Orcas Island ExchangeA (not so short) History of Compost
Prehistoric farmers discovered that manure from their domesticated animals – mixed with straw and other brush and crop residues – would gradually change into a fertile soil-like material that was good for crops. The practice of…
What’s Wrong with this Photo?
A photo taken earlier this month at the recycling wall area raises this question: A. Is it mixed, co-mingled recycling dumped on top of separated clean, dry, flattened, corrugated cardboard that has value; or B. Is…
Community Scaled Composting
Greetings All! This column is in support of ORS’s new endeavor into “Community Scaled” composting. To kick it off, three composting workshops were held around the island in September and October to introduce community attendees to…
Replace Plastic Wrap with Beeswax Wrap!
Board Member, Asifa Pasin will be running another Beeswax Wrap class on February 22, 2020 from 2pm-6pm. The Workshop will focus on making your own reusable items from Beeswax! Replace all those zipped plastic bags with…
Step-by-Step to Recycling Plastics
The NPR recently published a helpful infographic on the in’s and out’s of plastic recycling. If you were not already aware, plastic recycling can be a little different from location to location around the state, and…
Upcoming Workshops at The Exchange
Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap February 22, 2020 (2pm-6pm) @ The Exchange Annex Back by popular demand! On Saturday February 22nd from 2pm to 6pm we’ll be offering our Workshop focused on making your own reusable items…
Fall Great Islands Clean Up 2019
It was another successful Great Islands Clean Up! On September 28th (National Public Lands Day), all islands gathered from 10am – 2pm and cleaned up the roads and beaches in the San Juans. We killed it…
Help Us Upgrade Island Recycling!
Help ORS build an up-graded recycling facility on Orcas. The recycling system in America is currently broken. And while we can’t fix the Country, we do have a solution for Orcas. Next time you come to…
Zero Waste Mulch Available Now!
For a couple of years now we have been accepting clean green yard-waste material at a significant discount. We just did our second major grind, and now we have over 200 yards of totally local composted mulch for sale! What…
ORS Separating Cardboard
Orcas Recycling Services has taken a major step in how we recycle, and we could use your help. Since May 30, ORS has been running a pilot program for separating cardboard from other recyclables. Cardboard represents…
