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This page is for discussing the content of the main page; if you came here looking for recycling and waste information, please see Sustainable Practices.

A Guide to Sustainable Suite Living in the Escher Co-op

Bathrooms

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Use hand towel instead of paper towels. Dirty towels should be taken to O’Keefe (and new towels picked up) once a week during Suite chores. Ideally, this should be a combined chore with towels in the Kitchen area.

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Bathrooms should contain a waste (landfill), recycling, and compost bin. A poster describing what can go in each bin should be located on this bin or nearby it.

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When cleaning the bathroom, choose to use non-toxic cleaners¹.

Bedrooms

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Opt for fans2 instead of air conditioning (AC)3 if the heat is bad (and your tolerance allows). AC consumes more electricity and pushes excess heat into the air outside your room. If you do need AC, then purchase the most energy efficient version.

Hallways/Stairways

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Fill the stairways with life! Cacti, ivy, aloe vera, mint, rosemary, and spider plants are great plants that require little maintenance. Ensure that plants are given a primary caregiver. This caregiver is responsible for watering, feeding, and loving the plants as needed. If you stick your finger in the soil and it is dry, then the plant is thirsty! Note that plants give off positive vibes⁴ and also clean the air!

Kitchen

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Use dish towel instead of paper towels. Dirty towels should be taken to O’Keefe (and new towels picked up) once a week during Suite chores. Ideally, this should be a combined chore with towels in the bathrooms.

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Put compostable items (food scraps and paper towels) into compost bin. Compost bin should be emptied at least once a week as a part of Kitchen chores. To keep the bin from smelling, it should be kept closed and the filter on the top of the bin should be kept intact. If the Suite chooses not to have a compost bin, then these items should be carried by the individual producer down to the Industrial Kitchens.

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Ensure that the kitchen contains a waste (landfill) and recycling bin that is properly labeled. A poster describing what can go in each bin should be located on this bin or nearby it.

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Check that fridge and freezer are properly sealed and that the thermostats in each are kept at the recommended settings.

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When cleaning the kitchen, use non-toxic cleaners.

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When purchasing personal food items:

• opt out of using plastic bags (both for produce and for overall bagging)
• buy in bulk using reusable containers. label the reusable containers with their tare weights so that you are only charged for the edible contents, ☺ Yum!
• buy produce at the farmer’s market on Wednesdays and Saturdays near Kerry

Town

Lounge

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Ensure that the lounge contains a waste (landfill) and recycling bin that is properly labeled. A poster describing what can go in each bin should be located on this bin or nearby it.

Waste

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Compost: paper towels and food scraps

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Landfill: sanitary products, plastic films, and wrappers

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Recycle: clean plastic, glass, or aluminum containers; cardboard/paper (especially paper towel/toilet paper cardboard rolls).

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Special recycling: Batteries and lightbulbs should be taken to the basement Universal waste station (located in the exit hallway between Zapata and the laundry room). Energy bar wrappers (Cliff, Luna, Nature Valley, Kind, etc) can be recycled via Terra Cycle. Please bring these wrappers to the Industrial kitchen or Universal waste station’s specially marked bin. Sustainability steward will collect these and send them in for recycling. 10 cents per wrapper is donated to our charity of choice!

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Re-use/Special recycling: Plastic grocery bags should be kept in a container in each kitchen for people to use as personal garbage bags. Once an excess is accumulated, they can be taken for special recycling at a nearby site.

Cleaning Supplies

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Toilet: Add 1/4 c baking soda, 1/4 c vinegar, and 3 drops tea tree tree oil into toilet. It will fizz. Then use scrubber brush to get rid of any streaks. This can also be applied in the shower floor if it is dirty (but please don’t use the toilet brush).

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All Surfaces and Mirrors: In a spray bottle mix 1/2 c vinegar, 1 cup water, and 10 drops tea tree oil. Wipe down with reusable microfiber towel specifically for cleaning. This towel should be washed with the other towels as part of Suite chore.

Laundry

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Use “tap cold” water when washing clothes/towels. This setting uses less energy and also prevents colors from leaching into whites.

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Use the clotheslines to air dry clothes instead of drying them. Doing so will preserve the integrity of the clothes and keep them looking new longer!

¹ https://theartofsimple.net/spring-cleaning-week-the-benefits-of-non-toxic-cleaning/ ² https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-cooling-systems/fans-cooling ³ https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-cooling-systems/air-conditioning ⁴ https://steptohealth.com/10-plants-attract-positive-energies/