Terre Haute Tribune Star: Volunteer Effort Provides Straw Bedding for Outdoor Pets

Filed under: Pets 911 - November 29, 2008

By Arthur E. Foulkes

Lots of Wabash Valley dogs, cats and other animals will be a little warmer this winter thanks to “Warm Straw for Chilly Paws,” a volunteer effort to provide straw bedding for outdoor pets.

Animal lovers manned three Vigo County locations and gave away free bales of clean, dry straw to people wanting to make life a little better for animals that spend a lot of time outdoors during cold months.

“This is really a worthy cause,” said Dick Smith, owner of Graham Feed Company in Terre Haute, which was one of the pickup locations for the straw giveaways. “This is a tough time on animals,” he said.

More than a dozen people had picked up free straw bales from the Graham Feed location in just the first hour of the giveaway. Other pickup locations included Unity Presbyterian Church on East Springhill Drive and the Helping Hands Thrift Store in West Terre Haute.

Betty Linnabary of Terre Haute, who was picking up a free straw bale, said several stray cats live in her garage. She feeds them and the straw will help them stay warm, she said. “They’ve adopted me. I love them all.”

Students from the Friends of the Animals Club at Rio Grande Elementary School helped distribute fliers and gift dog biscuits to people during the event. The biscuits were each wrapped in colorful ribbons.

“I love animals,” said Bailie Winkle, a fourth-grader at Rio Grande who was working the Graham Feed location along with fellow Rio Grande fourth-grader Taylor Turner. In addition to handing out information and dog biscuits, the fourth-graders also helped collect donations for local animal charities including the Humane Society and the Spay-Neuter League.

Volunteers will be repeating the Warm Straw for Chilly Paws giveaway next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Graham Feed Company location only, said Angie Bridgewater, an organizer of the event. Graham Feed is at 200 West Voorhees St.

Graham Feed donated 50 bales of straw for the event. Another 100 bales were purchased through donations, Bridgewater said.

Even large pets can be harmed by extended exposure to cold temperatures, according to Pets 911, an animal welfare organization. For some small pets, even a few minutes outdoors in extreme temperatures can cause symptoms of hypothermia, according to the organization’s Web site.

A flier distributed to people picking up straw included some winter pet care tips, including making sure outdoor pets have a warm, insulated house or shelter raised a few inches off the ground. The floor of the shelter should be covered with cedar shavings or straw and when the straw becomes wet it should be replaced, the flier reads.

Pets also require more food in the winter and outdoor water dishes should be checked frequently to make sure the water is not frozen, according to the flier.

The openings of pet shelters also should be turned away from the wind, said Elaine Woolley, a volunteer during the event. It’s not just the cold temperatures that are dangerous for pets, she said, “it’s also the wind-chill.”

Also Saturday, at the Unity Presbyterian Church on East Springhill Drive, several pet owners brought their dogs to a “blessing of the animals” service. Around eight dogs and their owners gathered in the church for the 25 minute service that included hymns, Bible readings and an individual blessing for each pet.

“They were wonderful,” said the Rev. Linda Peters, of the Unity Presbyterian Church, speaking of the dogs that were at the service. There were no cats at the blessing service, but there have been in the past, Peters said.

Kathy Modesitt brought her foster dog Missy to the blessing service. “She’s a very good dog,” Modesitt said of the small Australian Cattle Dog that walked around her legs on a leash after the service. The pets are “part of God’s creation. They need to be blessed, too,” she said.

Time Magazine: O Christmas Tree

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 26, 2008

By Bryan Walsh

Every December throughout my childhood, my father would rise from the couch on a Sunday afternoon and tell us that it was time to chop down the Christmas tree. But the Walsh men are not outdoorsmen; firmly suburban, we’re at most screened-in-porch men. So by cutting down the yule tree, my dad meant climbing into the attic and bringing down the tinsel-covered bits of plastic and tubing, then assembling them into something resembling Tannenbaum form. Yes, though it shames me to say it now, we were a faux-fir family.

But is an artificial tree so bad? A new study by the well-regarded sustainability firm PE Americas found that owning an artificial tree —as do an estimated 50 million households in the U.S.— caused lower carbon emissions over a decade than did buying real trees 10 years in a row, chiefly because of the gasoline used to get a cut tree from farm to living room. The big caveats, however, are that the study focused on carbon and was sponsored by the American Christmas Tree Association, which works with artificial-tree makers.

Ask environmentalists the which-is-greener question, and most will side with the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), which represents live-tree growers. “Even if you use a fake tree for 10 years, when you throw it away, it’s not biodegradable,” says the NCTA’s communications director, Rick Dungey. “It’s always better to use a natural product over an artificial one.”

Though more than 30 million live Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year, almost all Christmas trees are raised on commercial farms—which makes them a renewable resource more akin to a stalk of corn than to a wild Douglas fir in the forest. When a yule tree is chopped down and sold, farms will plant another one in its place, making that part of the process carbon-neutral. The fossil fuel burned to transport the trees from farm to hearth is another matter. But given that most artificial trees are manufactured and shipped from China, fakes have their fuel costs too.

Then there’s the stuff that artificial trees are made of. One ingredient in most fake firs is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that is difficult to recycle. And while new artificial trees pose little threat to children’s health, Mike Schade, the PVC-campaign coordinator for the activist group Center for Health, Environment and Justice, notes that older plastic trees tend to have higher levels of lead, a potent neurotoxin.

But just buying a live tree doesn’t guarantee a green Christmas. Instead of simply tossing your tree in the trash on Dec. 26, recycle it. Thousands of municipalities across the country offer Christmas-tree-recycling programs; you can look them up on Earth911.com. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will even collect discarded trees and use them to create underwater forests in man-made lakes, sprucing up the habitats of fish and other aquatic critters.

Extreme greens opt to get a real tree with root-ball intact, keep it alive through the stressful holiday season—then find a place to replant it. That might be easy if you have a green thumb and a backyard big enough to absorb a Douglas fir: lug the potted tree inside for the holidays, then outside once your New Year’s hangover has cleared. If you keep the tree in a planter, you can reuse it every year and save on gas.

Alas, those who can’t garden to save their lives are out of luck—unless they happen to live in or near Portland, Ore. There the Original Living Christmas Tree Co. delivers potted trees for a holiday rental. A little after New Year’s, workers pick them up and deliver them to parks, schools and other institutions that pay $10 to have a tree planted on their property. “We’re set to do over 400 trees this year,” says founder John Fogel. “I want people to feel good about [live] trees.”

Perhaps that’s the real benefit of having a fresh tree in your home. “Kids today are so out of touch with nature,” says Bob Schildgen, the Sierra Club’s environmental-advice columnist. “Just having a living thing in the house can enhance environmental values in a way you can’t measure in dollars and cents.” So may your days be merry and bright, but may all your Christmases (and any other holidays) be green.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Help Yourself—Answers

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 22, 2008

ANSWERS

Bicycle restoration: Karen House, 314-621-4052, 1840 Hogan St. is where S.R. can take bikes to be restored. A man at the house gives local children a small amount of money for helping him with the repairs, and the bikes are then given to needy children. L.M.

Chair: I was able to order a folding chair with upholstered padded seats from www.target.com. J.M.

Cookbook: I will make I.B. a copy of a 28-page Bisquick recipe book from 1959. A.B., 636-498-1776.

Doll clothing: I’ve been making clothes for American Girl dolls for 15 years. I also have beds, sling chairs, hammocks and accessories. C.H., 636-928-5153.

Earrings: I can help D.R. with a pair of clip-on yellow earrings that are about 1-inch in diameter. B.B., 314-521-8442.

Hot plates: Branneky Hardware, 314-739-0960, is a where M.E. should be able to get a 9-by-13 inch or a similar size hot plate.

Liquid glycerin: M.L. can purchase liquid glycerin from Schnucks. Its their brand. M.S., 314-878-0292

Paint: I don’t know where to donate leftover paint, but J.M. can try the website www.earth911.com to find a place that recycles paint. P.J.

Paint: www.dnr.mo.gov is a place where J.M. can get information on how to store, donate and dispose of leftover paint. They might also want to contact a local school or theater group that could use the paint for scenery. K.D.

Piano sheet music: I’m willing to help J.E. with piano sheet music from the 1920s and ’30s. Z.E., 314-647-0577.

Power cup: Branneky Hardware, 314-739-0960, is a place where D.C. can buy a genuine Power Cup that is used with a Presto Power Cup microwave multipopper.

Revere Ware pots and pans: I can help S.P. with original Revere Ware copper bottom pots and pants in several sizes. B.B., 314-521-8442.

—I have the copper bottom Revere Ware pots and pans that S.P. is looking for. M.S., 314-878-0292.

Vintage jewelry: The St. Louis Costume Jewelry Club meets once a month to discuss jewelry, designers, books and more, I will supply A.C. with information about the club. J.C., 636-527-5124.

Waist twister: I can help N.R. with a waist twister which is made of particle board. C.S., 314-832-9384.

Plenty Magazine: Can I Recycle or Give Away my Packing Peanuts?

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 19, 2008

Q. We just moved, and as I unpack, I’m wondering what we should do with all of these packing peanuts?  They’re still perfectly good, but they take up too much room to store in the closet until I need them again. Can I recycle or reuse them?

—Wanda Lee, Columbia, MO

A. If you had enough extra room in your closets to store loads of packing peanuts, Wanda, we’d be all up in your grill about green homes and not owning (read: heating/cooling/maintaining) more space than you need. So don’t feel bad about not saving them for next time. Unfortunately though, very few recycling programs accept packing peanuts. Worse, most brands of peanuts are made of polystyrene-based foam, which doesn’t biodegrade, and can remain intact for hundreds of years.

Come to think of it, packing peanuts are so durable that we’d never need to manufacture another one in our lifetimes, if only we could find a way to keep passing them along to the next person in need of packing supplies. Enter: Peanut Hotline, a directory set up by a trade group representing packing-peanut-makers. Just punch in your city or zip code and you’ll get a list of nearby retailers that collect the little buggers for reuse. Or go to Earth 911’s similar search tool and type in packing peanuts. For some reason, the two directories seem to have very little overlap, so try both to get plenty of choices.

And next time you need to pack anything fragile, go for biodegradable packing peanuts. They’re made of cornstarch, which magically dissolves in water, and they’re widely available at places like Staples and Office Max.

—Sarah Schmidt

Gannett News Service: Reduce Packaging, Go Electronic for ‘Green’ Holiday Party

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 19, 2008

By Juliana Goodwin

Don’t let your holiday celebration leave an ecological footprint on the earth.

A “green” party starts with electronic invites, says Trey Granger, public relations manager for Earth911.com.

If the idea of the “e-vite” doesn’t appeal to you, create a custom-designed invite (as you would if you were mailing it), save it as a PDF, and e-mail it, suggests Danielle Venokur, president of dvGreen, a sustainable events design company in New York.

When shopping, buy in bulk to cut down on packaging, says Granger.

Serve organic liquor and wine, says H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor of Elixir, a certified green bar in San Francisco, and founder of CocktailAmbassadors.com.

Buy as many local products as possible, says Melissa Dallas, professor and department head of the Hospitality and Restaurant Administration at Missouri State University, where its student restaurant recently went green.

Home cooks can incorporate similar principles into their kitchens, she says.

Here are a few ideas:

—Trade in paper towels for wash cloths, Dallas says, and switch to green cleaning agents and sanitizers.

—Don’t preheat the oven any longer than necessary.

—If you have to use disposable service ware, choose those that are biodegradable or made from recycled materials, Granger says.

—At the party, set up recycling bins and clearly label them, Granger says.

—If you want to know how to recycle in your area, visit Earth911.com and plug in your zip code, says Granger.

—Burn soy or beeswax candles, says Venokur.

—Purchase LED holiday lights, Granger says.

—Look outside and get inspired, says Venokur.

Nature offers free decorations in November and December from pine cones and chestnuts to squash and greens. Make garlands from natural greens and use fallen leaves to accent buffets and tabletop decor.

Tampa Tribune: Finding Old Dog’s Lost Owner A Test Of Persistence

Filed under: Pets 911 - November 18, 2008

By Kristen Levine

As the nation prepares to give thanks this week, I add my own blessing to the list: Henry is home.

Henry —that’s what we dubbed him— is a pudgy, 12-year-old Australian cattle dog I found wandering the streets of our neighborhood last month. The poor old guy appeared to be blind and deaf, and was not wearing a collar.

I figured I could get Henry home —either back to his or to a new one— in no time. I’m a seasoned pet professional, after all, with lots of contacts. No problem.

Problem! Lots of them.

But this story has a happy ending, and the take-home lost-and-found lesson is: Never give up.

When I found my sweet, elderly friend, I brought him home and started the “found dog” process I remembered well from my days working at the SPCA Tampa Bay. Within 30 minutes, I’d posted flyers throughout the neighborhood with his photo, description and where I found him, along with two cell phone numbers.

Day 2: To cover all the bases, I called all animal shelters within a 50-mile radius. I got annoying automated phone trees that had me chasing my tail, and more than one “voicemail-full.” I turned to e-mailing the shelters. This approach generated responses within an hour from all but one shelter.

Faith restored, I filed found reports with each animal shelter via e-mail.

That night, we put our dear departed Zeke’s old collar, with I.D. tags, on Henry, just in case he wandered off.

Day 3: Flyers hung and reports filed across the Bay area, we waited for the phone to ring.

Caring for Henry was a lot of work. He can’t see, so we had to leash him and lead him out the back door whenever he needed a potty break. He couldn’t be left alone because of all the blind-dog dangers about. Twice he tumbled down the back stairs when I took my eyes off him momentarily.

Day 4: No calls yet. We took Henry to the veterinarian to see if he had a microchip ID. None found. But while there, Henry had a physical, rabies shot, and treatment for minor ear and eye infections. We paid the bill, but not before parading Henry through the entire animal hospital at Hidden Oaks to see if any of the staff members recognized him. No one did.

Day 5: My cell phone rang during dinner. It was a desperate gentleman who’d lost a dog! But he was missing a 10-pound Pekinese, not a 50-pound cattle dog.

That night, Paul and I talked about the possibility that no one was looking for Henry.

We live in a quiet, rural neighborhood where unwanted pets often are abandoned. But it’s such a difficult notion to grasp, how anyone could dump a sweet old companion, unable to see or hear.

Day 6: Henry definitely can’t see a thing. He walked straight into the pool while looking for a place to chew a biscuit. Comically, he resurfaced, swam to the exit and walked out, never dropping his bone.

Later, I printed 10 more flyers and hung them in a broader radius about the neighborhood.

Day 7: Buck and Tank, our dog and cat, seemed to have accepted this long-term visitor. And Henry was learning to maneuver around the house without bumping into things.

Day 8: We called Connie Brooks at the SPCA Tampa Bay to ask a silly question. Would an Aussie breed rescue group take this guy into foster care? It was possible, she said, but we should consider bringing him to the SPCA because she had had previous successes finding homes for blind, deaf dogs.

Henry had grown used to sleeping on the comfy carpet in the guest room, and I couldn’t justify making him wait for the right person to come along in a shelter environment. He’d probably be happier waiting here at our house.

Day 9: Liz from the Humane Society Pinellas called me to see whether we had found Henry’s family. She promised to keep the report open.

Day 10-11: Paul and I discussed our options. We could take Henry to the SPCA, or we could keep him with us—maybe for the rest of his life. It’s a struggle caring for a senior dog with health problems. We know because we’ve been doing it for our 13-year-old Lab mix, Buck. Could we handle another old, needy dog?

Day 12: A miracle! Driving home, Paul spotted a family standing outside their minivan, reading one of our Henry flyers. The family’s elderly neighbor had asked their help in finding her lost dog, Blue.

After a thorough inquisition, Paul determined Henry was, indeed, Blue.

They took Blue home, just one street over. His owner called us to thank us and tell us Blue was a gift from her now-deceased husband. She was delighted to have him back home.

Earlier that day I had made a shopping list, which included buying Henry his own collar. I still plan to buy one and take it over to him.

Lost Pet Precautions:

Make sure your dog or cat is wearing a well-fitting collar and ID tag with your name, address and telephone number. Consider additional information such as a cell phone number or e-mail address.

Consider having your pet michrochipped for permanent identification. The chip should be in addition to your pet wearing a collar and tag, not a substitution.

Spaying or neutering your pet will reduce their tendency to roam.

Keep pets indoors when you are not at home or be sure your yard is secure so that pets cannot escape or be stolen.

Take current photos of your pet each year and write down your pet’s license number and keep it in a safe place.

Clip and save this information about local shelters and other steps to take in case your pet is lost.

Searching For a Lost Pet:

Immediately file a lost pet report with animal shelters and or animal control agencies within a 50-mile radius. Visit local shelters in person, when possible.

Immediately post “lost pet” signs around through your neighborhood with your pet’s photo and your contact information, including cell numbers. Consider offering a reward, and state that on the signs if you intend to do so.

Check with neighbors and service people in your neighborhood. Carry your pet’s photo and ask them if whether they have seen him/her. Provide them with your contact information, should they locate your pet.

Check neighbor’s garages, sheds, under porches and cars (ask permission first, of course!).

Place a “lost pet” ad in your local newspaper and on pet Web sites such as www.pets911.com or www.fidofinder.comÖ.

Leave out one distinguishable feature of your pet on the signs so that you can ask about that characteristic if someone claims to have found your pet.

Be persistent. Occasionally pets are reunited months after their disappearance.

Contact any of these Bay area animal shelters to file a “lost or found pet report” or for additional lost/found pet information:

Hillsborough County Animal Services: (813) 744-5660, www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/

Humane Society of Pinellas: (727) 797-7722, www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org

Humane Society of Tampa Bay: (813) 876-7138, www.humanesocietytampa.org

Pinellas County Animal Services: (727) 582-2600, www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices

Polk County SPCA: (863) 646-7722, www.lovemyspca.com

SPCA Tampa Bay: (727) 586-3591, www.spcatampabay,.org

SPCA of West Pasco,: (727) 849-1048, www.spcasuncoast.org

FOUND A PET?

Post “found pet” signs in the neighborhood, at local grocery stores, community centers and veterinary offices.

Call or e-mail animal shelters within a 50-mile radius to file a found pet report.

Check the classified section in the newspaper for lost pet ads.

Place a “found pet” ad in the local paper. Most daily papers, including the Tribune, will run them no charge for four days.

KIVI-TV: Keeping Your Pets Safe in a Disaster Situation

Filed under: Pets 911 - November 17, 2008

Natural disasters can strike at anytime and are often responsible for tearing families apart. Often overlooked, but no less important, are family members of the 4-legged and/or furry variety. Since animals can’t tell us who they are looking for, it’s up to us to help them find their way home.

If you find an animal, or if your animal is lost, make sure to post him on PETS911.com. Those without access to the Internet can call 1-888-PETS-911 (738-7911).

All listings on PETS911.com are included in the centralized database used by all the national animal welfare organizations, including those in the midst of disaster relief efforts (such as the Humane Society of the United States and American Humane). With everyone using one centralized system, we look forward to many happy reunions.

If you are affected by a disaster, but, are lucky enough to still have your pet with you:

The stress from any natural disaster, will wear on even the most easy-going pets. To help combat this:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Groups to Obamas: Consider shelter dogs

Filed under: Pets 911 - November 16, 2008

By Sandy Eckstein

Before the election, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, made it clear that they wanted to get a shelter dog for their daughters, who had been promised a puppy for helping their dad campaign.

But the day after the election, Obama said they weren’t sure they could get a shelter dog because most of them were mutts. Malia, 10, their oldest daughter, is allergic to dogs. So the family is looking for one of the few breeds considered hypoallergenic.

But rescue groups across the country say they hope the family won’t give up that easily because there are other options that could still save a dog.

Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society of the United States, pointed out that 25 percent of the 6 to 8 million animals coming into shelters nationwide each year are purebreds. And then there are rescue groups, many of which also have purebred dogs.

Daisy Okas, with the American Kennel Club, said almost every breed club has a rescue component that looks for homes for unwanted dogs. The organization already had a 2-year-old, house-trained, healthy poodle on its Web site that she said would be happy to go live at the White House.

Animal help groups hope the Obamas know that rescues also are an option, even if what they want is more difficult, like a specific breed and a puppy.

“The Obama family’s decision to get a rescue dog can give hope for change to millions of animals across the United States,” said Markarian. “They can set an important example for the rest of the country.”

Anne Stockton, head of Small Dog Rescue and Humane Society, a northside rescue group, said she gets rarer breeds often, and sometimes even has puppies. In the past year she’s placed Japanese chins, Italian greyhounds, Havaneses and papillions, French bulldogs, Chinese cresteds, schnauzers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus and poodles.

“If they’re just a teensy bit patient, it won’t be hard,” Stockton said. “And they also can consider mixes, like a schnoodle (a schnauzer/poodle mix) if they want a puppy.”

But the family also needs to understand that even one of the breeds of dogs hyped as hypoallergenic still might affect Malia. That’s because there’s really no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, according to Dr. Amy Hirsh, with the Peachtree Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Buckhead and Vinings.

“That’s just a term breeders use, not doctors,” Hirsh said.

She said some dogs do produce less dander, the protein that causes allergic reactions in some people, but it’s still hotly debated whether that makes them better dogs for people with allergies.

“I advise parents not to get a dog if they or their children have known dog allergies,” Hirsh said.

But since the promise has already been made, the family has a number of rescue groups offering to help them find the perfect puppy for their daughters. The HSUS, the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, the AKC and even the Atlanta Humane Society have offered to help the family find a pet. They also can search on sites like petfinder.com and pets911.com.

Whatever they decide, there’s no question the canine-loving world will be watching for the new first puppy. Okas said more than 42,000 people voted in the AKC poll on what kind of dog the family should get (the poodle won.)

“There is serious anticipation in the dog world over this decision,” Okas said.

Spay-ghetti for cats

Everyone who eats at the Amore’s Pizzeria and Cafe in Roswell from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday will be helping out Good Mews, a no-kill cat shelter in Marietta. The restaurant is donating 25 percent of the evening’s proceeds to the shelter, including from their popular “all you can eat” spaghetti and meatballs dinner for $9.99. 4401 Shallowford Road. More information: www.goodmews.org or the restaurant at 678-822-2222.

Reindog parade

Here’s a chance to finally take your dog to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The garden is holding a holiday doggie parade and costume contest Dec. 6, with celebrity judges choosing the winners in several categories, including best botanical-inspired costume. Pre-registration required by Nov. 21. Cost is $10 plus the $12 garden admission. The first 100 registrants get a goodie bag. Sign up at atlantabotanicalgarden.org or call 404-876-5859. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1345 Piedmont Ave.

Christmas shopping

The online pet store petwearusa.com is donating its profits from sales today to the Hightower Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Snellville. The site sells collars, leashes, harnesses and more for dogs, cats and horses, and shipping is free. More information: www.hightowerfarm.org.

Cesar Millan

The star of the television show “Dog Whisperer” will conduct a seminar at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 6, and the Gwinnett Humane Society will get $5 from every ticket purchased if people put “Gwinnett” in the promo code area. Tickets are available at the center or online at Ticketmaster.com. Millan will discuss and demonstrate his methods during the 2 p.m. show. Tickets are $24 to $249. More information: www.gwinnetthumane.com or 770-798-7711 ext. 7.

The Saginaw News: My View: Plan for an eco-friendly Christmas

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 13, 2008

By Tim Burns

While Bing Crosby’s”White Christmas” has always been a holiday favorite of mine, it appears that many Americans are looking forward to a “green” Christmas this year.

According to a Plow and Hearth survey, half of U.S. consumers plan to purchase environmentally friendly gifts during the holidays. Among those going green this year, two-thirds say they are willing to spend between 10 percent and 25 percent more on green holiday gifts.

Aside from buying gifts with the environment in mind, there are many other ways consumers can be eco-friendly during the holiday season. If you are thinking green during the holidays, here are a few suggestions that may help you.

Decorate with care

There are many ways consumers can decorate “in green” this year. LED Christmas tree lights are a pricier option to conventional lights, but they require about 80 percent to 90 percent less energy and last much longer —up to 200,000 hours— compared to conventional lights’ 2,000 hours.

Also, burn candles. Choose candles made from renewable and biodegradable materials (such as soy, vegetable or bees wax) versus paraffin candles, which are petroleum-based.

When hosting holiday parties, do so with real dishes, silverware, and glasses—not disposables. Cleaning up after the party may be a little more difficult, but the garbage you keep out of the landfill is worth it. If you must use disposable products, look for recycled content in what you purchase.

Get crafty

Homemade gifts, such as baked goods and handmade gifts are also a lot easier on the wallet —and potentially the environment— and often bring much more meaning to recipients.

Give money

Charities are expecting a lean season of giving this year as the result of the downturn in the economy. Donating to a charity in a loved one’s name is a great way to further a worthy cause and you don’t have to worry about your gift having a negative effect on the environment.

In fact, if the gift goes to a charity that deals in conservation, the gift will have a positive effect for the environment. To make sure donations are going to credible, conscientious organizations, donors always should check out a charity with the Better Business Bureau—and can do so at www.bbb.org/charity or by calling the Better Business Bureau at (248) 644-9100.

Dispose with care

Getting a new television set or other gizmo for the holidays? Dispose of your old electronics such as cell phones, TVs and computers with care.

These items contain toxic materials that should be disposed of carefully and not just tossed out with the trash. Some companies, either for free or a fee, will take back their products to recycle.

In other cases you will need to find a recycling outlet to safely dispose of them. Consumers can search for company policies and recycling locations online, and a good place to start is at www.Earth911.com.

Tim Burns is the public affairs director for the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan based in Southfield.

Athens News Courier: Athens Recycles

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 11, 2008

By Tanjie Schrimsher

With just over 300 million residents, the United States is home to roughly 5 percent of the world’s population.

Since we comprise such a small portion of the population pie, one might assume that our country’s environmental impact is equally minute.

Not so. According to a recent tally from the Environmental Protection Agency, we Americans generate about 20 percent of the world’s garbage. Not a pretty proportion for a mere 5 percent of the world’s people.

EPA figures indicate that the average American generates about five pounds of garbage each day. So, what are we throwing away?

Of the 251 million tons of municipal solid waste generated nationwide in 2006, paper and paperboard products accounted for 34 percent, yard trimmings and food scraps made up 25 percent; plastics, 12 percent; metals, 8 percent; rubber, leather and textiles, 7 percent; treated wood, 6 percent; glass, 5 percent; and the remaining 3 percent is dubbed “miscellaneous,” according to the EPA.

A quick run-down of the recyclable items on this list yields a startling realization. Well over half of the landfilled waste is easily recyclable. Paper, cardboard, metals, plastic bottles and glass bottles and jars are all products with far too much value to be trashed and buried after initial consumer usage.

According to the EPA, the benefits of recycling are threefold:

Recycling conserves natural resources to help sustain the environment; reduces the need for landfilling and incineration and the pollution potentially resultant of either waste disposal method; saves energy and prevents pollution caused by the extraction and processing of virgin materials.

Another growing garbage concern is the electronic waste we are generating as the digital revolution leads to frequent upgrades of computers, TV sets, cellular phones, and other electronics or “e-waste.”

In 2007 alone, Americans generated about 2.5 million tons of e-waste, the EPA reports. This presents not only a problem with rapidly filling landfills but also with potential hazards associated with e-waste.

“Electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste currently found in landfills,” according to the environmental watchdog organization, Earth911.com. “In addition to valuable metals like aluminum, electronics often contain hazardous materials like mercury. When placed in a landfill, these materials – even in small doses – can contaminate soil as well as drinking water.”

Earth911 is not alone in this assessment.

The EPA warns that lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants – all of which can cause problems upon disposal – are among the substances contained in electronics. All are substances with far too much potential to cause problems to be considered safe for landfill inclusion.

“Electronic products are made from valuable resources, such as precious and other metals, plastics and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture them,” the EPA notes in promoting what is now termed “e-cycling.” “Reusing and recycling these materials from end-of-life electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing new products.”

In recognition of America Recycles Day on Saturday, Nov. 15, the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center is sponsoring an Electronics Collection Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the back parking lot of Bank Independent across from the Chamber of Commerce building on Beaty Street.

Items accepted include Cathode Ray Tube computer monitors and television sets, which typically contain between four and eight pounds of lead. Due to handling costs associated with safe recovery and disposal of lead, which is highly toxic, there will be an $8 charge for recycling of each CRT unit.

Other items accepted for recycling at no charge include flat screen TV sets and computer monitors, desktop computers, laptop computers, keyboards and mice, printers, scanners, copy machines, VCRs, stereos, radios, tape players, CD players, cell phones, telephones, fax machines, electronic games, power or network cables, switching boxes, modems, docking stations, CD ROMs, hard drives, printed circuit boards, routers, resistor capacitors, diodes and rechargeable batteries. For more information call the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center at (256) 233-8746 or the Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful Recycling Hotline at (256) 233-8000.

KJCT 8: E-Cycling

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 9, 2008

By: Stephanie Carlson

More and more people are thinking about the environment and taking steps to become green. As technology advances even more items can be recycled . . . making your life easier and the Western Slope cleaner.

Whether it’s a cell phone, computer, or remote control nearly everything in your home can be recycled into everyday products…like playground equipment.

“Anything that has plastics or metals in it . . . electronic components . . . we can take it all.” Said Kenneth Stevens of Waste Management.

Waste Management’s E-Cycling, or electronic recycling program, offers one of the Nation’s largest network of drop-off location, including one in Grand Junction and Montrose. This makes it more convenient for you to recycle nearly everything in your home.

“Part of our electronic program we can recycle virtually anything . . . computers, monitors, towers.” Continued Stevens.

According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the average America household has 24 electronic items. Recycling many of these products saves over 100 million pounds a year from landfills.

Almost all of a computer can be recycled . . . 50 percent of a computer is metal and can be made into such things . . . as this metal picnic table. Waste Management says that because they handle all their own processing of recycled goods, they can certify the complete destruction of all sensitive files or applications on computers, servers or storage devices. But if your old cell phone or computer is still in good shape, then perhaps someone else in need can put it to use.

Earth911.com gives a list of local non-profits, and businesses that will accept your retired electronics. Locally, Mesa County R.S.V.P., an organization that assists senior citizens, is requesting used cell phones to give to the elderly to use for emergencies.

“They don’t have a cell phone and they can’t afford to purchase a cell phone and pay the monthly fee . . . but they would like to have something like that for emergencies only . . . then they can have that and it’s free and there’s no monthly usage charge or anything.” Said Jean Brewer of R.S.V.P.

Think twice before you throw out your old computer, cell phone, tv, or remote. It could be used by someone in need. Or at least you may use it in another form later on.

If you would like to recycle your electronic goods bring them down to your local Waste Management location.

www.earth911.com

http://www.rsvpgrandjunction.org/emergency-only-cell-phones-for-seniors

Yahoo! Green: What to do With Your Old Pharmaceuticals

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 6, 2008

By Lori Bongiorno

Don’t let the fact that there isn’t a universal way to easily dispose of old pharmaceuticals stop you from cleaning out your medicine cabinet. If you’re willing to do a little bit of homework, you can learn how to responsibly get rid of expired or unwanted pills, capsules and other prescription drugs.

One golden rule: Don’t flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain. While flushing is an effective way to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands, studies show that tiny amounts of pharmaceuticals are making their way into our streams, rivers and lakes.

Scientists are studying how their presence impacts aquatic species (especially fish and frogs), whether it’s contributing to the rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria, and if there are any health implications for humans (so far there is no evidence of adverse health effects).

For now, you can make a difference by properly disposing of your unneeded medicines. Here is some general information (adopted from several sources) to get you started. You might also want to check with your state’s local environmental website for specific guidelines because rules vary depending on where you live and what kinds of meds you’re trying to unload. For example, there are strict regulations for disposing of controlled substances.

Fallbrook Village News: Preserve Resources by Recycling Tires

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 6, 2008

By Andrea Verdin

When it comes to maintaining their cars and keeping them in top condition, many Fallbrook residents make sure that their cars’ tires are rotated or replaced after the recommended amount of miles.

Tires are essential for driving, and in the U.S., 920 million tires were used for noncommercial vehicles on the road in 2005, with 290 million being disposed of on a yearly average. So regardless of whether a car is a hybrid or diesel truck, tires need to be replaced.

What many drivers do not realize is that if they recycled their tires instead of throwing them away, they would not only keep the rubber out of the landfills, keep the air cleaner and prevent the spread of vermin but they would also keep the price of new tires down.

According to Earth911.com, a Web site dedicated to giving recycling information, recycled tires are shred into strips using rugged machines. The shredded rubber is then placed into grinding machines that use rotors to further shred the material and remove steel fibers from the tire, which are added to the rubber to create a strong, flexible tire.

Once the bulk of the steel is removed, the strips are placed into granulators. Depending on the consistency desired by the end user of the shredded tires, the rubber can be milled into assorted sizes of granules.

While less common, some tires are recycled through a freezing process using liquid nitrogen. After being frozen, the tires are crushed and then milled.

As aforementioned, by recycling a tire, a landfill can have more space to take in unrecyclable waste, but this is just one of the benefits of taking the time to be a responsible car owner.

A large benefit of recycling tires is the reduction to energy consumption and an increase in energy recovery. Earth911 quotes an average of 22 gallons of oil is required to create a new truck tire, but in order to retread a recycled tire, only seven gallons of oil is required.

The process to retread a tire costs anywhere from 30 to 70 percent less than manufacturing a new tire, thereby reducing the cost to the consumer. Tires also can be used in place of fossil fuels in some manufacturing processes, reducing consumption of these fuels and utilizing energy already stored in the tire.

According to the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association, there are three main uses for recycled tire rubber: tire deprived fuel (TDF), civil engineering and ground rubber.

TDF uses the granulated tires instead of traditional fuels in cement kilns, pulp and paper factories, electric utilities and various boilers. TDF produces the same energy amount as oil and 25 percent more than coal.

According to Earth911, 52 percent of recycled tires are used for TDF, allowing energy to be harnessed from a material that would have otherwise been left in a landfill.

Recycled tires are used in civil engineering by substituting for traditional materials used to stabilize weak soil, such as constructing road embankments, or providing insulation for roads, walls and bridge abutments.

In 2005, 16 percent of recycled tires were consumed by civil engineering.

Ground rubber, which accounted for 12 percent of recycled tire use in 2005, is used in rubberized asphalt applications and is the largest single use of recycled rubber. Its benefits include noise reduction, shorter breaking distances, reduced road maintenance and more cost-effective, durable road surfaces.

Ground rubber also serves a number of sports and recreational purposes as shock-absorbing running tracks and groundcover under playgrounds and it is added to soil under playing fields to improve drainage and root structure of grass.

With the benefits of recycling tires, it can be easy to see why recycling tires is so important. With a simple tire given to be recycled, drivers save endless amounts of energy, saving natural resources for another generation.

Fallbrook residents can drop off their used tires for a nominal cost at Mahr’s Tires & Auto at 218 Fig Street. For more information, call (760) 728-2843.

For more information on recycling, go to www.earth911.com.

Plenty Magazine: Bright Lights, Cool Changes

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 5, 2008

Just as each vote, in the aggregate, can transform the big picture, so, too, can small daily deeds, such as replacing incandescent with efficient lightbulbs. Most of us have heard of the per-household benefits of compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), each of which saves us $30 in energy costs over its 10,0000-hour lifetime (10x longer than an incandescents). This adds up, since lighting accounts for 20 percent of the average home’s energy bill, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Multiply these savings worldwide, and it’s another big win.

A global changeover to CFLs could reduce lighting energy demand by almost 40 percent and save up to 16.6 billion tons of global warming carbon dioxide by 2030, the Worldwatch Institute announced last month. It’s already starting to happen:  The total number of CFLs in use globally nearly doubled between 2001 and 2003 alone, from about 1.8 billion to 3.5 billion bulbs, and “sales growth in individual countries strongly indicates that total usage continues to increase at a fast pace,” Worldwatch’s Vital Signs Updates reports. In the U.S., CFLs represented 20 percent of lightbulb sales, up from less than 1 percent before 2001. In November 2006, Wal-Mart pledged to sell 100 million CFLs by the end of 2007, which it did, and of course it takes back used CFLs for recycling, as do Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Ikea and others. For more recycling options in your area, search at Earth911.

For proper handling and disposal of the bulbs, which contain small amounts of toxic mercury (if one breaks, open windows for ventilation and don’t panic!), click here.

Usage tip: Although they’re very cool compared with incandescents, CFLs need to breathe or they overheat and can burn out, so don’t put yours in a completely enclosed fixture.

Latina Magazine: How to Recycle Everything

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 3, 2008

By Kenra Rankin Naasel

Yeah, you already know how to recycle your plastic bottles and newspapers, but most of the other stuff you have stuck in the back of the junk drawer or collecting dust in the closet can be reused, too. Here’s how.

CDs/DVDs/Books/Video Games

Got a stash of books you’ll never crack open again? There are several websites waiting to help you renew your collection. Sign up at swaptree.com, titletrader.com, zunafish.com or paperbackswap.com and you can swap your old stuff for someone else’s old stuff.

Mobile Phones

Ready to upgrade your cell phone? Don’t toss it in the garbage; it contains toxic metals (think mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic) that can leak into the soil. Instead, try one of these programs.

Glasses

Lions Club International collects old glasses at locations around the country and gives them to folks who can’t afford them. You can even send them directly to the club; just see lionsclub.org for more info.

Computers

If the darn thing won’t come on anymore, most manufacturers will recycle your computer for you. Some will charge a fee and make you foot the bill for the shipping, so read the fine print. See Earth911.org for links to other companies and organizations that will take them off your hands, many for free. If it still works, contact your local school, youth center or nursing home to see if they have any use for it.

Cars

Chances are, if you’re looking to get a new car in this market, the one you have is a real goner. But it can give it a new life if you donate it to Cars4Charities. Just fill out the donation form on cars4charities.com, and they’ll pick up your car, repair it, fix it and sell it. Proceeds go to one of 1,000+ charities, including the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and the National Coalition for the Homeless. Bonus? You can deduct the value of the car on your taxes.

Sneakers

Even your old gym shoes can get into the act. Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program shreds those pairs cluttering your closet and turns them into athletic tracks. Just go to letmeplay.com to find out where you should drop them.

Plenty Magazine: Can Damp Paper Waste be Recycled?

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 3, 2008

Q. I just read your response to “Can I recycle newspaper with art supply paint on it?” You said that once paper gets wet it is no good to the mills. Does that mean that all those bags/bundles of paper that people put out for recycling the night before pickup are no good for recycling if they got wet? Should we put out our recycling in plastic bags?
— Susan Meles, NJ

A. Although we at Plenty are never, ever grouchy —not even when election day stress has all but put us over the edge and we’re about ready to take a sledgehammer to that car whose alarm has been blaring outside our NYC window for the past hour— we do have one thing in common with Oscar the Grouch. We love trash. We love treating it lovingly, and doing all sorts of loving and creative things with it—things like recycling, composting, and repurposing. And, yes, protecting it from the elements.

It’s true that wet paper is tricky for recyclers, so do take a little care to make sure that what you send them is dry, says Trey Granger of Earth 911. The best thing to do is simply keep an eye on the weather forecast and hold off putting your bundled paper out too early if rain looks likely.

Don’t go overboard, though—you shouldn’t put your paper waste in a plastic bag unless your particular curbside program asks you to. Paper set out in plastic bags is likely to be confused with trash and sent to the landfill, which will totally negate all of your careful efforts to keep it dry. Anyway, a little morning dew won’t ruin the whole bundle. Your friendly recycler will probably just remove the wet outer layer in order to get to the remaining dry part.
— Sarah Schmidt

Torrance Daily Breeze: Beverage Container Recycling

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 1, 2008

Q: Beverage container recycling

The San Pedro recycle center behind the Top Valu store at First and Bandini streets is no longer there. Where do we go now to recycle cans and bottles?

—ROBERT CONGELLIERE
San Pedro

Try the state Department of Conservation’s toll-free beverage container recycling information line, 800-RECYCLE, and Web site, www.bottlesandcans.com.

Both use ZIP codes to locate CRV redemption sites for beverage containers.

Earth 911 also has a toll-free phone number, 800-CLEANUP, and Web site, Earth911.com, to find recycling locations.

Earth 911 also uses ZIP codes and type of item to find recycling locations. The organization compiles recycling information from a number of sources. Because hours and items collected are subject to change, you may want to call the location before dropping off recyclables.

—Stephanie Walton

To ask us: Curious about something in the South Bay or Harbor Area? Let us know, and we’ll try to get answers. You can 1) leave us a message at 310-543-6698, 2) fax us at 310-540-6272, 3) mail us a letter to Ask Us, Daily Breeze, 5215 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503-4077 or 4) e-mail us at askus@dailybreeze.com. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

Aptos Times: Finding Ways to Clean up After Leaked Pollutants

Filed under: Earth 911 - November 1, 2008

Dear EarthTalk: Used motor oil is a big contributor to the pollution in our waterways and drinking water. How can I make sure I am not contributing to this problem?
— John Eckerle, Jupiter, FL

Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles —or outright dumped by homeowners and commercial garages— constitutes a significant chunk of storm water runoff, the fallen precipitation that runs off of roads and parking lots and inevitably finds its way into local water bodies.

These pollutants include not only leaked motor oil —which may contain toxic substances like lead, benzene, zinc or magnesium— but also fertilizers, insecticides, plastic debris, cigarette butts, paints, solvents, sediments and other hazardous waste. Topsoil and natural vegetation would ordinarily filter many of these pollutants out, but the impermeable pavement that covers much of the surface where these pollutants originate carries it right into storm drains and into streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean where it can poison marine life —which we might eat— as well as entire riparian or coastal ecosystems.

This pollution also finds its way into underground aquifers that supply our drinking water, so reducing it is a human health measure and could also save municipalities millions of dollars a year in drinking water treatment facilities and operational expenses.

While government agencies try to craft and implement development and zoning standards to help reduce storm water runoff problems caused by commercial and industrial entities, there is still much that individuals can do to reduce their impact as well. Indeed, upwards of 40 percent of oil pollution in the U.S. comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil by individuals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping on top of automotive maintenance to prevent and repair leaks, and disposing of used motor oil and other automotive fluids and batteries at designated drop-offs or recycling locations (consult Earth911.org to find one near you). Also, it is preferable to wash your car at a commercial car wash instead of in your driveway. By law, car washes must treat their wastewater before disposing of it.

Besides handling and discarding your motor oil and other automotive fluids responsibly, cutting back on or eliminating fertilizers and pesticides from your lawn or garden will also reduce your negative impact. Also, don’t over-water your lawn, as that can create extra run-off as well. And if you are embarking on a residential landscaping project, try to incorporate permeable pavement (which allows run-off through it into the soils below) as well as rain barrels to collect water, and rain gardens, grassy swales and driveway-side vegetative strips —all planted with region-appropriate native plants of course— to help filter contaminants out before they hit the storm sewers.

Taking these small everyday steps may seem like a hassle, but the benefits for the environment and human health are immeasurable.

•••

Contacts: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov; Earth911, www.earth911.org.
Got an Environmental Question? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.