Earth911.com Receives Environmental Recognition for Creating Recycling Awareness
Filed under: Earth911, Press Releases - September 23, 2009
Alexandria—The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is proud to recognize Earth911.com as a model website for its achievements in making significant and innovative efforts to promote glass container recycling for bottle-to-bottle use. Earth911.com is among the seven “Friends of Glass” recognized by GPI during Recycle Glass Week, September 21-27, 2009.
Founded in 1991, Earth911.com is an environmental services company that addresses product end-of-life solutions for businesses and consumers. Earth911.com hosts the largest national recycling and proper disposal database in existence, including over 110,000 recycling locations for over 200 materials across the U.S.
“Earth911.com is gratified to receive this award from such as prestigious organization as the Glass Packaging Institute,” said John Furman, CEO of Earth911.com. “Glass is one of the top 10 most searched materials in our database, indicating to us a strong level of commitment to keep as much of this material as possible in the recycling and manufacturing streams.”
The Web site represents 19 years of industry professionals and local communities working together to create an easy-to-use recycling directory. Earth911.com also writes daily news and weekly features that explain the issues, people and ideas at the forefront of sustainability.
“We believe that partnerships with ‘Friends of Glass’ like Earth911.com are imperative to facilitating better collection and recycling processes for glass bottle-to-bottle recycling to help save energy and our environment,” said Joseph Cattaneo, president of the Glass Packaging Institute. “The glass container industry thanks our 2009 ‘Friends of Glass’ for their work on behalf of glass container recycling and encourages other communities and organizations to follow their lead.”
Focusing on the issues facing products at the end of their life cycle, Earth911.com aids businesses in developing initiatives that engage their consumers in sustainability. Recycling glass with Earth911.com’s award-winning database is simple, with over 13,000 locations in the U.S. accepting the material.
This year, GPI recognizes “Friends of Glass” in five categories: Earth911.com (website); the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (hospitality industry); the City of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Natural Resource Department (community); Representative Jay Inslee (legislator); and “Best Friends of Glass,” including Sierra Nevada Brewing Company; McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® Brand Products; and Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
Recycle Glass Week is an awareness event aimed to educate consumers about the environmental benefits of and to encourage participation in glass container recycling to help save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the industry’s nationwide goal of using 50 percent recycled content in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013. Doubling the U.S. glass container recycling rate (28 percent in 2007) would allow manufacturers to use 50 percent recycled glass to make new glass containers, saving enough energy to power 21,978 homes for one year and removing 181,550 tons of waste from landfills every month.
During Recycle Glass Week, GPI and its member companies are also holding nationwide glass recycling-related activities; providing consumers with information and opportunities to hold their own recycling events; and announcing the winners of its 2009 Clear Choice Awards.
Today, glass is the proven form of packaging for those who are looking for sustainability, purity, and recyclability. Glass is made from all-natural, sustainable raw materials and it can be recycled again and again without loss of quality or purity. Reuse of post-consumer recycled glass containers minimizes consumption of raw materials, lessens the industry’s demand for energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Find out more about Earth911.com’s achievements at http://earth911.com. For more information on upcoming Recycle Glass Week activities and events, please go to www.gpi.org.
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. www.gpi.org
Neosho Daily News: Curbside Recycling Not in Near Future
Filed under: Earth911 - September 15, 2009
By John Ford
Curbside recycling likely won’t be an option for Neosho residents in the near future.
City Manager Jan Blase said when the city first considered the contract with WCA (Waste Corporation of Missouri) in 2008, curbside recycling was an option. However, that option is no longer open, he said. And given the market for recyclables right now, Blase is doubtful waste haulers would be willing to offer recycling as an option.
“No one is taking the stuff,” he said. “We could let it out for bids, but whether it would actually end up in the recycling system, I can’t say.”
Chuck Carr, district manager for WCA Waste, said his company would provide curbside recycling if the city requests it.
“But I don’t know if it’s in the budget to pay for it,” he said. “You have to have the money in order to do it. If the city chooses to do it, yes, we can do it.”
The Neosho City Council will consider the upcoming fiscal year budget in regular session tonight. The budget calls for the layoff of nine city employees and a 3.75 percent pay cut for remaining city workers.
And Carr said Blase was correct in saying some recyclables may end up in the landfill. Carr added at the very least, some recyclables would end up at an energy plant which uses solid waste as fuel.
“The cost involved there is the same as going to a landfill, but you have more trucking involved,” he said.
Carr said the market was down for recyclables at the current time.
“People will not take glass right now,” he said. “And plastics, they are very selective on what they will take. If it’s not done right, they won’t take the entire load. If people don’t wash out the jugs and remove the caps, they won’t take it.”
And the rejected loads will instead go to the landfill, Carr said.
It’s the same situation for tin cans, the district manager said, as labels must be removed and the cans washed out before recycling companies will take them. Carr said most people aren’t willing to take the time to do this.
During the last comprehensive plan update meeting, held Aug. 31 at the Neosho High School cafeteria, many participants mentioned the need for a curbside recycling program in Neosho.
According to earth911.com, about half of U.S. cities have curbside recycling, with aluminum, glass, plastic, steel, and paper as the five most commonly recycled materials. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 75 percent of what Americans throw away could be recycled.
The Web site said there are three options with curbside recycling. These include:
- Dual stream recycling — This uses two bins: one for containers, the other for paper. Both bins are set out on trash pickup day, with the waste haulers typically using divided trucks, so workers can sort the recyclables;
- Single stream recycling — This somewhat controversial method uses one bin, and households do not have to sort items. While many cities are adopting this form, and haulers like the option because it takes fewer trucks, however concerns about item contamination have been raised;
- Pay as you throw — This option is a trash collection system that encourages recycling, as residents are charged a fee per bag of trash thrown away, while curbside recycling is offered at little or no cost. Benefits include decreasing waste, increasing recycling and control of waste costs.
Lansing State Journal: Fans of MSU Football Unite
Filed under: Earth911 - September 2, 2009
By Andi Osters
Oh, Spartan football, how we have missed you. In a 2009 filled with sports debauchery, we all (and yes, I’m speaking on behalf of the entire MSU nation) have been in dire need of something to look forward to that could satiate our deep desire for the green & white.
I am here to proudly and loudly tell you that the time is upon us. When I nervously asked my editor how she wanted this Spartan Football Preview column to be written, I was thrilled when she basically went all laissez-faire on me and said, “Do what you always do.” Translation: There’s a great journalist named Joe Rexrode who will break down Dantonio’s offensive schemes and the wildly entertaining quarterback drama happening behind-the-scenes. I’m here to talk to those of you who enjoy the … finer things about football season — tailgating and trash talk. We’ll delve into a few other tactical issues, but mostly I’m here to keep you all cheering while staying out of trouble.
The beginning of all things tailgate: Fire up the Weber grills
Some of my favorite autumn moments are forever tied to the smell of fallen leaves, an old pair of Nike Shox, my trusty fleece zip-up, and the burn of bourbon before noon on a Saturday. Yes, it’s true. I think any MSU alum can attest to this — fall Saturdays on campus in East Lansing are fairly epic.
There’s been a lot of hemming and hawing from the MSU and East Lansing Police Departments in recent years about tailgating procedures and who gets in trouble and how many shots your newly-minted 21-year-olds can have on game days. Allow me to clear some of this up for everyone.
- First, don’t get on campus prior to when the university allows it. The “7-9-1 Rule” is enforced and they will send you straight back to your living room if you try and sneak to that perfect tennis court slot early. Basically, don’t try to come to the U-M game on Oct. 3 before 1 p.m. Not happening. (*7-9-1 Rule: When kickoff is set for noon or 1 p.m. tailgate lots open at 7 a.m.; if kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. tailgate lots open at 9 a.m.; for evening games, lots open at 1 p.m. )
- Next, know where you can crack that lukewarm 22-ounce tallboy of Icehouse and not get nabbed for being an over-zealous barley & hops fan. Game days are great at State because (egad!) they actually allow you to walk all over campus carrying open adult beverages. They allow things like lemonade and juice, too… but who really drinks that stuff? If you’re confused about what campus boundaries are, either check the maps on MSU’s Web site or stop drinking.
- Three other very minor but key pieces of advice: If you’re not 21, don’t drink. I refuse to preach about this because it’s just common sense. If you are 21, forget the driving portion of the program. And finally, no matter how old you are: Do not get into any fights. This is not rocket science. For some reason, there are always a few nutballs who come out on Saturday and have that wild-eyed, fiendish Cujo look about them and are just aching to drink too much and get hit in the face. I guarantee those of you who’ve seen this can vouch – it never looks as cool as the people who are doing it think it does. Read that sentence again if it made your eyes bleed.
Eight easy steps to recycle while tailgating
- Select a recycling coordinator who will manage all aspects of the program, from choosing containers, promoting the program and where to recycle the materials.
- Determine what will be recycled. Assess waste to figure out what potential recyclables are currently being thrown away and how much of each material is being thrown away. Use Earth911.com to find the recycler nearest you.
- Reduce the amount of waste generated. Waste prevention can include buying products that use less packaging or have high recycled content, and buying in bulk.
- Involve everyone in planning your recycling program, including guests and strangers around you.
- Place recycling bins in areas near where the waste will be generated, such as food tables. Choose bins that look different enough from waste cans and place signs or banners above the bins so recycling locations are easily identifiable. Signs on the bin should clearly identify what items should be placed in the recycling bin (e.g., “Cans and Bottles Only”).
- Educate. Use signs, displays and announcements to let attendees know why they should recycle, what they should recycle, where they should recycle and how they should recycle. You can download free recycling signs from Social Change Media at http://www.media.socialchange.net.au/recycling.
- Track your success. Measure the weight of recyclables collected. Recycling helps the environment; in addition, recycling programs can increase the appeal of an event by reducing litter and promoting an environmentally friendly atmosphere.
— ARA Content
Pompous predictions and prognostications
I think it’s time to slice and dice all of this nonsense into a pretty little package that you can easily unwrap without the aid of a Swiss Army knife.
We were good last year. We’re going to be good this year, too. The coaching staff on our sideline have finally fixed our players sights firmly on attainable goals that are pleasing to both Spartan fans and the big-wigs who tell teams where to go around Jan. 1.
There’s a buzz around town about this football season … for the first time in a long time. With a few decent breaks, this team could easily challenge for the Big Ten championship, and maybe more around the holidays. I say we go 10-3 and snatch a share of the conference title.
Spartan Fans, enjoy this weekend’s opener, and get ready for a season to remember.