From paint and batteries to wine corks and hair (really!), a little patience (and a search on Earth911.com) can make recycling these items a little easier. The list of qualified recycling candidates was long, so we figured we would feature a few more.

Blue Jeans
You know the regular routine. When you no longer need, like or fit into your jeans, you can always donate them to a charitable resale organization like Goodwill or The Salvation Army.

Blue jeans as insulation? Even top celebs are jumping on the bandwagon (way to go Adrian Grenier!). Photo: Flickr/suttonhoo
You’ve heard it a million times, so let’s not make it a million-and-one. We’re actually talking about physically recycling your jeans. After all, some clothes are just too far worn or damaged to head to a resale shop and deserve a proper [recycling] burial.

Enter pioneering companies like Green Jeans Insulation and Bonded Logic, which manufacture insulation products from recycled denim and cotton fibers. Based in Madison, Wisc., Green Jeans Insulation accepts donated jeans from the public, which are recycled into natural fiber insulation used for interior and exterior walls and ceiling applications.

The “Cotton. From Blue to Green” campaign works with schools and retailers to collect denim for processing into UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation, manufactured by Bonded Logic, and is donated to help rebuild communities in need. To date, they have received more than 180,000 pieces of denim, used to insulate homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Automotive Fluids
Are you a DIYer when it comes to car care? Many of the fluids that power your car are actually recyclable once you change them out, most notably used motor oil and antifreeze.

Used motor oil can be re-refined into brand new product that can go back into your car, recycled into clean lubricant or burned as fuel. As long as the used oil hasn’t been contaminated with other fluids, most oil change service companies or auto parts stores accept used motor oil for recycling from the public.

Used antifreeze can also be recycled by filtering out contaminants such as lead, then restoring the original properties through stabilizing additives. The recycled product is not only excellent quality, but it can also be less expensive to purchase and has a smaller carbon footprint. Antifreeze should never be left out or dumped as its sweet taste can poison animals and children.

Gift Cards, Hotel Key Cards and Wallet Waste Galore
A five minute clean-out of your wallet, purse or junk drawer is likely to yield a lot of plastic, from used gift cards to old library cards. Insignificant as they may seem, those cards are typically made of a plastic resin called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is infinitely recyclable yet most often landfilled, contributing to more than 75 million pounds of PVC entering the waste stream each year.

In the past, the magnetic strips in the cards made recycling a challenge, but more companies are beginning to accept the PVC cards to convert into new ones. Cleveland-based Earthworks System accepts PVC cards for recycling from consumers and retailers via collection and mail-in programs. The PVC cards are chopped up and melted into PVC sheets which are then sold to create new cards.

Cooking Oil
Cooking oil recycling has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years as its value to the biofuel industry has increased. While it may seem natural to pour your leftover cooking oil and grease down the drain, it can actually be harmful to wildlife and the environment and damage your pipes and local sewage systems. In fact, cooking oil and kitchen grease in our plumbing is the No. 1 cause of stopped-up sewer pipes.

Commercial facilities already contribute substantial amounts of used oil to alternative fuel programs, but there are household cooking oil recycling programs as well. Make a designated waste oil container, label it and add to it each time there is leftover oil from your cooking. Then search for a recycling location on Earth911 or contact local restaurants to see if they accept the cooking oil for recycling.

Six-Pack Beverage Rings
Those plastic six-pack beverage rings have definitely received their share of criticism over the years. Like any packaging material, however, they are not meant to end up in waterways or public spaces at end of life.

While they often get a bad rap, plastic six-pack rings are meant to be properly recycled in order to avoid contaminating the waterways and choking wildlife. Photo: Flickr/Louis Abate
The rings are made of plastic #4 (LDPE) and can be recycled in programs that accept low-density polyethylene resin. If your curbside recycling program is limited to plastics #1 and #2, or limits the types of LDPE accepted, consider getting a group collection together and participating in the Hi-Cone Ring Leader Recycling Program.

Hi-Cone’s Ringleader program will accept the six-pack rings in large quantities for recycling through various school programs, as well as through the mail. The company has worked with more than 12,000 schools and groups to collected and recycle the used rings.

A little known fact: Six-pack plastic beverage rings are actually photodegradable. Federal law has required the rings to be 100 percent photodegradable since 1989, meaning that, over time, the sunlight will break down the plastic into tiny pieces.

Makeup Containers
If you’re anything like said author, you have makeup in drawers and cabinets that you haven’t touched since the crimping iron was a regular part of your morning routine. OK, bit of an exaggeration there, but the truth is that many of us keep makeup around long after its expiration date has come and gone. (Check out our “360: Cosmetics” to find the average shelf life is for your makeup products.)

Cosmetic and toiletry bottles, tubes and containers are commonly made of plastic #5, which is not a common material collected for recycling.

Origins was the pioneer nationwide cosmetic company to offer consumer cosmetic packaging recycling, regardless of brand. Empty cosmetic tubes, bottles, lipstick covers, jars and caps can be brought to an Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide for recycling or energy recovery. As an added bonus, customers will receive a free sample of an Origins skincare product for bringing in their empty containers.

MAC cosmetics accepts its packaging back for recycling either in-store or online, and you receive a free MAC lipstick with the return of six containers.

Snack Wrappers, Drink Pouches and Chip Bags Galore
Any idea what material candy wrappers, drink pouches and chip bags are made of? If you answered “no,” you’re not alone as this is a common question we get asked a lot. This confusion is usually what makes these wrappers and bags so difficult to recycle. These items tend to be made of mixed materials, making the recovery of useful plastics and other materials difficult and expensive. In other words, most recyclers don’t want to touch the stuff!

But upcycling company TerraCycle has made a name of creatively reusing these snack wrappers, drink pouches, candy wrappers and chip bags. The company turns them into school supplies, bags, toys, pet products, household cleaner bottles and even materials for your garden.

Consumers can make some extra cash by sending in their “trash” to Terracycle. Drop it off at one of the thousands of participating locations or join a brigade to raise money for a school or nonprofit organization.

Sports Items
Similar to clothing, we all know the drill. There is always an organization or school out there that is eager to accept your unwanted sports items. But what about those old tennis balls that have simply lost their bounce? Or those running shoes you know wouldn’t make it past the sorting area of your local thrift store?

Let Fido have those tennis balls with the teeth holes or slobber on them as they are usually not accepted for recycling if not in better condition. Photo: Flickr/TCL8TO7
Tennis Balls: Rebounces accepts old tennis balls for recycling and refurbishing. The company will even e-mail you a prepaid shipping label to cover your expenses. Those brightly colored tennis balls should still be of reasonable quality, and you should wait until you’ve saved up a large amount.

Golf Balls: According to Arizona-based Dixon Golf, more than 300 million golf balls are discarded in the U.S. each year. That’s enough golf balls to make a solid line from Los Angeles to London! You can bring in golf balls to a Dixon Golf retail location or mail them in for recycling. Added bonus: Recycling Dixon brand golf balls will earn you a $1 towards a new ball (or 50 cents for other brands).

Ski Equipment: When your skis or snowboards just aren’t cutting (or carving) it anymore, consider recycling them instead of tossing them. Vermont-based Green Mountain Ski Furniture will recycle those old skis and snowboards and turn them into furniture and art. If you happen to live in Vermont, they’ll even pick up your old equipment for you!

Colorado Ski & Golf aims to keep obsolete ski equipment out of the landfills by accepting skis, snowboards, bindings, boots and poles for recycling or refurbishing. Also, newer organizations like Montana-based Ski Recycling and Promotion (SKRAP) are growing in popularity as sustainability and landfill diversion awareness grows in the industry.

Appliances…Recycle Them While They’re Hot
In case you haven’t heard, Cash for Appliances is the next government-funded program offering cash incentives for green improvements. If you trade-up your dishwasher, refrigerator or clothes washer, know that the old one is recyclable. In many cases, power companies offer free pick-up of your old appliances and provide you a cash rebate in return.

Appliances are largely comprised of steel, which is the most commonly recycled material in North America, according to the Steel Recycling Institute. In the recycling process, the appliances are shredded and the metal is removed for reprocessing. In some cases, the plastic components are turned into new material, but they can also be used as landfill cover.

The key challenge with appliances is the presence of Freon, which is DuPont’s trade name for the gas that cools appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators. For appliances that contain Freon, there can be a fee to properly remove it.

Keys
Keys, keys and more keys. We have keys for our front door, our cars, filing cabinets and more. And most of us are guilty of throwing them in a junk drawer or tossing them in a box in the garage when we move or change locks. Keys For Kindness is a small, family-run program designed to raise money through metal key recycling for the Multiple Sclerosis society. Though the shipping expenditure is on your own dime, we’re sure the good karma will be worthwhile.

Source: Earth911
By: Lori Brown
Photo: Suttonhoo

According to the National Household Travel Survey by the U. S. Department of Transportation, 90.8% of us drive to work during the week, and the average vehicle occupancy is a mere 1.14. Our commute averages about 12.10 miles.

But adults age 35 to 44 spend over 80 minutes each day in a car! Thanks to more solo drivers on the road, it takes longer to get anywhere. Surely a few of us can drive together, especially during peak commute hours.

Check out the real costs of commuting by yourself. Pretty high, huh? What if you cut out one day a week?

Try starting with Fridays so you’ll begin the weekend feeling refreshed. Alternate who drives, and track how much gas money you save. Once you and your carpool partner get in the habit, add another day. Edmunds.com has useful tips for setting up a carpool.

This directory has links to online rideshare databases where you can find people to carpool with. You can even use tools like ZimRide or GoLoco to find carpools on Facebook.

The University of South Florida has a summary of the tax benefits available to commuters and employers. Large companies may have carpool programs already. If not, show your HR department this info. and help set up a rideshare list.

Want to go a step further? Try public transportation, or see how walkable your town is. Encourage your kids to walk or bike to school. Use a bike for your commute and errands.

Try living without a car completely. Sound crazy? Well, you’ll save money, and you’ll eliminate tons of harmful CO2 from the atmosphere. And you don’t have to live in a big city either. I live in suburban California (notorious for poor public transit), and I’ve never had a driver’s license or owned a car. I take the bus, walk, and carpool everywhere.

It’s not the simplest way to live, but neither is having four kids or being vegetarian, which plenty of people do. When you don’t drive, you have to plan some things in advance. But you’re also freed from car insurance and registration fees, and you don’t care about gas prices.

Just start small with a weekly carpool. You’ll be surprised at how much you don’t need a car on hand.

Source: Yahoo

More than 1 million U.S. households now receive reports on how their energy consumption compares with their neighbors as utilities encourage conservation, some with smiley faces for those doing well.

The reports — deployed by 25 utilities, including six of the 10 biggest — have resulted in households cutting energy use an average of 2% to 3%, says Alex Laskey, co-founder of Opower, which provides the reports.

While that may sound small, the savings add up. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which started sending the reports to 35,000 households in 2008, says the households saved enough energy in a year to power 800 homes for a year.

Dozens of companies provide products to help consumers manage home energy use, such as websites to monitor use. Opower is somewhat “unique in that it discusses the social norm,” says Teresa Mastrangelo, analyst with researcher Smart Grid Trends. “Everybody gets a utility bill. Few understand what the numbers mean,” she says.

Opower’s reports don’t reveal specifics on how particular neighbors use energy. Instead, they compare a household’s use to 100 similar-size homes in the same area. Opower, founded in 2007, also gathers such data as the home’s age and construction type, which may reveal how well insulated it is, along with the number of people in the house or whether it has a pool, which drives up energy use. With data, Opower can personalize conservation tips. For instance, houses with heavy air conditioning use may benefit from more fans.

Utilities use different ways to tell consumers where they stand. The Sacramento utility sent its first reports with frown faces for those consuming more energy than their neighbors. “They didn’t like it,” says project manager Alexandra Crawford. The utility dropped the frowns.

In Minnesota, Connexus Energy first told consumers they were “below average” if their energy use exceeded that of their neighbors. “We learned people don’t like being called below average,” says Bruce Sayler, manager of regulatory affairs for Connexus. Now, consumers are told they use more energy than neighbors.

While some consumers have objected to the reports as too Big Brotherish, complaints are few. In Massachusetts, National Grid started sending reports to 50,000 customers last year. Project manager Monica Ibrahim says fewer than 20 customers have opted not to participate. National Grid saw a more than 1% drop in home energy use in the first two months and expects that to climb, Ibrahim says. National Grid expects to expand the program this spring to a territory in Upstate New York.

The privately held Opower had 11 utility clients at the end of 2008. In the past year, it’s more than doubled the number of households served, Laskey says.

Source: USA Today Julie Schmit

The people of Haiti are facing a long and difficult road to recovery.  Their power infrastructure has been demolished and fuel for generators and cooking is scarce, but they do have one thing on their side:  abundant sunshine.  Many solar power companies and non-profits are focusing on that resource and bringing solar-powered equipment capable of providing essential needs like drinkable water, cooking surfaces and mobile phones to the Haitian people.

Some of the organizations providing solar-powered relief include:

• Sun Ovens International — Delivering hundreds of solar-powered ovens capable of making 1,200 meals in eight hours to homeless camps.
• Worldwater & Solar Technologies — Donated a 22 kW array that is running a boarding school for 350 kids and a solar-powered mobile water purification system that is pumping out 30,000 gallons of clean water daily at a Red Cross aid station.
• Digicel — Donating 1,000 solar mobile phones to keep lines of communication open during the crisis.
• Sol Inc. — Contributing 100 solar-powered streetlights that can be installed in less than an hour, stay lit all night and stand up to hurricane-force winds.

We often think about renewable energy as the thing that will save us in the long term, but it’s important to see how powerful of a savior it can be in the short term as well.

Source: MSN

In another effort to go green, Wal-Mart has quit providing free bags to customers at three of its stores in Northern California.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the move is part of an experiment to see whether customers are willing to bring their own bags to help the environment. If they forget bags, they can buy reusable bags from Wal-Mart in two sizes, for 15 cents and 50 cents. The company is also training checkers to put more in each bag.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amelia Neufeld said the 15-cent bag should provide enough use to save 75 plastic bags. The effort is part of the company’s Plastic Bag Initiative, which aims to reduce plastic bag waste at its stores worldwide 33% by 2013. The company says that would avoid producing 290,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases and prevent the consumption of 678,000 barrels of oil every year.

Source: MSN Teresa Mears

]]> http://www.ekoparkapartments.com/wal-mart-goes-green-by-charging-for-bags/feed/ 0 http://www.ekoparkapartments.com/which-way-will-the-wind-power-blow-in-2010/ http://www.ekoparkapartments.com/which-way-will-the-wind-power-blow-in-2010/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:07:34 +0000 admin http://www.ekoparkapartments.com/?p=409 The United States became the No. 1 wind power market in the world in 2008. But under the credit crisis in 2009, the building of new wind farms slackened and the United States ceded its top global spot to China.

With the demand for renewable energy still growing, the American Wind Energy Associationis eyeing 2010 as a critical year. Here are some of their top trends to watch for:

Second to natural gas: Wind power generates only 2 percent of the U.S. electrical supply. But new wind power generation in the United States has been second only to natural gas generation in terms of new capacity built each year since 2005. Watch for the industry to work to keep that spot.

Wind turbines ratchet up the power: General Electric won a $1.4 billion contract in December to supply 338 turbines for a massive new wind farm in Oregon being built by energy producer Caithness Energy LLC. The size of the turbines — 2.5 megawatts — forecasts a shift to larger turbines, driven by economics, the wind group said. “Taller turbines with larger swept areas produce more power at a lower cost per kilowatt-hour.”

Market for small projects grows: The trade group predicts small wind projects for homeowners and small businesses will see record growth, fueled by an expansion of a 30-percent investment tax credit.

Industry seeks advice on where to put projects: Wind farm developers have to win regulatory approval for their projects, which have sparked conflict with conservationists at times. To ease the process of clearing those hurdles and finding sites for projects, the industry is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plus other federal agencies and nonprofits to get more clarity on wildlife surveys and other required studies. Will more guidelines be enough to speed up the development?

States, regions work on transmission: The industry is looking to states and regions to move toward investing in transmission needed to move electricity from often remote wind farms to the cities that use the power. The trade group is eyeing the Midwest in particular and whether its independent system operator that manages the regional power grid for 15 states and one Canadian province follows Texas and the Southwest region in how it invests in new transmission lines.

Source Reuters

Here are 10 tips for an environmentally friendly, greener Christmas:

Change your classic lights! LED lights last longer and use 80 to 90% less energy. The cost is basically the same but theοadvantages of using this type of lights will benefit both you and the environment. These cost around $10 per 12-ft. strand and they’re just like the ones your parents used to put up. If everyone did this, the savings would be enough to power 200,000 homes for a year.

Turn off your light and electric devices when you’re not using them. Even in standby they consume 15% of household electricity. An excellent way of recycling energy would be using a solar powered rope light.

Another way to conserve energy is to use candles on those magic holiday nights. And if you want to go green, choose oy, vegetable wax or beeswax—all renewable and biodegradable materials.

This year, go creative and choose an innovative wrapping for your gifts. You can go for grocery bags that you can decorate yourself or posters from old magazines. There is also biodegradable ribbon made from cotton and soy-based inks that you can use for your presents. There is also recycled version of the traditional wrapping paper that you can buy online. If after all these ideas, you still want to use normal paper, be sure to recycled it for later use.

There’s no Christmas without a card to your family and friends, right? This year, you can go online and e-mail them a creative virtual card, make a photo album yourself and add holiday music and your own greeting.

If you thought an artificial Christmas tree might benefit the environment, then think again! The fakes one are petroleum based and non-biodegradable. The process of making them includes metal and derivatives of PVC and the by-products such as led harm both humans and the environment. Buy a potted tree that you can later plant in your garden and even use it again next year.

Make your loved ones a surprise and offer them handmade gifts. These are more appreciated than conventional presents since they involve creativity and love. If you don’t have the talent or the time, support local artists and craftspeople by buying their products.

Or think again! Do they really need more presents? Why not give them an experience? Try signing them up for a foreign language class, some hours of horseback riding, a massage or some art classes. An experience will last them a lifetime, truly a gift they will never forget.

Buy organic meat for your family! Even thought they are a bit more expensive, you know they chicken or turkey has been reared in humane conditions and that they are tastier. You will enjoy a chemical-free food and give a little support to local farmers.

Thinking about throwing a party? Use real glasses and dishes instead of those disposable ones and go for cloth tablecloths instead of throwaways. You can also choose a bamboo tableware for festive occasions, made from 100% organically grown bamboo.

Source: Green Expander

by Lauren Hasler

The holiday season is officially in full-swing, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of big family dinners, extensive gift shopping and elaborate decorations.

But the season isn’t all turkey, stuffing and pie. According toRecycleWorks, from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent.

So, start off your holiday season on the green foot by making a few small, eco-friendly changes this Turkey Day. It’s easy to get the entire family involved, have fun and decrease the burden on your wallet as well.

This year, opt for local and organic foods for your broccoli-squash casserole or pumpkin pie. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

1. Shopping for Food

Before you rush to eat yourself into a Tryptophan-induced coma, take a minute to think about where your food comes from.

When shopping for your Thanksgiving meal, keep two words in mind:organic and local. These keywords will guarantee a fresher, more nutritious meal.

If you buy local, not only can you enjoy fresh food, but you will also support your local economy. Check for farmers’ markets, family farms, community-supported agriculture programs and U-Pick options in your area for the freshest produce, eggs, dairy and grass-fed meat. Also, consider buying organic wines to be more eco-conscious without sacrificing quality or taste.

Also, don’t forget the vegetarians at your table. The Vegetarian Resource Group estimates that 3 percent of Americans, between 6 million and 8 million adults, are vegetarians. For example, the Organic Consumers Association developed a healthy vegetarian Thanksgiving menu which includes stuffed acorn squash with corn bread dressing and chestnut gravy.

If you’re going to have a large crowd, buy food in bulk to reduce packaging waste and save money. And of course, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.

2. Crowd Control

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

• Turkey- 1 pound
• Stuffing- ¼ pound
• Sweet potato casserole- ¼ pound
• Green beans- ¼ pound
• Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons
• Pumpkin pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future.

3. Do Something Fun!

Instead of firmly planting yourself in front of the TV for the day, consider getting some fresh air or playing a board game. Take advantage of the time together with friends and family while decreasing your energy usage.

Try bundling up and playing some football outside instead of watching it. Split the whole family into teams and get everyone involved. Make sure the winners get to go through the pie line first!

4. Traveling Tips

According to Use Less Stuff, if each family reduced holiday gasoline consumption by 1 gallon (about 20 miles), we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tons. Invite nearby friends and family and neighbors to your house for Thanksgiving dinner and encourage them to do the same.

If you must go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, turn down the thermostat and turn off the lights to save energy while you’re gone.

Now you finally have a use for that china! Try to avoid disposable dinnerware to cut down on waste. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

5. Setting the Table

There are many options when it comes to table setting, all dependent upon how many guests will be present at your Thanksgiving celebration. If it is going to be a small gathering, get out your nice china for the occasion. Cloth napkins are also a plus.

If you’re expecting a big crowd, organize it like a potluck and ask your guests to bring dishes and silverware for themselves. If disposable place settings are your only choice, opt for biodegradable and compostable utensils, napkins and plates, such as those from Biodegradable Store.com.

The average dishwasher uses between 7 and 15 gallons of water per cycle. After the meal, be sure to fill the dishwasher to capacity before running it to save water and energy.

6. Crafty Decorations (Yes, You Can Do It!)

Add a little extra elegance to your table with homemade decorations. Most materials can be found in your craft cupboard or backyard. Have the kids chip in with a pre-Thanksgiving craft day. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Acorn napkin ties
• Dried leaf place cards
• Corn or leaf print place mats
• Pinecone turkeys
• Painted gourds
• Festive fall arrangements of pumpkins or corn cobs
• Make your own cornucopia

If there is a tablecloth or other decorative item you’ve been eying, make sure it’s a purchase you’ll be happy to reuse in the future. Some decorations can even become new family traditions.

7. Lose the Leftovers

Once the party is over, it’s time to decide what to do with all that leftover food. Don’t forget to donate your leftovers to a food bank or nearby homeless shelter. And remember to compost your food scraps.

If you decided to buy your Thanksgiving supplies in bulk, the containers from your various products are perfect for storing large quantities of leftovers. Make sure your guests leave with a portion of extra food to take home. After all, one of the best Thanksgiving traditions is noshing on leftover turkey sandwiches and mashed potatoes for lunch the following weekend.

8. Recycling Isn’t a Chore

Last, but not least, get back to the basics and recycle. Encourage your guests to pitch in and clearly mark recycling bins. Recycling all packaging, as well as any beverage containers, will significantly reduce the number of times you have to take the trash out, as well as the amount of garbage you send to the landfill.

Source: Earth 911