earthday365

♻️ Getting ready for the election? Remember, after election season, you can recycle your yard signs!

Instead of contaminating your single-stream recycling bin, set them aside and take advantage of the 19 convenient drop-off locations around St. Louis. Make sure to separate yard signs and metal stakes at drop off.

It's great to have an easy way to make our community cleaner and greener! ✨

🎃👻 Halloween costumes don’t have to be a fright for the planet!

Check out our Outreach Manager, Elizabeth, rocking her Catra look from “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” - all pulled straight from her closet AND reused from last year!

Instead of buying something new, dig through your own wardrobe for pieces you can repurpose into a creative, sustainable costume. It’s a purr-fect way to save money and the planet. 🌎

Our waste diversion crew had another action-packed month! 🍂

We spent 8 incredible days bringing our waste sorting stations to events all over St. Louis: the Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden, Food Truck Friday, Grove Fest, Sauce Mag Harvest Festival, Wolf Fest, and the Forest Park Forever Membership Event! ♻️

With each event, we helped thousands of people learn how to compost and recycle properly. Thanks to everyone who joined us - see you at our Hard to Recycle Fair next! 💚

Ditch that plastic saran wrap in your kitchen and try out these amazing BEESWAX wraps!

Not only can you reuse them again and again for up to a year - they’re also backyard compostable! Our Young Friends member Alyssa says they’re great for preserving cut foods in your fridge, which also helps reduce food waste. 🌱

We’d like to extend our deepest appreciation to Lisa Cagle, who served on our Board of Directors for seven impactful years, including three as Board President. Lisa's leadership guided us through the most challenging times, including the uncertainty of the pandemic years. Her ability to remain calm in the face of a storm is legendary.

Lisa, thank you for all the time, energy, and love you've poured into earthday365. You are already missed!

Featuring a photo of her modeling at our 2023 Sustainable Fashion Show 🥰

Welcome Coffeestamp to the Green Dining Alliance! 💚💚💚

¡Felicidades! 🎉🌎☕

After certifying their WashU campus location last March, we’re thrilled to officially welcome Coffeestamp’s main brick-and-mortar on Jefferson Ave as the newest member of the Green Dining Alliance!

This community-driven coffee shop, founded by brothers Patrick and Spencer Clapp, has sustainability brewed into every cup. They source their beans directly from small farms in Honduras, where they have family connections, ensuring fair trade practices and supporting the wellbeing of farmers behind every delicious sip. ☕🌱

Not only do they roast their beans in-house for the freshest flavor, but they also offer mouth-watering pastries - from local favorites at Diana’s Bakery to their house-made empanadas, made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. (Of course, vegan and vegetarian options are on the menu too!)

Coffeestamp doesn’t stop at great coffee – they’re serious about waste reduction. Their team is trained on composting and recycling, and they even repurpose old coffee pots as planters. It’s no wonder they’ve been ranked as one of New Earth Farm’s 2024 Compost Champions!

But what really sets them apart is their heart for the community. Coffeestamp donates food and coffee every month to those facing food insecurity, making a direct impact locally.

We’re so excited to continue this sustainability journey with Coffeestamp! Stop by for a cup and support this amazing local gem. 💚

We are incredibly honored to announce that earthday365 has been selected as one of the 2024 SOS Spirit of Saint Louis Women's Fund grant awardees!

This invaluable support will continue our Environmental Justice Days of Action program for the next two years, allowing us to further serve neighborhoods most impacted by illegal dumping and food apartheid by creating year-round volunteer events in partnership with local community organizations.

Congratulations to all the other awardees doing amazing work for our region, including our friends in the environmental sector EarthDance Organic Farm School, Rustic Roots Sanctuary, and Fairground Park for All! 💚

We are celebrating Lori Strawbridge for an amazing 21 years of service on our Board of Directors! Lori joined just after our founding as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and has served as our trusted accountant and advisor ever since. We would undoubtedly not be on the strong financial footing we are today without Lori's sage wisdom. Thank you for your years of dedicated service and we will continue to work together in new capacities!

🎃 Our annual FREE Pumpkin Composting is returning this November! 🌱

Don’t let your pumpkins go to waste - give them a second life as nutrients for new plants! Remember to save them up and drop off in our 24-hour yellow bins anytime from November 1st to December 6th as long as they are unpainted and free of wax or other inorganic decor.

Thanks to our partnership with North Newstead Association, we are once again offering two convenient drop-off locations:
📍South City: 4125 Humphrey St (Parking lot with Marian Middle School)
📍North City: 4601 Pope Ave

We can’t wait to see how many pumpkins you all divert from the landfill! ♻️

Thank you to our sponsors for making this possible every year: St. Louis-Jefferson County Solid Waste Management District, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Total Organics Recycling!

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed. That reality is even more stark when put this way: “If food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Food waste increases food insecurity and adds to biodiversity loss, because a lot of land is turned over to cultivation without it ultimately feeding anyone. Experts and activists worldwide agree that food waste and loss must be reduced. But how?

This excellent new piece in the Guardian delves into where the challenges lie — and how we can overcome them.

The scandal of food waste – and how we can stop it The long read: Every informed observer agrees that food waste and loss must be reduced if we are to feed all humans. What’s stopping us?

As the chilly season approaches, Charlie has a tip for keeping out the cold and saving on energy (featuring his dog Morty instead since it was too hard to get in the photo! 😂)

Draft stoppers or "door snakes" are a simple, affordable way to keep in the heat this autumn. 🍂༄ There are even patterns online to make your own by upcycling plastic grocery bags!

October is here, which means our 6 participating Green Dining Alliance restaurants have started taking on our St. Louis Food Waste Challenge! 🍎✨

Joining us for 2024 are Olive + Oak, Panorama (at Saint Louis Art Museum), SqWires Restaurant and Market, Flavor 360, Sugarwitch Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Alpha Brewing Co.

We are so excited to see what these local leaders in circularity accomplish in October, and we invite you to hear all about their achievements at our grand celebration on Tuesday, November 19th from 6pm to 8pm!

You'll even have the opportunity to taste their creative food waste strategies yourself, as every restaurant will be serving unique hors d'oeuvre creations made from repurposed ingredients, proving that sustainability can be as tasty as it is innovative.

Tickets are $10, with a discount for earthday365 members, and includes your first drink on us from Olive + Oak. Please purchase your ticket at bit.ly/FoodWasteC2024 - we hope to see you there!

Our LAST Environmental Justice Day of Action is next Saturday…will you show up and support the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood? 💚

Join us for this year’s final litter clean-up in partnership with North Newstead Association, Wells Goodfellow Improvement Association, and Wellston Loop CDC. We will meet at the corner of Hodiamont and Wabada and volunteers will be rewarded with a free meal and snacks!

Please sign up at bit.ly/EJDA-Oct12-24. Let’s go out with a bang!

We’re LOVING our Executive Director’s new rain garden! 💚

Not only does it add beauty to Jessica’s yard, but it also supports the local ecosystem. Rain gardens help filter stormwater, reduce runoff, and prevent local flooding - all while supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies with native plants.

If you’re looking for a sustainable way to enhance your outdoor space, we highly recommend exploring rain gardens! 🌧️🌿✨

Our Recycling On the Go team were SUPERSTARS this month!!!

We brought our waste sorting stations to an amazing 1️⃣5️⃣ days of local events: the Japanese Festival, Twilight Thursdays, Taste of Black St. Louis, EarthDance Farms’ Farmer’s Formal, Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival, Food Truck Friday, South Grand Fall Fest, and Tower Grove Pride…educating attendees on how to compost and recycle ALL AROUND the Lou! ♻️

🎉 Huge congratulations to The Post Sports Bar & Grill - Creve Coeur for hitting a major milestone: 10 years in the Green Dining Alliance!! 🥳🌎✨

For a decade, The Post has been serving up more than just great food and drinks - they’ve been playing an all-star role in sustainability! From sourcing grains, baked goods, and beverages locally, to donating excess food, to using Energy Star appliances, and even repurposing old receipts, The Post is scoring big for the planet.

Here’s to 10 years of great food, community, and dedication to sustainability. We’re so proud to have them on our team! 🍻💚

PS: All materials/images used for this card were found in either our recycling or our Board member Tracy’s craft stash ♻️

At first glance, the phrase “trash pie” might seem . . . not so appealing. But in reality, both the concept *and* its positive impact on reducing food waste are pretty darn delicious. In San Francisco, Shuggie’s Trash Pie and Natural Wine is a “climate-solutions restaurant” that’s drawing well-deserved buzz (and was recently featured as part of NPR’s Climate Week).

David Murphy, Shuggie’s chef and co-owner, finds smart ways to use upcycled ingredients that might typically be discarded in other restaurants. For example, instead of tossing carrot tops, Murphy uses them to make his signature chimichurri sauce. Other dishes include pizza with a crust made from spent oat flour (from the oat milk-making process).

Shuggie’s hopes that other eateries — and consumers — will feel inspired by their approach and make small changes that can add up to a big impact!

We are so excited to join our neighbors at Tower Grove Pride this weekend (Sep 28-29!) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🤩

As you enjoy all the vibrant community festivities, feel free to stop by our earthday365 booth and say hello. Bring a friend to learn about our programs and how they can contribute to sustainability in St. Louis for all!

Did you know that you DON’T have to replace leaky hoses?

Cheyanne dealt with hers in sustainable fashion by buying a new connector piece, cutting off the old end, and attaching the old piece! This easy fix allowed her to avoid tossing a (mostly good) hose while avoiding water waste. 💧

Q: Where can I buy sustainable alternative clothing? 🖤

Our resident “vampire treehugger” Kelly is in love with her upcycled top from the local shop Ghost Soda! 👻 A loud advocate for ethical fashion, owner Hannah Valentine sources all of her fabric from local thrift stores and repurposes clothing by hand to create zero-waste original pieces with a bold attitude.

Thank you for providing green options for a style overwhelmingly found in fast fashion! 🖤

This is your LAST chance to join us for Food Truck Friday this year, a volunteer-favorite event! ♻️

Help us educate hundreds of attendees on how to compost and recycle their waste, and as always, you will get a free meal voucher to use at a local food truck. Sign up at bit.ly/FTFVolunteer24!

Welcome Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop to the Green Dining Alliance! 🌸🌎🌱

We’re blooming with excitement to welcome our newest member to the Green Dining Alliance: Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop! 🌿☕🌸

Located in the heart of Webster Groves, Maypop is not just your neighborhood coffee spot – it’s a cozy cafe and a garden oasis in one! Whether you’re sipping on locally-sourced Blueprint Coffee, enjoying a local pastry, or picking out a pet-safe indoor plant, Maypop has sustainability at the root of everything they do. 💚

Here’s why we’re so excited to have them on board:

🌎 Sustainable treats & sips: They serve ice cream sandwiches from fellow GDA member Sugarwitch Ice Cream Sandwiches as well as local pastries from St. Louis favorites like plant-based SweetArt Bakeshop & Cafe and Britt's Bakehouse: A Gluten-Free Bakery, and their seasonal menu showcases the best of what’s fresh.

🌎 Green inside & out: From the cozy dining area filled with vintage finds to their vibrant garden center, every detail is intentional - including their plant selections, gardening tools, and native landscaping solutions.

🌎 Community love: Maypop hosts four annual vendor markets, supporting over 60 small local businesses, and their upcoming refillable mug program will help cut down on single-use waste AND save customers money.

We’re thrilled to be a part of Maypop’s sustainability journey and can’t wait to help them blossom even further! 🌿💐

Heading to the grocery store? Not so fast! Thanks to a variety of great (and often free!) apps, all you need to do is type in the ingredients you *do* have at home to get a list of excellent recipe suggestions.

For example, Supercook.com lets you select everything currently in your home kitchen — from veggies to eggs to staples like flour and oil — and then provides you with plenty of options.

What a smart way to cut down on store trips, reduce food waste, and discover some favorite new recipes!