Thursday, February 10, 2011

Slow and steady wanes the waste...

In the spirit of providing (ahem) objective journalism, we here, at Recyclists' Spin, need to make a clarification.

It's possible that past posts MAY have left readers with the impression that Cowichan Recyclists are the sole people-powered recyclers here in Cowichan.

As you can see by the photo, this is far from being the case.



Two workers in Cowichan Bay — North America's first Cittaslow designated community — are, after building this beautiful public recycling centre, seen pushing and pulling it toward it's final destination.

Now that truly is people-powered, slow-moving, earth-loving dedication.

Last year Cowichan Bay's Maritime Centre, at the behest of the Cowichan Bay Improvement Area board of directors, began making public recycling a reality by building these wooden structures.

We've had the pleasure of emptying the bins, and pedaling the materials back to the recycling yard in Duncan.

All in all, it's a perfect partnership, and an excellent example of when things are slowed down it's easier to spot a good idea.

It looks like people-powered resource recovery is catching on!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Where ya bin? Bin walkin' all over the town...


The first weekend of curbside compost bin delivery went off without a hitch.

(Well, technically if went off WITH a hitch, as we needed a hitch in order to tow the U-haul trailer behind our B-100, veggie-oil burning, earth-lovin' truck. But that, of course, is just stating the obvious. And only someone really, really tired would be obtuse enough to state the obvious. (psst, I mean me. ))

Anyway...

The completely capable, conditioned and courageous compost carter Katie and I took to the streets of Duncan delivering nearly 500 bins in the misty (OK, torrential) rain. And we're almost a third of the way done.

How did we do it, you ask?

The process was as follows.

1) Muster some pluck — eat oatmeal and an energy bar
2) Tip the stacks of bins off the pallets — make sure rain water pooled on the top completely drenches you as you do this.
3) Unload the kitchen catchers — dump the rain water from each one and dry it with a towel...not tedious at all.
4) More pluck mustering
5) Fold a letter from the City, a collection calendar, and sample compostable bags into a neat package — deposit in freshly dried kitchen catcher.
6) Slowly drive around the neighbourhoods of Duncan stopping frequently to unload bins — If bins are stuck together, sit in a puddle with your feet on one bin, knees touching your ears, and firmly grip the other bin with your tender, tender hands. Push, pull, grunt, wheeze and pant until they come apart.
7) Walk each bin to every household — if someone is there, staring through the slightly cracked front door at the poor sucker in the rain, explain why you are trespassing...

Here are some photos to document our first couple days.