” to further boost collection efforts. More than 130 volunteershelped plan and conduct the event, during which residents competed to see whocould accumulate the most recyclables in the county’s blue bags.

Kentucky Homemakers

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Contact:Janet JohnsonAllen County Extension Service201 W. Main Street-CourthouseScottsville, KY 42164-0355

Phone: 270 237-3146


In 1995, Linda Vereen had an idea to motivate her community, save the environ-ment, and provide an incentive for local students to stay in school.The projectitself was not unusual—collecting and selling aluminum cans—but Vereen never

imagined the project would be so successful.

The project began as a small effort—Vereencollected one bag of cans from her neighbors torecycle.Word spread and Vereen soon becameinundated with cans.After approaching a localaluminum manufacturer,Vereen secured largedonation containers and arranged for the com-pany to buy back the cans from the community.

Within a short time,Vereen and her growingnetwork of supporters collected 250,000 cans.Since the project’s inception, more than 7 millioncans have been recycled and “Cans for Kids”hasraised $60,000 for local students.

All of the money raised from this venture is donated via scholarships to graduat-ing high school seniors.According to Vereen,“The scholarship is intended toencourage students to stay in school and inspire them to continue on to college.”

But the benefits of the program are even more widespread. Originally, the countyprovided a recycling collection bin for the community, but Cans for Kids offeredmore bins in more accessible places, superceding the need for the county’s serviceand saving the county money.

Despite the apparent success of the program, there havebeen many challenges,Vereen said.“Since we give all

of our money to the students, we don’t have anyfunds for advertising and outreach,”she said.Several volunteer clearinghouses are working to

change that by helping the organ-ization locate volunteers todesign outreach materials,including a revamped Website.

Recycling Aluminum Cans

Helps Students SucceedCCaannss ffoorr KKiiddss:: SSoouutthhppoorrtt,, NNoorrtthh CCaarroolliinnaa

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Contact:Linda VereenCans for Kids

Phone: 910 278-9801

Web site:<www.cans4kids.com>


Volunteers for the Midlands division of Keep America Beautiful (KAB)engage in a number of creative projects designed to reduce the amount ofwaste deposited in local landfills.Two of the most successful examples are

featured below.

Telephone Book Recycling

For the past 10 years, volunteers have participated in a program to recycle usedtelephone books at the beginning of each year. KAB established an agreement witha local merchant that recycles the books into insulation, wallboard, and other pack-ing materials. In 2000, volunteers collected more than 20 tons of books.

KAB Midlands Director Mary-Pat Balbauf explained that since the beginning ofthe initiative, volunteers have played an integral role in the program.They help pub-licize the event and coordinate pickups and drop-offs of the books.

The only difficulty Balbuaf encounters with this project is the need to preventthe telephone books from getting wet.“Once they’re wet, they’re useless to the com-pany,”she said.

Grinding of the Greens

In most communities, people simply discardtheir Christmas trees at the end of the holidayseason. KAB Midlands volunteers, however,devised a way to recycle and reuse them. EachChristmas, volunteers help collect discarded treesat several area drop-off sites.The trees are thenground into mulch and made available to thepublic free of charge.

During this event,volunteers help direct trafficthrough drop-off sites, load mulch into people’scars,and help the grinders.Balbauf estimated thatmore than 120 volunteers assist at all the sites.

During the program’s 7-year history, more than100,000 trees have been diverted from local landfills.According to Balbauf, that’sequivalent to the space occupied by 44 average-size homes.

Balbauf is extremely pleased with the success of both of these programs andbelieves they can be replicated across the country.“They are a great way to educatepeople about recycling the types of items most wouldn’t normally consider recycla-ble,”she said.

Volunteers Demonstrate

Innovative Ways to RecycleKKeeeepp AAmmeerriiccaa BBeeaauuttiiffuull MMiiddllaannddss:: CCoolluummbbiiaa,, SSoouutthh CCaarroolliinnaa

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Contact:Keep America Beautiful Midlands930 Richland StreetP.O. Box 1360Columbia, SC 29202

Phone: 803 733-1139Fax: 803 733-1149

Web site:<www.kabmidlands.org>


Alameda County offers its residents a variety of opportunities to “dig in”andbecome experts in the art and science of composting. Members of the com-munity have shown particular interest in the Master Composter Program. In

8 years, the program has trained more than 200 community compost trainers fromall ages and backgrounds.

Master Composters receive training in home-composting, organic gardening, andpublic speaking by participating in classroom presentations, field trips, and hands-on learning experiences such as building compost bins.

Before they can become certified as MasterComposters, volunteers perform more than 50 hoursof community service.The program requires that par-ticipants design and implement their own communi-ty outreach project. From building compost piles incommunity gardens, to teaching children aboutdecomposition and setting up projects to recycleinstitutional food scraps, volunteers work on a grass-roots level to educate others in the community.

According to the county, the average home com-poster recycles between 600 and 750 pounds ofmaterial per year that would otherwise end up in alandfill.According to program organizer JenniferTetrine, home composting is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep organic materials out of land-fills because it requires no mechanical collection,processing, or transportation.

The Master Composter Program is part of a larger home composting initiativesponsored by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and RecyclingBoard.The county promotes composting at home by offering free classes, low-costcompost bins, and compost demonstration gardens. Since 1991,Alameda’s compost-ing program has educated more than 13,000 adults and more than 38,000 schoolchildren and has sold more than 42,000 compost bins.

Master Composters Provide

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Contact:Jennifer TetrineAlameda County Waste Management AuthoritySource Reduction & Recycling Board777 Davis Street, Suite 100San Leandro, CA 94577

Phone: 510 614-1699Fax: 510 614-1698

Web site: <www.stopwaste.org/mcp.html>


Agroup of dedicated volunteers at Evergreen State College successfullylaunched the school’s first composting initiative in 1998.Today, theEvergreen Compost Project, which collects and processes organic wastes

generated on campus, is still run entirely by student volunteers.

Students performed all the legwork to establish a composting facility on thecampus, including:

• Facilitating forums to evaluate residents’ needs.• Characterizing the campus’ organic waste stream.• Preparing a cost analysis of various composting options and comparing

them to current landfill practices.• Securing the funding to construct a permanent on-site composting facility.The initiative required students to work with many different departments on

campus, but this coordination ultimately enabled the volunteers to address the spe-cific needs of each group and design a more holistic system. For example, theHousing Facilities Department provided materials and advice on how to work with

other campus representatives.The Facilities, Groundsand Maintenance Department provided waste dis-posal records and information to help students con-duct the cost analysis.

Once students established the groundwork, theyworked to educate and involve school administra-tors, department officials, housing residents, andfood service employees in implementing the projectand ensuring its success.Volunteers provided eachcampus housing resident with a "How to Compost atEvergreen" pamphlet and conducted door-to-doorvisits to answer questions and evaluate the program’seffectiveness.

In addition to implementing the on-campus program, the student volunteershave held composting workshops and conducted outreach to neighboring commu-nities.

Evergreen Students Turn

Garbage Into GoldTThhee EEvveerrggrreeeenn SSttaattee CCoolllleeggee:: OOllyymmppiiaa,, WWaasshhiinnggttoonn

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Contact:The Evergreen State CollegeCommunity Gardens Office2700 Evergreen Parkway,NW.Olympia,WA 98505

Phone: 360 866-6000 x6145

Web site: www.evergreen.edu


Residents from the city of Tucson and the larger area of Pima County,Arizona,are more than just participants in the city’s recycling program—they are therecycling program. Not only did volunteers in this community start the initial

recycling program, but they also initiated a household hazardous waste (HHW) col-lection program.

The idea for HHW collection began in Tucson in 1986when a group of citizen volunteers joined together to pro-tect children’s health and the environment from hazardous

materials.The volunteers held their first collec-tion in the parking lot of the TucsonConvention Center.

Due to the overwhelming participationand interest in the program, the Pima County

Department of Environmental Quality steppedin to lend support and launched the official

HHW program in 1989.The county created severalpermanent staff positions to operate the program, and in

1990, it opened a permanent collection facility for thecommunity.To further increase participation, the county

later opened several satellite collection sites throughout theTucson metropolitan area.

Volunteers still play a vital role in implement-ing the program. In fact, in recent years, more than170 volunteers participated—either by greetingpeople at the collection sites, helping peopleunload their vehicles, or processing materials forrecycling, reuse, redistribution, and safe treatmentand disposal. In addition to their on-site work, vol-unteers provide education programs to publicschool children and civic groups. By encouragingpeople to take leftover HHW to collection sites forrecycling, reuse, redistribution, or proper disposal,and educating people about the use of safer alter-natives whenever possible, volunteers try to instill aresponsible approach to managing HHW.

Grassroots Efforts Blossom Into

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Contact:Frank BoneaCity of Tucson/Pima CountyHousehold Hazardous WasteProgram130 W. Congress Tucson,AZ 85701-1317

Phone: 520 740-3340

Web site:www.deq.co.pima.az.us/waste/househol.htm


It isn’t easy being green—especially for retired people and seniors.That’s why theRetired and Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Spokane County mobilizedvolunteers to educate and assist seniors and disabled individuals with proper

disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW).

According to RSVP coordinator Susan Russell,seniors generally have the largest accumulation ofHHW because they frequently remain at the sameresidence for many years and might be unable totransport this waste easily to a collection site.Accumulating these products presents environmen-tal and safety hazards, including accidental poison-ing and fire damage.

In response to this situation, RSVP teamed upwith the county health and solid waste departmentsto sponsor the first “Spring House Greening.”Anintergenerational team of RSVP members worked inconjunction with other volunteers to inform elderlyresidents about identifying HHW. During the “green-ing”event, volunteers visited homes and collectedcommon household wastes such as batteries,antifreeze, insecticides, paints, cleaners, and disin-fectants. RSVP’s 2000 event reached 9,000 house-holds and 70,000 people.Volunteers collected 2.5

tons of HHW, or about 9,000 items, including718 gallons of paint and 25 car batteries from150 households.

The Spring House Greeningsucceeded not only because ofthe number of items collecteddoor-to-door, but also because ofthe number and diversity of peo-ple dropping off HHW at collec-tion sites in the weeks followingthe event and the number ofpeople calling the HHW hot-line for informationincreased substantially.

Contact:Susan RussellRSVP of Spokane County507 N. HarvardSpokane,WA 99201-0898

Phone: 509 344-7787Fax: 509 343-4096

Web site:www.ymcaspokane.org/rsvp.htm

E-mail:[email protected]

Generations Unite for

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AAccttiioonn WWiitthhoouutt BBoorrddeerrss350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6614 New York, NY 10118 Phone: 212 843-3973 Fax: 212 564-3377 <www.idealist.org>

This organization maintains an Internetdatabase, Idealist, which currently boaststhe most detailed community of nonprofitand volunteering resources on the Web.Information is provided by 20,000 organi-zations in 140 countries.Volunteers cansearch for opportunities based on a vari-ety of criteria, including their area of inter-est, geographic location, or the duration oftime they are available.

CCaammppuuss OOuuttrreeaacchh OOppppoorrttuunniittyy LLeeaagguuee((CCOOOOLL))37 Temple Place, Suite 401Boston, MA 02111Phone: 617 695-2665Fax: 617 695-0022<www.cool2serve.org>

Founded in 1984, COOL is a national non-profit organization devoted to the educa-tion and empowerment of collegestudents to strengthen the nation through

community service.COOL offers a databaseof searchable volun-teer projects, as wellas resources, confer-ences, and scholar-

ships forvolunteers.

CCiittiizzeennss’’ EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaallCCooaalliittiioonn33 Central AvenueAlbany, NY 12210Phone: 518 462-5527Fax: 518 465-8349<www.cectoxic.org>

The Citizens’EnvironmentalCoalition is a statewideenvironmental organiza-tion that aims to eliminate pol-lution in the state of New York.Volunteerswork to empower, educate, and assist oth-ers who are concerned about environ-mental problems and to eliminate solidwaste and create healthier communities.

CCiittyy CCaarreess1605 Peachtree Street, Suite 100Atlanta, GA 30309Phone: 404 875-7334Fax: 404 253-1020<www.citycares.org>

Local Cares organizations were formed tomake volunteering possible for even thebusiest individual. In cities large andsmall, 22 Cares groups have been estab-lished, and four more are currently beingformed.

CCoorrppoorraattiioonn ffoorr NNaattiioonnaall SSeerrvviiccee1201 New York Avenue, NW.Washington, DC 20525Phone: 202 606-5000<www.cns.gov>

National service partnerships offer oppor-tunities for businesses, foundations, non-

Resources

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profits, educational institutions, local andstate governments, and others to extendtheir reach and further their effect on com-munities.The Corporation for NationalService currently has three main service ini-tiatives—Learn and Serve America,AmeriCorps, and the National Senior ServiceCorps—as well partnerships with othernational organizations.

EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall AAlllliiaannccee ffoorr SSeenniioorrIInnvvoollvveemmeenntt ((EEAASSII))P.O. Box 250Catlett,VA 22019-0250Phone: 540 788-3274Fax: 540 788-9301<www.easi.org>

EASI’s mission is to build, promote, and uti-lize the environmental ethic, expertise, andcommitment of older adults to expand citi-zen involvement in protecting and caringfor the environment. In addition to providinginformation on senior environmental pro-grams, EASI publishes a quarterly newsletteras well as a resource guide to national proj-ects.

TThhee HHeeaarrtt ooff AAmmeerriiccaa FFoouunnddaattiioonn201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.Suite C5Washington, DC 2002Phone: 202 546-3256Fax: 202 546-3257<www.heartofamerica.org>

The Heart of AmericaFoundation is a nationalhumanitarian network thatcelebrates, honors, andempowers both young peo-ple and adults. One of their ini-tiatives, Heart Corps, is a college scholarshipprogram that rewards students with finan-cial credits for their future education basedon time volunteered for community service.Heart Corps gives students an opportunityto nourish their self-esteem, improve theirneighborhoods, and earn financial creditstoward their education through serving theircommunities.

KKeeeepp AAmmeerriiccaa BBeeaauuttiiffuull ((KKAABB))1010 Washington BoulevardStamford, CT 06901Phone: 202 323-8987Fax: 203 325-9199<www.kab.org>

KAB is a nonprofit organization whose net-work of local, state, and international affili-ate programs educates individuals aboutlitter prevention and ways to reduce, reuse,recycle, and properly manage waste materi-als.Their programs focus on enabling localvolunteers to acquire the skills, tools, andresources to work together in building quali-ty communities.Through partnerships andstrategic alliances with citizens, businesses,and government, KAB’s programs motivatemillions of volunteers annually to clean up,beautify, and improve their neighborhoods,thereby creating healthier, safer, and moreliveable community environments.

NNaattiioonnaall WWiillddlliiffee FFeeddeerraattiioonn ((NNWWFF))Campus Ecology Program11100 Wildlife Center DriveReston,VA 20190-5362Phone: 703 438-6000<www.nwf.org/campusecology/index.html>

Since its founding in 1989, NWF’s CampusEcology Program has become a corner-stone conservation initiative in higher edu-

cation.The program works totransform the nation’s college

campuses into living models ofan ecologically sustainable

society, to train a new gener-ation of environmentalleaders, and to ensure a

strong future for America'senvironmental movement.

Its primary goal is to reducethe need to “reinvent the wheel”of

environmental action from campus to cam-pus by communicating to campus organiz-ers what other environmental leaders havealready learned. NWF’s Web site features a“yearbook”of successful programs andactivities.

16


PPooiinnttss ooff LLiigghhtt FFoouunnddaattiioonn1400 I Street, NW., Suite 800Washington, DC 20005Phone: 202 729-8000Fax: 202 729-8100<www.pointsoflight.org>

The Points of Light Foundation’s mission isto engage more people more effectively involunteer community service to help solveserious social problems.The Foundation,among other things, assists employers indeveloping workplace volunteer programsand helps develop youth service leadersand youth service programs.

SSeeaattttllee WWoorrkkss2123 East Union Seattle,WA 98122Phone: 206 324-0808Fax: 206 324-0817<www.seattleworks.org>

Seattle Works wasfounded in 1989 by agroup of young adultswho saw the need to involvetheir peers in community service.Theorganization has since developed severalinnovative volunteer programs that mobi-lize people to get involved in their com-munity. Seattle Works operates on thepremise that people in their 20s and 30swant to give back to their communities,but often just don’t know how or where todo it most effectively.

SSttuuddeenntt CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ((SSCCAA))P.O. Box 550Charlestown, NH 03603Phone: 603 543-1700Fax: 603 543-1828<www.sca-inc.org>

SCA is America’s largest and oldestprovider of national and community con-servation service opportunities, outdooreducation, and career training for youth.SCA volunteers and interns annually per-form more than 1 million hours of conser-vation service in national parks, forests,refuges, and urban areas in all 50 states.

UU..SS.. AArrmmyy CCoorrppss ooff EEnnggiinneeeerrssVVoolluunntteeeerr CClleeaarriinngghhoouusseePhone: 800 865-8337<www.orn.usace.army.mil/volunteer>

The U.S.Army Corps of EngineersVolunteer Clearinghouse is a nationwide,toll-free hotline for individuals who wantto volunteer their time with the Corps. Bycalling the hotline, a potential volunteercan express interest in any Corps projectnationwide.The Clearinghouse gives theindividual a point of contact for the areathey have requested, as well as writteninformation about the area’s volunteeropportunities.

VVoolluunntteeeerrMMaattcchh385 Grove StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102Phone: 415 241-6872

Fax: 415 241-6869<www.volunteermatch.org>

VolunteerMatch, a service of the non-profit group ImpactOnline, uses the

Internet to help individuals nationwidefind volunteer opportunities.VolunteerMatch's online database allowsvolunteers to search thousands of one-time and ongoing opportunities by ZIPcode, category, and date.

YYoouutthh SSeerrvvee AAmmeerriiccaa ((YYSSAA))1101 15th Street NW.Suite 200Washington, DC 20005Phone: 202 296-2992<www.servenet.org>

YSA is a resource center and an allianceof more than 200 organizations committedto increasing the quantity and quality ofopportunities for young Americans toserve locally, nationally, or globally.YSA'smission is to strengthen the effectiveness,sustainability, and scale of the youth serv-ice movement.YSA believes a strong youthservice movement will create healthy com-munities and foster citizenship, knowledge,and personal development of youngpeople.

17


EEPPAA’’ss OOffffiiccee ooff SSoolliidd WWaassttee<www.epa.gov/osw>

EPA’s Office of Solid Waste providesdetailed information on how to reduce,reuse, and recycle as well as on compost-ing and source reduction.The site alsoprovides an extensive list of links to rele-vant sites.

AAmmeerriiccaa RReeccyycclleess DDaayy<www.americarecyclesday.org>

America Reycles Day is a national grass-roots campaign dedicated to increasingthe purchase of recycled-content productsand recycling throughout America.

CCoorrnneellll CCoommppoossttiinngg<www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/composting_homepage.html>

This Web site offers a comprehensive list-ing of composting resources as well asexamples and case studies from Cornell’sWaste Management Institute.

RReeccyycclleerr’’ss WWoorrlldd <www.recycle.net>

This site is a worldwide trading center forinformation related to secondary or recy-clable commodities, byproducts, and usedand surplus items or materials.The sitealso offers a calendar of events, a listing ofassociations, and a publications list.

TThhee CCoommppoosstt RReessoouurrccee PPaaggee<www.oldgrowth.org/compost>

This site offers a detailed overviewof composting and a list of addi-tional resources on homecomposting and vermicom-posting, as well as compost-ing toilets.

TThhee MMaasstteerr CCoommppoosstteerr SSiittee<www.mastercomposter.com>

Visitors to this site can learn everythingthey might ever want to know about mak-ing and using compost.The information isgeared toward home composters andincludes directions on how to build acompost pile and offers contact informa-tion for local composting programs.

EEPPAA’’ss EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaallllyy PPrreeffeerraabblleePPuurrcchhaassiinngg PPrrooggrraamm ((EEPPPP))<www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp>

EPP is a nationwide program that encour-ages and assists executive agencies in thepurchasing of environmentally preferableproducts and services.This site includestools to implement EPP, successful storiesand events, and an EPP discussionsection.

EEaarrtthh’’ss 991111<www.1800cleanup.org>

This site can help you locate local envi-ronmental information and recycling cen-ters for all types of recyclables based onZIP code.

18

Additional Solid Waste Resources


BBaacckkyyaarrdd ccoommppoossttiinngg:: The practice of collecting leftover kitchen scraps andyard trimmings for decomposition in a controlled compost pile. Backyard com-posters can use their compost as a soil enhancement for their gardens.

CClloossiinngg tthhee lloooopp:: Purchasing products made from recycled materials. Recyclingis a cycle that involves collecting recyclables, manufacturing them into newproducts, and then buying products made with recycled content.

CCoommppoosstt:: A crumbly, earthy, sweet-smelling mixture of decomposingorganic matter (e.g., leaves, food scraps) that is often used to

improve the texture, water-retaining capacity, and aeration ofsoil.

HHoouusseehhoolldd hhaazzaarrddoouuss wwaassttee ((HHHHWW)):: Small quantities ofunused or leftover hazardous products used in the home

that become waste. Paints, pesticides, and some cleaners areexamples of household hazardous waste. Caution must be taken when

handling, storing, or disposing of these products.

LLaannddffiillll:: Disposal sites where solid wastes are deposited, compacted to thesmallest practical volume, and covered by soil or other material applied at theend of each operating day. Hazardous wastes are taken to special disposal sitesselected and designed to minimize the chance of releasing hazardous sub-stances into the environment.

MMuunniicciippaall ssoolliidd wwaassttee:: Wastes such as durable goods, disposable goods, con-tainers and packaging, food scraps, yard trimmings, and miscellaneous inorgan-ic wastes from households, certain commercial establishments (e.g., businessesor restaurants), institutions (e.g., schools or hospitals), and some industrialsources. It does not include nonhazardous industrial wastes, sewage, agri-cultural waste, hazardous waste, or construction and demolitionwaste.Also known as garbage, trash, refuse, or debris.

RReeccyyccllaabbllee:: Material that still has useful physical or chemicalproperties after serving its original purpose and can be reusedor remanufactured to make new products. Plastic, paper, glass,steel and aluminum cans, and used oil are examples of recycla-ble materials.

Glossary

19


RReeccyycclliinngg:: Collecting, sorting, processing, and con-verting materials that would have been thrown awayinto raw materials used to make the same or newproducts.

SSoouurrccee rreedduuccttiioonn:: Any change in the design, manufacture,purchase, or use of materials or products (including pack-aging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before theybecome municipal solid waste. Source reduction also refers tothe reuse of products or materials.

TTrraasshh:: Items that are discarded because they no longer work and are uneconomi-cal or impossible to reuse, repair, or recycle.

VVeerrmmiiccoommppoossttiinngg//vveerrmmiiccuullttuurree:: A method of composting using a special kind ofearthworm known as a red wiggler (Elsenia fetida), which eats its weight in organicmatter each day. In time, the organic material is replaced with worm castings, a richbrown matter that is an excellent natural plant food.

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