GO Greener With Tracey ODonnell

Recycling At Home-Everyday items from A to Z -must read

2017-08-28T01:29:00.003-04:00

I recommend pinning this list to reference later due to the volume of valuable information.

This list is an amazing compilation of everyday items that we use in our everyday lives- with a minimal effort we can do the right thing, recycle or dispose of - the right way. This list was found on the ABC news website and posted 6 years ago, so i gave it a once over to ensure all the links are still working and feel the information is worthy of a re-post.

AEROSOL CANS. These can usually be recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely.

ANTIPERSPIRANT AND DEODORANT STICKS. Many brands have a dial on the bottom that is made of a plastic polymer different from that used for the container, so your center might not be able to recycle the whole thing (look on the bottom to find out). However, Tom's of Maine makes a deodorant stick composed solely of plastic No. 5.

BACKPACKS. The American Birding Association accepts donated backpacks, which its scientists use while tracking neotropical birds.

BATTERIES. Recycling batteries keeps hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusable ones. Check this website out to find out where you can bring them near you, http://www.call2recycle.org/. keep in mind Car batteries contain lead and can't go in landfills because toxic metals can leach into groundwater, but almost any retailer selling them will also collect and recycle them.

BEACH BALLS. They may be made of plastic, but there aren't enough beach balls being thrown away to make them a profitable item to recycle. If a beach ball is still usable, donate it to a thrift store or a children's hospital. In the future, buy recycled beach balls and pool toys.

BOOKS. "Hard covers are too rigid to recycle, so we ask people to remove them and recycle just the pages," said Sarah Kite, recycling manager of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp., in Johnston, R.I. In many areas, paperbacks can be tossed in with other paper. To keep those books alive, consider donating to hospitals, book recycling kiosks, food banks, homeless shelters or https://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/donate.

CARPETING (NYLON FIBER). The Carpet America Recovery Effort estimates that 5 billion pounds of carpeting went to landfills in 2003. Go to www.carpetrecovery.org and click on "What can I do with my old carpet?" to find a carpet-reclamation facility near you, or check with your carpet's manufacturer. Some carpet makers, like Milliken, Shaw (www.shawfloors.com), and Flor (www.flor.com), have recycling programs.

CARS, JET SKIS, BOATS, TRAILERS, RVS AND MOTORCYCLES. If these are unusable -- totaled, rusted -- they still have metal and other components that can be recycled. Call junkyards in your area, or go to www.junkmycar.com, which will pick up and remove cars, trailers, motorcycles and other heavy equipment for free.

CELL PHONES. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, less than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, and most people don't know where to recycle them. For information on other cell-phone charities, log on to http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-places-to-recycle-your-cell-phone/

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS. CFLs contain mercury and shouldn't be thrown in the trash. Ikea and the Home Depot operate CFL recycling programs; you can also check with your hardware store or recycling center to see if it offers recycling services.

CRAYONS. Send them to the National Crayon Recycle Program, which melts down crayons and reforms them into new ones. Leave the wrappers on: "When you have black, blue and purple crayons together without wrappers, it's hard to tell them apart," said the program's founder, LuAnn Foty, aka the Crazy Crayon Lady.

CROCS. The manufacturer recycles used Crocs into new shoes and donates them to underprivileged families. Mail them to: Crocs Recycling West, 3375 Enterprise Ave., Bloomington CA 92316.

DVDS, CDS AND JEWEL CASES. If you want to get rid of that Lionel Richie CD because "Dancing on the Ceiling" doesn't do it for you anymore send it (along with DVDs and jewel cases) to www.greendisk.com for recycling.

EMPTY METAL CANS (CLEANING PRODUCTS). Cut off the metal ends of cans containing powdered cleansers, such as Ajax and Bon Ami, and put them in with other household metals. (Use care when cutting them.) Recycle the tubes as you would any other cardboard.

EMPTY METAL CANS (FOOD PRODUCTS). Many towns recycle food cans. If yours doesn't, you can find the nearest steel-can recycling spot at www.recycle-steel.org. Rinse out cans, but don't worry about removing the labels. "Leaving them on doesn't do any harm," said Marti Matsch, the communications director of Eco-Cycle, one of the nation's oldest and largest recyclers, in Boulder, Colo. "When the metal is melted," she said, "the paper burns up. If you want to recycle the label with other paper, that's great, but it's not necessary."

EYEGLASSES. Plastic frames can't be recycled, but metal ones can. Just drop them into the scrap-metal bin. However, given the millions of people who need glasses but can't afford them, your frames, broken or not, will go to better use if you donate them to www.neweyesfortheneedy.com. Sunglasses and plastic frames in good condition can also be donated. Or drop off old pairs of glasses at LensCrafters, Target Optical or other participating stores and doctors' offices, which will send them to www.givethegiftofsight.org.

FILM CANISTERS. Check with your local recycling center to find out if it takes gray film-container lids (No. 4) and black bases (No. 2). If not, many photo labs will accept them.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. There are two types of extinguishers. For a dry-chemical extinguisher, safely relieve the remaining pressure, remove the head from the container and place it with your bulk-metal items (check with your local recycler first). Alternatively, call fire-equipment companies and request that they dispose of your extinguisher. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are refillable after each use.

FOOD PROCESSORS. Some communities accept small household appliances for recycling -- if not in curbside collection, then in drop-off locations. (New York City will even pick up appliances left on the sidewalk.) "If an appliance is more than 50 percent metal, it is recyclable," said Kathy Dawkins, director of public information for New York City's Department of Sanitation. Most appliances are about 75 percent steel, according to the Steel Recycling Institute. So unless you know something is mostly plastic, it will probably qualify.

FORMAL WEAR. Finally, a use for that mauve prom or bridesmaid dress: Give it to a girl who can't afford one. Go to www.operationfairydust.org or www.catherinescloset.org.

GADGETS. There are many ways to recycle PDAs, MP3 players and other devices so that any money earned from the parts goes to worthy causes -- a win, win, win scenario (for you, the environment and charity). Recycleforbreastcancer.org, for example, will send you prepaid shipping labels, recycle your gadgets, then donate the proceeds to breast cancer charities.

GLUE. Many schools have recycling programs for empty containers of Elmer's glue and glue sticks. Students and teachers rinse out the bottles, which are then sent to Wal-Mart for recycling. Find out more at www.elmersgluecrew.com.

GLUE STRIPS AND INSERTS IN MAGAZINES. Lotion samples and non-paper promotional items affixed to glue strips in magazines should be removed because they can jam up recycling equipment (scented perfume strips, on the other hand, are fine). "One of the biggest challenges we get is pages of promotional stickers and stamps," said Matsch, "which can adhere to the machinery and tear yards of new paper fiber."

HANGERS (PLASTIC). These are not widely accepted at recycling centers because there aren't enough of them coming through to make it worthwhile. However, some cities, such as Los Angeles, are equipped to recycle them. You might consider donating them to a thrift store.

HANGERS. Some dry cleaners and Laundromats will reuse them. Otherwise, they can be recycled with other household metals. But be sure to remove any attached paper or cardboard first.

HEARING AIDS. The Starkey Hearing Foundation recycles used hearing aids, any make or model, no matter how old. Lions Clubs also accept hearing aids (as well as eyeglasses) for reuse.

HOLIDAY CARDS. After they've lined your mantel for two months, you could throw them into the recycling bin, or you could give them a whole new life. St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a nonprofit home for abused and neglected youths, runs a holiday-card reuse program in which the kids cut off the front covers, glue them onto new cards and sell the result, earning them money and confidence.

IPODS. Bring in an old iPod to an Apple store and get 10 percent off a new one. Your out-of-date iPod will be broken down and properly disposed of. The catch? The discount is valid only that day, so be prepared to buy your new iPod.

JAM JARS. Wherever there is container-glass recycling (meaning glass jars and bottles), jam jars are eligible. It helps if you remove any remaining jam, but no need to get obsessive. They don't have to be squeaky clean. Before putting them in the bin, remove their metal lids and recycle those with other metals.

JUICE BAGS. Because most are a combination of a plastic polymer and aluminum, these are not recyclable. But TerraCycle will donate 2 cents for each Honest Kids, Capri Sun and Kool-Aid Drink pouch, and 1 cent for any other brand you collect, and send in to the charity of your choice. The organization provides free shipping, too. What does TerraCycle do with all those pouches? Turns them into colorful purses, totes and pencil cases that are sold at Target and Walgreens stores throughout the country. To get started, go to www.terracycle.net/brigades.

KEYS AND NAIL CLIPPERS. For many recycling centers, any metal that isn't a can is considered scrap metal and can be recycled. "There's not a whole lot of scrap metal we wouldn't take," said Kite. "It's a huge market now."

LEATHER ACCESSORIES. If your leather goods are more than gently worn, take them to be fixed. If they're beyond repair, they have to be thrown in the trash -- there's no recycling option. (A product labeled "recycled leather" is often made from scraps left over from the manufacturing process, which is technically considered recycling.) Donate shoes in decent condition to www.soles4souls.org, a nonprofit that collects used footwear and distributes it to needy communities.

MAKEUP. Makeup can expire and is none too pretty for the earth when you throw it in the trash (chemicals abound in most makeup). Some manufacturers are making progress on this front. People who turn in six or more empty MAC containers, for example, will receive a free lipstick from the company in return; SpaRitual nail polishes come in reusable, recyclable glass; and Josie Maran Cosmetics sells biodegradable plastic compacts made with a corn-based resin -- just remove the mirror and put the case in your compost heap.

MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS. Mattresses are made of recyclable materials, such as wire, paper and cloth, but not all cities accept them for recycling. Go to www.earth911.org to find out if yours does.

METAL FLATWARE. If it's time to retire your old forks, knives and spoons, you can usually recycle them with other scrap metal.

MILK CARTONS WITH PLASTIC SPOUTS AND CAPS. Take off and throw away the cap (don't worry about the spout -- it will be filtered out during the recycling process). As for the carton, check your local recycling rules to see whether you should toss it with plastics and metals or with paper.

MIRRORS. These aren't recyclable through most municipal recyclers, because the chemicals on the glass can't be mixed with glass bottles and jars. You can donate them to secondhand stores, of course. Or if the mirror is broken, put it in a paper bag for the safety of your trash collectors.

NIKES AND OTHER SNEAKERS. Nike's Reuse-a-Shoeprogram accepts old sneakers (any brand) and recycles them into courts for various sports so kids around the world have a place to play. You can drop them off at a Nike store, other participating retailers, athletic clubs and schools around the country (check the Web site for locations), or mail them to Nike Recycling Center, c/o Reuse-A-Shoe, 26755 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville OR 97070.
If your sneakers are still in reasonable shape, donate them to needy athletes in the United States and around the world through http://oneworldrunning.com/ Mail them to One World Running, P.O. Box 2223, Boulder, CO 80306, or call 303-473-1314 for more information.

NOTEBOOKS (SPIRAL). It may seem weird to toss a metal-bound notebook into the paper recycling, but worry not -- the machinery will pull out smaller nonpaper items. One caveat: If the cover is plastic, rip that off, says Marti Matsch, communications director for Eco-Cycle, in Boulder, Colo. "It's a larger contaminant."

OFFICE ENVELOPES

Envelopes with plastic windows. Recycle them with regular office paper. The filters will sieve out the plastic, and they'll even take out the glue strip on the envelope flaps.
Paper FedEx envelopes can be recycled, and there's no need to pull off the plastic sleeve. FedEx Paks made of Tyvek are also recyclable (see below).
Goldenrod. Those ubiquitous mustard-colored envelopes are not recyclable, because goldenrod paper (as well as dark or fluorescent paper) is saturated with hard-to-remove dyes. "It's what we call 'designing for the dump,' not the environment," says Matsch.
Jiffy Paks. Many Jiffy envelopes -- even the paper-padded ones filled with that material resembling dryer lint -- are recyclable with other mixed papers, like cereal boxes. The exception: Goldenrod-colored envelopes must be tossed.
Padded envelopes with bubble wrap. These can't be recycled. The best thing you can do is reuse them.
Tyvek. DuPont, the maker of Tyvek, takes these envelopes back and recycles them into plastic lumber. Turn one envelope inside out and stuff others inside it and call to have a mailer sent to you 1-800-44-TYVEK® or 1-800-448-9835.

PACKING MATERIALS. Styrofoam peanuts cannot be recycled in most areas, but many packaging stores (like UPS and Mail Boxes Etc.) accept them. To find a peanut reuser near you, go to www.loosefillpackaging.com. Some towns recycle Styrofoam packing blocks; if yours doesn't, visit www.epspackaging.org/info.html to find a drop-off location, or mail them in according to the instructions on the site.
Packing pillows marked "Fill-Air" can be deflated (poke a hole in them), then mailed to Ameri-Pak, Sealed Air Recycle Center, 477 South Woods Drive, Fountain Inn SC 29644. They will be recycled into things like trash bags and automotive parts.

PAINT. Some cities have paint-recycling programs, in which your old paint is taken to a company that turns it into new paint. Go to www.earth911.org to see if a program exists in your area.

PENDAFLEX FOLDERS. Place these filing-cabinet workhorses in the paper bin. But first cut off the metal rods and recycle them as scrap metal.

PHONE BOOKS. Many cities offer collection services call AT&T's phone book-recycling line at 800-953-4400.

PIZZA BOXES. If cheese and grease are stuck to the box, rip out the affected areas and recycle the rest as corrugated cardboard. Food residue can ruin a whole batch of paper if it is left to sit in the recycling facility and begins to decompose.

PLASTIC BOTTLE CAPS. Toss them. "They're made from a plastic that melts at a different rate than the bottles, and they degrade the quality of the plastic if they get mixed in," says Sarah Kite, recycling manager of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, in Johnston, R.I.

PLASTIC WRAP (USED). Most communities don't accept this for recycling because the cost of decontaminating it isn't worth the effort.

POST-ITS. The sticky stuff gets filtered out, so these office standbys can usually be recycled with paper.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Check with the FDA for updated info https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm.

PRINTER-INK CARTRIDGES. Seventy percent are thrown into landfills, where it will take 450 years for them to decompose. "Cartridges are like gas tanks," says Jim Cannan, cartridge-collection manager at RecyclePlace.com. "They don't break. They just run out of ink. Making new ones is like changing motors every time you run out of gas." Take them to Staples and get $3 off your next cartridge purchase, or mail HP-brand cartridges back to HP. Check with the manufacturer of the cartridge or get a refill kit and fill them yourself, you will save a few dollars on ink.

QUICHE PANS AND OTHER COOKWARE. These can be put with scrap metal, and "a plastic handle isn't a problem," says Tom Outerbridge, manager of municipal recycling at Sims Metal Management, in New York City.

RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT. Don't send tennis rackets to your local recycling center. "People may think we're going to give them to Goodwill," says Sadonna Cody, director of government affairs for the Northbay Corporation and Redwood Empire Disposal, in Santa Rosa, Calif., "but they'll just be trashed."
Trade sports gear in at Play It Again Sports or donate it to www.sportsgift.org, which gives gently used equipment to needy kids around the world. Mail to Sports Gift, 32545 B Golden Lantern #478, Dana Point CA 92629. As for skis, send them to Skichair.com, 4 Abbott Place, Millbury MA 01527, where they'll be turned into Adirondack-style beach chairs.

RUGS (COTTON OR WOOL). If your town's recycling center accepts rugs, great. If not, you're out of luck, because you can't ship rugs directly to a fabric recycler; they need to be sent in bulk. Your best bet is to donate them to the thrift store of a charity, like the Salvation Army.

SHOPPING BAGS (PAPER). Even those with metal grommets and ribbon handles can usually be recycled with other paper.

SHOPPING BAGS (PLASTIC). "Americans recycled 812 million pounds of bags in 2006, up 24 percent from 2005," says Keith Christman, senior director of packaging at the American Chemistry Council Plastics Division, which represents plastic manufacturers. If your town doesn't recycle plastic, you may be able to drop them off at your local grocery store. Safeway, for example, accepts grocery and dry-cleaning bags and turns them into plastic lumber.
To find other stores, go to www.plasticbagrecycling.org. What's more, a range of retailers, like City Hardware, have begun to use biodegradable bags made of corn. BioBags break down in compost heaps in 10 to 45 days.

SHOWER CURTAINS AND LINERS. Most facilities do not recycle these because they're made of PVC. (If PVC gets in with other plastics, it can compromise the chemical makeup of the recycled material.)

SIX-PACK RINGS. See if your local school participates in the Ring Leader Recycling Program; kids collect six-pack rings to be recycled into other plastic items, including plastic lumber and plastic shipping pallets.

SMOKE DETECTORS. Some towns accept those that have beeped their last beep. If yours doesn't, try the manufacturer. First Alert takes back detectors (you pay for shipping); call 800-323-9005 for information.

SOAP DISPENSERS (PUMP). Most plastic ones are recyclable; toss them in with the other plastics.

STEREOS AND VCRS. Visit www.earth911.org for a list of recyclers, retail stores, and manufacturers near you that accept electronics. Small companies are popping up to handle electronic waste (or e-waste) as well: Greencitizen.com in San Francisco will pull apart your electronics and recycle them at a cost ranging from nothing to 50 cents a pound. And the 10 nationwide locations of Freegeek.org offer a similar service.

TAKEOUT-FOOD CONTAINERS. Most are not recyclable. Paper ones (like Chinese-food containers) aren't accepted because remnants can contaminate the paper bale at the mill. Plastic versions (like those at the salad bar) are a no-go too.

TINFOIL. It's aluminum, not tin. So rinse it off, wad it up, and toss it in with the beer and soda cans.

TIRES. You can often leave old tires with the dealer when you buy new ones (just check that they'll be recycled). Worn-out tires can be reused as highway paving, doormats, hoses, shoe soles, and more.

TISSUE BOXES WITH PLASTIC DISPENSERS. The plastic portion will be filtered out during the recycling process, so you can usually recycle tissue boxes with cardboard.

TOOTHBRUSHES. They're not recyclable, but if you buy certain brands, you can save on waste. Eco-Dent's Terradent models and Radius Source's toothbrushes have replaceable heads; once the bristles have worn out, snap on a new one.

TOOTHPASTE TUBES. Even with all that sticky paste inside, you can recycle aluminum tubes (put them with the aluminum cans), but not plastic ones.

TVS. Best Buy will remove and recycle a set when it delivers a new one. Or bring old ones to Office Depot or Staples to be recycled. Got a Sony TV? Take it to a drop-off center listed at www.sony.com/recycle.

UMBRELLAS. If it's a broken metal one, drop the metal skeleton in with scrap metal (remove the fabric and the handle first). Plastic ones aren't accepted.

USED CLOTHING. Some towns recycle clothing into seat stuffing, upholstery, or insulation. Also consider donating clothing to animal boarders and shelters, where it can be turned into pet bedding.

UTENSILS (PLASTIC). "There is no program in the country recycling plastic flatware as far as I know," says Matsch. "The package might even say 'recyclable,' but that doesn't mean much."

VIDEOTAPES, CASSETTES, AND FLOPPY DISKS. These aren't accepted. "Videotapes are a nightmare," says Outerbridge. "They get tangled and caught on everything." You can send videotapes, cassettes, and floppy disks to www.greendisk.com; recycling 20 pounds or less costs $6.95, plus shipping.

WHEELCHAIRS. Go to www.lifenets.org/wheelchair, which acts as a matchmaker, uniting wheelchairs with those who need them.

WINE CORKS. To turn them into flooring and wall tiles, send them to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart Ltd., 610 South Chamber Drive, Fredericktown MO 63645. Or put them in a compost bin. "They're natural," says Matsch, "so they're biodegradable." Plastic corks can't be composted or recycled.

WIPES AND SPONGES. These can't be recycled. But sea sponges and natural sponges made from vegetable cellulose are biodegradable and can be tossed into a compost heap.
WRITING IMPLEMENTS. You can't recycle pens, pencils and markers, but you can donate usable ones to schools that are short on these supplies. At www.iloveschools.com, teachers from around the United States specify their wish lists. And there's always the option of buying refillable pencils and biodegradable pens made of corn (like those at www.grassrootsstore.com) so that less waste winds up in the landfill.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. Ship your old lights to HolidayLEDs.com, Attention: Recycling Program, 120 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1403, Jackson MI 49201. The company will send you a coupon for 10 percent off its LED lights, which use 80 percent less energy and last 10 years or more. And they're safer, too. LEDs don't generate much heat, whereas incandescents give off heat, which can cause a dry Christmas tree to catch fire. Ace Hardware stores accept lights as well; search by ZIP code at www.acehardware.com.

YOGURT CUPS. Many towns don't recycle these because they're made of a plastic that can't be processed with other plastics. But Stonyfield Farm has launched a program that turns its cups into toothbrushes, razors, and other products. Mail to Stonyfield Farm, 10 Burton Drive, Londonderry NH 03053.
Or you can join TerraCycle's Yogurt Brigade (currently available only in the Northeast) to recycle Stonyfield containers and raise money for your favorite charity. For every cup collected, Stonyfield will donate 2 cents or 5 cents, depending on the cup size. Go to www.terracycle.net.

ZIPPERED PLASTIC BAGS. Venues that recycle plastic bags will also accept these items, as long as they are clean, dry, and the zip part has been snipped off (it's a different type of plastic).

Resource:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SmartHome/story?id=5998756&page=1esource:

E-Waste, what do you do with yours?

2017-08-27T03:12:00.001-04:00

Does your basement or attic have a similar appearance?

Not sure what to do with your retired electronics? Here is what I did with mine..

I recently decided that I am no longer going to be “chained to my old electronic devices” and that I was going to free myself of my E-Waste.

While this is was an extremely difficult task for me to complete, I can honestly say that it’s been refreshing and inspiring to achieve and has led me on a path of living a more minimalist lifestyle. I’ve now embarked on “cleaning out all my closets” so to speak but let’s focus on your e-waste and what to do with it.

Perhaps you may not be aware that our cell phones, computers, laptops, tvs and other electronic devices can contain dangerous materials.

Take a look at just a few contaminants you might be tossing into a landfill by throwing your laptop or old cell phone into the trash:

Lead-can cause brain damage in children.
Cadmium-poisonous to the kidneys.
PCB's-neurobehavioral and immunological changes, cancer causing
brominated flame retardants-alter hormonal function.
mercury-brain and kidney damage.
indium-can cause kidney damage.
plastics and gases.

These heavy metals and/or chemicals can leach into our soil and ultimately end up in our water and food. There is absolutely no reason for e-waste to be in a landfill when most of the components are recyclable and often can be refurbished.

So here are some ideas on what you can do with your items. The locations where you can bring your e-waste varies based on where you live but some of our big box stores will take your waste.

For example, I recycled:

· 12 laptops
· 5 cell phones
· 2 cameras
· Several charging cords
· RAM, optical drives, hard drives and other components.

I was able to bring all of my e-waste to Staples near my home.

Some other locations that will take your e-waste are,

· Best Buy
· Vizio
· Sony
· Sprint
· Dell
· LG
· Samsung

Below is a link that will take you to the EPA’s website that has a wealth of information including a easy to read chart on where you can bring your phones, computers and tv’s along with some other helpful information regarding recycling your electronics.

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling

**Another option that I discovered after I recycled my e-waste is an amazing resource, 'Recycle for Breast Cancer'!! Please consider utilizing this service, they will recycle cell phones, appliances, inkjet cartridges, ipods, telephones and so much more. Check out the website and why not recycle for a good cause? http://recycleforbreastcancer.org/

A bit of “food for thought” from the EPA,

……..For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. (EPA)

Another great helpful resource for recycling your e-waste thats worth a quick look through...

http://www.electronicstakeback.com/how-to-recycle-electronics/

So why not take part in keeping your home and our planet just a bit cleaner and greener?

Resources
http://www.gettyimages.com/

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=140&tid=26

http://www.who.int/ceh/risks/ewaste/en/

http://www.electronicstakeback.com/how-to-recycle-electronics

SICK OF PAYING HIGH POWER BILLS ? Here are some resources on ways to save money within your household. Rebates, Programs, Free Solar, Government Programs, etc..

2016-03-20T18:13:00.001-04:00

Were you aware that there are numerous government programs that will help pay or pay fully for you to implement appliances or solar into your home?

I've been researching this topic over the past few weeks because I'm so sick of paying $250/month just for lights. Forget about summer time, my power bill is out of control with the A/C. Here is some information I found, please read all the way through as the final resource on this list is endless in its capacity.

1. Click the link below to bring you to a huge list of approximately 2,500 links. This list will contain varying programs whereby you can then filter out your specific interests and search further. Click the blue key towards the top to the right titled " Apply Filter" and customize your search for your state and interest. You can narrow down your search by inputting more specific programs or venues you are interested in. For example at the time of writing this, my state of NJ turned up with 7 separate programs to research.
http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program

2. This one is great if you are replacing appliances or updating lighting or other home improvements that use electric.
Click this link below and look over to the right to input your zip code for programs/rebates that are available to you. This will provide you with a list of various tax credits, rebates and other forms of savings you can take advantage of that will lead to more monthly savings by implementing energy saving devices in your home.
For example; when I input my zip code i get a return of 34 options ranging from $100 rebates on purchasing energy star dryers, ovens, freezers to getting $50 rebate for recycling my old freezer to getting free LED light bulbs. The responses will provide you a link to the website that will give you more information than you need to achieve the savings task.
https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder

3. Click the link below for Energy Star Federal Income TAX credits. These tax credits are for future 2016 purchases as well as purchases made in 2015. This one is worth checking into if you are buying or have bought appliances recently or if you are implementing solar panels in your home.
Visit the FAQ page first as its layed out very specific for each item you might be interested in, here is that link;
https://energystar.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/202350427

**Here is the Solar panel specific tax credit link below;
https://energystar.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/216375477
**Additionally, Solar Water heaters specific tax credit, here is that link;
https://energystar.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/211437678-Is-there-a-tax-credit-for-solar-water-heaters-

Need Government Assistance for Anything?? Keep Reading!!
4. I stumbled on this site. This is a government program collaboration analysis site. This site analyzes you and your current situation and provides you with a list of programs you might be eligible for.
I'm referring to things such as healthcare, counseling services, disaster relief, child care assistance, energy conservation assistance, grants assistance, housing assistance, tax assistance, disability assistance..i could go on and on as the list was endless and things I never thought about. Oh, also this site has a link to check for hidden money you might have available (old savings account from the first grade type stuff).
Once you click the link, there is a pretty extensive questionnaire but if you don't answer these honestly, you won't get accurate results. After the questionnaire, the site provides you with a list of all the government programs you could be eligible for based on those answers you provided and with guidance on how to apply for said programs. I completed the questionnaire for the sake of this blog post and it took me about 15 minutes to complete and I learned that I am eligible for 27 separate assistance type programs. Allow yourself an hour at least on your first visit to this site and i would definitely bookmark this one as you never know when you might need Uncle Sam. Click the link below to check what you might be eligible for:
http://www.benefits.gov/

Credits
energy.gov - local and federal government information
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/energyincentivesrs.htm collab of info.

GLOBAL WARMING - Does It Really Exist??

2016-02-24T18:42:00.001-05:00

I suppose there isn't a person on our planet that hasn't either voiced his or her opinion or thought

about this question and its validity over the past decade..."Does Global Warming Really Exist"?

According to Merriam Webster, the definition of global warming is..

"an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution".

The answer to the question,"Does Global Warming Really Exist" should be simple, Shouldn't It?

Every time I turn on the tv, radio, podcast or video, the topic of global warming and how its believed to be "a fabrication by tree huggers" by many - is being relayed to the listeners/viewers and causing false unreliable information. Global warming doesn't exist? Step outside, watch/study a reliable weather resource or just stay in touch with the global news and it should be quite clear that our planet is thermally changing.

If we take a look at the scientific data relating to our earths atmosphere and ocean temperatures which have been recorded since 1880, it clearly visualizes an increase in temperatures of the air and oceans, won't that answer the question, "does global warming exist"?

According to NASA and the NOAA, we have experienced most of our warming on record (don't forget we have only been keeping formal record since 1880) within the past 35 years highlighting the year 2015 having logged in with the highest temperatures on record. Additionally, statistical records depict that the past 15 of the 16 warmest years have occurred since the year 2001.

I could ramble on and on throwing out facts an figures to support the statement that Global Warming Does Exist but I won't bore you. If you have even read this far and are interested in seeing some changes in our ice glaciers take a look at the link below; (pics are of the exact spot in Alaska taken in 1880 and then in 2005-you wont recognize the spot).

https://weather.com/science/environment/news/glaciers-then-and-now

If you want to learn more or see some statistics click the links below:

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/

http://climate.nasa.gov/state_of_flux#Death-Valley-930px.jpg

Credits;

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/global%20warming)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160120115506.htm
http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/
http://climate.nasa.gov/

EARTH DAY IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY....

2016-02-22T23:49:00.001-05:00

What are you going to do to play your part for Earth Day 2016 ??

So far, we have achieved close to 3 billion "acts of green" together as a planet. Sounds like a great achievement...so how about joining in?

"Acts of Green" are an easy way to do your part and stay connected as a community and planet working towards the common goal of creating a greener planet by reducing our Carbon footprint.

Let me brief you on what is considered as an "act of green" or I might say... an act of service to the environment.

The list below contains things that we can do to make a difference.

1. Paris Agreement !!! sign the petition - take the 80 seconds it takes to complete the petition to help put pressure on our world leaders to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in 2016.

http://action.earthday.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18560

2. Limit your meat consumption.This might be tough for some but its only one day a week. The meat industry emits over 36 billion tons of greenhouse gases which equates to approximately one fifth of the greenhouse gases that are created by man alone. Can you remove meat from your diet just one day of the week? If so, why not join in and take the pledge to commit to the "meatless Monday movement", click here to sign the petition;

http://action.earthday.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19029

3. Compost !!! Did you know that nearly a third of all the food that's prepared or produced for humans to ingest ends up wasted? By performing the simple act of composting you can reduce what you send to the landfill, there is no energy wasted in the process as its completely biological and it creates a very useful product.

Your composting efforts will result in a more nourish rich soil, keeps your soil moister, helps fight off diseases and pest infestation, reduces the need to purchase commercial fertilizers, creation of humus all while reducing carbon emissions by reducing the need to send your waste to the landfill ultimately reducing your carbon footprint.

Below are a few links to get you started on the road to composting.
*Simple starter direction on composting :http://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
*Free ebook on composting: http://compost.css.cornell.edu/CIC.html

4. Reduce the use of disposable plastic!!! We all know how long the typical water/soft drink disposable plastic bottle spends in the landfill, don't we? I thought I knew this statistic but was flabbergasted to read some of the facts, take a quick look, please:

** plastic h2o bottles = 1,000 years to biodegrade!

**plastic h2o bottles that are incinerated = toxic fumes into our atmosphere!!

** Only 1 out of 5 plastic h2o bottles are recycled (due to PET plastics not widespread)!!

** TWO million tons of plastic h2o bottles sit in our landfills!!

** ~1.5 Million barrels of oil is used to produce the demands for plastic h2o bottle manufacturing!!

for more in detailed statistics take a look here https://thewaterproject.org/bottled_water_wasteful

5. Reduce your footprint and take action now. Present day we (humans) are using 1.5 planets worth of resources every year!! We only have this one planet, stop the insanity now folks, even if you can only achieve or or two "acts of green", its better than turning your head and doing nothing.

See how well you do in this simple quiz, click the link below and take the environmental quiz:

http://www.earthday.org/take-action/footprint-calculator/

The remaining ideas on performing acts of green are as follows;
**buy local produce
**end junk mail
**recycle ewaste
Click the link below to read more about the three acts of green above;
http://www.earthday.org/take-action/

Credits:
http://www.earthday.org/take-action/
https://thewaterproject.org/

CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE WHITE HOUSE

2015-12-16T21:00:00.002-05:00

On December 12, 2015:

Base your own opinions on the new plan by visiting the official white house webpage: https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change

What Are Disposable Baby Wipes Doing To Our Environment and Our Families?

2015-01-31T23:15:00.002-05:00

Having babies 60-100 years ago must have been a real headache. I've got to hand it to moms of the past who had no disposable diapers and didn't have our fancy disposable wipes.

What are our modern parents really doing to the environment by using these fancy disposable baby wipes?
Are those disposable wipes what we think they are?

Most of the disposable wipes come in a nice compact container that seals closed to ensure their freshness and moisture remains with the product. These wipes can be very handy items,even for things other than a baby’s bottom. It’s very convenient to wipe up a quick mess on the floor or rub clear your 10 year old's face on the way to church with our handy disposable wipes.

** But, what are those wipes really made of?

This is something I never thought about until now, when my kids are nearing adulthood - the actual content of the wipe itself...

So, I decided to investigate disposable baby wipes and was surprised to find out that a wipe can contain any number of these chemicals:

Sodium Diamphoacetate
Formaldehyde
Methylisothiazolinone
Polysorbate
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC)
Propylene Glycol
Hydroxymethyl Cellulose
Methy and Propyl Paraben
Triclosa or Triclosan

A disposable wipe can be made from silk, cotton, polyester, wool, rayon, polyethylene or Polypropylene.

The less expensive wipes tend to be made of mostly plastics, yes you read that correctly, Plastics !

SO, moms and dads, stop flushing your used disposable baby wipes, they are NOT biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. These ever so helpful and convenient wipes have the potential to be toxic to our sea life and the ecosystem and absolutely to our children!

So what’s a parent to do with their babies dirty bottom??
Use toilet paper??

How about making your own disposable wipes from the products you most likely have already in your cabinets?

Knowing you are keeping your family safe and not harming your environment will be the result of homemade disposable wipes and result in the savings of a few dollars a year into your pocket. Lets not forget your ability to sleep at night knowing you are playing your part in saving your environment while keeping your family safe.

Check the link below to access recipes for making your own baby wipes.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Baby-Wipes

https://wellnessmama.com/1459/homemade-baby-wipes/

The Canopy Project - Earth Day is not too far away!!

2015-01-18T22:09:00.001-05:00

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Earth Day than to participate in the "Canopy Project". We don't need to be wealthy or even well-off to make a difference. The only thing needed is for you to care; care about the environment around you, care about the ground you walk on and the air you breath.

An excerpt from www.earthday.org:

"As part of its mission to protect natural lands and preserve the environment for all people, Earth Day Network developed The Canopy Project. Rather than focusing on large scale forestry, The Canopy Project plants trees that help communities - especially the world's impoverished communities - sustain themselves and their local economies. Trees reverse the impacts of land degradation and provide food, energy and income, helping communities to achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability. Trees also filter the air and help stave off the effects of climate change. "

In order to read more or find out what it takes to help, click below:

http://www.earthday.org/campaign/canopy-project

CHEAPEST GAS PRICES IN YOUR COUNTY !!!

2014-02-19T14:47:00.001-05:00

GAS PRICES GOT YOU FRUSTRATED?? Check the prices before you fill up at the pump to ensure you are paying the lowest possible price in your area.

Just click the link below and when you land on the Gasbuddy website type in your zip code and click the green 'search' button.

http://www.gasbuddy.com

Its really that simple and very fast.
In addition to the website, they also offer app's for your smartphone ( i haven't loaded the app so I can't comment on it's usage).
Addendum to this post!! I have the Gas Buddy app on my Android smartphone and I love it. Its accurate up to the second and you can use it on the fly. What I mean is, it uses gps locating to find your location wherever you are and loads a list of all the stations in your surrounding area with their prices. The list will even come up by price, listing the lowest to highest for your convenience. I use my several times a week depending on my driving habits. I highly recommend this one.

Ideas for Recycling Egg Cartons

2014-02-19T04:00:00.000-05:00

Whether you like your eggs scrambled or poached, nearly everyone has a carton of eggs in their refrigerator. Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Eggs super charge your immune system and fight off all the nasty bugs you come in contact with. Eggs increase your visual distance potential and help prevent some eye disorders. Eggs are thought to reduce the risk of Breast Cancer, improve hair and nail growth & regulate brain functioning. So, eat up the eggs and if you are watching your fat intake, just eat the egg whites with a small taste of the yolk as the yolk carries most of the fat.

The egg carton was designed in British Columbia in 1911 as a result of an altercation between two business men. The customer was angry as his egg deliveries arrived cracked and damaged-rendering them useless. Obviously, the egg carton was a hit and has held on to this day. I can't image having to carry my eggs home loose in a shopping bag-its surprising to me that the egg carton didn't get invented sooner than 1911.

So, you have finished up all the eggs from the carton; what can you do with the egg carton when it's empty? Here are some ideas to consider implementing to recycle your egg cartons.

Art

Egg Cubism is the new genre in the art world. The artist paints or draws directly onto the recycled egg carton with some amazing results.

Click the link below for some other Egg Cubism ideas.

http://www.cultcase.com/2008/04/art-of-junk-7-creative-approaches-to.html

Anyone with a crafty and creative mind can create a number of crafts with your recycled egg carton the possibilities are endless. Don't forget to always include the children in the projects. For some ideas for your art, click here:

www.artistshelpingchildren.org/eggcartonsartscraftstideaskidsprojects.html

Furniture

Yes, furniture. I've seen a chair, footstool, pillows, wall coverings for sound proofing a room, end tables and coffee tables created with egg cartons.

Shipping

I hope you are using your toilet paper and paper towel rolls for your shipping needs. Now you can add to your collection egg cartons - for your packing and shipping needs. Stay away from those plastic inserts, foam inserts and other non-biodegradable materials.

If you plan to mail something fragile, simply cut up a few polystyrene egg cartons (made of the same material as foam peanuts!) to make lightweight packing material to protect the contents and use good old-fashioned news paper and/or crumpled up magazine pages (of course if you are done reading) for space filler and packing items.

Gardening in the Winter or Summer

Plant your seeds in the winter in your used egg cartons so they are ready for spring planting.

How to:

poke a few holes in the bottom of the cups for drainage.
fill the cups approx 2/3 with potting soil.
Plant seeds and cover the seeds with 1/3 potting soil.
Keep your carton set in a sunny window and water daily.

When your seeds have sprouted and the climate is warm and sunny it's time to transplant them into the garden (dependant on type of plant/flower you are growing-the seed packet should supply some directions for best growing climate). This is a great project for kids.

Organization

This one is pretty common and most families already use their egg cartons as an organizer for those multiple small/tiny items that you cant live without but will end up losing if you don't keep them in a safe organized place.

Some items you may put into your cartons could be;

chalk
paper clips
safety pins
jewelry
golf balls
doll shoes
many others…. take a look at some of the ideas I've found and have fun living sustainable and green..

CAR or TRUCK as GREEN as can be...FUEL ECONOMY LABELS - what they look like and do.

2014-02-18T01:20:00.000-05:00

In May 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled the most dramatic overhaul to fuel economy labels since they were introduced 35 years ago. When the new labels start to appear in showrooms and online, shoppers will have more information at their fingertips than ever before. The redesigned label's provide the public with new information on vehicles’ fuel economy, energy use, fuel costs, and environmental impacts.
For the first time comparable fuel economy and environmental ratings will be available for all new vehicles, including advanced technology vehicles like electric cars. Consumers will be able to make comparisons – car by car – to ensure they have the best information to help save on fuel costs and reduce emissions.

GLOBAL WARMING A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

2013-09-21T13:45:00.000-04:00

It's Real Have No Doubts! Greenhouse Gas Effects

If you haven't followed the environmental news of late, you may not know about the prodigious change that President Obama signed into office with regard to carbon, that's right, carbon. Up to this point, there were no restrictions or regulations on the amount of carbon pollution that is fumed into the air everyday by factories, production plants and numerous other sources.

As you may or may not know, its the carbon in the air that is the main culprit for global warming, the carbon actually traps the hot air into the environment and keeps it in our atmosphere.

Friday, September 20th, 2013 was a turning point within the environmental field when Gina McCarthy, the administrator of the US EPA, made the announcement and reviewed the new reasonable limits on carbon pollution regulations emitted by power plants and factories of tomorrow.

This is a new birth, never before occurred and a nice swing in the right direction at attacking global climate change.

For a link to the full article, just click below.

http://tinyurl.com/ohp3mvu

WE CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER 30 YEARS!! Tell the EPA we need clean water safeguards now!

2013-07-23T22:51:00.001-04:00

We can't wait another 30 years. Tell the EPA we need clean water safeguards now!

Really, if you care in the least or the most possible way, click the text above and submit a comment card that takes ~45seconds-1min to complete. Seriously.

Summer is Sizzling and Sustainability Shouldn't be put on the Back Burner!! Simple ways to live Green this summer.

2013-06-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

Most definitely my favorite season, summer is. I love all the outdoor activity thats available and the late nights with long daylight but, it can get pretty hot depending on where you are in the country. There are ways to keep your lifestyle green in the summer heat.

Barbecuing and summer just go hand in hand, whats one without the other? Well, how about putting away those charcoal briquettes, they are dirty and really add to poor air quality... Alternatives would be propane or even electric.

While turning off the a/c is not an option for some geographical areas, we can program the use of our systems and end up saving up to $200 a year in electric. Add ceiling fans in where appropriate and go to the beach, the pool, the creek or the woods, and cool off.

Going to the park or camping, try and use reusable plates, cups and utensils for the picnic basket to reduce your trash output. Most of all, replace your plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles. The average plastic water bottle will spend upwards of 400 years in a landfill before it biodegrades.

Dont forget the sunscreen! You need to protect yourself and your family from the intense uv rays. Why not choose a green sunscreen? Makes more sense. A great brand to try is; Badger all natural sunscreen, it tops the list of must haves.

Dont forget to take it easy on the watering of your lawn, garden and washing of your cars. Schedule these tasks on odd or even days and set a timer.

Yellow Pages Collecting Dust in your Home? Here's What you can do..

2013-05-05T15:45:00.002-04:00

What with the digital technology today the phone book has become obsolete as it takes too long to search and doesn't supply the extensive amounts of information a simple Google search can provide.

Did you know that 660,000 phone books end up in landfills every year? An estimated 5 million trees are cut down each year to create those white & yellow pages that just collect dust in your home.

We can do our part by recycling these very "recyclable" items. The books are often made of recyclable paper and other wood products that can be reused if the phone book owner just does his part.

So, what should you do with the phone book and in some cases, the phone books never used and just laying around the house?

Just click the link: http://search.earth911.com/?what=Phone+books

Are you interested in taking it a step further?
Just click the link below to sign the "ban the phone book" petition.
http://www.banthephonebook.org

Earth Day is Getting Close

2013-04-06T10:00:00.000-04:00

One simple and affordable thing you can do to participate in this years Earth Day celebration is to live and play by candle light. Pledge to yourself; one, two, three hours of candle time and see how it goes. You may enjoy it so much that you no longer flick the light switch. I did it last year and it was awesome.

Environmental Statistics!

2013-02-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

Heres a bit of "food for thought"

The average time for a plastic bottle to completely degrade is at least 450 years. It can even take some bottles 1000 years to biodegrade!

In 2004, 55 billion aluminum cans were landfilled, littered or incinerated, that’s 9 billion more than were wasted in 2000. This is enough cans to fill the Empire State Building twenty times.
Recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy used to make aluminum cans from virgin ore.

During the time it takes you to read this sentence, 50,000 more 12-ounce aluminum cans are made. Let’s recycle them.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006, that number jumped to 28.3 gallons.
Although recycling is the most common method of plastic waste pollution prevention, less than one percent of all plastics products are recycled in the U.S. Americans throw away 25,000,000 plastic beverage bottles every hour!

Simple Green Ideas to Keep You Warm this Winter

2012-10-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love a win win situation? Insulate your home the green way!

Lower your utility bills this winter by making some insulation changes and you will reduce your Carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

A double wammy is choosing your insulation products that are recycled materials or items and/or are environmentally friendly manufactured products. I haven't found a person who doesn't like to save money and the majority of the people I meet want to live a cleaner and greener lifestyle.

    *old jeans, the cotton fibers in your old jeans work just as good as the pink fluffy insulation numerous buildings and homes have but have none of the health risks the pink stuff has.

    **caulk around the windows, inside and out of all the cracks, holes and any unwanted spacing where heat can escape and freezing cold air can get in.

    **sand to replace the pink stuff

    **If you have to use the pink fluffy insulation, make sure its got no added formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and is often used as an adhesive adhereing the fibers together. The formaldehyde has a tendency to evaporate of time and can seep into your homes structure and living space.

    **All hands off the thermostat
Add afghans, fleece blankets, hoodie, snuggies etc. to your everyday decor ie... drape the afghan over the back of your easy chair and couch - of course you want to try and match your decor. Those nice little 12x12 fleece throws you can pick up for under $10, have several in the most trafficy rooms of the house (living room, family room, library,etc), you can even stack them up to create a rainbow of fashion tower. Grab some snuggies or make your own snuggies out of old fleece sweatshirts, blankets or material.

     **An insulating blanket can reduce standby heat loss by 25-40%, resulting in a 4-9% savings on your energy bill. A blanket’s cost ranges from only $10-20 and is generally easy to install.Water heater manufacturers do not recommend insulating new water heaters with higher energy factors. These newer models already have a sufficient level of jacket insulation.

Dont Bag Your Yard Clippings...

2012-08-02T02:40:00.004-04:00

Are you still going through the trouble of bagging your grass clippings and putting them to the curb for pickup? Do you cringe at the idea of composting? Well, take the bag off of your lawn mower forever and just cut your grass. DYK that leaving your grass clippings where they fall is the GREEN way to complete your landscaping and grassing chores? Just cut the grass and go, the cut grass will decompose in a few days and return to the soil, helping your lawn stay healthy and saving money and energy on bagging and discarding.

For some simple yard tips from the EPA; http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/tip10.htm.

Help Protect Yellowstone (takes 2 minutes)

2012-04-28T19:49:00.001-04:00

Do you care about our environment? What about the magnificent Yellowstone National Park? Help save old faithful with 2 minutes of your time....

According to the Sierra Club; "coal pollution from power plants like the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in Montana is impacting the magnificent views and unique Yellowstone experience.

There is cost-effective technology that could clear the air at Yellowstone and dramatically improve the views, but Big Coal is lobbying the EPA hard to install second-best technology to help their bottom line."

Click here to volunteer your two minutes; http://tinyurl.com/82v6g9u

Plant A Tree for Earth Day Without Getting Dirty

2012-04-16T20:19:00.000-04:00

www.plantabillion.org

Deforestation in the Amazon Video

2012-04-16T15:40:00.002-04:00

Mardi Gras Beads?

2012-02-25T14:22:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered what happens to all those "Mardi Gras" BEADS! Its estimated that 25 million beads are circulated during the Mardi Gras time period. Unfortunately, these beads end up in local waters and as expected in our landfills.

Credit can be given to non profit organization, 'Arc of Greater New Orleans' who's purpose is supplying folks with psychological disabilities- jobs and employment. They built a float to travel the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and at the end of Mardi Gras to promote the collection of the beads with the intent of recycling them.

The float debuted during a February 5, 2012 Mardi Gras celebration parade and collected 1000 pounds of beads. These beads will be collected, bundled and resold at a discounted price. The expected sales will be towards upcoming festivities such as St. Patricks Day, New Years and further Mardi Gras events.

The float had scheduled to ride in several other parades as well as visiting other locations to make its sole purpose of collecting beads to keep them out of the landfills.

Kudos to 'Arc of Greater New Orleans'.

How Do You Dispose Your Dinosaur or Unwanted Electronics

2012-01-02T21:33:00.000-05:00

In the year 2010, the typical American family spent an average of $1179.00 per month on electrical equipment.

With that statistic in mind, I can’t help but wonder where our “dinosaur” electronics are ending up. Since a personal computer will not biodegrade or decompose - the Earth is becoming littered with electronics. Not only computers but telephones, mp3 players, voice recorders, televisions, etc. are included in the “electronics” title.

How do you dispose of your electronics?

The earth’s soil littered with these potentially hazardous items - is not a safe or productive means of disposal and can wreak havoc on our ecosystem.

The average desktop pc can have metals including but not limited to; aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, palladium, platinum, selenium, silver, and zinc. Along with these metals, the pc can contain potentially hazardous engineered plastics.

This brings to light the need for safe and efficient waste management of these products. As equally important, the need and education for reusing, recycling and up cycling is a necessity for the average electronics user.

Some ideas we can do to cut down on our own electronics waste are;

*refurbish the product and/or upgrade the components in the product to bring it up-to-date. *dismantle the item and recycle it’s components which often results in a financial return (copper, aluminum, gold).

Many creative ways to up cycle your electronics can be found with just a bit of research, things like turning your old pc into a jukebox/recorder box.

Check out this website for pix of a upcycled motherboard into a clock- http://www.pacebutler.com/blog/computer-recycling-mac-g3-wallclock/

Green Your Holiday Season

2011-11-26T15:44:00.001-05:00

A NEW LIFE FOR OLD CARDS

What's the perfect way to recycle-- Yuletide greeting cards and keep your kids busy on a wintry day? Have them cut their favorite images and details from the cards and then turn them into gift tags or tape them to a window for a cheery display.

BROWN-PAPER PACKAGES ARE A FAVORITE THING

Inspired by the Erdmann family of Nutley, New Jersey, try going brown with holiday wrapping paper. Simply stamp the paper with a cookie cutter dipped in paint. When the paint is dry, wrap the present and tie it with ribbon or -- for "Sound of Music" fans -- with string.

POP-DOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Inspired by an idea from the Hales family of South Jordan, Utah, this bubble packaging countdown calendar offers a daily burst of fun, so you'll probably have to make one for each family member.

To make a Christmas countdown calendar, cut a tree shape with 24 bubbles from bubble packaging (as shown), use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach it to a piece of paper, then decorate circular stickers with markers and adhere them to each bubble. Have your kids squeeze a bubble to start each day of December with a bang!

Ornament collecting party
Rather than buying more plastic ornaments transported from across the ocean, have an ornament party in your own backyard. Collect pinecones, pebbles, leafs or any other items that can be made into tree ornaments using eco-friendly glue and craft products. Invite friends and family over for an ornament trading and crafting holiday tradition.