Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District

10/23/2026

An amazing organization striving to care for all.

BEAT THE HOLIDAY STRESS & JOIN OUR CHRISTMAS MARKET CO-OP!🎄❤️

We know providing Christmas gifts can be stressful, and we want to help!

Volunteer at the Dream Center at least once between Sept. 1–Nov. 25, then pay just $10 per child ($50 family max) to shop our Dec. 12 Christmas Market for multiple new gifts, ranging from $10–$50 each.

While you shop, your children can enjoy a free Christmas party at Grace Church next door, with activities and maybe even some hot chocolate!

Ready to get started? Click the link to sign-up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecQrmcb7yeYZpIJGHVO99IwAgSglkxmSTQc40dBIlmFBX_wg/viewform?usp=send_form

10/21/2026

Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (local time). Free and anonymous (no questions asked).
Flushing medications doesn’t make them disappear—it contaminates drinking water and harms the environment. Keep Missouri’s water clean by safely disposing of medications at a take-back site. the wrong places—dispose of them safely. medications doesn’t make them disappear—it contaminates drinking water and harms the environment. Keep Missouri’s water clean by safely disposing of medications at a take-back site. the wrong places—dispose of them safely.

10/21/2026

A grand idea! It's not too late to make this happen on a small scale.

🧙‍♀️ Swap, Don't Shop: Host a "New-to-You" Costume Swap!

Buying brand-new Halloween costumes every October adds up quickly—both for your wallet and for local landfills! Since costumes are often worn only once or twice before being outgrown, sharing outfits with neighbors is a fun, budget-friendly way to practice reuse in your community.

👗 Why Costume Swaps Make Sense:
💰 Save Money: Trade gently used outfits, masks, and accessories with friends and neighbors for a brand-new look without spending a dime.
🌍 Reduce Packaging & Waste: Skipping store-bought costumes means less single-use plastic wrapping, cardboard backings, and synthetic textile waste.
🔄 Extend Garment Life: Keeping fabrics in circulation prevents clothing from ending up in local landfills.

💡 Quick Steps to Host a Local Costume Swap:
📢 Gather Friends & Neighbors: Invite families from your neighborhood, school, or community group to collect outgrown costumes and props.
🏷️ Organize by Size & Theme: Set up tables or racks for toddler, youth, and adult sizes, plus a table for trick-or-treat buckets, wigs, and accessories.
🎁 Donate the Leftovers: Pass along any remaining unclaimed items to local charities, schools, or thrift stores so every costume finds a home!

🚫 Halloween Sorting Reminder:
👗 Keep Textiles OUT of Recycling Trailers: Clothing and synthetic fabrics act as "tanglers" in sorting machinery—always donate or swap clothing instead!

Have you ever participated in a costume swap or passed down Halloween outfits in your family? Share your favorite swap tips below! 👇

10/21/2026

Plastic has been in a spooky disguise for decades. Despite wearing the three chasing arrows, it’s not really a recyclable. It’s a trick! There are over 7 types of plastic, each with a different chemical composition that is not made to be recycled. Some can be downcycled one time into a product of lesser value. Most ends up as pollution.

The scariest part? Believing it’s recyclable has only increased our reliance on, and production of, plastic.

So what do you do!?!

👻 Recognize the Trick - The plastics industry uses the recycling symbol to intentionally mislead consumers. Recycle based on material not label. Paper, metal, and glass are recyclable.

👻 Use Less Plastic - Reduce and reuse your plastic whenever possible. When you can’t find products without plastic, let companies know you want better choices.

👻 Make a Choice – Some people add #1 and #2 plastics to their recycling bin since those plastics have the greatest chance of being recycled. Some people put their plastic in the landfill to prevent contamination, microplastic release during downcycling, and shipping waste to other communities. Choose what matches your values most.

👻 Don’t Feel Guilty - This is an industry trick almost everyone falls for. But now you can see through the disguise.

10/20/2026

How do your actions at home work or school fit into the 9Rs of Circularity? Here's a practical blueprint for RethinKing your daily habits:

1️⃣ Refuse – Eliminate unnecessary consumption at the source
2️⃣ Rethink – Redesign systems for efficiency and longevity
3️⃣ Reduce – Minimize resource use without reducing value
4️⃣ Reuse – Extend the life of products through repeated use
5️⃣ Repair – Restore instead of replace
6️⃣ Refurbish – Upgrade existing products for renewed value
7️⃣ Remanufacture – Rebuild products using recovered components
8️⃣ Repurpose – Transform old materials into new functions
9️⃣ Recycle – Recover materials when no other option remains

Each step moves us further away from extraction and closer to regeneration.
Missouri S&T ECO Miners SRI-Dent County STOM - Science Teachers of Missouri

10/18/2026

We're two weeks in!

Did you commit to a new ?
Did you remember to BYO?

Keep it up the rest of the month!

Check the calendar for more inspiration!

10/18/2026

Thoughtfulness required, People- Planet and Profit. DO your part, purchase wisely. 🧡🎃🐈‍⬛☂️🪜

10/18/2026

Repairing Unites People. There are many resources available for repair, even better, there are repair clinics popping up in MISSOURI. If you are aware of a repair event, please let us know in comments as these activities are eligible for grant funding and we're here to help. Eligible activities may include many forms of waste reduction e.g., repair, refurbish, reuse, remarket, and then ♻️.

10/18/2026

Have you checked out your water quality? See the link below.

Today is the anniversary, celebrating the passing of the federal law that protects surface water from pollutants in the United States.

At American Water, we take great pride in what we do and hold ourselves to high standards in delivering safe, reliable drinking water service to our customers.

Check out your Water Quality Report at https://ow.ly/mYmF50ZR4xk