Savannah Tribune: 13th Annual Earth Day Festival Largest in Georgia

Filed under: Earth911 - April 29, 2009

Thousands of environmentally conscious citizens gathered in Forsyth Park on April 18 to celebrate Earth Day 2009.

The weekend festival, held before the official Earth Day observance on April 22nd, was the largest community Earth Day event in Georgia.

The Earth Day Festival RecycleRama provided a recycling opportunity for many problematic items, such as paint. Participating citizens helped keep over 60,000 lbs of waste out of the landfill.

Through a partnership with Ashland Chemicals, more than 5400 gallons of paint were diverted from our landfills and disposed of properly, an increase of 1200 gallons from last year. The City of Savannah’s Recycling Department also collected 49lbs of recyclable waste from the event.

But Earth Day can be every day—in addition to the City’s curbside collection of standard recyclables, citizens who have more of these hard-to recycle items can use the Web site www.Earth911.com to search for drop-off locations for specific materials. Working with the theme “be green, save green,” 85 exhibitors demonstrated how even inexpensive changes, like the type of light bulb you use, can help the environment, while bigger investments in earth-friendly technology, like solar power, can save you money over time. The festival also highlighted wildlife and habitat conservation, waste recycling, water quality protection, and many other environmental efforts taking place throughout Chatham County.

Free workshops taught attendees how to compost with worms, build a rain barrel, and make environmentalism a part of parenting.Successful community events like this would not be possible without the enthusiastic support of the volunteers, attendees, and sponsors.

The Earth Day Committee greatly appreciates the participation and hard work at this year’s Earth Day Festival.

For more information, contact Environmental Affairs Administrator Laura Walker at 912-651-2221 or Environmental Planner Sarah Barlow at 912-651- 6943.

Victoria Advocate: Recycled Paper Used to Make New Paper

Filed under: Earth911 - April 28, 2009

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 83 million tons of paper product waste was generated in 2007. That is equivalent to the weight of 500 space shuttles.

The good news is that over half this amount was recovered through recycling programs such as the one offered here in Victoria.

I would like to continue my profile of everything that is accepted at the city’s recycling drop-off centers by taking a look at paper products.

Newspaper, office paper, magazines, catalogs, phone books, paperboard and cardboard can all be recycled here in Victoria.

The city requires paper to be clean and dry and will not accept carbon paper or any paper that is yellow or brittle.

It is helpful to sort your paper into three categories: corrugated cardboard, paperboard and mixed paper.

I have been asked about the difference between cardboard and paperboard, and the answer is simple.

Corrugated cardboard has two sheets of flat cardboard with a wavy portion running through the center. This is your typical cardboard box.

On the other hand, paperboard is a thin sheet of pressed, firm paper used as packaging for a wide range of products. Cereal boxes, soft drink boxes, tissue boxes and paper egg cartons are all examples of paperboard.

Because corrugated cardboard is a higher quality product than paperboard, they are recycled into different things and need to be sorted from one another.

Earth911.com estimates that paper can be recycled up to seven times. Amazing. But now that you’ve hauled it to the drop-off center, what is all your paper going to be recycled into?

The answer may surprise you. Cardboard, paperboard, newsprint, office paper, tissues, wrapping paper, paper bags and even insulation materials are all made using recycled paper.

In fact, recycled paper accounts for over one-third of the fiber used to make new paper products here in the U.S. This is important in conserving the natural resources, namely our forests, used to make virgin paper products.

How can you get into the habit of recycling paper instead of throwing it away? It can be a challenge at first.

Placing a recycling bin in areas where paper is often discarded, maybe near your printer or where you sort your mail, is a good start. Don’t toss that junk mail into the trash—recycle it instead.

In addition to the one in my kitchen, I have recycling bins (usually a second trash can) in the bathroom, office and sewing room to collect an assortment of recyclables.

When they fill up I bring them to the garage for sorting into the individual bins.

Reuse, as in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, is another important aspect of the recycling process and a way to prolong the life of your paper products.

If you do a lot of printing, setting your printer to the double-sided option is a good way to reduce the amount of paper you use.

If your printer does not have that feature, think about saving your discarded print jobs near the printer. When you print things for personal use, such as your bank statements or confirmation of an online purchase, take a piece of paper from the stack of old print jobs and insert it into the printer to be printed on the backside.

If you use paper grocery bags, bring them back to the store to reuse a few times before you recycle them.

With today’s ever-increasing demand on our energy supply, it is important to conserve wherever possible, and recycling is an easy way to do it.

According to Earth911.com, every ton of mixed paper recycled can save the energy equivalent of 185 gallons of gasoline. So when you’re finished reading today’s newspaper, I hope this inspires you to drop it in your recycling bin instead of your trash can. Keep on recycling.

Aiken Standard: Earth Day is Celebrated at Hopelands

Filed under: Earth911 - April 25, 2009

By Rachel Johnson

Lions, gardening and recycling joined forces to celebrate Earth Day.

Fueling a green generation was the theme of the day on Saturday at Hopelands Gardens as more than 23 different environmental exhibitors teamed up with the City of Aiken for the fifth annual Earth Day celebration.

The free event hosted at Hopelands Gardens was sponsored by the City of Aiken Environmental Committee, City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the City of Aiken Public Works.

“This is the first time we have held the event on a Saturday,” said Sarah Herring, supervisor of the Solid Waste Department. “We usually have it on a weekday, but with budget cuts making field trips hard on schools, we thought Saturday might bring out more people.”

Stations were set up throughout the gardens to educate and entertain visitors taking a self-guided tour. Louie the Lion roamed wild, and characters dressed as recyclable materials greeted children.

The day offered interactive demonstrations educating on a variety of aspects from the impacts of the environment on birds and reptiles to the need for water conservation and recycling.

Water stations were set up throughout the gardens distributing water in compostable plastic cups made from corn that completely breakdown within eight months. According to Earth911.com, Americans purchase an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year with nearly eight out of 10 ending up in a landfill. Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for up to six hours.

Sisters Abbey and Katelyn Wilhite found the demonstration about critters in the creek to be the most thrilling as they learned about the different water tests that need to be done to ensure the environment is safe for the animals.

“We are also learning about recycling,” they said.

The City of Aiken’s Environmental Committee decided the focus for the 2009 celebration was water and water conservation in light of the drought conditions suffered throughout the state. Public Works reports nine upstate counties remain in extreme drought conditions, 10 other counties are rated as severe and three additional counties remain at moderate drought status.

Currently no restrictions have been announced for Aiken; however, much of the water we use and drink comes from deep aquifers located in the Upstate which have been greatly impacted by the drought conditions.

The message is simple: Conserve.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.

Simple ways to conserve water at home

Water in Production

Visit www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation for more water conservation tips.

Macworld: How to Recycle Your Mac

Filed under: Earth911 - April 24, 2009

By Lisa Schmeiser

When your Mac is no longer the shiny new kid on the block, there’s no shortage of ways to extend its useful life. An old Mac can work as a recipe-storage library, for instance, and that antique iBook can be a backup drive.

But when you’ve run out of ways to reuse or repurpose your old Mac, what’s the best way to recycle it? Here are a variety of solutions—from low-effort to time-intensive—that’ll keep your conscience and your closet clear.

Don’t Throw It Away

California, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Washington now have laws regulating where and how you can dispose of unwanted electronics. But in most others, it’s still legal to throw your computers in the trash. According to a recent 60 Minutes report, an estimated 130,000 computers end up in the garbage annually.

There are all kinds of good reasons not to make yours one of them: lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium are three of the best. These substances, which are embedded in our computers’ assorted parts, are just a few of the toxins that can be released into the environment if an old computer or iPod is just tossed onto a scrap heap and burned. Once in the groundwater or air supply, heavy metals and PCBs released by improperly disposed-of computers linger as cancer-causing compounds.

Erase Your Hard Drive

Before you dispose of an old computer, make sure you wipe it clean of all your data.

The first step is to back up all the data on the device’s hard drives. Either copy it to your new machine or pick up an external hard drive and use that as a repository for all the old files. To duplicate the contents of the old drive, use Time Machine. Or if your old system doesn’t have OS X 10.5, try Carbon Copy Cloner (payment requested).

Now erase your footsteps. Start by deauthorizing iTunes. You don’t want to later realize that you have one less machine you can play your old, pre-iTunes Plus music on. Then deauthorize any third-party programs you’ll want to reinstall on your new system.

Next, wipe your hard drive. Track down the installation discs that came with your computer (or use the ones that came with any OS X upgrade you purchased). Insert Disc 1 (CD) or the installer disc (DVD), launch Installer, and reboot the machine using the software on the disc. Go to the Installer menu, choose Open Disk Utility, select the hard-drive icon in the column on the left, click on the Erase tab, and then click on Options. The 8 Way Random Write Format will scramble your data nicely.

Now that your soon-to-be-departed Mac is wiped clean, it’s ready for recycling or donation.

Donate It

If your computer is still in working order, consider donating it. The research firm Dataquest estimates that less than 5 percent of all personal computers find a second life at a charity or school. You can increase that percentage by recycling your old electronics with a nonprofit facility.

Such an organization will try to match your old electronics equipment with a school or a charity that can use it. To find a nearby nonprofit or school-based recycler, go to TechSoup’s TechFinder online directory, type in your zip code, and then narrow the results by selecting Computers or Printers And Peripherals from the Technology pull-down menu on the results page. The Electronic Industries Alliance also maintains a list of donation programs.

Sell It

If your old goods are only a year or three old, you might be able to sell them for petty cash. In addition to the obvious outlets like eBay (check out its guide to selling electronics) and Craigslist, a crop of services that buy used electronics has grown online.

The auction site eBay has a great guide to selling used electronics.

You won’t make a handsome profit—a first generation iPod mini with the original manuals nets you all of $9 on Gazelle.com—but you’ll have less clutter and a little more cash for your trouble. The way most of these sites work is pretty straightforward. You fill out a form detailing what you have, what condition it’s in, and whether you still have the original manuals, software, or power adapters (as applicable). The site will give you a quote and let you print out a mailing label to ship off your gadget. Assuming the site shares your assessment of your old gadget’s condition, you’ll get a check. You usually pay the postage for these transactions.NextWorth, BuyMyTronics, and Consumer Electronics Recycling will take older iPhones and iPods. The services VenJuvo and Gazelle.com take laptop computers, while My BoneYard also takes desktop computer systems.

Craft It

You could repurpose your 2002 iMac as a digital jukebox or use your fist-generation iPod as an external hard drive. Alternatively, you could ransack your old hardware and peripherals for parts and pieces you can use in myriad ways.

While the rise of flat-screen iMacs has, regrettably, lessened the potential for a next-generation Macquarium, smaller devices and peripherals still provide an opportunity for creative expression. For example, craftspeople on sites such as Etsy.com and eBay have begun disassembling Apple’s old keyboards and repurposing the keys as earrings, hair clips, and cufflinks.

Feeling creative? Pillage your Mac stuff for raw crafts materials, as Lauren Anabela Beaudoin does for her Mac keyboard jewelry.

Metalsmith Lauren Anabela Beaudoin makes jewelry with her old Mac parts. Her first bauble was a ring crafted from an escape key, meant to remind the user to take a break from working. Another etsy crafter, Alicia Murphy-Rodriguez, began making her jewelry after a spilled drink ruined her first keyboard. She now stockpiles raw materials via eBay and yard sales.If you’re feeling ambitious, try making your own keyboard accessories. Murphy-Rodriguez explains how: “I pop the keys off the keyboard, clean them up, drill some holes if necessary, glue or add the findings, and ta-da! The most time-consuming part is waiting for the glue to dry.”

The downside to cracking open your computer or iPod is that you risk handling its toxic parts. For example, older CRT monitors are sometimes made with leaded glass. There’s also lead in some older computer batteries and in computers’ soldered connections. Beaudoin warns, “Even though circuit-board patterns are appealing, they may be better-suited as wall art than jewelry, since jewelry comes in contact with the skin.”

Send It Back to Apple

If you’re not feeling artistic or if your device is too ancient for secondhand use, then it’s time to find an electronics recycler. Your first step is to find out whether the retailer you bought the product from offers an electronics-recycling program.

Apple’s consumer recycling program, which is also open to education purchasers and small businesses, is fairly straightforward. When a customer purchases a new or Apple-certified refurbished Apple computer or Apple Cinema Display monitor, that customer can send one computer, one monitor, and peripheral computer equipment back to Apple for recycling. The best part of the program is that the recycled parts don’t have to be made by Apple—so you can take advantage of the program to buy a shiny new MacBook and unload that Windows PC desktop you have sitting around.

There are some restrictions. The program applies only to the contiguous 48 states and Washington, D.C. And if you’re shipping anything with a display screen measuring more than four inches diagonally, you’re going to be charged a California environmental fee (because Apple is headquartered there). Finally, you can’t bring your old system in to an Apple store and drop it off when you pick up your shiny new computer. Apple requires that you box up your old system, print the Apple-provided shipping labels, and then drop the boxes off at a FedEx location.

Those of you looking to recycle old iPods or iPhones have it slightly easier: all you have to do is visit the iPod and cell phone recycle page, fill out a form detailing what you’ll be recycling, and print out a pre-paid mailing label. Once you’ve packaged and labeled your items, you can drop them off at the nearest post office.

Find a Third-Party Recycler

If your electronics aren’t eligible for manufacturer recycling, you do have some third-party alternatives.

For computer-disposal options that are small in scale and cost, look for facilities that focus on electronics recycling, like Earth911.com. Its site has a recycling database that lists all the nearby places that take your goods, along with maps to help you find them. Results will vary by location, and broader search terms produce better results.

If you’re not satisfied with what you find there, a few other sites will point you toward recycling resources. The Consumer Electronics Association site My Green Electronics lists municipal and private recycling facilities, while the Telecommunications Industry Association’s Find a Recycler site lists recyclers by state; site visitors then have the option of sorting their regional recyclers by program type (private, non-profit, or municipal) or zip code.

If you’re decluttering your home and can bundle the computers with other household detritus, one option is to call a general hauling firm like 1-800-GOT-JUNK. The company has 265 locations, and while each franchise has a different way of doing things, spokeswoman Tania Hall says, “All franchise partners have a relationship with a recycler where they would take electronics to be recycled.”

In case you’re casting about for someplace to drop off unused peripherals, Office Depot sells Tech Recycling Boxes for $5 to $15; you buy the box, fill it with electronics and peripherals, and then return the unsealed box to an Office Depot for recycling.

Plan Ahead

Part of the reason consumer-electronics recycling is such a mess is that responsible disposal is only now becoming part of the upgrade process. Fortunately, many retailers and electronics vendors are following Apple’s lead and integrating recycling into the electronics lifecycle; mobile phone vendors like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T all offer free phone recycling. Before purchasing that next gadget, find out what recycling programs the manufacture has in place.

Once you’re done wiping, crafting, shipping, or dropping off all your old electronics, take comfort in knowing that we’re at the end of Recycling 1.0. If the recycling aspect of electronics disposal keeps pace with technology as a whole, the next time you need to get rid of an obsolete gadget, it’ll be an easier, more elegant process.

Lisa Schmeiser is a reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also blogs at schmeiser.typepad.com.

Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Cousteau’s Granddaughter Talks World Water Woes

Filed under: Earth911 - April 24, 2009

The Associated Press

Like Jacques Cousteau, her famous grandfather, Alexandra Cousteau tells stories about the world of water, but her film crew has worked mostly from above the waves on a 100-day journey to document the world’s water woes and their interconnections.

That isn’t the only difference between her work and that of her grandfather the undersea explorer and her father, Philippe Cousteau.

“They were extraordinary storytellers. They really made people feel as if they were part of the journey. … I don’t think anyone has really been able to live up to the standards they set,” she said Thursday during a stop at a swampy national park 20 minutes from New Orleans.

But theirs was a different world, technology and audience, said Cousteau, who interviewed David Muth, resource manager for the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve as part of her coverage of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone—a huge oxygen-depleted area of sea bottom born each summer from fertilizer and other runoff from throughout the 31-state Mississippi River basin.

“They could spend three or four months filming a one-hour film, and that film would be a novel thing, whereas today, documentaries are a dime a dozen,” she said.

Her look at the dead zone — from the Midwest farm fertilizer that feeds it to its formation beyond the end of the Mississippi River, is the fourth of six topics she’s including in a video and blogging project called “Expedition: Blue Planet—exploring the life support system of our world.”

What has most struck her? “Everyone we’ve spoken with has just on their own, without any prompting, said in the course of conversation, ‘Water is life.’ And it is.

“It’s our most important life-support system. It’s the vehicle through which we’ll feel the impacts of climate change. Managing this resource has never been more important.”

Her journey started in India with a look at pollution of the Ganges River: the trash disposed there, the living who enter the river to wash away their sins, the dead whose bodies are put into the river for the same reason, and a project to create sewers to drain the wastewater of slum villages.

They’ve also been to Botswana, where herdsmen and fishing people have blocked a water diversion project that would irrigate farmland, provide drinking water and supply a diamond mine but threatens Africa’s largest oasis, the Okavango Delta.

And to the Middle East, to look at how water projects have aggravated the divisions between Israel and its neighbors, and a nonprofit group that brings people from Israel, Jordan and Palestine together to study peace, leadership and the environment.

The next stops will be the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and Perth, Australia.

Some historians “believe Angkor fell because of mismanagement of water resources,” Cousteau said. “Australian scientists believe that Perth may be the first modern ghost metropolis for the same reasons that Angkor fell.”

They also plan to film a coral reef in the Red Sea, where much of her grandfather’s Silent World series was filmed.

Ultimately, Cousteau plans for a book to be published in 2010. Her group provides video and other content free to seven media partners including the National Geographic, CNN, Grist, Rodale.com and Earth911.com. The group hopes to produce TV specials and perhaps even a miniseries or short films for theatrical release, said executive producer Justine Schmidt.

A half-dozen sponsors, the biggest of them Coca-Cola Corp.’s Dasani bottled water, underwrite the project.

“I think the challenge is to take the storytelling to a tech-savvy audience and make it widely available, free of cost,” Cousteau said.

Oprah.com: Recycling Your Old Items

Filed under: Earth911 - April 22, 2009

Ready to retire your running shoes? How about finally ridding your junk drawer of your old cell phones? Recycling just isn’t for newspapers, soda cans and plastic. Use this guide to find out where to recycle your things.

Cell Phones
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Plug-In to eCycling program

Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation

Computers
Earth911.com

Printers, Floppy Disks and Other Tech Accessories
GreenDisk.com

Cameras
RecyclingforCharities.com

Electronics

Business Clothing
DressforSuccess.org

Shoes

Glasses
OneSight.org

Etc.
What to do with your old tires, paint, carpet and more!

Bradenton Herald: Why Can’t I Recycle Pizza Boxes?

Filed under: Earth911 - April 22, 2009

Why am I not supposed to recycle paper products with food still on them, like food-stained pizza boxes? Isn’t it still better than just throwing them away?

—Concerned (but hungry) in Vermont

Very glad you asked.

Turns out the self-proclaimed environmental-know-it-all has been contaminating the recycling stream.

My city —like many by now— has adopted a “single stream” collection system, meaning that recyclables need no longer be sorted into separate bins (glass, paper, plastic). It all gets dumped together in the collection truck and sorted out on site. So, I figured, better to err on the side of green and put everything in the bin rather than throw away something potentially recyclable. It’ll all get sorted anyway, right? Oops.

Food, it turns out, is one of the worst contaminants in the paper recycling process. Paper to be recycled likely sits around for a while, and remnants will begin to biodegrade the paper. OK if it’s in your compost, but not for the recycling market. Whole batches of otherwise recyclable paper end up in the landfill because of spoilage due to food. Other relatively small intruders —wet paper, adhesives, wax or plastic coated paper— can also land big batches of paper in the landfill. Phoenix spends nearly $1 million a year dealing with these offending materials (no, no, not those offending materials. Those can be recycled). Adhesives alone cost the paper recycling industry an estimated $700 million per year. Damn.

So better to leave the food covered paper out of the bin; you’ll be allowing more to be recycled in the long run.

Keep your recycling questions coming. I’m curious to know how else I’ve been amiss!

Keep it green,

Vanessa

Recycling Help

Not sure what can be recycled or where? Go to Earth911.com and enter your ZIP code along with whatever you want to recycle. You’ll find all the what and where of recycling in your area. Very handy for those hazardous or hard-to-recycle items. But wait, there’s more!

Good to Know

Belleville News Democrat: Cheap Ways to Go Green

Filed under: Earth911 - April 22, 2009

By Sharon Harvey Rosenberg

Instant returns. After purchasing, an organic skincare product, I promptly returned a paper shopping bag and a small box to the sales clerk. Without the bag or the excess packaging, the small bottle of skin tonic fit neatly into my purse. What’s more, I acquired additional satisfaction by asking the sales clerk to reuse or return the packaging to the manufacturer. This technique is called “pre-cycling,” and involves selecting food, personal care and household products with recyclable containers or less packaging, according to Trey Granger, a staff member at Earth911.com.

Cut the water bill. We can save money and the environment by using less water. In addition, to taking shorter showers and cutting the flow of water while brushing teeth, there are other creative ways to save water. For instance, consider tossing used cooking water into the garden or plant containers. This multitasking water may also have nutrients that will help your plants, according to Earth911.com.

Apply vinegar. From skincare treatments to kitchen countertops, I've found frugal, effective and safe uses for vinegar. For instance, diluted with water, organic apple cider vinegar makes a great hair conditioner. I've used a mix of 30 percent vinegar and 70 percent water with great results. Likewise, white vinegar doubles as an inexpensive, nontoxic cleaner that works well on windows, tiles and kitchen surfaces.

Shopping detour: As a recreational sport, mindless shopping can fill our carts with future landfill cast-offs. To save money and resources, I've been getting shoes repaired and shopping for new ideas in my existing wardrobe. And when I do shop, I'm making smarter decisions. "If you don't buy waste, you can't make waste," says Raquel Fagan, Executive Editor of Earth911.com.

American Chemistry Council Hosts Blog Summit on Plastics Recycling

Filed under: Earth911, Press Releases - April 22, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) today opened its second Blog Summit at www.americanchemistry.com/blogs. ACC’s latest venture into social media involves a dialogue on the current issues and opportunities in plastics recycling. The online event will take place from April 21 through May 2009.

The plastics “Too Valuable to Waste” blog provides a structured platform for stakeholders, recyclers, industry, state officials, and other influential minds to generate a substantive dialogue about the innovations, efficiencies, challenges and opportunities of plastics recycling. The forum will highlight the benefits of reduce, reuse and recycle efforts; consumer education initiatives and social responsibility about recycling. Readers are invited to comment on posts through moderated comment boards.

“The chemistry industry has been one of the largest contributors to the technology and innovation behind plastics recycling. Our engagement in this conversation enhances dialogue with our key stakeholders about the latest advancements, key challenges and opportunities in recycling,” said Sharon Kneiss, ACC Vice President of Products Divisions and blog moderator. “We have engaged a diverse group of bloggers and we look forward to a robust conversation that will get to the heart of plastics recycling.”

In addition to Kneiss, the blog will include viewpoints from contributors such as: Bill Carteaux, President and CEO of the Society of the Plastics Industry; John Frederick, Executive Director of the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania; Blaire Pollock, Solid Waste Planner of Orange County, NC; Anne Johnson, Director of the GreenBlue Sustainable Packaging Coalition; Billy Jones, General Manager of Salvage America; John Lively of Preserve Products; Patty Moore, President of Moore Recycling; Rachelle Strauss, Blog Author from MyZeroWaste.com; Amanda Wills, Assistant Editor of Earth911.com; and Jeff Wooster, Dow Chemical, North American Senior Value Chain Manager.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care(R), common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $664 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation’s economy. It is one of the nation’s largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Entrepreneur Magazine: Make Every Day Earth Day

Filed under: Earth911 - April 22, 2009

By: Kara Ohngren

Today is Earth Day. What a great excuse to take a break from your economic woes and focus on your environmental woes. As an entrepreneur, you have countless things to do to keep the ship sailing smoothly—naturally, the environment often takes a backseat. But there are things you can do right now to help make your business more sustainable.

Sure, going green is in vogue, but small changes can reap big benefits for business owners who take steps to conserve. To find out how, we spoke with environmental freelancer and pro-blogger Jennifer Chait. She currently writes for such green-minded publications as: Tree Hugging Family, Inhabitots, Blisstree Green and Mother Nature Network.

What are five practical things small-business owners can do right now to make their office greener?

  1. Office spaces can easily go green with their cleaning methods. Green Home, an environmental store, offers a huge selection of eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and you can also find greener cleaning products locally at eco-minded grocers. Green cleaning supplies cut down on office allergies and toxins, plus, because they biodegrade, are healthy for the planet.
  2. Make your office space a reusable office space. Recycled and reclaimed office supplies like ink, paper, furniture and even major office equipment pieces are readily available, cut costs and minimize your office’s footprint.
  3. Make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs from standard bulbs to cut down on energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
  4. Set up a basic small recycling center. No matter your employee count, folks are more likely to recycle when it’s easy. You can recycle cans, glass, paper, newspapers, ink cartridges and other paper goods. There are many cool small recycling bins currently available.
  5. Think outside the immediate office space. Many offices invest in things like recycled computer paper but forget the small details such as the office kitchen. Use reusable coffee mugs, real plates and real silverware—and quit buying bottled water. Watercooler chats are fun and a refillable cooler is far more eco-friendly than plastic bottles.

Why should entrepreneurs care about the environment and their impact on it?
Any business owner has the ability to make an impact with their green actions. Clients and employees who see green in action will ask questions and be more likely to get involved with green themselves. Going green is also smart financially. Consumers in numerous recent surveys have noted that they’re more likely to do business with an eco-conscious company. Plus, going green can save you money in the long run with less expensive energy costs and money saved on items like reclaimed equipment. That said, it’s important that businesses don’t “green trap” the office. While consumers are more likely to do business with a greener company, they also recognize when a company doesn’t back up their green talk with a green walk.

How can business owners motivate their employees to be environmentally-conscious at the work place?
Business owners and employees alike are far more motivated by immediate rewards than they are the long term rewards of going green, which is a problem, since green rewards often come in time (i.e. saving money on the electric bill). Also, it’s been noted that people tend to go green at home versus the workplace because they don’t reap those long term rewards; if you’re not paying the bills, why bother turning down the thermostat?

The best way to motivate greener employees is to find rewards that make it worth their while, make going green as easy as possible and to lead by example.

What are some out-of-the-box or cutting edge ideas for greening your office?
Donate your used computers and your business will get a tax break. You can check with Earth911 to find out which local sites near you will accept your computer.

A super smart idea is to install an automated light and equipment network system that shut down independently. An automatic system has higher start-up costs involved, but as noted above, employees may not be invested in green work conditions, but an automatic system is always working for the planet.

If you really want to go all out when greening your office you can try bringing some nature indoors, installing greener waterless urinals or get hooked up with solar power.

How are you celebrating Earth Day this year?
I’m more of an all-year-is-Earth-Day type. While I can see some pros of Earth Day, for example this event might change minds and educate folks, it’s a little depressing to me that eco-goodness is called out and highlighted in a major way only once per year. In my opinion, the best Earth Day move anyone can make is to become invested in achieving green goals for the entire year.

Denver Sustainable City Examiner: 5 Ways to Embrace Earth Day for Less than a Dime!

Filed under: Earth911 - April 21, 2009

By Susanna Speier

With Earth Day rolling in with tomorrow’s morning sun, I figured I’d post the five most recession-friendly, sustainable lifestyle adjustments that I could come up with.  I did this because, if you are an individual or family suffering from sudden job loss and/or other forms of economic hardship then you must —first and foremost— sustain yourself.  If sustaining yourself means temporarily foregoing the “organic” and “fair trade” supermarket options, then by all means, do so.

If you find that you’re craving connection, however and your gut tells you that Earth Day might, in fact, lift your spirits then check out this list of suggestions and try one out.  Over the next week, your can start to phase in more.  When circumstances reverse themselves and you find that you’re ready to take sustainability to a more aggressive and pro-active level, then by all means, go for it!

  1. Start recycling something that you usually don’t recycle.  Batteries, CDs and old cell phones, for example.  Get the specifics on nearby drop off locations on Earth911 which offers a comprehensive database that customizes info according to what you are recycling and your specific region. You can also call 311 on what recycling resources are offered in your area from your local Dept. of Sanitation and use the resource to suggest improvements.
  2. Register to opt out of Credit Card company junk mail solicitations.
  3. Watch PBS Nature’s Frogs: The Thing Green Line. You can watch the show online, in its entirety, and at no cost.
  4. Use online sources like Freecycle, Free Napkin and Craigslist to get rid of stuff you are no longer using and to acquire things secondhand, rather than sending things to landfills or buying new things to eventually send to landfills.
  5. Take a walk in a park at some point during the day.  Doing this on a regular basis ensure you are getting enough sunlight.  For anyone feeling blue, Vitamin D is gonna help.  According to personal trainer, Jason Pahl, getting Vitamin D from sunlight trumps getting Vitamin D from a vitamin pill, any day.  If you’re female, Vitamin D is necessary for maintaining calcium levels needed to maintain strong bones and protect you from osteoporosis as you age.

If you enjoyed this story and would like additional Earth Day ideas, please check out the Sustainable City’s Earth Day and Dragonfly by the same writer.  For other cost effective ways of going green suggestions, please check out the author’s articles on barriers to going green and share(ing) your way through the economic downturn.

New York Organizing Examiner: Less White and Yellow Means More Green!

Filed under: Earth911 - April 19, 2009

By Sharon Lowenheim

With Earth Day coming up this week, here’s another way for you to reduce your carbon footprint and go green.

“Why do we get three to four pounds of paper dropped on our front door four to six times per year by various telephone directory companies and we are supposed to dispose of them?” This is the question posed by a grassroots organization called Yellow Pages Goes Green.

Sign up on their web site (http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org) and they will contact the publishers of your local Yellow and White Pages to prevent these books from being delivered to your home or business.

Most of us use the Internet to look up residential or commercial phone numbers, or to search for local resources. We don’t need these books and don’t want to be responsible for disposing of them.

Here are some other important resources to remember:

Sonoma Valley Sun: Tips on Going Green this Earth Day and Everyday

Filed under: Earth911 - April 17, 2009

By Jody Purdom

April 22 marks Earth Day, a yearly reminder that asks all Americans for their civic participation in conservation and green friendly practices. Here are some simple tips to help you go green, not just for Earth Day, but all year long.

Buy green power from your utility. In many states, you can opt to purchase renewable energy from your local power company for a few extra dollars a month. Visit the Green Power Network’s U.S. map at eere.energy.gov/greenpower to get started. Then rest easy knowing the light you read by comes from your wind- or methane-powered lamp.

Plug in a laptop, not a desktop. In the market for a new computer? A laptop uses about half the energy of its desktop counterpart. Choose a model with the federal government’s Energy Star rating and use 70 percent less energy than a non-certified model.

Curtail junk mail. If everyone in the United States reduced the junk mail they receive every week, 100 million trees would be spared each year. Go to optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers and sign up on catalogchoice.com to reduce the amount of unsolicited catalogs sent to you.

Don’t wash it. Standard washing machines use 40 gallons of water per load. If your clothes don’t smell, don’t wash them … and save a load a week. When you do wash, put full loads (saving 3,400 gallons of water a year) in cold water. Or, use a spritz or two of vodka to freshen up clothes in between laundry loads. Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, but doesn’t leave a scent when dry.

Free lint bunnies. The average U.S. household spends up to $135 a year in energy costs drying clothes. A dirty lint filter can use 30 percent more energy to get the job done.

Turn off the tap. Water consumes almost one-fifth of California’s electricity use and the average faucet releases about three gallons of water a minute; so take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving and use water-efficient landscaping.

Use a water-filter pitcher. Bottled water isn’t necessarily cleaner or better for you than tap water. Get a Brita water-filter pitcher or an in-sink faucet filter. Take advantage of what you already pay for and save the environmental cost of transporting bottled water to the grocer’s shelf.

Install a better showerhead. If you have a wrench, you can preserve the diminishing fresh-water supply and reduce expensive water-heating costs. Install faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerheads and in a year’s time you’ll save between 1,000 and 8,000 gallons of water. Bonus: The added air makes the pressure feel greater, too.

Skip red meat once a week. Meat production, especially in mass-produced beef, is extremely resource-intensive. It can take seven or more pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef—and livestock consumes 70 percent of America’s grain. Eat less of it and choose pasture-fed, sustainably-raised beef whenever you can. If you alone gave it up once every seven days, you would save the 840 gallons of fresh water it takes to produce a single serving.

Clean up your dishwasher. Switch to a dishwashing powder that’s biodegradable and plant-based. These cleansers cut through grime, but they do it without the bleach and phosphates that threaten river and marine life and leave chemical residue on your dishes.

Buy a package of recycled napkins. If every American household purchased one package of 100 percent recycled napkins, we would save 1 million trees. Consider buying recycled paper towels and tissues, too. Seventh Generation, found at Sonoma Market locally, and Whole Foods’ 365 label use nearly all post-consumer recycled paper.

Choose biodegradable cat litter. Most cat litter is made from bentonite clay, which is mined and never breaks down. Americans dump 2 million tons of this into landfills every year, so it’s worth rethinking what you buy.

Choose the right appliance for the job. Electric kettles use less energy than stovetop ones. A toaster oven uses up to half the energy of a conventional electric oven. An electric slow cooker makes soups and stews using less wattage than a stove. It truly pays to pick the right appliance.

Donate old cell phones. About 130 million mobile phones are retired every year, resulting in more than 65,000 tons of waste—including potentially hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury. Recycle yours with Call2Recycle.org (log on to find a drop-off location near you) or programs like collectivegood.com (a clearinghouse for nonprofit phone-recycling efforts) to benefit groups such as the American Red Cross.

Recycle wisely. The good news: Americans already recycle about a third of their trash (double what was recycled in 1990). The not-so-good news: We need to do more and save more energy. To learn which items you can leave out for curbside pickup, and how to dispose of those you can’t, log on to Earth911.com for contact info for local recyclers of more than 250 materials—from cooking oil to hazardous waste (including batteries).

Reuse everything. Change your mind-set and think twice before throwing anything out. Resealable plastic bags that held carrots today can hold crayons tomorrow. Coffee-cup cardboard sleeves from this morning’s brew can be tucked in a purse pocket to be used again at 4 p.m.

Change your driving. Pick one day a week to walk, bike, use public transportation, or carpool when commuting to the office or running errands. When driving, make sure to follow the speed limit. Exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph on the freeway results in an average increased fuel bill of six percent.

Unplug unused electronics. Electronic appliances use electricity even when turned off, and by eliminating these electricity vampires you can save 6 to 26 percent on your average monthly electricity bill.

Change your lights. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent lights can save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifetime.

Maintain your thermostat. This summer, set your thermostat to 78 degrees to save 5 to 20 percent on cooling costs.

Denver Post: Digital TV Switch Means Analog Hazardous Waste

Filed under: Earth911 - April 12, 2009

By David Migoya

Q: Is there any plan for the disposal of what may be thousands of old analog TV sets when the digital conversion arrives?Jim Weber, Littleton

A: Thankfully, yes, many.

The looming switch to all-digital television broadcasts on June 12 or earlier rightfully has a number of people worried about the fate of discarded analog sets.

TV sets are considered electronic hazardous waste because the cathode-ray tubes contain large amounts of lead and smaller amounts of other metals. They are potentially harmful to soil and groundwater when improperly disposed of.

While it’s legal to dispose of residential TV sets in landfills, many believe it’s a much better idea to recycle them. Though you can still use the analog set in the digital age by means of a converter box that transforms the digital signal to an analog one, some folks feel the need for the newer, high-tech sets.

Nevertheless, governments, retailers and other organizations have seen the need to set up recycling centers for the old TVs to avoid the expected crunch. How big? In 2005 alone, the EPA estimates 20 million standard televisions were tossed into landfills.

There are at least 17 electronics recyclers in the Denver metro area. Contact the the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for a list at 303-692-3320. Or try Earth911.com to search by ZIP code for drop-off sites.

Barring that, some retailers such as Best Buy are doing parking-lot collections, or you can donate the set to a shelter, school or other agency.

But don’t forget the converter box. They’ll need it.

Somerset Daily American: Recycle Your Old TV

Filed under: Earth911 - April 12, 2009

Question: We’re replacing our television with a new digital model. Where can I take my old analog set to be recycled?

Answer: I couldn’t find anyone in Somerset County that recycles televisions, however, according to www.earth911.com, the Loyalhanna Watershed Association recycles televisions. I contacted the Association, which is located at 110 Andy Lane in Ligonier (old Route 30). They do, in fact, accept old televisions for recycling. According to Susan, the staff person I spoke with, though, they no longer take large wooden console models. If you have questions you can call Susan, Drew or Kathy at 724-238-7560.

Perhaps someone in Somerset County is, in fact, recycling televisions. If so, please write or call me with the information and we’ll put it in a future issue of “At Your Service.”

Our thanks to the reader who asked this question. Here’s where to send your inquiries:

At Your Service, Rob Stemple, Daily American newsroom, PO Box 638 Somerset, PA 15501 or e-mail brianw@dailyamerican.com.

Rob Stemple is Marketing Coordinator of Somerset County Blind Center (SCBC); a Division of the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired (SABVI). This past week Rob addressed the Blough Mennonite Church, as well as the 8th grade students at Salisbury Elk Lick School District. For information on booking Rob to speak or entertain at a group function, call him at 445-1310 or send an E-mail to rstemple@somersetblind.org.