Dollars Of Waste

San Diego’s Only Eco-Friendly Transport Firm Reduces Carbon Footprint with Every Trip

2011-01-03T17:31:00.000+07:00

HYBRID CAR

As San Diego’s only carbon negative private transportation company, Terramoto offers executive-level services utilizing hybrid motor vehicles while at the same time, creating a positive impact on the environment by donating a dollar from every trip to plant a tree. Combining an eco-friendly approach to the transportation business translates into economically advantageous rates for customers and the benefit of enhanced earth-friendly surroundings for the community. The concept for the modern day private transportation company, Terramoto is derived from the combination of terra for “terra firma” (the planet) and moto, which means rapid movement.
According to CEO and co-founder, Quentin Sponselee, “Our goal is to leave the lowest environmental impact possible. In order to do that, we decided our vehicles would have to be a hybrid. After considering factors such as rear passenger seat legroom, bench space, cargo capacity, fuel economy and vehicle purchase price, the Toyota Prius was the perfect fit. Particularly with our service in North County that has widespread terrain, the Prius is half the price of a Lincoln Town car and gets three times the gas mileage. We intend to make our entire current fleet ultra low emission and eventually — when technology allows — 100% emission free. To take things a step further, we contribute one dollar out of every trip to an organization that plants protected trees in order to offset our carbon footprint completely. In fact, we net a negative carbon footprint, a first in transportation history.”
Terramoto is a full service transportation company that provides airport meet and greets, curbside pick ups and drop offs, point-to-point transfers and hourly charters. They also offer hybrid Toyota Highlanders for larger group transportation needs. The company is a charter member of the New Environmentally Responsible Alliance of Transportation (New ERA of Transportation), a green transportation coalition whose members are committed to ensuring their day-to-day operations maintain environmentally friendly practices. To learn more about Terramoto, visit

L.A. County Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

2011-01-03T17:21:00.000+07:00

This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a ban on single-use carryout bags at all grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and drug stores located in the County’s unincorporated areas.
The vote bans stores from giving consumers single-use plastic bags. Store will also be required to charge 10 cents each for paper bags. The ordinance, which will go into effect July 1, 2011, will not affect the 88 cities within county boundaries such as Long Beach.
As part of its approval, the Board supported an amendment by 4th District Supervisor Don Knabe which revised the definition of “reusable bag” to include language that a reusable bag can be cleaned or disinfected, not just machine washable.
“While I support the elimination of single-use bags, if there is going to be a ban, I believe it should be done at a statewide level, as the Board previously supported in AB 1998,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. “Rather than being punitive, we should provide incentives to encourage businesses to develop creative, green solutions, and therefore jobs, to our environmental challenges. That is why I asked for a change in language to today’s motion to ensure that we did not exclude many locally-owned manufacturing plants from producing reusable carryout bags. There are many types of materials that can be used to manufacture reusable bags, and we should not limit their use because they are not machine washable.”

A statewide ban on plastic bags was defeated earlier this year. However, several major metropolitan areas have acted to ban single-use bags including San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Avoid Pesticides — Kill Weeds with Hot Water

2011-01-03T17:13:00.000+07:00

If you’ve got a garden, then you’ve got weeds. Even if you’ve decided not to manage your garden organically, it’s still important to pay close attention to what you’re putting into the soil. Using herbicides are harmful to the environment and cause particular damage to the water system. They can seep into the ground water or be washed into storm drains that flow into the ocean.
There are all natural herbicides available, but you can save money by trying this weed-killing solution first. Use heat to destroy weeds.

Yep. Heat kills weeds. Just pour boiling water directly on the weeds. (This technique works best in small spaces as a topical spot treatment.) You’ll notice that the weeds will begin to turn brown within a few hours.
Although this is a low-cost, low-impact method to kill weeds in your garden, it does have a few caveats.
The hot water is indiscriminate. In addition to killing weeds, it will also kill the good microorganisms in the soil. This is why you need to be careful how you apply the water. First to protect yourself and second to protect your flowers or veggies — especially any plants with a shallow root system. Try using a non-meltable watering can to apply apply the boiling water only where you need it.
Although this method may not control all your garden invaders, as an organic method to kill weeds it’s very effective. The boiling water strips away the weed’s protective coating causing extensive damage to its cellular structure. Just know that it may require more than one treatment.
Of course, the safest and least destructive way to kill weeds is still to get down and just plain pull ‘em out.

Dirty Gold: What is the Environmental Impact of Gold Mines?

2011-01-01T22:22:00.000+07:00

“Dirty” gold is a term used to describe gold that is mined in an unsustainable, environmentally irresponsible way. Unfortunately, gold is one of the “dirtiest” metals to mine, requiring large amounts of toxic chemicals and generating tons of waste.
Here are some of the effects of dirty gold mining practices.

How Gold Mines Impact Local Ecosystems

Gold is usually mined in enormous, open pits. Some of these gigantic craters can even be seen from outer space. Of course, much habitat destruction takes place when one of these mines is created. Local ecosystems are disrupted, affecting the connection between plants, animals, soil, water, and all those elements of a healthy ecosystem.

Types of Pollution Cause by a Gold Mine

To extract gold from the surrounding rocks, heat and chemicals are used. Some of these are dangerous pollutants. For example, the deadly poison cyanide is regularly used to leach gold from ore. Air, soil, and water are all affected. The waste products from gold mining are called “tailings.”

How Gold Mines Affect the Air—Dust from open mines fills the air and can cause illness when it’s breathed by miners or local people. If tailings are left out in the open air, they can generate dust full of chemicals like cadmium and arsenic. And the extraction of gold involves heating it to extreme temperatures (smelting), which releases pollutants like nitrogen and sulfur dioxide into the air.
Environmental Impact of Mining on Water Sources—Gold mine operators have been known to dump tailings into local water supplies. There are reports of streams and rivers, full of cyanide from gold mines, losing 80 percent or more of their aquatic life. Tailings that are stored in reservoirs can leak out. Sometimes the reservoirs burst, flooding surrounding areas with polluted water. Mercury and other heavy metals persist in water supplies near gold mines.
Environmental Soil Damage from Gold Mines—Waste products from the mining and processing of gold accumulate and leach into the soil.

The Results of Mining on Communities

Entire communities of indigenous people are often displaced by gold mining. Crime increases in mine towns. The people’s traditional way of life is obliterated. The pollution of water and soil can destroy local agriculture, which many communities depend on for survival.
Much of the wealth generated by the gold mine benefits the usually foreign company that owns the mine. Government officials in the country where the gold is being mined also benefit. But workers and individuals do not reap the same rewards. The local community, in other words, is not aided by the economic “boom” generated by a gold mine.
Gold is non-renewable. This means that, eventually, the mine will close, leave a crater and a displaced people.

Harmful Health Affects on Gold Mine Workers

The health of the people is also threatened. Inhalation of the dust induces asthma, and can lead to lead and other heavy metal poisoning.

Gold mines have a very real environmental impact of the land around them -- and most of it's not good.

Workers in gold mines are subject to lung diseases due to dust inhalation. Human rights abuses have been reported at many mines. Women often bear the brunt of this, suffering disproportionately as their traditional agricultural jobs are obliterated.

Green Tips for Cars: Don’t Let Your Car Idle

2011-01-01T22:19:00.000+07:00

Green Tips for Cars

Do you ever stop to think about how much waiting we do while “running” around town. If you’re ready to make your errands more environmentally friendly, then don’t be idle. Idle engines are the Devil’s playthings.

An idle engine gets zero miles per gallon. In fact, letting your engine idle for more than ten seconds is worse than just shutting it off and restarting — it uses more gas and lets loose more harmful pollution.

Idle opportunities can sneak into your driving routine if you’re not careful. So be vigilant. Avoid drive-thrus, opting instead to park the car and walk inside. When you’re waiting on a passenger, pull to the curb and turn the car off. And, if you’re listening to a radio show and can’t tear yourself away, it’s ok…. just turn the car off while you listen. Want to make your around-town trips even greener still? Then try this. Once you park the car stay stopped. Park once and walk from store to store, you’ll save even more gas and go a little more green

First Home Certified Emerald Under Green Building Standard

2011-01-01T22:14:00.000+07:00

RGB Custom Builders of East Stroudsburg, Pa., has built the first home to be certified to the Emerald level of the National Green Building Standard rating system.
Builder Bob Brown’s home scored a total of 724 points in the six categories of the standard, which include energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, lot and site development and home owner education and maintenance.
The National Green Building Standard was approved earlier this year by the American National Standards Institute as a green rating system for new homes, remodeling projects and subdivisions.
The 1,900-square-foot home has not been sold yet, Brown said, because the company is using it as a showcase for green building techniques and to spur more home sales. In the week after it was certified, the home attracted 60 visitors in the small Pocono Mountains community where it is located.
Those touring the house have been especially interested in its geothermal heat pump — a top-of-the-line model that added $20,000 to the cost of the home, Brown said. However, current tax credits for energy efficiency bring the price down to $14,000 and the home’s owners can expect lower heating and cooling costs to pay for the pump in less than four years.
Before beginning construction, Brown used the standard scoring tool to see how his current home projects would rate.
The good news, he said, was that RGB Construction’s base homes scored at near the top of the standard’s Silver level.
The company targets the area’s luxury market, building 20 to 25 homes annually at an average price of $450,000 plus land costs, and it has been using many sustainable building practices without calling them green.
Now, Brown said he’ll likely offer his home buyers the option of Gold level certification for an additional cost of $3,000, which will pay for certification, low-flow toilets and the other products he will need to reach that level.
The home cost about $45,000 more to build, Brown said, but it would still have reached the Emerald level without a number of the materials and appliances that were chosen — such as the heat pump, $4,500 in landscape design and installation costs and $2,600 worth of cork flooring. “We could probably cut $15,000 off this number and still be Emerald,” he said.
It’s also 38% more efficient than the standard home he builds, which scores at the Silver level and is 30% more efficient than a home constructed under prevailing building codes.
Brown said that the next job should be much easier now that he understands the scoring system and the certification process. His brother and business partner kept careful records to document and measure almost every step they took. While the documentation helped them in the learning process, much of it was not necessary for certification.
“We didn’t need to do a lot of the things we did,” he said. “Now that the learning curve is down, we can probably do this in our sleep.”
Brown also credited Frank Malpere, his NAHB Research Center-accredited verifier, for his expertise, which also helped him through the process.
Having a show home just down the street from the company’s sales office is sparking more than the usual amount of interest from home shoppers, he said. “Everyone wants to see it, and that’s working well for us,” he said.
In a press release, NAHB Research Center President Mike Luzier congratulated Brown on his home’s achievement. “We are thrilled to have a home certified Emerald so soon after that option became available,” he said. “It’s a testament to the flexibility of this national certification program that allows builders to select the right level of green for their markets and their customers.”

Home Green Building Standard

Since the ANSI approval of the National Green Building Standard in January, more than 1,000 homes have been scored to the standard using the online scoring tool at NAHBGreen.

robot elephant made of recycled‑mater

2010-12-27T13:22:00.001+07:00

waste if managed properly will produce something of high artistic merit and certainly will also deliver great dollars. therefore let us kelolah garbage and let's save the world from the dangers of garbage. EARTH ISOUR HOME AND WE LET'S TAKE CARE TO MAINTAIN our children HOW TO PARTICIPATEENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL EARTH.

Waste Management Recycling Solutions for a Healthy Life

2010-12-26T15:20:00.000+07:00

Waste Management Recycling

To live in a clean and healthy environment is important to deal with the materials used or waste if not managed, they tend to destroy our peaceful environment and leads to serious problems. The best way to manage waste, recycling, recycling is the process that converts the elements of the waste in a new product is to reduce their harmful impact on the environment.
It is a simple process, from the collection of materials from various places, such as roads, houses and shops will cost him and other places. The second step is recycled to the classification of the material collected according to their shape, size, weight. This can be done manually or by electronic spectroscopy, the magnets are also used to separate the metals from waste collected. Then, these elements are for recycling. Typically, glass, paper, plastics, electronics, clothing, recycled envelopes.
Now the question is why recycling is important or the benefits? Here is the answer to the importance of this process is explained. In these rapidly developing countries is important to preserve our natural resources such as rivers, lakes, land, forests, metals, animals, birds, animals, water, etc. The recycling helps, air pollution and water creates a foreign body by minimizing plastic bags or other. Help consumers to save energy and recycling of products, 30-40% of the energy that is produced about two times less than products made from raw materials. It offers a clean and healthy environment and saves space that was formerly used for landfill. Also, recycling is a kind of business that people are busy. It helps save money with low load.
This process is an economic waste that can be easily removed. People should be aware and knowledgeable about this process is also significant benefits, the participation and cooperation. Particularly the knowledge about recycling should extend children to do on the recycling of their profession.
There are many companies around the world are working to recycle waste. You have to recycle more than 20 vehicles more than 50,000 tons of waste per year. Most of them are of great renown. To recycle paper, newspapers and plastics, cardboard and cans are also involved in the recovery of hazardous waste

12 Steps To Environmental Cleanliness

2010-12-26T15:02:00.000+07:00

With the movie An Inconvenient Truth drawing record audiences last summer, and groups as diverse as the “Evangelical Climate Initiative” and the Pentagon sounding the alarm on the coming climate catastrophe, our country could be on the cusp of taking real action on a very real danger.

But how much action is enough to match the scale of the solution to the scale of the problem? Based on the data — such as rapidly melting polar icecaps — showing that climate change is happening faster than anyone had thought, it is increasingly clear: Baby steps won’t do it.
We need a bold action plan that can evaluate corporate, government, community, and household plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – especially carbon emissions -- to levels we can live with.

Scientists at the Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) have taken up this challenge, and propose stabilizing carbon emissions by dividing this huge task into smaller, doable action “wedges” of equal size—each with the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tons/year by 2054. CMI lists 15 possible “wedges,” out of which we need to achieve just seven to reach carbon stabilization.

Here at Co-op America, we added our own filters to this building-block approach. We screened out measures that are too dangerous, costly, and slow (like nuclear power plants, synfuels, and “clean” coal), and we beefed up those that are safe and cost-effective. (Wind energy is cost-competitive at utility scale, and has beaten natural gas in certain markets. Solar energy will be cost-competitive within five years.)
With these filters, we developed a plan that uses current technologies; is safe, clean, and cost-effective; and is big enough to meet the climate challenge—12 “wedges” when we only need seven. Each of the following could reduce carbon emissions by at least 1 billion tons per year by 2054:
Here’s our 12-step plan:
1. Increase fuel economy for the world’s 2 billion cars from an average of 30 mpg to 60 mpg.

2. Cut back on driving. Decrease car travel for 2 billion 30-mpg cars from 10,000 to 5,000 miles per year, through increased use of mass transit, telecommuting, and walking and biking.

3. Increase energy efficiency by one-quarter in existing buildings and appliances. Move to zero-emissions plans for new buildings.

4. Decrease tropical deforestation to zero, and double the rate of new tree plantings.

5. Stop soil erosion. Apply “conservation tillage” techniques to cropland at 10 times the current usage. Encourage local, organic agriculture.

6. Increase wind power. Add 3 million 1-megawatt windmills, 75 times the current capacity.

7. Push hard for solar power. Add 3,000 gigawatt-peak solar photovoltaic units, 1,000 times current capacity.

8. Increase efficiency of coal plants from an average of 32 percent efficiency to 60 percent, and shut down plants that don’t meet the standard. No net new coal plants; for new plants built, an equal number should close.

9. Replace 1,400 gigawatts of coal with natural gas, a four-fold increase in natural gas usage over current levels — a short-term step until zero-emissions renewable technologies can replace natural gas.

10. Sequester carbon dioxide at existing coal plants. Sequestration involves storing carbon dioxide underground, an unproven technology that may, nonetheless, be better than nothing.

11. Develop zero-emissions vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles powered by renewable energy.

12. Develop biomass as a short-term replacement for fossil fuel until better carbon-free technologies are developed — but only biofuels made from waste, and made without displacing farmland and rainforests.

This framework can help us think big and fast enough to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. If we are to achieve each wedge by 2054, the next 10 years must see major action. Anything less and we’re kidding ourselves.

Problem of waste incinerators in developing countries

2010-12-21T20:01:00.000+07:00

solid waste

In fact, if not because of medical waste, we can state categorically that the incineration of waste, the disposal of developing countries, particularly Nigeria. The reasons are obvious, requires great skill and combustion technology. The types of incinerators are very common in Nigeria are very different from those found and used in civilized countries.
In the city of Ibadan, for example, has no provision for the treatment of flue gas and combustion, largely with energy recovery. Perhaps one can only find electric drive incinerator at the University Hospital, Ibadan. Apart from the incinerators were not usually built tall chimneys to take care of gaseous emissions.
Although there is no other effective methods to reduce pathogens to health around the world that are not prescribed burning, alternative technologies to incineration in recent years, supported by several environmental stress groups. The reasons are the remains of toxic ash and air emissions are carcinogenic and unpleasant.
In addition, the type of waste that contains more organic products are not built by indigenous incinerators to be addressed to realize low temperature. Incineration is a process of high temperature oxidation drought, which reduces the organic and inorganic wastes fuel, flammable. Then, an incineration plant for kitchen waste is used, and mix the sludge with a low calorific value is very small. However, none of the incinerators manufactured locally really do this because of a lower temperature (usually less than 10000C). Worse, the clogged built, most of them without the supply of fuel and burned in the rule to cases or partially burned.
Finally, through technology, sophisticated and highly qualified, high interest, and the burning of normal, and also because of the threat it a threat to the environment and health through the usual procedure in some developing countries, including Nigeria, can the incinerators local manufacturing stage in these countries are now proposing.

Composting - a green solution to household waste

2010-12-21T19:43:00.000+07:00

Waste management experts report that "food waste represents nearly 15 percent of the total waste sent to landfills each year, the largest type of waste material."
Composting can not be the most glamorous of projects for the renovation, but the name of another scenario where you can improve your garden, and do something for our planet by having less waste to enter our landfill sites each week. Starting your own compost is simple and has a huge performance. The compound is essentially layers of natural materials that eventually break to produce a soil rich in nutrients. This natural fertilizer and is ideal for your garden because it restores the missing nutrients in soil damaged. As any gardener will tell you: the success of your garden depends on the quality of their lands.
First Step - How to maintain your subscription here:
With more people in the compost-making, the choices of where and how to keep your battery has increased dramatically. Today you can buy a compost bin precompiled. These devices are made of plastic and are designed to eliminate odors, and therefore away from the creatures at bay!
The models vary greatly from what they seem and what they can do. Some containers are fixed, while others, for ships that can turn a handle. Personally, I like this option because it saves on the back of the work effort to turn the compost by hand with a shovel.
You can also create your own bin, you can build an open design of wooden pallets, mesh and more. Just know this: a compost pile naked can smell and attract insects and animals. If you go this route, make sure it is outdoors and not near the window of his room. For a home composting container attached to an idea I found in my research is to become part of a giant plastic container normally used for storage. Just poke holes in the bottom and the top and you have a compost bin very simple and cheap.
Second Step - Add the food and garden waste.What not to bring:
What you should avoid putting in your compost is almost more important than what happens Certain chemicals may be toxic and therefore harmful. feces of dogs, cats, birds and are a good example. Also, avoid any green material treated with pesticides. Do not compost the others:Files oror meat or fishBone or fat,waste or catPaper or plastic laminateor diseased plants or decayingor large stems or roots (or shred them first)or treated wood
What you can put in your compost:
It must be both "brown" (carbon rich) and green (nitrogen rich) ingredients in your compost pile. Most of the items - about two thirds - the ingredients should be brown.
Brown or components are rich in carbon and leaves, pine needles, spoiled straw, straw and paper.
green ingredients are rich in nitrogen. You want to create a thin layer of green ingredients between thick layers of brown ingredients. Remember that two thirds of the pile should be brown. You can create a 5-6 cm layer of brown, covered with two inches of green, then another layer of brown, and so on. Include common elements of green grass clippings, refuse to seat (old plant stems, stalks of flowers last fall), coffee grounds, manure and kitchen waste from fruits and vegetables.
Layers is where to start (if you use a glass, the layers are not necessary. Mix only!)
one or more layers that are composed of brown substances. The key is to have good circulation to the bottom or in the fireplace, not very thick pile of pieces 1-2 inches should be enough.
The following material layers alternating between brown and green. Each layer should be 2 inches thick and a thin layer of manure can be placed between layers of green and brown. A trick of the trade, the decomposition of the material that is in large pieces before adding it to your compost pile, but it decomposes rapidly.
Step Three - Keep your compost
Or rule of thumb: the more you manage your compost pile, the faster you will be rich compound, black. management tracks that are limited to the battery (it breaks all the time, but this method can take a year or more) to convert the compound once or twice a week with a shovel in the cold outside the battery is low. This is where the compost bins to keep your rear window.
Keep the compost moist. Depending on your time, it can be easy to achieve, of course, a few seasons ago. You can check the moisture, turning the compost with a shovel - the center of the pile should not be left to dry. Depending on the weather, you may need to water your compost pile occasionally to keep it moist, put a tarp or cloth to avoid regularly.
Place the container in a location that receives lots of sun, and you need the container to warm to start working. The interior of the battery should be hot. This indicates that the decomposition of organic matter occurs. Your subscription should begin to heat up in a day or two to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, there's enough material green. Some of the compost bins come with thermometers, but you can buy one if it is not. Just paste in the center of the stack to see if the mixture is correct.

Going Green Beauty

2010-12-18T16:00:00.000+07:00

The beauty industry is "green", which means that the color of the recent trend of lipstick. What does "green" is just a fad or an election of a new life? In our environmentally challenged world, many consumers are taking steps to mitigate the negative impact on the environment through lifestyle changes and educated in the product. Iroquois have an ecological concept called "sustainability of the seven generations." The Iroquois Great Law says: "In each consultation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation ... even if it requires with skin as thick as the bark of a pine tree."
People are looking to make wise choices that make a healthier planet, which in turn lead to a better balance of body, mind and soul. For me, I'll ask, "Bein 'Green" song, It's Not Easy Bein' Green, sung by Kermit the Frog.
What skin care green for the environment of equality? Response, containing green. " Cosmetics companies it shows the beauty is more than skin and accelerates the increased use of organic herbal ingredients, packaging is minimized and cooperation with other programs in eco-awareness. Some companies offer incentives for consumers to return empty containers, or refurbished to be recycled properly. It can also show commitment to eco-beauty when to improve a company because their energy efficiency at the factory or warehouse, cruelty free, and follow the fair trade policy which are not exploited by local employment.
Some experts say the skin absorbs most of what you request, and as the greatest organ works holistically with the rest of the body to absorb nutrients and discrimination that is not useful. Green skin care means that the choice of products that contain a higher concentration of natural ingredients with minimal processing. If the ingredients in your personal skin care from nature, the body metabolizes and create an inner glow that is expressed through their skin. However, chemicals such as oils, phthalates, artificial fragrances, mineral oils and certain preservatives do not break easily and leave dangerous products on the floor and do the same in your body. The earth is a reflection of our inner beauty.
Another aspect, "leg Green" is on the packaging, to seek to speak for themselves. Many cosmetic products have been left without a ready packed into account the global impact of waste. The impact of our activities can be in units of carbon dioxide and other gases such as carbon footprint measured. typical green container can use post-consumer waste, recycled paper, vegetable dyes and biodegradable or recyclable materials in an attempt to reduce adverse environmental impacts.
"It's not easy being green," sings Kermit little. Joe Rapposo unfortunate letter could not be better, especially now that "Bein 'Green" is the day. The sentence as an expression of melancholy emerged as Kermit complains about the state of mixing with so many everyday things. But today it is always easier to be green and this is exactly what we have to do ... Embrace, accept and blend with the environment.

Biodiesel an ideal alternative

2010-12-18T15:51:00.000+07:00

Biodiesel has been getting its share of interest from people looking for alternative fuels. The steadily rising cost of oil on the world market and many believe it is time to find other sources of sound in any way increase the cost of using gas and fuel oil. One of the alternatives that are on the promise that is the production of biodiesel.
Biodiesel refers to a type of fuel that can be derived from biological sources. Can be readily used in diesel vehicles. This distinguishes them from the use of vegetable oil (SVO) or waste vegetable oils that have changed (UVA) as the chosen alternative, vehicles with diesel engines using these fuels must be installed.
What makes biodiesel an ideal alternative, which is biodegradable and nontoxic. Biodiesel is also significant emissions from the incineration of low compared to petroleum diesel.
Since biodiesel can be changed easily in existing diesel engines without using it, they have to fulfill the potential of using fuel oil as main source of additional power, the need for global transportation sector. Not only that, the promises of biodiesel fuel used as a cheaper alternative to domestic and commercial boilers.
Biodiesel can be used in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel. There are a number of advantages and benefits with their use. Biodiesel is one of the best features is the high level of lubricity. Greater than pure petroleum diesel, this excellent lubricity of biodiesel significantly extending the life of a fuel injector of the engine.
Biodiesel is a better solvent than regular diesel and has been shown to break down deposits of residue in fuel lines, since products with conventional diesel. Therefore, the fuel filter clogged with debris, such as biodiesel always does his job to clean the engine is so common. The filter change after running 600-800 miles on biodiesel is recommended to resolve this problem.
There are environmental advantages in subsequent elections of biodiesel compared to conventional diesel use petroleum-based. results of its use in biodiesel significantly reduces emissions of carbon monoxide. Biodiesel also contains less hydrocarbons and particulate emissions from the exhaust pipe can reduce up to 20 percent.
Biodiesel also has a low sulfur content, viscosity and no natural lubrication is often the case when using ultra-low sulfur variety of diesel. It is also nontoxic and biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
It is considered by many lawyers suggested that the excess biodiesel or vegetable oil may be the best source of oil to produce this alternative fuel. But the current available supply is, unfortunately, less than the amount of petroleum-derived fuel that is burned for transportation and home heating throughout the world. Gallons liters of waste vegetable oil are produced by U.S. restaurants every day.
But that may not be sufficient to meet the need for more fuel and more. The production of biodiesel from animal fats may not be viable enough to replace petro-diesel for the limited supplies. However, research is underway to find solutions and systems that make biodiesel more available and they can develop to meet the growing needs of the alternative was

Aeration is a common treatment process

2010-12-16T16:31:00.001+07:00

In regard to aeration, there are many different process configurations depending on the specific application. Waste Solutions has experience with suspended growth, biological nitrogen and phosphorous systems, fixed film systems and also with modelling facilities such as GPS-X to test and refine treatment plant design performance

Traditionally, rule of thumb methods have been used for the sizing of aeration requirements and hence aeration equipment.

Waste Solutions uses a more fundamental approach based on a thorough understanding of microbial and physical processes to design aerobic treatment systems.

Variability in the aeration characteristics of wastewaters from plant to plant are often not accounted for using traditional rule of thumb methods for sizing aeration equipment. This often results in a large safety factor which is expensive. Optimisation of aeration efficiency can be achieved by evaluating aeration characteristics of a wastewater and the efficiency of aeration equipment in a particular wastewater.

Waste Solutions has developed procedures for testing both the aeration characteristics of a wastewater and the aeration efficiency of aeration equipment in a particular wastewater. This results in aeration equipment with least life cycle cost.

Waste Solutions’ knowledge of the fundamental processes involved in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastes means the company is able to deliver optimum and cost effective solutions to customers.

Where it is necessary, on-site pilot trials or pilot plants are used to develop effective solutions with lower life-cycle costs.

What Do Jewelry and E-waste Have In Common?

2010-12-10T09:08:00.001+07:00

This week in our environmental epidemiology class one of the main topics of discussion was lead. Our instructor brought up a very interesting source of exposure: lead jewelry. The discussion included a talk about how e-waste is contributing to this problem.

I came across two well-known stories from the United States that demonstrate this issue. In 2003, in Oregon, a 4 year old boy died after swallowing a piece of jewelry bought from a vending machine. Later it was discovered that the toy medallion consisted of 38.8% lead [CDC report, 2004]. More recently, in 2006, another child died from acute lead poisoning in Minnesota, after ingesting a metallic heart-shaped charm. The charm was a gift with purchase from Reebok, which was almost entirely made from lead (99.1%) [CDC report, 2006]. In both instances, the product responsible was imported from abroad. The Consumer Product Safety division of Health Canada, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the US, are responsible for ensuring that tragedies like this never happen but evidently things are missed.

How this relates to e-waste:
In my literature search I came across a paper by Weidenhamer and Clement looking at e-waste as a possible source for lead contaminated jewelry. These researchers took note of the movement of e-waste from North American to Asian countries, and hypothesized that recycled circuit boards were being used to produce these heavily leaded jewelry items sold in the US. They took sixteen jewelry items that were previously known to contain 20-80% lead, and analyzed the items for lead, copper and tin content. In addition, lead-tin solders (what's used to join two pieces of metal together) from workshops in China were looked at, which are typically 60% tin/40% lead or 63% tin/37% lead by weight [Geibig & Socolof, 2005]. The main source of lead in electronic goods is in these lead-tin solders and also leaded glass of cathode ray tubes (the big tubes found in older computer screens and tvs) [Ernst et al., 2003].

Eight samples of the solder used in workshops in Taizhou, China (a major e-waste recycling area) were retrieved for a comparison to the contents found in the jewelry samples. After analyzing and comparing the lead-tin content in all 16 jewelry samples, 6 samples contained suspicious amounts of tin, and 5 of these samples contained suspicious amounts of copper. Because copper is normally only a trace component of electronic solders, the heating of circuit boards in molten solder, as observed in e-waste recycling workshops, has the potential to transfer a significant amount of copper into the solder. This supports their hypothesis that at least some of the leaded jewelry may be manufactured from scrap solder materials.

This study did not look at heavily leaded jewelry (>80% lead by weight). So the question of where these highly leaded jewelry items are coming from still remains a mystery.

Here are some things to look out for when purchasing jewelry, as recommended by Health Canada:
Pure lead is heavy, soft, dark bluish grey in colour and has a dull surface.
Jewelry with a very high lead content tends to be: thicker and leave a greyish mark when wiped on a white piece of paper.

Check with the retailer before buying an item. If they cannot provide assurance, don't buy it.
For Children: don't allow them to wear adult jewelry, suck or chew on jewelry, and if items are swallowed contact emergency medical services if you think the item may have contained lead.

Assembly

2010-11-30T09:35:00.002+07:00

I promise the last Joy Division single is coming. To be quite honest, both myself and Mr. Analog Loyalist are suffering a little burnout. While the work we're doing is both rewarding and necessary, spending so much time on one project/band has dampened my enthusiasm. I haven't even assembled my own CDs of the New Order singles yet, which brings me to today's entry.

My OCD doesn't like interrupting the sequence of singles, but I had to share these. A couple of readers have sent photos of their finished singles sets:

Fedge is storing his in mini poly sleeves just like LPs.

Chris took this several steps further and I'm just really impressed. The fluorescent green and orange of the box are the colors of the inner sleeves for Round & Round/Round & Remix. Alongside the artwork for each single the book uses stock photos similar to the artwork used for Republic and it's singles. Bizarre Love Triangle and Touched By The Hand Of God have been tweaked to be gatefold sleeves like the their 7" and CD singles respectively, and he used a unifying titling/color scheme across the CDs instead of the labels I made, which are kinda haphazard since they're based on the labels from the vinyl singles.

What I'd always envisioned in my head was using a prefab plastic CD flip file to store the singles (plastic=recycle). I was going to print and mount Saville's original Recycle "waste painting" to the top, and craft a booklet to go inside, but I'd like to open this up to all of you. Have you put together your own set yet? Do you have any ideas for housing the package? Please share your ideas and photos with us.

The Kitchen Composter

2010-11-27T20:41:00.001+07:00

The Kitchen Composter allows 100% home composting to be achieved by tackling the elements of organic waste that cannot be put into a traditional composter.

All food waste can now be turned into nutrient rich compost. This includes meat, fish and dairy products as well as cooked foods. The process does not produce smells or attract flies.

The Kitchen Composter is an air-tight container which the food waste is placed in. Bokashi is added as a compost activator. This is a bran-based material that has been prepared with EM, a mixed culture of naturally occurring friendly microorganisms. After a few days the contents can be placed in a traditional home composter or dug into the ground. Liquid feed can be drained off during the fermentation process. This is alive with beneficial microbes and can be diluted as a plant feed or poured down drains to prevent algae build up and odours

Organic Biowaste Resource Recovery

2010-11-25T07:10:00.000+07:00

Waste Solutions offers innovative "zero discharge" process technology that adds value to solid organic waste, food residuals and industrial waste. We have extensive experience and expertise in development and application of customised waste treatment processes including fermentation technology to add value to waste materials

Examples of processes for industrial scale recovery of valuable products from waste are:

High nitrogen content certified organic fertiliser from fish processing residue
High value fish oil from fish processing off cuts
Potable water from processed food residuals
Microbial metabolites (antibiotics) from liquid waste fermentation
Environmentally friendly road salt (Calcium magnesium acetate)
Slow release Nitrogen/Phosphorus fertiliser (Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate)
Water recovery solutions

The Zero Waste Closet

2010-11-25T07:05:00.000+07:00

Last week was April 15th! For most it meant tax day. For me: Biannual clothes shopping day. The day I refresh my worn out basics and add some zing to my wardrobe. I wait and prepare for it for months at a time. I love fashion and I only shop twice a year: April 15th for spring-summer, and October 15th for fall-winter.

Before each spree, I visit the library and go through magazines to get inspired and educate my eye. This is a system that I have lived by for the past eight years.
But, please... don't blame me for being tempted by fashion, symbol of a disposable and ephemeral closet: I graduated from the London School of Fashion, and still enjoy expressing myself through dressing. And as long as my shopping habits follow my sustainable ethics, isn't it alright to be fashionable? What can I say: I do care about my looks, regardless of the Zero Waste lifestyle, sadly associated with careless / carefree clothing. Did I mention that one does not need to conform to a certain fashion style to be a Zero Waste advocate?…My personal fashion sense is rather about wearing exciting, one of a kind, USED pieces to make my everyday more exciting.

I can see some of you cringing at the idea of thrifting already. "I can't find anything in that mess", or "Oh! I can't take the smell in thrift shops", people tell me... It's true that the items in the shop have lost their smell of off-gassing plastics and that these shops don't have perfume in the air (department stores) to cover it up. Isn't it sad that most people prefer to shop in a store that reeks of plastic because the smell is associated with new things, the high of shopping and consumerism? You know what I am talking about if you have practiced department/new store abstinence before. It is like discovering the true smell of your house after a long absence... Well the true smell (or is it the phtalates?) of those new stores actually makes me nauseous. And if the term "used" bothers you, call it "vintage". Somehow vintage stores, although they also only carry used items, have a better reputation.

But what I love most about thrift and vintage shopping is the hunt for the unusual clothing, the minimal price tag (where I shop they use a piece of paper stapled to the garment as a price tag), and the carbon footprint redemption, of course… This is where you choose a garment for its fit, not its tag or brand.

Here is my system:

I stick to minimal closets: My boys, for example, have a set of 4 pants, 8 shirts, and a dressy outfit for each season. I'll spare you my wardrobe list.

I keep a minimal shoe closet: I have paired it down to just 6 pairs of shoes: slippers, boots, ballet, medium heel, high heel sandal, and sandals. For the kids, I buy athletic shoes second hand, and when worn out I take them to Nike "Reuse a Shoe" program. (At the rate that my little one goes through sneakers, we wait to fill a bin before taking them in). They also own a pair of dress shoes, flip-flops and slippers.

I own only a small selection (3) of purses: 1 everyday/evening wrist wallet, 1 small foraging messenger bag and 1 work bag (to fit my computer).

I keep an updated inventory of my closet, made up of neutral colors and exciting season-less essentials. On that same excel file, I highlight the items that I wore out (holes, tears or stubborn stains) and need to replace on the next shopping trip.

I shop twice a year: it avoids compulsive buys, keeps us out of the mall. (We actually only shop once a year for my husband).

I shop at second hand stores mostly: I believe in reusing before buying new organic clothes. This season, the new items I purchased were a pair of sandals (could not find a basic secondhand pair) and a bra. The rest I bought at the thrift shop for $40 (I can proudly say, it is a record low)

If I do get a new piece, I make sure that it is good quality, and only carries minimal tags (I leave the shoe box at the store). Patagonia, I hear, recycles some of their garments to make new ones.

I am ruthless on fit, it is as simple as: "If it doesn't fit, I must acquit!"

I bring a basket: Too often we think about the reusable bag at the grocery store, but don't apply it to other stores.
I put it back on the market before it goes out of style: If, for some reason, I do not wear a specific piece of clothing for a month, I give it to a friend or Goodwill. Otherwise I end up with a closet full of nothing-to-wear. Keep it on the market and share it while it's hot!
I keep some of my worn out clothes for rags (duh), but I label the rest as "rags" and take it to Goodwill for recycling. Call your local Goodwill to confirm their participation in the program.
With sewing, I have been able to save many outfits, with only a few stitches (shorten a hem, add an elastic or change buttons...)
I take it to the tailor, if something is out of my technical expertise (I recently had to take a coat in, the fabric is too thick for my machine)
I keep handkerchiefs handy in my closet and purses.
TMI: I keep vitamin E balm next to my sandals to add shine to my polish-free toes.And you know what the bonus was on this last thrifting spree? Finding a two liter Le Parfait jar for only $2. Yoohoo!

Pacific Ocean Toilet! When will it stop?

2010-11-22T22:15:00.000+07:00

Pacific Ocean. Plastic garbage so thick, so large an area. A dead zone, deadly, ominous, growing. Plastic makes up a huge percentage of the cess pool searing our precious oceans. This state size patch is located off Hawaii between North/South America and the beautiful tradewind Islands.

Out of site - Out of mind.

Electronics waste container

2010-11-22T21:53:00.000+07:00

The Poly-Trux 54P-20R eWaste cart features a rugged, 20-bushel capacity container with a wide-mouth safety rim set on top of premium, industrial-strength casters. These units are designed to accommodate heavy, unwieldy computers, televisions, microwave ovens, fax machines and other electronics waste collected at municipal events and other collection points. When filled, the rigid eWaste cart rolls easily onto a truck or trailer for transport, while an optional canvas cover stretches around the container rim to keep waste inside the cart and deter theft. The rigid Poly-Trux 54P-20R eWaste cart is rotationally molded in a single piece of 100 percent waterproof polyethylene for high-strength, durability and resistance to bumps, scratches and scrapes. A choice of 16 standard colours plus optional custom colours and permanent, molded-in lettering, tracking numbers and graphics are available.

Climate Change, Mixed Messaging & Superfreakonomics

2010-11-22T21:41:00.000+07:00

A really important comment was brought up this week in my environmental epidemiology lecture on climate change. I wanted to speak to this point a bit more after coming across a series of writings about a recently published book called Superfreakonomics by Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner.

The comment in class was about the difficulty of sorting through the mixed messaging surrounding climate change, and the role that health promoters need to play in order to address this issue at the individual level. This was a really important point to bring up because it is difficult to know what our role as individuals is when we speak about climate change. This point is particularly important not only because lifestyle changes need to be made, but also because political will needs to be generated.

I came across a prime example of this mixed messaging after watching a CBC interview of Steve Levitt. One of the chapters in his new book is about climate change and why he thinks that the current climate change efforts are flawed. This peaked my interest, and so I tried to track down his chapter online. Instead I came across an interesting series of blog posts between the author and a climate change economist. Thankfully, the chapter doesn't refute the current scientific consensus about climate change, but rather argues that the "solution" isn't in changing human contributions to the problem (adaptation strategies). I don't fully understand what aerosol geo-engineering is, but the authors present this as a harmless and cheap quick fix for global warming. Skeptics have highlighted that the authors ignored readily available literature detailing the severe risks associated with aerosol geo-engineering and reasons why emission reduction is the dominant strategy chosen. Even though I have not read the chapter myself, I remain quite uncomfortable with the thought that if this book was even remotely as successful as the first Freakonomics, 4 million people could potentially be mislead by the message in this chapter.

Waste Plastic Burner 2010

2010-11-22T21:39:00.000+07:00

Waste Plastic Burner 2010

Zero Waste Dining and Entertaining

2010-11-18T11:44:00.000+07:00

By now, you already know that we have chosen a simple life, free of unnecessary objects. I truly believe in the 80-20 rule. In a regular home, only 20% of household items actually get used. In ours, we have evaluated those 20% and have let go of the remaining 80%.

Thru my simplifying business, I have noticed that most kitchens are filled with unused kitchen gadgets that are supposed to make cooking and entertaining easier. But are the sorbet maker, waffle iron, or panini press really being used? What about the specialty cake pans, the cookie cutters, the dozen placemats, the fancy wine stoppers, the wine basket, the wine cooler, the champagne bucket, the 2nd or 3rd set of china, the stem glass charms, the shot glasses, and the tablecloth weights? Oh! And the candle that is too pretty to be lit? Think of the drawer filled with hot pads (aren’t a couple enough?), the drawer filled with matches (can’t the refillable lighter do the job just fine?), not to mention…the junk drawer (what is in there that you can’t live without?). These items take precious space, make it harder to find cooking essentials, create stress, and clutter our lives, not to mention waste time and valuable resources. There is a really good chance that most of the items mentioned here can be forgotten, simply donated, and their use replaced by something else (the grater plane works just fine as a zester). Clearly, the more accessories you have, the more you take out, the more needs cleaning (individual measuring cups are a great example).

Of course, you can zero waste dining and entertaining with a packed kitchen, but honestly, the simpler the kitchen, the simpler it is to get there.

Here is how we dine and entertain with zero waste in mind:

-Zero Waste Grocery Shop: Make sure you bring extra jars to the grocery store when shopping for company (including take-out).

-Make finger foods for larger parties (more than 10 people at our house, because 10 is all we can sit at our dining table): Finger foods are a fantastic waste buster for larger parties (no store-bought party trays here).

-Instead of fizzy water, consider serving tap water with lemon slices in it.

-Forget about disposables (duh): Use ceramic dishes, cloth dinner napkins and cloth appetizer napkins (sooooo much nicer than paper).

-Avoid the use of serving platters/dishes: When serving straight onto dinner plates, it simplifies, saves water from extra cleaning, and it allows for a plate presentation.

-Find creative ways to decorate your table: I personally do not use tablecloths or placemats, I find that both get dirty too fast, are a waste of physical and electrical energy, and detergent. I also have more fun decorating it with a few napkin folding tricks, discarded leaves/branches from the yard, designs drawn in some scattered flour, fuzz of a seeded dandelion flower, or just seasonal fruit… For a recent buffet, I set small fern branches in water glasses and covered them with different size Le Parfait Jars so that these “cloches” could set the serving plates at different levels.

-Reuse empty votive tins (and the wick base) to make new votive candles for company: Super fast and super easy. Locally, I can find beeswax in bulk at Rainbow Grocery, and lead-free wick by the yard at Ben Franklin. I have about 20 rotating votive tins.

-Transfer your music onto your iPod: Donate your CD player and CD’s for others to enjoy, use your iPod connected to your home sound system instead. (THIS is my birthday wish, Scott!)

-Use rechargeable batteries for those remote controls!

-Try no TV/gaming for a while: We cancelled ours about 1½ yr ago and I love it. We finally have time to read the books that we wanted to read, and watch movies, commercial free. We rent and watch one PG movie with the kids on Friday nights, Scott and I watch another more mature movie during the week. Sunday night is game night!

-Lucky to be invited somewhere? Need a hostess gift? Bring a jar of a homemade consumable, or your favorite bulk item (we love the Whole Foods chocolate malt balls).

-Need wrapping? Consider Furoshiki (the Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping).I think it’s so cool, I have become an addicted “furoshikier” I have wrapped presents in 24x24” piece of curtain, or French antique kitchen towels (I had a stacks of them in my previous kitchen). A zero waste present is a great opportunity to let your friends know about your waste reduction efforts and inspire them to follow lead.

-Educate your friends about your zero waste efforts: so that they don’t show up at your door step with a large pastry box (full of pastries wrapped in throwaways… speaking from experience, here). Remember that Zero Waste Home starts outside the home.

-Lastly, please don’t forget to bring your own container for leftovers, when dining out!

What are we doing for Easter? This year, we’re invited to a brunch. I will bring bulk wine wrapped in a French antique towel. But before we go, the kids will enjoy their Easter “egg” hunt of bulk candy: Chocolate malt balls, organic jelly beans, and chocolate covered peanuts. I just have to decide before tomorrow whether to wrap them in paper or get refillable plastic eggs (stainless yet to be found) from the thrift store… It all depends on the weather and where the Easter Bunny will decide to hide them… Inside or out?

Zero Waste Holidays: this time for sure ;)

2010-11-18T11:40:00.000+07:00

No, no. I am not crazy: I do not support holiday decorations being displayed at my local hardware store since September...

Nonetheless, the holidays are around the corner and my hardware store did remind me that last December, I vouched to be pro-active for this year's gift exchange. And that included letting those who will be exchanging with us know that we prefer experiences vs. more stuff. It seems early, but letting them know before they even had a chance to gather/buy objects for us, is key and all part of the “master plan” ;).

Here are some ideas, worth considering this holiday season:

GIFTS

-Offering "Experiences" in the form of a gift certificate or actual ticket, such as:

Classes at the local community college to develop a new interest

Movie ticket

Theme park season pass

Museum pass

Bowling night

Hotel night

Meal at a new restaurant

Treat to an ice cream parlor

My favorite for our kids: A year long subscription to a monthly surprise family activity (activities that I have in mind for the year, depending on our finances, include: kayaking, overnight at hotel with pool, ice skating, hiking to an overnight refuge, trampoline or indoor climbing center, science museum, gold panning in the mountains, crabbing, fishing, overnight on a houseboat, backpacking and overnight in the wilderness, fruit picking, sledding, overnight in a fire lookout, etc...)

-Offering Services (your time) in the form of coupons, such as:

Professional expertise (I can offer simplifying and decluttering services for example)

Hand labor (planting a tree, painting a room for a new baby, fixing a deck, lawn mowing)

Babysitting

Services are great for kids to give (one sibling could take another sibling's chore for a period of time)

-Offering consumables in a reusable jar (to simplify, pick one project and make a large quantity):

Homemade cookies, cake mix, herbal tea, jam, pickles, sugar/salt scrub, balm, lemoncello, toothpowder (with recipe attached)

Or a bulk item (cornichons, olives, maple syrup, toffee pecans, chocolate malt balls).

Homemade candles, soap, and paper are also great “out of the jar” alternatives.

-Shopping your home: Regifting (and there is nothing wrong with that!) or giving something you already own when you know for a fact that the recipient will appreciate it. I have a dedicated drawer for that purpose, it gets filled and used all year long.

-Buying used at a thrift store or on Ebay. For the latter, make sure that the item is used by checking the “pre-owned” option in your Ebay search.

-Using the smallest gifts and bulk treats to fill stockings instead of stuff-ers.

-Selecting gifts that tighten family bonds (family “experiences” or used board games for example).

-Greening Santa: Santa brings only one gift per family member. It comes unwrapped because Santa cares about the environment and his gift is easily spotted among the other (family) wrapped presents. The benefits of the “one special present” go beyond the obvious...equality among children of different financial background, modesty, smaller wish lists, less stress on Santa!

-Avoiding the mall until January: Not only better for your carbon footprint (driving, new stuff purchased), but also your sanity, stress level, creativity and wallet. Challenge yourself to do without!

GIFT WRAPPING:

-Purchasing or making reusable gift bags from fabric scraps (or redesigned lone socks and pillowcases) sends out a green message to your recipient. The attached tie also eliminates the need for a loose ribbon.

-Purchasing or making Furoshiki squares (28x28) and learning some easy-to-follow tricks on how to artfully wrap in fabric. The elaborate knots and tucks also eliminates the need for a loose ribbon

-Using a gift to wrap another. A t-shirt, a sweater, a kitchen towel can wrapped just about anything and serve a double duty (a gift and wrapper in one).

-Reusing what you already have, if lacking the previous wrapping alternatives: papers from your recycling bin (your kids can quickly paint some designs on them), children's artwork, a washed meat wrapper, newspaper or paper bag if you are still allowing these into your home ;).

-Using leaves as gift tags or anything in your recycling bin that can be cut into a small rectangle.

DECORATION:

-Reusing a potted plant that you already have or purchasing one that can become your yearly alternative to the Christmas tree. I use a tall topiary. The first year, it seemed odd (an adjustment), now we can't imagine going back to regular trees.

-Vouching to not buy yet another ornament. We rediscover our holiday decorations every year when we unpack our dedicated crate, and we always have enough!

-Making consumable decorations such as a homemade gingerbread house (with treats available in bulk) or a string of popcorn as garland (feeding it to the birds after the holidays, thanks to Dori and Val for the suggestion) for as long as the kids enjoy participating in the making.

-Using seasonal whole fruit, whole vegetables, yard clippings or leaves to adorn the table.

CARDS:

-Emailing your holiday wishes. Last year, I made plantable cards (it took me a week of work and lots of stamps), this year I will email our wishes. It's the thought and the content of the message that counts.

-Sending the cards that you do receive for reuse (as mentioned last year) to St. Jude's Ranch Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude Street, Boulder City, NV 89005. It supports a good cause too!

-Choosing recycled and recyclable materials, if you do choose to send out a card. Keep in mind that photo paper is not recyclable.

TRADITIONS:

-Supporting your Zero Waste efforts with meaningful traditions vs. the wasteful, stressful and complicated activities of the season (Zero Waste not being just about stuff management).

-Being kind to yourself by simplifying your traditions: consider less cooking, using your everyday china and glasses if your fancy set requires handwashing, eating out, going for a hike if weather allows.

-Being kind to others by

1- being kind to yourself,
2- freeing a parking spot by avoiding the mall ;)
3- applying “Acts of Kindness” to your holiday season: participate in a homeless soup kitchen, sing carols in your neighborhood, write a Thank You card to someone whose services you appreciate (your friendly baker for ex.?)...

To hear more about Zero Waste Holidays thru a thick french accent (I hope Santa will think of getting me an accent reduction class), you can check out my recent podcast on More Hip than Hippie.

I dream of having more than an "almost Zero Waste" Christmas. With simplifying and adequate preparation, I truly believe that my dream can come true. Last year, I dreaded the season, this year I feel ready and excited to face it! Bring it on!
Any more ideas to reduce waste during this coming holiday season?