Global Alerts » 2007

Home News Tribune: Recycling Made Easier

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 30, 2007

Home News Tribune (East Brunswick, New Jersey)
April 30, 2007 Monday

Recycling made easier

RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR a way to properly dispose of electronic waste — such as cell phones, printers, used batteries, computers and televisions — can visit www.Earth911.com or call (800) CLEANUP toll-free to find local recycling locations.

All that’s needed is a zip code. Earth911 is a free service.

The organization has been honored with the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence.

CNN: Be your own hazmat squad

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 27, 2007

CNN.com
April 27, 2007 Friday 7:28 PM EST

Americans generally are conscientious about keeping toxic material out of landfills, said Mark Westlund, spokesman for the San Francisco, California, Environment Department. The problem, for most people, is getting rid of it properly.

“People are just sitting on this stuff and don’t know what to do with it,” Westlund said.

Fortunately, no one has to stay in the dark.

Earth911 is a public/private partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and hundreds of municipalities, private companies and nonprofit organizations. About 80,000 relevant sites are connected with www.earth911.org, spokeswoman and former director Anne Reichman said.

You can visit the site or call 1-800-CLEANUP, punch in a ZIP code and get a list of nearby collection sites for a wide range of hazardous materials. The site also features easy-to-navigate information on many other topics.

“It’s been our goal to be a one-stop shop for environmental information,” Reichman said.

If you can’t find what you need there, the EPA provides links to every state’s environmental department at www.epa.gov/epahome/state.htm.

To avoid stockpiling hazardous waste in the first place, Purdue University’s Household Waste Management program offers this advice: Plan your purchases carefully, shop mindfully, use nontoxic products when possible, and use up what you have; if any material is left over, give it to someone.

“It all comes down to trying to live sustainably,” Reichman said.

As landfills close and environmental awareness grows, many local groups and governments have developed recycling and disposal programs.

San Francisco opened one of the first permanent household hazardous waste collection centers in 1989.

The Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Facility, run by Norcal Waste Systems, is open three days a week and serves 10,000 to 12,000 customers annually. Manager Paul Fresina said the facility will double its $1 million budget and add two collection trucks and several employees within 18 months.

“San Francisco wanted to make it easy for people to do the right thing by coming to their house,” Fresina said.

Property owners pay for the program through their $22 monthly trash collection fee, which Norcal spokesman Robert Reed called a bargain compared to the environmental costs of landfills — air and water pollution, even global warming.

“Let’s talk about all the costs,” he said. “That stuff you put in landfills turns to methane. OK, so say you put in a methane collection system. Methane collection only captures half of the methane produced. The rest of it goes into the atmosphere. You know where methane goes after it gets into the atmosphere? The ocean. ”

Reduce, reuse, recycle … then what?

Rechargeable batteries are a source of hazardous waste in virtually every home in America. They’re used in cordless telephones, cell phones, portable entertainment devices (MP3 and DVD players), electric razors and toothbrushes, cordless power tools, laptop computers, digital cameras and more.

These devices tend to last a long time and to cost a lot of money, making people reluctant to toss them out, said Ralph Millard, executive vice president of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. So they sit around in a garage or an attic until a big cleaning day. That’s where the trouble begins.

“In terms of toxicity, the main concerns are cadmium, mercury, lead — all heavy metals, all found in rechargeable batteries,” Millard said. Other component metals include chromium, cobalt, lithium, molybdenum and nickel. Those metals can cause serious health and environmental problems.

The RBRC collects rechargeable batteries and ships them to a plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they are melted down into their basic components, which are separated and resold for other uses. The RBRC’s $10 million annual budget is entirely funded by fees paid by about 350 battery and device manufacturers.

The RBRC has set up 50,000 battery collection centers at virtually all major retailers and wireless stores throughout the United States and Canada. You can drop off your spent batteries or devices there, and when the box is full, the RBRC pays to ship them to the recycling plant.

The RBRC collected 5.6 million pounds of batteries in 2006, said media relations manager Linda Gabor. But a new survey suggests only 34 percent of spent rechargeable batteries are recycled, Millard said.

“We’re not born with DNA that says, ‘Recycle rechargeable batteries’,” Millard said. “We have to learn it.”

You can find collection centers near you by calling 1-800-8-BATTERY or visiting http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/ and entering your ZIP code.

Patriot News: Some retailers take old computers

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 25, 2007

DAN MILLER, Of The Patriot-News
Patriot News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
April 25, 2007 Wednesday

Some retailers take old computers

Today is the deadline for small businesses to register for an electronic equipment disposal event to be held Friday in Hampden Twp. by the West Shore Chamber of Commerce.

But if you can’t make the chamber event, at least two computer retailers in the area will accept electronic gear that small businesses want to dispose of throughout the year.

Alliance Computers will accept most items free of charge. For any item not “completely out of date,” Alliance will give a store credit that can be applied toward purchases, said Dale Nagle of Alliance. The retailer might charge $2 per monitor if a business wants to dispose of a large number of monitors.

For no additional charge, Alliance will remove data from equipment, destroying hard drives if necessary, Nagle said.

Alliance accepts used equipment at all of its area stores: Harrisburg, Lemoyne and York. The Harrisburg-area operation at 5520 Derry St. is best for dropping off equipment because it has a warehouse. Businesses with a large amount of equipment to drop off should call Alliance ahead of time at 920-0300.

Another local disposal option for small businesses is The Computer Barn at 1460 Newville Road in North Middleton Twp. near Carlisle.

The Computer Barn accepts electronic gear from small businesses free of charge. It might pay for used gear, depending on the condition.

Owner Ned Kerstetter said The Computer Barn will remove computer data to U.S. Department of Defense standards and/or destroy a hard drive. Data removal or destruction costs $5 per item. Documentation that data has been removed can be provided.

Businesses with more than 50 items of equipment to dispose of should first call The Computer Barn at 258-9663 to set up an appointment. For $50, The Computer Barn will pick up and dispose of a truckload of items.
DAN MILLER: 255-8440 or danmiller@patriot-news.com

INFOBOX:

WAYS TO DISPOSE OF ELECTRONICS Options for small businesses to dispose of used computers and other electronic gear:

* The West Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold a one-day electronic disposal event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Hampden Twp. pool complex on Sporting Hill Road. Businesses are asked to register by the end of today by calling the chamber at 761-0702 or visiting www.wschamber.org.

* Alliance Computers Inc. and The Computer Barn are among midstate computer retailers that accept used items year-round. Both accept most or all items free of charge and might provide store purchase credits for some items. Both retailers also provide data removal and/or destruction services. To learn more: www.alliancecomp.com or www.thecomputerbarn.com.

* Still don’t know what to do? For more ideas, go to Earth911.org or call 800-CLEANUP.

Chicago Sun Times: A look at the dark side

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 23, 2007

Howard Wolinsky, The Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun Times
April 22, 2007 Sunday

Mercury makes these bulbs work

Compact fluorescent lights, CFLs, aren’t perfect.

They might take longer to switch on than incandescent bulbs. Regular CFLs won’t work with dimmer switches. The bulbs also can interfere with radios, cordless phones and remote controls.

Strangely for a product touted as “green,” CFLs contain mercury, a toxic metal that can poison the nervous system and cause trembling, nervousness and dementia. To quote Kermit the Frog, it isn’t easy being green.

Mercury plays an essential role in the operation of fluorescent bulbs, said Jennifer Dolin, environmental marketing manager for Osram Sylvania, a CFL manufacturer. Electrical current in the bulbs stimulates mercury atoms. which release ultraviolet photons. The photons, in turn, stimulate the phosphor coating the bulb’s glass tube, emitting visible light, according to Howstuffworks.com.

Dolin said manufacturers have reduced the quantity of mercury in fluorescent bulbs. It’s now about 5 milligrams per bulb, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
Dolin said shattered glass from broken bulbs poses a bigger risk to consumers than does the mercury.

Tim Melloch, the “Energy Doctor” and spokesman for ComEd, said CFLs are a boon to the environment: “Using CFLs prevents coal-fired power plants from emitting far more mercury than is contained in a bulb.” According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, a coal-fired power plant will emit 13.6 milligrams of mercury to produce electricity required for an incandescent light bulb, compared with 3.3 milligrams for a CFL.

Dolin noted that manufacturers use recycled mercury in CFLs. Consumers are encouraged to recycle bulbs so the mercury from today’s burned-out CFL can be used in tomorrow’s new bulb.
CFLs are not supposed to be disposed of in the regular trash. For information on disposal programs, enter your ZIP code at ww.earth911.org. LampRecycle.org lists links to manufacturer-sponsored recycling programs.

CFLs are today’s best choice for lowering energy use and power bills. But coming soon are “digital bulbs” made from LEDs, light-emitting diodes, which will use less electricity, last even longer and don’t pose the same downsides as CFLs.
hwolinsky@suntimes.com

Miami Herald: Who needs your computer?

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 22, 2007

The Miami Herald
April 22, 2007 Sunday

Who needs your computer? Check out these organizations

It’s getting easier to find places to recycle electronics, which is good because they take up a lot of space in landfills where they often release toxic chemicals. Here are four resources:

Find local businesses that accept unwanted consumer electronics at www.mygreenelectronics.org, a project of the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization. It also offers information on buying more environmentally friendly electronics.

Another trade group, the Electronic Industries Alliance, has created E-cycling Central, with resources organized by state for recycling and reusing electronics at www.eiae.org. It also lists places to recycle batteries and electronics, such as LCD monitors, that contain mercury.

Also organized by state, www.earth911.org offers resources for recycling a variety of household and business items, including electronics.

List reuseable electronics and business equipment at www.recycle.org. The website acts as an exchange, sending the details to nonprofit organizations that need the equipment. Arrangements are worked out between the donor and recipients.

Lancaster Eagle Gazette: Closet clean-out in celebration of Earth Day

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 22, 2007

Lancaster Eagle Gazette (Ohio)
April 22, 2007 Sunday

Household Tips: Closet clean-out in celebration of Earth Day

The following are some tips for how your household can make every day Earth Day:

n Find out about and use recycling services in your area.

n Recycle electronics so that space is preserved in landfills.

n Properly dispose of household hazardous waste, such as cleaning fluids.

n Recycle your old cell phones and computers by donating them.

n Carpool to work.

n Use public transportation whenever possible.

n Pick up pet waste, put it in a plastic bag and throw it away in a trash can.

Source: http://ohio.earth911.org

The Indianapolis Star: Kermit was wrong: These sites show it’s easy bein’ green

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 22, 2007

ERIKA D. SMITH
The Indianapolis Star (Indiana)
April 22, 2007 Sunday

Kermit was wrong: These sites show it’s easy bein’ green

Most Sundays, I encourage readers to go out and buy a bunch of consumer electronics. I figure, even if a third of you are following my advice, I’ve single-handedly doomed Indiana’s environment with about five extra decades of landfill trash.

This Sunday, I’m taking a break.

Today is Earth Day, and I’m not so concerned with getting you to spend greenbacks as I am with getting you to spend time thinking green.

Consider this: Every year, Americans throw out about 400 million gadgets, according to recycling experts.

So-called e-waste, which includes everything from computers to cell phones to televisions to digital music players, is the fastest-growing portion of our waste stream. From 2004 to 2005, it jumped almost 8 percent at the same time overall municipal waste volume declined, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And of that 2.63 million tons of e-waste, only 12.5 percent of it got recycled.

That has to change.

Many ways exist to recycle consumer electronics, and many organizations can help you do it. Here’s a list of resources to get you started:

http://www.freecycle.org: Some of you might remember this Web site from a column a while back. This site, just like it sounds, is a place where you can give away electronics that you no longer want, or get something you do want. The one catch is, it all has to be free.

Now, you might say: “Why not just sell my old computer or TV on eBay?” Well, you can do that, too. But this Web site is a nice alternative if what you’re trying to get rid of is so old that no one would pay for it, much less the shipping and handling fees.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline: Here’s a quick way to get rid of your old cell phone. Go to any Verizon Wireless store and drop off unused phones, batteries and accessories. The condition of the items doesn’t matter, and neither does the service provider.

Verizon refurbishes and sells the best phones it receives and disposes of the other ones in an environmentally sound way.

Proceeds from the carrier’s HopeLine program go to shelters and nonprofit organizations that work to prevent domestic violence.

http://www.computertakeback.com: Having one computer in the house once was rare. Now many families have three or four, and replace old ones every two years instead of every four or five years.

If you have an old computer hanging around the house, you can recycle it with a bit of effort and cash. Dell, for instance, will take back any brand of computer for $10. This Web site has all
the details and more.

http://www.earth911.org: This is a catchall Web site for everything green.

Need tips on how to recycle batteries? What about motor oil? You can find both here. The information also is available by phone at (877) EARTH-911.

You won’t find a list of recycling facilities in Indianapolis or even around Indiana. But dig around this Web site enough, and you’ll find links to kinds of green organizations that, I’m sure, you never knew existed.

Call Star reporter Erika D. Smith at (317) 444-6424 or send e-mail to erika.smith@indystar.com.

Chicago Tribune: How to part ways properly with non-green cleaners

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 22, 2007

By Barbara Mahany, Tribune staff reporete
Chicago Tribune
April 22, 2007 Sunday

How to part ways properly with non-green cleaners

Holy cow! After our story “Make it a green sweep this spring” [April 15, 2007] on how to green your house’s clean-ing, we got gobs of e-mails from the newly converted with this must-know question: How in the world do you get rid of all the old toxins that used to populate your cleaning caddy? Pour them down the drain?

No, don’t pour. First, read this, from Umbra Fisk, who gives “astute advice on all things environmental” at a great e-friendly Web site called Grist ( www.grist.org/advice/ask ).

Says Fisk, when asked whether to dump or not to dump:

“When ridding ourselves of household cleaners, if only a small amount remains, we can sometimes flush it down the drain along with plenty of water, because wastewater treatment plants are ready for it. Check with your town or city to find out what sort of restrictions they have.

“If we have bought in bulk and have six remaining containers, which does not qualify as a small amount, we should consult our local waste-management company. Use the phone book, or if we know not where to begin but we know our ZIP code,” visit www.Earth911.org.

“The likely outcome is a trip to the household hazardous-waste site, which will probably accept cleaning products.”

The city of Chicago, it turns out, is having a special collection day on April 28. Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DeVry campus parking lot, 3300 N. Campbell Ave.

Year-round, you can drop off household cleaners Tuesdays (7 a.m. to noon), Thursdays (2 to 7 p.m.), and the first Saturday of the month (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at the city’s Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility, 1150 N. North Branch St. (two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street).

“Don’t get stuck worrying that driving to the hazardous-waste site — and thereby spewing emissions — is worse than dumping hazardous waste in household garbage. However, to lessen your impact, I would suggest pooling together with your neighbors to take a large amount of rejected cleaners, a good opportunity to spread the Healthify Your Home mes-sage.

“Check with the collection site first to see if you can bring another person’s waste or if there are limits on how much you can bring. Another option, I suppose, is to see whether any neighbors or non-profit groups have a use for your leftovers, although that doesn’t help our bigger goal of getting rid of toxics.”
bmahany@tribune.com

Cleaning your garage for Earth Day?

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 21, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Severn Williams
(510) 336-9566 C (415) 336 9623
April 21, 2007

Earth911.org and 1-800-CLEANUP provide AZ zip code-specific recycling information for everything from old paint, household chemicals, medications,
and aging electronics

Phoenix, AZ – In honor of Earth Day (April 22), this morning local resident Derrick Mains cleaned out his garage of old electronics, batteries, and other household hazardous waste and properly disposed of the items at a local Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Facility. Mains used the Web site www.Earth911.org to determine which of his discarded items were hazardous and/or recyclable and to find local drop-off locations for such items.

“I’ve been meaning to clean out my garage for some time now. Like many Americans, I’ve been stockpiling old computers, batteries, and paint thinner for years,” said Mains, who further explained, “I knew I wasn’t supposed to just throw it in the trash, but it felt like a big effort to figure out what else to do with it. Earth Day feels like the perfect occasion for getting rid of the hazardous items I’ve been saving up.”

Mr. Mains disposed of a number of items, including electronic waste such as batteries, old computers, and stereo equipment, old household cleaners and medicine, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

This type of waste has a significant impact on the health our local environment. For instance, according to the U.S. EPA, despite the fact that batteries make up less than 1% of municipal solid waste, they are responsible for a large portion of toxic heavy metals found there. Other household hazardous waste, like used motor oil, paint and paint thinner, and even unused cleaning supplies can pollute the water and air, and must also be disposed of properly.

Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year.

“Earth Day is a great time for people to sort through old belongings and to properly dispose of any hazardous household waste,” said Anne Reichman, spokesperson for Earth 911. “What better way to honor the Earth than preventing water and air pollution by recycling and properly disposing of common hazardous materials?”

Earth 911 makes it easy for the public to find information about where to locally recycle both hazardous and non-hazardous household items through the zip code locator on the Web site, Earth911.org, and toll-free, Spanish-English hotline, 1-800-CLEANUP.

About Earth 911

For over 16 years Earth 911 has been the nation’s most widely used environmental information network, providing local access to environmental resources for communities throughout the United States. By simply entering a ZIP Code, local environmental information is available free of charge through the national Web site www.Earth911.org and toll free recycling hotline 1-800-CLEANUP (in Spanish and English).

The environmental resources and information available through Earth 911 includes:
• Recycling Center Locations
• Electronics Donation and Disposal Locations
• Safe Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Locations
• Energy Conservation Tips
• Tips on what you can do to combat Global Warming
• Green Shopping Tips
• The benefits of Composting and How-To Guide
• Local Beach Water Quality Alerts
• Business Recycling Resource Section
• Kids / Environmental Education Resources

Earth 911 provides vast economies of scale by consolidating thousands of local public notification systems into one. To keep the system current, tens of thousands of government coordinators around the country have the ability to update their community-specific recycling information. Each month over 10 million pages are viewed on the website and 30,000 calls are received on the phone system. Earth 911 provides these services through innovative public-private partnerships. Earth 911 partners with companies and industries as well as the EPA and other federal and local governments to educate businesses and individuals about the growing concerns of our planet.

Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence. For more information, contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

Pound by Pound, Dollar for Dollar; The Complicated Equation for Going Green

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 20, 2007

Doing the Math on Carbon Neutrality
By JESSICA MARMOR
April 20, 2007 12:38 p.m.

Going green is the new black in 2007. Advice abounds on how to cut your carbon dioxide output and do your part in the battle against global warming. But how much does a person have to spend to go green–and what kind of environmental impact would that spending actually have?

GOING GREEN

See the changes you can make:

• At Home

• On the Road

• In the Grocery Store

The U.S. is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, accounting for 25% of the world’s total. The average American is responsible for about 20 metric tons a year of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), a standard measure of greenhouse gases. That’s about 40,000 pounds of CO2e a year, per capita, a far greater number than that of any other industrialized country.

We set out to evaluate a few of the in-vogue recommendations based on what they cost and what they’d do for the environment. In each area we offer up three levels of feasibility–hard, medium and easy. Where possible, we’ve crunched the numbers to estimate how much a change would cost, how many pounds of CO2e each step can save and the percentage each would knock off one person’s emissions.

At Home

Sixteen percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from our homes–from the fossil fuels burned to power our electronics, lighting, heating and cooling systems.

The Hard Way: Buy an Energy-Efficient House

Cost:
Energy-efficient homes may cost a few thousand dollars above market value, which would generally add about $10 to $15 to one’s monthly mortgage payments. Some will not be valued above market.

Savings:
It’s estimated that an energy-efficient house will shave $30 off monthly utility bills for an average home, according to Energy Star for Homes, an EPA organization. The average U.S. home is about 2,500 square feet.

Impact:
4,500 pounds of CO2e a year, or 11% of one person’s total emissions.

The EPA’s Energy Star program works with 3,500 home builders to spur the construction of homes that are 25% to 30% more energy efficient than a home built to the International Energy Conservation Code, which most states use as a standard.

That increase in efficiency comes from increased insulation, better windows, controlled air filtration, and efficient heating and cooling systems. So far, about 750,000 such homes have been built. The EPA expects two million by the end of the decade, reducing the U.S.’s CO2e emissions by one million metric tons.

The Medium Way: Switch to “Green Power”

Cost:
$120 to $500 a year. Varies by area and size of home.

Impact:
14,173 pounds of CO2e a year, according to the EPA, or 35% of one person’s total. (This number varies depending on the amount of energy your household uses. In New York City, where houses and thus energy bills are much smaller, ConEdison Solutions estimates that its green power purchasers save 4,700 pounds of CO2e a year.)

Go to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Web site, and you’ll find a section called Green Power Switch, where customers are encouraged to enroll in a green power program. It seems simple: sign up and the TVA, which services seven states and 8.7 million customers, will bring energy generated from renewable resources, such as solar or wind power, “to your home.”

But there’s not a switch for each TVA household that can simply be flipped to green. Rather, the TVA takes the extra money that Green Power Switch customers pay and uses it to procure green power, which then gets mixed in to the company’s total pool of energy and distributed to the overall customer base.

The TVA tacks on $4 to a customer’s monthly bill for each block of green power they buy. (A block is the equivalent of about 12% of a typical household’s monthly energy use.) A year’s worth of TVA green power — about 96 blocks — comes at a premium of about $384 a year on top of your energy bill.

In states with deregulated energy markets, customers can choose to buy green power from an alternative electricity supplier. These costs vary even within a single market; in New York City, for example, Con Edison works with several green power suppliers whose programs cost anywhere from $3 to $20 a month.

The Easy Way: Use Low Energy Light Bulbs

Cost:
$19.76 for a 12-pack of GE Energy Smart CFL Light Bulbs, at Walmart.com1, or $4.98 for a single Soft White Compact Fluorescent Bulb, at Lowe’s and other major retailers. (Purchasing tips2)

Savings:
$30 per bulb

Impact:
1,200 pounds of CO2e a year (for 12 bulbs), or 3% of one person’s total.

Only 10% of the energy consumed by a normal light bulb generates light — the rest just makes the bulb hot. Compact-fluorescent lights convert more energy to usable light and less to heat, requiring 75% less electricity. They’re about eight times more expensive at the checkout counter, but will last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs–saving about $30 over the life of each one.

But CFLS aren’t no-brainer purchases: Some give off harsher light than others; some work with dimmer switches, some don’t. Also be aware that each bulb contains about four milligrams of mercury, a small amount but enough to warrant special disposal. The EPA recommends placing it in a sealed plastic bag and discarding at a local hazardous waste collection site. (Earth911.org can locate the closest site to you.)

On the Road

In the U.S., the transportation sector accounts for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions and is the fastest-growing major source of greenhouse gases, according to a recent EPA draft report4. Cars and light-duty trucks contributed to 61% of transportation CO2 emissions in 2005, down from 63% in 1990.

The Hard Way: Get Rid of Your Car

Cost:
A year’s worth of public transportation varies widely, from $200 to $2,000 depending on location.

Savings:
The Sierra Club estimates that the average yearly cost of driving a single-occupant car is between $4,826 and $9,685. Fueleconomy.gov puts the cost of gas alone at about $1,300 for an average car, like a Honda Civic.

Impact:
The EPA’s calculator5 estimates that a typical car driven by the average American emits about 12,100 pounds of CO2e a year — about 30% of one person’s total emissions.

Even riding public transport takes its toll, given that buses, subways and commuter rail all emit CO2. Riding a bicycle would save even more emissions and money, but won’t be much help when you need to drop the kids at soccer practice.

The Medium Way: Drive a Hybrid Car

Cost:
$22,600 (MSRP, Honda Civic Hybrid)

Savings:
$445 a year in gas, according to fueleconomy.gov6, plus you get a $1,700 tax credit.

Impact:
4,700 pounds of CO2e a year, or 12% of one person’s total emissions.

Despite advances in technology, the vehicles we drive are on the whole getting less efficient. Between 1990 and 2003, greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles increased by 19%, according to the EPA, mostly from higher sales of light-duty vehicles such as SUVs and minivans, and an increase in the number of miles Americans drive every year.

If everyone in the U.S. purchased one of the four most efficient models7 in each vehicle class (sedans, sub-compacts, SUVs, light trucks), fuel economy would be 12% higher and Americans could save 13.1 billion gallons of gasoline — about 254 billion pounds of CO2e, or 1.6% of the U.S. total yearly CO2e emissions, according to calculations we did based on the EPA’s numbers.

For those who own a car that’s less efficient than the standard American car, which gets between 30 and 40 mpg, switching to a hybrid can have an even bigger impact. Swapping a Hummer for a Honda Civic Hybrid would save about 13,000 pounds of CO2e a year and $1,676 a year in gas.

The Easy Way: Drive Less and Boost Your Mileage

Savings:
Varies. The less you drive, the more you save on gas.

Impact:
Reducing the amount you drive by just 2,000 miles can save 1,100 pounds of CO2e a year, or 3% of per capita emissions.

Every gallon of gasoline you save avoids approximately 20 pounds of CO2 emissions, according to the EPA.

Any steps taken to boost a car’s gas mileage will also help you reduce emissions. Fueleconomy.gov8 says that giving a car a tune-up can improve gas mileage by about 4%. Replacing a clogged air filter can get you 10% and simply using the recommended grade of motor oil will up gas mileage by about 2%.

In the Grocery Store

At the end of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” he rattles off a list of things one can do in daily life to help the planet: switching one’s light bulbs and driving a hybrid are both among them. What isn’t on that list: your diet.

The Hard Way: Cut Out All Animal Products

Cost:
Wouldn’t dramatically increase or decrease spending at the grocery store.

Impact:
3,000 pounds of CO2e a year; or 8% of one person’s total.

The average American diet produces 3,000 more pounds of CO2e a year than a calorie-equivalent “vegan” diet that is derived only from plants, i.e., fruits, vegetables, beans, according to the authors of a 2006 University of Chicago report9.

The savings come from bypassing the livestock industry, which is responsible for 18% of the U.S.’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report10 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. A good deal of that comes from the methane emitted from cow manure (methane is a greenhouse gas), the CO2 produced by the operation of farm machinery and the devotion of colossal amounts of land to grow single crops, like corn. Corn is cultivated with a synthetic fertilizer that emits greenhouse gases in two ways. First, manufacturing the fertilizer–a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen gases–requires large amounts of natural gas. Second, runoff from this fertilizer evaporates into the air as nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas hundreds of times more powerful than CO2.

Much of the rest of the food industry’s CO2e output simply comes from transporting meat and dairy products around the world, a phenomenon that is not unique to meat — turning a seemingly clear-cut option into a bit of a puzzle (more on that later).

A vegan diet also omits fish. The University of Chicago report found that the energy involved in the production and transport of certain varieties of fish — such as tuna and swordfish — can be just as bad as with meat. If you want to eat fish, one of the report’s authors, Gidon Eshel, recommends sticking to herring and sardines, which are found closer to shore and require shorter boat trips to be caught.

The Medium Way: Eat Chicken Instead of Red Meat

Impact:
2,205 pounds of CO2e a year; 6%

According to the Chicago report, taking a smaller step and cutting out red meat — while continuing to eat chicken — can save about 2,205 pounds of CO2e a year. Granted, this exact number reflects a somewhat unrealistic dietary change from eating only red meat to only chicken, but Mr. Eshel says it’s still fairly accurate.

The Easy Way: Eat Everything, but Make Sure it’s Local

Cost:
Varies, but can cost more.

Impact:
60-242 pounds of CO2 a year, or about 1%

The diverse bounty of vegetables, fruits and meats found in a grocery store have consumed a lot of energy getting there. The food industry burns nearly a fifth of all the petroleum consumed in the U.S. — about as much as automobiles do, as reporter Michael Pollan points out in his book “Omnivore’s Dilemma.” Only a fifth of that energy is used to grow food. The rest is spent processing and transporting it. Eating products that originate close to home can be a powerful alternative to giving up meat, dairy and fish, depending on where you live.

If you’re an employee at Google’s Mountain View, Calif. headquarters, eating locally won’t be a problem. The company’s dazzling new employee cafeteria is named Café 150, because it serves only food originating within a 150-mile radius.

For a Fortune 500 company staffed with famous chefs and nestled in a valley lush with farms, ranches and fisheries, eating local isn’t so much of a challenge. But sticking solely to local products won’t be so easy for individuals living farther a field, so to speak. “It’s easy if you’re living in the Central Valley,” Mr. Eshel says. “But in Vermont, there’s no way.”

Tips for Electronic Waste Recycling for Earth Day, April 22

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 19, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Severn Williams
Earth911/Global Alerts 510-336-9566
April 19, 2007

Not sure what to do with that old computer or cell phone? Earth 911 provides local information for e-waste recycling

Los Angeles, CA – How many old computers, cell phones, used batteries and televisions do you have piling up in your garage? Many Americans are stockpiling these defunct electronic items because they are at a loss as to how to properly dispose of them. Earth Day, which takes place this Sunday, April 22, 2007, is a great time for all of us to clean out our closets and to move those old electronics back into the recycling food chain. Earth 911, which powers the nation’s largest environmental web-portal at Earth 911.org and the toll free national recycling hotline 1-800-CLEANUP, provides local recycling locations for electronic waste and more throughout the country. By entering a zip code, users can find a comprehensive list of recyclable items and locations that accept them in their community.

Electronic waste, or “e-waste” consists of unwanted computers, monitors, televisions, audio equipment, printers and other home electronic devices. Technological advances for all electronic equipment quickly render them obsolete. More than 20 million personal computers went out of use in 1998 alone. Only about 14% of those were reused or recycled, while most were disposed of or remain in storage.

“The good news is that more and more people know that tossing an old computer into the trash can is not the right thing to do. But people also end up hanging on to old equipment because they’re not sure where to take it,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 Program Manager. “Earth 911 can help everyone recycle these items, which is one contribution we could all make this Earth Day.”

Earth 911’s 3 Most Common Recyclable Electronic Items

1.) Computers: In 2005, the National Safety Council estimated that 63 million computers became obsolete. It is estimated as of 2007 these stored computers will amount to about 500 million computers. Earth911.org and 1-800-CLEANUP has ideas about how to prolong the life of your computer as well as local computer donation and recycling locations in your community.

2.) Cellular phones: As of 2005, estimates indicate that over 130 million phones are disposed of every year. Many consumers store old cell phones because they are unsure of how to discard them. Earth 911 has information about why it’s important to keep cellular phones out of landfills and can help consumers properly dispose of older models.

3.) Batteries: Batteries are made with toxic substances that must be recycled to avoid land and ground water contamination. According to the U.S. EPA, despite the fact that batteries make up less than 1% of municipal solid waste, they are responsible for a large portion of toxic heavy metals found there. Most communities require batteries be recycled, but many of us don’t know where we can take our used batteries. Earth 911’s zip code locator feature can help people in every community throughout the U.S. to properly dispose of these toxic items.

Other common types of home-generated e-waste include printers, fax machines, scanners, copy machines, televisions, radios, microwave ovens, stereo system components, camcorders, digital cameras, telephones, hair dryers, electric typewriters, and video game consoles.

“If everyone followed the three ‘r’s with their e-waste, we could really make a difference for the Earth,” continued Rappaport. “Reduce by maintaining and keeping electronics for as long as possible by upgrading whenever possible instead of purchasing a brand-new item; reuse old computers by donating them or buying refurbished models; and recycle older items for recovery of metals, plastics, and other valuable materials. It’s that simple, and it can really go a long way in protecting our natural resources.”

Note to media: Earth 911 provides a wide array of expert spokespeople on a variety of environmental topics. To schedule interviews please contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

About Earth 911

The vast array of environmental resources and information available through Earth 911 includes:

• Recycling Center Locations
• Electronics Donation and Disposal Locations
• Safe Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Locations
• Energy Conservation Tips
• Tips on what you can do to combat Global Warming
• Green Shopping Tips
• The benefits of Composting and How-To Guide
• Local Beach Water Quality Alerts
• Business Recycling Resource Section
• Kids / Environmental Education Resources

Earth 911 provides these services through innovative public-private partnerships. Earth 911 partners with companies and industries as well as the EPA and other federal and local governments to educate businesses and individuals about the growing concerns of our planet.

Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence.

For more information, contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

Bellevue Leader: Saving Mother Earth

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 19, 2007

By: Christine Hollister , Leader Staff Writer
Bellevue Leader
04/19/2007

Since 20 million people celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970, numerous changes have taken place in our country and abroad to help protect the environment. Now, the notion of “green living” has become more than trendy.

It’s nearly a necessity in today’s world.

Celebrate Earth Day April 22 by considering how what you do each day affects the environment and by thinking about what small changes you can make in your own life to make a difference on a global scale. It really is easier than you might think.

Here are a few simple tips:

1. Recycling: It’s not just for soda cans anymore.

Sure, you knew it was possible to recycle your aluminum cans, glass, newspaper and cardboard. That’s a great start. But did you know you can also recycle the old computer and that broken washing machine in your basement? Enter your ZIP code at www.earth911.org for recycling resources in your community.

2. Junk mail, be gone!

Junk mail is more than simply annoying - it also uses valuable natural resources like trees, water and energy. By eliminating junk mail, not only will it save trees and help the environment, but it will keep your mailbox from overflowing with those constant credit card offers, catalogs and coupons you don’t use. Register on the National Do Not Mail list at www.directmail.com - a quick, free way to reduce junk mail, and call 1-888-5-OPTOUT to rid yourself of those pesky credit card offers.

3. Sign up for OPPD’s Green Power Program.

OPPD has made some great strides since entering the renewable energy market in 2003. The power produced from green energy sources, including a wind turbine generator, is now available for purchase by OPPD customer-owners.

Residential customers can participate at one of four levels in the Green Power Program, ranging from an additional cost of $4.50 per month to $30 per month for a minimum of one year. Go to www.oppd.com or call 536-4131 for more info.

4. BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag. Shopping bags create an insane

amount of waste for something that’s often in our lives for fewer than 5 minutes. Remember: The next time you grocery shop, BYOB. In the United States, about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year. Bringing your own bag saves oil and trees and some stores even offer a discount if you bring your own.

5. Your car, your environment

It’s Nebraska. Public transportation is very limited. And as much as you would like to, you may not be able to invest in that new hybrid car or bike to work. But there are still several easy things you can do to help the environment. Fill your car up with ethanol, keep your tires inflated and don’t wash your car at home. In addition, aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas and in turn, hurts the environment. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.

6. A line on laundry

Line dry your clothes in the spring and summer. Not only will they have that fresh spring scent, you’ll be saving money and energy. Another note on laundry: Use cold water whenever possible. If you wash two loads in warm or cold water instead of hot each week, you could save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide every year.

7. Get a water filter
Bottled water is a waste of money and harms the nvironment. Nearly 90 billion liters of water are bottled each year, using 1.5 million tons of plastic. Bottles of water have been a huge contributor to landfills in recent years, and petroleum-based bottles take more than 700 years to decompose. Visit your local grocery store and pick up a water filter and chug your aqua out of a reusable bottle.

8. Replace your light bulbs

When a regular light bulb goes out in your home, replace it with a low-energy light bulb. They are initially more expensive than regular bulbs, but they use 60 percent less energy and last a whole lot longer than the Thomas Edison variety. According to several sources, replacing one regular light bulb with an approved compact florescent light bulb would save consumers $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

9. Unplug electronic devices when not in use

In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed when they’re turned off but plugged in. By unplugging your electronics (like your stereo and DVD player) when you’re not using them, you can help the environment and save a little cash on your electric bill at the same time.

10. Plant a tree - or a garden

It’s a fact that plants reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. You can do your part by planting a tree, caring for a houseplant or two or planting a garden. Also along these lines, by making the choice to purchase more locally grown and organic foods, you can eat healthier and help the environment at the same time.

11. Live large!

Buy products in the largest size you can use and avoid excessive packaging.

A family of four can save $2,000 a year by choosing large sizes instead of individual serving sizes. The common rule is that 10 cents of every shopping dollar is used to pay for packaging. Some examples: Buy cereal in a large box instead of in individual serving sizes and buy juice in concentrates and use reusable containers instead of single serving packages.

12. Buy reusable and long-lasting items

Use rechargeable batteries, cloth diapers, a real (not disposable) camera, cloth napkins and towels, washable plates and cups and a washable commuter mug for your morning coffee instead of plastic or Styrofoam.

Sacramento Bee: IRS accepts e-filing delay

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 19, 2007

Popular TurboTax stalled, so deadline is extended till tonight.

By Clint Swett - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, April 19, 2007

Was your TurboTax return torpedoed by electronic delays? Untold numbers of taxpayers nationwide who were unable to file their return electronically by Tuesday’s deadline using Intuit Inc.’s popular software won’t be penalized, the Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday.

Instead, those stymied this week by Intuit’s clogged e-filing system have until midnight tonight to submit their federal tax return online.

For those filing state taxes, Denise Azimi, a spokeswoman for the state Franchise Tax Board, said TurboTax users who had difficulty using e-filing also will not be penalized. She said the state had not set a deadline for when those returns needed to be submitted.

Officials of Intuit, the Mountain View company that makes TurboTax, told the Associated Press they don’t know how many taxpayers were unable to file because company servers were overwhelmed by last-minute filers. But at its peak Tuesday, they said Intuit was processing 50 to 60 returns per second.

Typically, it takes only a few minutes after hitting the submit button for TurboTax users to get a confirmation. By Tuesday evening, reports said it was taking hours.

Those affected by delays include consumers and tax preparers who used Intuit’s TurboTax, TurboTax Freedom, ProSeries and Lacerte products.

The company, which has sold more than 9.89 million copies of its TurboTax software for the 2006 tax year, handled more than 1 million returns on Tuesday, at least twice as many as the peak filing day last year. Turbotax is by far the dominant tax software purchased by consumers with 85.4 percent of the retail market, according to NPD Group, a research firm.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Intuit reported on its Web site that all problems had been resolved and it was processing returns at a normal rate.

Overall, the IRS said more than 75 million federal returns have been filed electronically this tax season, up from 73.5 million a year ago.

E-filers weren’t the only ones given a reprieve. The IRS also said taxpayers in New York and other Northeast states will get a one-week extension, no matter how they file, because of severe weather that hammered the region on April 16.

Earth Day credentials

Earth Day has traditionally been a stage where businesses burnish their green credentials. With global warming, high fuel prices and other environmental issues making headlines, this year’s activities are likely to have an even higher profile.

A number of firms have announced events and initiatives related to Earth Day, which is officially Sunday, April 22. Among them:

• SAFE Credit Union on Saturday is hosting a community recycling event where the public can bring up to two grocery bags of unneeded documents for free shredding and recycling. SAFE touts it as a way to safely recycle sensitive documents.

The shred fest will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union, 4636 Watt Ave., North Highlands.

• Delta Air Lines, which is pledging to plant a tree for each of its 47,000 employees, said the company will make a contribution to the environmental group The Conservation Fund for each passenger who takes a Delta flight on Earth Day.

The airline also will sell passengers “carbon offsets” via a contribution to The Conservation Fund. Offsets are payments made to environmentally friendly projects to help counterbalance pollution — in this case air travel emissions.

Those purchasing the offsets, which will be available starting in June, will pay an additional $5.50 for a domestic round-trip flight and $11 for an international round trip.

• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has established a “Live Better Index” in which it tracks purchasing habits of its U.S. customers, aimed at promoting environmentally friendly products.

The most popular products are compact fluorescent light bulbs, organic milk, organic baby foods and recycled or environmentally packaged paper products.

In addition, several Web sites are helping consumers find convenient places to recycle computers, cell phones and electronics. Among them are gcycle.org and earth911.org.

Trumanindex.com: Earth Day 2007

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 19, 2007

Earth Day 2007
Posted: 4/19/07

Air-friendly products such as water-based paints will help us breathe easier. Also use push or electric lawn mowers, briquettes or electric probes for barbecue grills and low volatile organic compounds, according to www.earth911.org.

Bike Co-Op Workshop from 2 to 6 p.m. today on the Quad will help you fix up your bike. Experts will provide consults and minor repairs.

Critical Mass Ride is a national grass roots organization that promotes the use of bikes as an alternative mode of transportation. Visit the Courtyard Lawn on the Square at 5:30 p.m. Friday for a ride through Kirksville.

Decorate your bike from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the Square as part of the Earth Week Festival. Contact Cassie Phillips at cassiephillips@care2.com for more information.

Earth Week Festival will provide you with plenty of opportunities to get involved with saving the planet. The festival will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Courtyard Lawn on the Square and will feature live music, an open mic and a bike parade at 1 p.m.

Fair trade ensures that workers will have safe working conditions and fair wages. Truman’s Responsible and Fair Trade club promotes the use of fair trade in the community. Contact sag004@truman.edu for more information.

GreenDimes is a Web site that promotes less junk mail and will plant a tree each month you are a member. Visit greendimes.com for more information on how to become a member for only $4 a month.

Hazardous waste can come from products such as batteries, electronics or household cleaners and pollute landfills. Learn how to properly dispose of these. Earth 911 provides a list of hazardous waste products and lets you know how to dispose of them.

Idling cars waste fuel and pollute the air. Shut off your car if you idle for a minute or longer.

Junk mail wastes paper, ink and time. Visit www.obviously.com/junk mail for tips on how to eliminate your junk mail.

Kitchen appliances use a lot of energy. Use stove top burners that are the same size as your pots, keep the range clean and cover pans or kettles when heating water to use less energy. Also use toaster ovens or electric pans when cooking smaller meals because they use one-third less energy. Microwave ovens and pressure cookers also are a good alternative.

Locally grown produce saves the amount of energy used to ship produce across the country. The Kirksville Farmers’ Market begins May 5 from 7 a.m. to noon and continues each Sat. until Oct.

Machine-washable dishes, containers and towels prevent waste buildup in landfills. Use them instead of disposable products.

Natural Building Workshop from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Square will provide tips on how to use natural buildings. Natural buildings are made from natural materials such as cob, light-day straw and rammed earth, according to dancingrabbit.org. Sponsored by the Dancing Rabbit Eco-Village group, you’ll get your hands dirty learning techniques and building a mock wall at different workshops.

Organic produce is pesticide- and chemical-free. Organic cleaning products such as vinegar, lemon, borax and salt don’t use chemicals either.

Pay your bills online to use less paper. Contact your bank and credit card companies to find out how to make payments online.

Quantity. Buy in bulk, and you’ll use less packing material.

Recyclemania at Truman placed ninth in recycled material per capita among the 201 colleges that took part in the contest. Keep up the good work.

Sleep mode on your computer uses less energy while you’re away.

Truman Outdoor Club will help you connect with your adventurous side with events such as camping, canoeing, hiking and rock climbing. You’ll use less energy by not watching TV, surfing the Internet or listening to music.

Visit outdoorclub.truman.edu for more info on how to become a member.

Use less water by taking a “navy shower” and turning off the water while shampooing. Also turn off the water when brushing your teeth and doing the dishes.Veggie Potluck is at 7 p.m. Friday at 205 E. Illinois Ave. Apt. 1. Bring a vegetarian or vegan dish to share.

ho Killed the Electric Car?” is a documentary that addresses how automobile companies, the oil industry and the U.S. government limit how we explore the technology of the electric car. Sponsored by the Student Activities Board, the film will be at 7 p.m. Friday in Magruder Hall 1000.

Xchange rides with friends by carpooling and using less fuel.

Your clothes will come out just as clean if you wash them in cold water because it uses less energy than hot. Only wash and dry full loads, and don’t over dry your clothes. Clean out the lint trap to improve air circulation.

Zero impact on the globe should be your goal by using less fuel, planting trees and recycling. Conservationfund.org has a carbon zero calculator to help you estimate your impact on the world and provides tips on how to have zero impact on the world.

Portsmouth Herald News: Organization is resource for recycling e-waste

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 18, 2007

Seacoast.com
April 18, 2007 11:40 PM

LOS ANGELES — How many old computers, cell phones, used batteries and televisions do you have piling up in your garage? Many Americans are stockpiling these defunct electronic items because they are at a loss as to how to properly dispose of them.

Earth Day, which takes place Sunday, is a great time for people to clean out their closets and to move those old electronics back into the recycling food chain.

Earth 911, which powers the nation’s largest environmental Web-portal and a toll free national recycling hot line, provides local recycling locations for electronic waste and more throughout the country. By entering a zip code, users can find a comprehensive list of recyclable items and locations that accept them in their community.

More than 20 million personal computers went out of use in 1998 alone. Only about 14 percent of those were reused or recycled, while most were disposed of or remain in storage.

“The good news is that more and more people know that tossing an old computer into the trash can is not the right thing to do. But people also end up hanging on to old equipment because they’re not sure where to take it,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 program manager. “Earth 911 can help everyone recycle these items, which is one contribution we could all make this Earth Day.”

Earth 911’s three most common recyclable electronic items:

Computers:
In 2005, the National Safety Council estimated that 63 million computers became obsolete. It is estimated as of 2007, these stored computers will amount to about 500 million computers. Earth 911’s Web site and hot line have ideas about how to prolong the life of your computer as well as local computer donation and recycling locations in your community.

Cellular phones:
As of 2005, estimates indicate that over 130 million phones are disposed of every year. Many consumers store old cell phones because they are unsure of how to discard them. Earth 911 has information about why it’s important to keep cellular phones out of landfills and can help consumers properly dispose of older models.

Batteries:
Batteries are made with toxic substances that must be recycled to avoid land and ground water contamination. According to the U.S. EPA, despite the fact that batteries make up less than 1 percent of municipal solid waste, they are responsible for a large portion of toxic heavy metals found there. Most communities require batteries be recycled, but many of us don’t know where we can take our used batteries. Earth 911’s zip code locator feature can help people in every community throughout the U.S. to properly dispose of these toxic items.

“If everyone followed the three Rs with their e-waste, we could really make a difference for the Earth,” said Rappaport. “Reduce by maintaining and keeping electronics for as long as possible by upgrading whenever possible instead of purchasing a brand-new item; reuse old computers by donating them or buying refurbished models; and recycle older items for recovery of metals, plastics, and other valuable materials. It’s that simple, and it can really go a long way in protecting our natural resources.”

Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence. For details, call Severn Williams at (510) 336-9566.

TO RECYCLE

To find a comprehensive list of recyclable items and locations that accept them in your community, visit Earth 911’s Web site at www.earth911.org or call (800) 253-2687.

CBS 5 News - Bay City Newswire: Recycle E-Waste for Earth Day

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 18, 2007

RECYCLE E-WASTE FOR EARTH DAY
04/18/07 10:20 PDT
By Bay City News

The nation’s largest environmental portal Web site is inviting people to dispose of their unwanted electronic trash in time for Earth Day, on Sunday.

Earth 911 has which operates a toll-free national recycling hotline, (800) CLEANUP, provides local recycling locations that will accept unwanted electronic waste such as batteries, cell phones, computers and more, the organization reported.

“The good news is that more and more people know that tossing an old computer into the trash can is not the right thing to do. But people also end up hanging on to old equipment because they are not sure where to take it,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 Program Manager. “Earth 911 can help everyone recycle these items, which is one contribution we could all make this Earth Day.”

According to Earth 911, common types of electronic waste includes printers, fax machines, scanners, copy machines, televisions, radios, microwaves, stereo systems, camcorders, digital cameras, telephones, hair dryers, electric type writers, and video game consoles.

Those wishing for more information about recycling these items may visit www.earth911.org or call the toll-free hotline, which provides information in both Spanish and English.

Top Tips for Earth Day from Earth 911

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 17, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2007

CONTACT: Severn Williams
Earth 911/Global Alerts
805-845-6247

Nation’s Largest Environmental Web-Portal Offers One-Stop Resource For
Local Environmental Information Nationwide

Los Angeles, CA – Global warming, climate change and growing pollution have ignited a sense of urgency for this year’s Earth Day, scheduled for Sunday, April 22, 2007. Fortunately, the nation’s largest environmental web-portal at Earth911.org and nationwide toll free recycling hotline 1-800-CLEANUP empowers individuals across the country to access local environmental information on Earth Day (and every day), providing everything from local recycling locations for old computers, household chemicals, and other recyclable items to real-time water quality alerts and tips to conserve energy, shop green, compost and more.

“It’s time for us all to focus on educating ourselves and our children about how to be part of the solution when it comes to pollution prevention and resource conservation,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 Program Director. “Earth Day provides an opportunity for us to take simple actions that make small changes that add up to a big difference. Earth 911 can help.”

Earth 911’s Top 5 Ideas for Earth Day, and Beyond

1.) Recycle old computers and electronics. Nearly 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years, not to mention the millions that are in closets and garages today. Many electronic products contain parts that can be refurbished or reused. E-waste can contain hazardous chemicals such as mercury and lead. To find recycling centers that accept electronics near you visit www.earth911.org or call 1-800-CLEANUP.

2.) Clean your garage, and properly dispose of hazardous materials. One gallon of motor oil can pollute one million gallons of water. By law, people are required to properly dispose of hazardous items like paint, household chemicals and used motor oil. Earth911.org can help you identify hazardous materials and the site’s zip code locator can point you to drop-off locations in your area.

3.) Conserve energy: Every year, more than $13 billion worth of energy leaks from houses through small holes and cracks. That’s more than $150 per family! By reducing demand and conserving energy we can cut energy costs and fight global warming. Turn off lights; drive less or carpool, and use energy efficient appliances. For a complete set of energy-saving tips from A-Z, visit Earth911.org.

5.) Caring for the Earth is a long-term project, so get your kids involved. The fact is that it’s going to take years to reverse the effects of pollution on our air, water, and soil. Earth Day gives us a chance to help the next generation form habits that will protect our resources. Earth 911 has a complete Kids Section for all ages.

Note to media: Earth 911 provides a wide array of expert spokespeople on a variety of environmental topics. To schedule interviews please contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

About Earth 911

For over 16 years Earth 911 has been the nation’s most widely used environmental information network, providing local access to environmental resources for communities throughout the United States. By simply entering a ZIP Code, local environmental information is available free of charge through the national Web site www.Earth911.org and toll free recycling hotline 1-800-CLEANUP (in Spanish and English).

The vast array of environmental resources and information available through Earth 911 includes:
• Recycling Center Locations
• Electronics Donation and Disposal Locations
• Safe Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Locations
• Energy Conservation Tips
• Tips on what you can do to combat Global Warming
• Green Shopping Tips
• The benefits of Composting and How-To Guide
• Local Beach Water Quality Alerts
• Business Recycling Resource Section
• Kids / Environmental Education Resources

Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence. For more information, contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

Top Tips for Earth Day from Earth 911

Filed under: Earth 911, Press Releases - April 17, 2007

Los Angeles, CA – Global warming, climate change and growing pollution have ignited a sense of urgency for this year’s Earth Day, scheduled for Sunday, April 22, 2007. Fortunately, the nation’s largest environmental web-portal at Earth911.org and nationwide toll free recycling hotline 1-800-CLEANUP empowers individuals across the country to access local environmental information on Earth Day (and every day), providing everything from local recycling locations for old computers, household chemicals, and other recyclable items to real-time water quality alerts and tips to conserve energy, shop green, compost and more.

Earth 911’s Top 5 Ideas for Earth Day, and Beyond

2.) Clean your garage, and properly dispose of hazardous materials. One gallon of motor oil can pollute one million gallons of water. By law, people are required to properly dispose of hazardous items like paint, household chemicals and used motor oil. Earth911.org can help you identify hazardous materials and the site’s zip code locator can point you to drop-off locations in your area.

4.) Shop green, because every choice makes a difference. Next time you’re at the grocery store, bring your own bag, buy products that use less packaging (or buy in bulk), and buy products in containers you know you will be able to recycle. For great ideas about green alternatives to commonly used products, check out the Earth 911 Green Shopping Tips.
5.) Caring for the Earth is a long-term project, so get your kids involved. The fact is that it’s going to take years to reverse the effects of pollution on our air, water, and soil. Earth Day gives us a chance to help the next generation form habits that will protect our resources. Earth 911 has a complete Kids Section for all ages.

Note to media: Earth 911 provides a wide array of expert spokespeople on a variety of environmental topics. To schedule interviews please contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

About Earth 911

The vast array of environmental resources and information available through Earth 911 includes:

Recycling Center Locations
Electronics Donation and Disposal Locations
Safe Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Locations
Energy Conservation Tips
Tips on what you can do to combat Global Warming
Green Shopping Tips
The benefits of Composting and How-To Guide
Local Beach Water Quality Alerts
Business Recycling Resource Section
Kids / Environmental Education Resources

Earth 911 is a recipient of the Al Gore Hammer Award for Environmental Excellence. For more information, contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566.

Chicago Tribune - Shedding light on bulb-shopping

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 8, 2007

Some compact fluorescent light bulbs may not be right for a consumer’s purpose, so it helps to do a little research before making any purchase

BY GREGORY KARP
Chicago Tribune
April 8, 2007 Sunday

Using compact fluorescent light bulbs is a great idea and can save more than $30 on each bulb you replace, even factoring in a higher purchase price. But buying compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs as they’re called, takes more knowledge than buying incandescent bulbs. That may be why they still only make up about 5 percent of the light-bulb market, according to Department of Energy estimates. Traditional bulbs are a commodity, meaning you can buy on price because they’re roughly the same unless you’re choosy about the color or intensity of the light. And incandescents are mostly interchangeable in various fixtures.

But incandescent bulbs are really little heaters that happen to give off a small percentage of their energy as light. Compact fluorescents are about four times more efficient and don’t give off much heat at all. They also last eight to 15 times longer. That’s why they save so much money and energy.

“If used in the right location, you’ll be thrilled for years, and they’ll save you a ton of money,” said Wendy Reed, spokeswoman for the government’s Energy Star program. “I know in our house, we have cut back our electricity bills a ridiculous amount.”
Last week we looked at money reasons to use compact fluorescents. Here, we’ll provide tips on shopping for CFLs.

- Take baby steps
At a savings of more than $30 per bulb, consumers might be tempted to run out and buy CFLs for all their fixtures. But start with replacing your five most-used bulbs. Outdoor porch lights that automatically turn on every night are an example.

By easing into CFLs, you can get a sense of the differences. For example, you might note a slight delay before the light turns on and a delay before it becomes fully bright. The size might be slightly different and the shape will defi-nitely be different, with many looking like an ice cream cone spiral. “I don’t recommend people go out and just replace every single bulb in their house,” Reed said. “What I do recom-mend is they replace the bulbs they use the most.”

- Think brightness, not watts
The most basic relearning with CFLs is in looking at the wattage. We’ve been trained to know a 100-watt bulb is very bright and a 40-watt bulb is dimmer. But watts refer to how much energy the bulb sucks from your electrical sys-tem. CFLs use about a quarter of the energy. So, the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent is a 15-watt CFL.

Brightness is more appropriately measured in lumens. For example, a traditional 60-watt bulb and a 15-watt CFL both produce about 800 lumens. More lumens means more light. The good news is you probably won’t have to bother with these conversions. The packaging of many CFLs prominently displays its incandescent equivalent. If light from a CFL appears dim, step up in wattage. That’s the great thing about the low-wattage CFLs — you can put a much brighter bulb in the same fixture.

- Follow the Star
Buy CFLs certified as Energy Star, the government-backed labeling program for energy-efficient products. It will be marked on the package. Energy Star compact fluorescents will give the highest-quality light and save you the most money. Energy Star bulbs use at least two-thirds less energy than incandescents to provide the same amount of light and are likely to last 10 times longer. Certified bulbs generally turn on within one second, achieve full brightness within three minutes and pro-duce no sound. They also must come with at least a two-year warranty. “If a manufacturer has not bothered to earn the Energy Star, or can’t earn it, there’s a reason,” Reed said. “It’s not the same.”

- Seek multipacks
The best deals on CFLs are in multipacks found at such retailers as Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart and BJ’s Wholesale. For a regular lamp bulb, a four-pack for $10, or $2.50 per bulb, is a good price.

- Specialty bulbs
Regular CFLs won’t reduce in brightness with a dimmer switch. You’ll have to find CFLs specifically labeled as dimmable, which are more expensive and are not guaranteed to work in your fixture. And be aware that the dimming range is narrower than with traditional bulbs.
This is one area where CFL technology has not quite caught up. So try replacing bulbs in non-dimmable fixtures first before venturing into dimmable ones. Three-way CFLs work the same as incandescents but are also more expen-sive than regular CFLs. Reflector flood bulbs, globe bulbs and other shapes are available as compact fluorescents.

- When color counts
Bulb color is measured with color temperature, in “degrees Kelvin.” If you want a similar light color as many in-candescent bulbs, look for CFLs with the color temperature of 2,700 degrees Kelvin or labeled “warm white,” which has a yellowish hue. The color at 3,000 will be neutral white, while those over 4,000 will be bluish-white, or “daylight.”

- Search for bulbs
To find bulbs, start with an online guide by advocacy group Environmental Defense at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/cflguide. The guide, which includes reviews by people who used the bulbs, asks where you will use the bulb and what shape it is, along with any special features you want, such as being dimmable. It then suggests appropriate brands and model numbers of CFLs.

The Energy Star CFL Web site, www.energystar.gov/cfls, has a product search section, along with other informa-tion. Be aware that CFLs contain a tiny amount of mercury, though thermostats or old-style thermometers have far more. For that reason it’s best not to dispose of CFLs in the household trash if better options exist. Find out your disposal op-tions at www.earth911.org or by calling 1-877-EARTH911. A full discussion of the mercury in CFLs is available on the Energy Star CFL Web page.

- Save receipts
Warranties on CFLs are very long, sometimes five years or more. So keep receipts in case a CFL doesn’t last as long as it should and you have to have it replaced under terms of the warranty.

Don’t be overwhelmed by these detailed buying tips. The short guide to buying CFLs is simply to buy a multipack of Energy Star bulbs and try them.

For additional discussion on spending wisely see the Spending Smart blog at http://blogs.mcall.com/spendingsmart.

Chicago Tribune - Make your home green: Tips

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 4, 2007

LIGHTBULBS

By Karen Klags
Chicago Tribune, April 4, 2007

Do: Replace five of your most used incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (which use two-thirds less energy, generate 70 percent less heat and last up to10 times longer).

Save: $25 to $65 a year in energy costs, depending on the wattage and how long you leave bulbs on.

Bigger picture: If every American home did that, U.S. consumers would save as much as $6.5 billion a year in elec-tricity costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that from more than 8 million cars.

Note: A small amount of mercury is sealed within the glass tubing of compact fluorescent light bulbs. Don’t throw them out with regular household trash if better options exist.

For disposal guidelines: visit www.earth911.org and plug in your zip code; call 877-EARTH911 (877-327-84911); call your local waste management company; or visit www.lamprecycle. org. Some stores take back used CFLs.)

G4 AND EARTH 911 UNITE TO CREATE ‘GCYCLE,’ AN ON-AIR AND ONLINE ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 3, 2007

Ongoing Initiative Seeks to Educate Consumers on Growing Environmental Hazards of E-Waste

LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2007 – In an effort to raise awareness of the harmful environmental impact of electronic waste (or “e-waste”), G4, the plugged-in network for guys 18-34, and Earth 911, the nation’s premiere environmental information provider, have joined forces to create “Gcycle,” a multifaceted electronics recycling campaign. Officially launching on Earth Day (April 22) and continuing indefinitely, “Gcycle” will help reduce the growing burden of e-waste by emphasizing the importance of electronics recycling and providing viewers with details regarding local recycling locations.

In addition to extensive on-air promotion and widespread integration throughout G4’s complete array of programming and special events, “Gcycle” will offer consumers access to simple, location-based e-waste recycling guides online at Gcycle.org. Beginning April 22, visitors to the site will be able to enter a zip code to receive tips on local recycling resources, advice regarding disposal techniques and information on e-waste’s harmful effect on the environment. Additional campaign activities will be introduced through coordination with G4’s local affiliates. Gcycle.org is powered by Earth 911, which consolidates community-specific environmental resources into a single, user-friendly information network at www.Earth911.org and 1-800-CLEANUP.

“Broken gadgets and obsolete electronics are a small inconvenience, but they’re part of a much bigger problem,” said Neal Tiles, President, G4. “‘Gcycle’ will give our audience all the info it needs to make smart choices and help have a positive affect on the environment. Working with Earth 911 and our affiliates will help G4 promote change both nationally and locally.”

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates Americans now dispose of more than 3.2 million tons of e-waste every year. A very large percentage of that e-waste, ranging from small products like batteries to larger devices such as computer monitors, contains a harmful assortment of hazardous substances and non-biodegradable materials. Proper recycling of these products not only offers long-term environmental advantages, but prevents the spread of potentially poisonous elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury.

“It’s not hard for consumers to recycle their electronics. Most just don’t know how,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 Director. “With “Gcycle”, we’re making it easy for consumers to get actively involved in the recycling process.”

More information on “Gcycle” and e-waste recycling will be available on G4 and online at http://www.gcycle.org.

- more -

About Comcast Entertainment Group

Based in Los Angeles, recently formed Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable and inspiring lifestyle programming; and G4 offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity, and “Internet culture” for the male 18-34 demo. E! is currently available to almost 90 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the United States. In 2006, E! launched the E! Everywhere initiative underscoring the company’s dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere — from online to broadband at The Vine @E!Online to wireless to satellite radio to VOD. The Style Network currently counts 56 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4, the #1 podcasted cable network in America, is available in more than 62 million cable and satellite homes nationwide.

About Earth 911

Founded in 1991, Earth911.org is the nation’s premier one-stop environmental Web portal. Earth 911 consolidates community-specific environmental resources into a single, user-friendly information network. It is the mission of Earth 911 to empower the public with local resources needed to improve their quality of life. Through the use of patent-pending alerting technology from its parent company, Global Alerts, and ZIP Code-based applications, Earth 911 helps residents and businesses protect and improve the environment. Community-specific alerts, such as beach water quality alerts, inform citizens of urgent environmental news in their area. As a unique Public and Private Sector Partnership, the Earth 911 network is supported by the private sector so it can be provided at no cost to taxpayers and government. The 1-800-CLEANUP telephone recycling hot line is listed on billions of household product container labels guiding consumers to important recycling and disposal information. The network and Web site have been recognized throughout the industry with numerous awards, including the Al Gore Hammer Award and the National Information Infrastructure Award for Recycling.

PR Newswire - G4 and Earth 911 Unite to Create ‘Gcycle,’ an On-Air and Online Elec-tronic Waste Recycling and Awareness Campaign

Filed under: Earth 911 - April 3, 2007

Ongoing Initiative Seeks to Educate Consumers on Growing Environ-mental Hazards of E-Waste

PR Newswire US
April 3, 2007

LOS ANGELES, April 3 /PRNewswire/ — In an effort to raise awareness of the harmful environmental impact of electronic waste (or “e-waste”), G4, the plugged-in network for guys 18-34, and Earth 911, the nation’s premiere envi-ronmental information provider, have joined forces to create “Gcycle,” a multifaceted electronics recycling campaign. Officially launching on Earth Day (April 22) and continuing indefinitely, “Gcycle” will help reduce the growing burden of e-waste by emphasizing the importance of electronics recycling and providing viewers with details regarding local recycling locations.

Gcycle.org is powered by Earth 911, which consolidates community-specific environmental resources into a single, user-friendly information network at http://www.earth911.org/ and 1-800-CLEANUP.

“It’s not hard for consumers to recycle their electronics. Most just don’t know how,” said Mark Rappaport, Earth 911 Director. “With ‘Gcycle’, we’re making it easy for consumers to get actively involved in the recycling process.”

More information on “Gcycle” and e-waste recycling will be available on G4 and online at http://www.gcycle.org/ .

About Comcast Entertainment Group
Based in Los Angeles, recently formed Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable and inspiring lifestyle programming; and G4 offer-ing the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity, and “Internet culture” for the male 18-34 demo. E! is currently available to almost 90 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the United States. In 2006, E! launched the E! Everywhere initiative underscoring the company’s dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere — from online to broadband at The Vine @E!Online to wireless to satellite ra-dio to VOD. The Style Network currently counts 56 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4, the #1 podcasted cable network in America, is available in more than 62 million cable and satellite homes nationwide.

About Earth 911
Founded in 1991, Earth911.org is the nation’s premier one-stop environmental Web portal. Earth 911 consolidates community-specific environmental resources into a single, user-friendly information network. It is the mission of Earth 911 to empower the public with local resources needed to improve their quality of life.

Through the use of patent-pending alerting technology from its parent company, Global Alerts, and ZIP Code-based applications, Earth 911 helps residents and businesses protect and improve the environment. Community-specific alerts, such as beach water quality alerts, inform citizens of urgent environmental news in their area. As a unique Public and Private Sector Partnership, the Earth 911 network is supported by the private sector so it can be provided at no cost to taxpayers and government.

The 1-800-CLEANUP telephone recycling hot line is listed on billions of household product container labels guiding con-sumers to important recycling and disposal information. The network and Web site have been recognized throughout the industry with numerous awards, including the Al Gore Hammer Award and the National Information Infrastructure Award for Recycling.

Web site: http://www.gcycle.org/
http://www.earth911.org/

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