About
Sustainable Seward is a grassroots non-profit organization founded in 2017. Sustainable Seward was formed from the 2nd annual Seward Strong Planning Day held by Seward Wellness for All, a branch of the Seward Prevention Coalition.
Our vision is to raise awareness and implement solutions for waste reduction and recycling in the Seward area.
Our vision is to raise awareness and implement solutions for waste reduction and recycling in the Seward area.
|
|
|
We would like to invite you to join in making Seward a better place for the future.
|
|
PAST PROJECTS
Sustainable Seward join forces with local stores to transition away from plastic bags
Sustainable Seward April 4, 2019
As Seward approaches a city wide plastic bag ban later this year, a local environmental awareness group is trying to help the community transition away from plastic.
With a handful of volunteers and some sewing machines, Sustainable Seward has been transforming t-shirts into reusable bags and has partnered with Seward Marketplace and the local thrift store, Ukanuzit, to make the ‘upcycled’ bags available to Seward shoppers.
The three are working together to create ‘Borrow-A-Bag,’ a display case with t-shirt bag available near the cash register at the Seward Marketplace.
“The idea being that customers can grab a t-shirt bag on the spot, shop and take it home and return it next time to the bin at the bottom of the display case,” said Sustainable Seward member Jenny Nakao. “Ukanuzit will wash and store the returned bags and Sustainable Seward volunteers will help transport them back and forth.”
Nakao said the idea stems from a shopping experience at Ukanuzit about three years ago when Melissa Houselog, one of the owners of the store, gave her a t-shirt bag for her purchase.
“She told me all about how she had been making them for customers instead of plastic bags,” Nakao said. “She makes them at home … while she decompresses from her day watching television. She’s made dozens on her own and uses them at the store.”
With Houselog as an inspiration, Sustainable Seward decided to create t-shirt bags at the Seward Music and Art Festival in October. The Alaska SeaLife Center donated hundreds of shirts and nearly a dozen volunteers spent the weekend sewing bags for festival-goers.
“We did this to help educate people about the upcoming bag ban and support their transition to reusable bags,” Nakao said.
Now, Sustainable Seward has continued to make bags at ‘sewing nights’ at a member’s house or the Seward Community Library.
“We sew about 30 bags per meeting and have over 100 made,” Nakao said. The group is also stenciling phrases onto the bags, such as ‘please bring back,’ and ‘I ‘heart’ Seward.’
Banning plastic bags was one of the initial goals of Sustainable Seward, a grassroots organization founded at the second annual Seward Strong Planning Day in. An ordinance banning plastic carry-out bags and polystyrene containers was passed by the Seward City Council at the end of 2018 and will take effect on Oct. 1 of this year.
Seward joins the ranks of a handful of Alaska municipalities banning single-use bags. Wasilla, Palmer, Cordova, Bethel and Soldotna have all banned plastic bags.
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen said that the community has adjusted to the chance. In an interview shortly after Soldotna’s ban took effect, she said that the transition was going well. The city of Soldotna also handed out reusable bags in preparation for the ban.
“I’ve seen a lot of the reusable bags around town, which makes me glad that they got into people’s hands. We were really glad the stores were helping with that,” Queen said. “I’ve seen more people carrying their own bags. I think people are changing their behavior and working it out.”
With a handful of volunteers and some sewing machines, Sustainable Seward has been transforming t-shirts into reusable bags and has partnered with Seward Marketplace and the local thrift store, Ukanuzit, to make the ‘upcycled’ bags available to Seward shoppers.
The three are working together to create ‘Borrow-A-Bag,’ a display case with t-shirt bag available near the cash register at the Seward Marketplace.
“The idea being that customers can grab a t-shirt bag on the spot, shop and take it home and return it next time to the bin at the bottom of the display case,” said Sustainable Seward member Jenny Nakao. “Ukanuzit will wash and store the returned bags and Sustainable Seward volunteers will help transport them back and forth.”
Nakao said the idea stems from a shopping experience at Ukanuzit about three years ago when Melissa Houselog, one of the owners of the store, gave her a t-shirt bag for her purchase.
“She told me all about how she had been making them for customers instead of plastic bags,” Nakao said. “She makes them at home … while she decompresses from her day watching television. She’s made dozens on her own and uses them at the store.”
With Houselog as an inspiration, Sustainable Seward decided to create t-shirt bags at the Seward Music and Art Festival in October. The Alaska SeaLife Center donated hundreds of shirts and nearly a dozen volunteers spent the weekend sewing bags for festival-goers.
“We did this to help educate people about the upcoming bag ban and support their transition to reusable bags,” Nakao said.
Now, Sustainable Seward has continued to make bags at ‘sewing nights’ at a member’s house or the Seward Community Library.
“We sew about 30 bags per meeting and have over 100 made,” Nakao said. The group is also stenciling phrases onto the bags, such as ‘please bring back,’ and ‘I ‘heart’ Seward.’
Banning plastic bags was one of the initial goals of Sustainable Seward, a grassroots organization founded at the second annual Seward Strong Planning Day in. An ordinance banning plastic carry-out bags and polystyrene containers was passed by the Seward City Council at the end of 2018 and will take effect on Oct. 1 of this year.
Seward joins the ranks of a handful of Alaska municipalities banning single-use bags. Wasilla, Palmer, Cordova, Bethel and Soldotna have all banned plastic bags.
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen said that the community has adjusted to the chance. In an interview shortly after Soldotna’s ban took effect, she said that the transition was going well. The city of Soldotna also handed out reusable bags in preparation for the ban.
“I’ve seen a lot of the reusable bags around town, which makes me glad that they got into people’s hands. We were really glad the stores were helping with that,” Queen said. “I’ve seen more people carrying their own bags. I think people are changing their behavior and working it out.”
Festival brings music, art to Seward
Sustainable Seward October 3, 2018
The Seward Music and Arts Festival celebrated the end of a busy summer season with a Rockwell Kent-inspired weekend of live music and performances
After a full season of welcoming cruise ships guests from around the world, the Dale R. Lindsey Alaska Railroad Intermodal Facility in Seward shifted gears. The musical soiree brought together bands and performers from across the state including Blackwater Railroad, Medium Build, the Conway Seavey Band and Lulu Small. The music was coupled with craft and food vendors.
“This is the best of both worlds as a maker,” said Maggie Voinot-Baron of AK Macrame. “It’s a chance to have fun and share your hobby in a beautiful place with great music and lots of fun.”
The venue was transformed with a “Wilderness” inspiration from the art of Rockwell Kent — from a whale above the main stage to a recreation of “Rower.” Community members volunteered before the event, painting and decorating, and during the event.
Community organizations were also on hand to inform festivalgoers about their mission, including Sustainable Seward, who were at the event creating reusable shopping bags out of shirts donated by the Alaska SeaLife Center.
“We’re here to raise awareness,” said Lori Landstrom. “We’re here to prepare people, too, because we did just pass a plastic bag ban in Seward that will come into effect in October 2019.”
The festival spanned across the entire weekend, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and finishing up at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Guests were also welcomed by train, with the Alaska Railroad offering a direct ride from Anchorage to Seward on Saturday morning and a return trip on Sunday afternoon.
After a full season of welcoming cruise ships guests from around the world, the Dale R. Lindsey Alaska Railroad Intermodal Facility in Seward shifted gears. The musical soiree brought together bands and performers from across the state including Blackwater Railroad, Medium Build, the Conway Seavey Band and Lulu Small. The music was coupled with craft and food vendors.
“This is the best of both worlds as a maker,” said Maggie Voinot-Baron of AK Macrame. “It’s a chance to have fun and share your hobby in a beautiful place with great music and lots of fun.”
The venue was transformed with a “Wilderness” inspiration from the art of Rockwell Kent — from a whale above the main stage to a recreation of “Rower.” Community members volunteered before the event, painting and decorating, and during the event.
Community organizations were also on hand to inform festivalgoers about their mission, including Sustainable Seward, who were at the event creating reusable shopping bags out of shirts donated by the Alaska SeaLife Center.
“We’re here to raise awareness,” said Lori Landstrom. “We’re here to prepare people, too, because we did just pass a plastic bag ban in Seward that will come into effect in October 2019.”
The festival spanned across the entire weekend, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and finishing up at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Guests were also welcomed by train, with the Alaska Railroad offering a direct ride from Anchorage to Seward on Saturday morning and a return trip on Sunday afternoon.
Red White and Blue Goes Green
Sustainable Seward has teamed up with the Seward Chamber to create a GREENER and MORE SUSTAINABLE 4th of July Celebration!
SUMMARY OF FOURTH GO GREEN IDEAS
Water Supply & Table at Event
- Have a water truck that will allow 4th of July participants to refill their reusable water rather than by single-use plasic. We will be posted at the Arcade lot downtown. Come refill your water!
- We are working on getting vendors to sell aluminum water bottles, rather than plastic. We will also be selling affordable Sustainable Seward reusable water bottles in case you forgot yours at home for this event!
Recycling Containers
- 4th of July will have recycling containers downtown at this year’s event! We will have signs directing celebrators about where they can responsibly recycle their aluminium and cardboard.
Vendors
- We are encouraging vendors to go green this year even though it's not required until next year. Sustainable Seward is doing this by getting in touch with all current vendors for 2019 and finding our their current suppliers. Vendors using no polystyrene and more than 50% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable items would be classified as "On the Way to Green" vendors. Vendors using 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable items would be classified as "All the Way to Green" vendors. These vendors will be showcased in the Fourth of July program.
- We revamped 2020 contracts requiring the use of recyclable, compostable or biodegradable materials for vendors. We will possibly charge a nonrefundable deposit for 2020 for those that don't follow through with using the required materials.
SUMMARY OF FOURTH GO GREEN IDEAS
Water Supply & Table at Event
- Have a water truck that will allow 4th of July participants to refill their reusable water rather than by single-use plasic. We will be posted at the Arcade lot downtown. Come refill your water!
- We are working on getting vendors to sell aluminum water bottles, rather than plastic. We will also be selling affordable Sustainable Seward reusable water bottles in case you forgot yours at home for this event!
Recycling Containers
- 4th of July will have recycling containers downtown at this year’s event! We will have signs directing celebrators about where they can responsibly recycle their aluminium and cardboard.
Vendors
- We are encouraging vendors to go green this year even though it's not required until next year. Sustainable Seward is doing this by getting in touch with all current vendors for 2019 and finding our their current suppliers. Vendors using no polystyrene and more than 50% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable items would be classified as "On the Way to Green" vendors. Vendors using 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable items would be classified as "All the Way to Green" vendors. These vendors will be showcased in the Fourth of July program.
- We revamped 2020 contracts requiring the use of recyclable, compostable or biodegradable materials for vendors. We will possibly charge a nonrefundable deposit for 2020 for those that don't follow through with using the required materials.
EARTH DAY PROCLAMATION
