This past month Cartridge World has been taking in all of your dried up ink cartridges and recycling them. At the same time they offer coupons for everyone bringing in a dried up/empty cartridge. Save Earth = Save Money!
While the numbers aren't FINAL I wanted to share just how well the Mid Columbia did at recycling!
During Earth Month, Mid Columbia Residents have:
Recycled, refilled and reused: 2200 cartridges
Saved: 734 gallons of oil*
Reduced Landfill: 2300 lbs
*According to the EPA: It takes almost a gallon of oil to make a large laser cartridge and almost 3 ounces to make an ink cartridge. JUST TO MAKE IT!
Cartridge World - Kennewick & Pasco
509-735-9266
www.cartridgeworldusa.com
PLEASE, just because Earth Month is over, DON'T STOP reducing, reusing and recycling.
Take a look at some of these facts Cartridge World provided me with. Think about it the next time you toss an ink cartridge.
1. It takes about a gallon of oil to make a new laser cartridge.
2. Almost 8 cartridges are thrown away per second in the United States alone!
3. In North America alone, over 350 million cartridges per year are discarded in our landfills, and that number increases by 12 percent annually!
4. Every remanufactured(recycled) cartridge saves nearly 3.5 pounds of solid waste from sitting in landfills.
5. 70 percent of used printer cartridges throughout the world are currently being thrown out.
6. In one year, if the world’s discarded cartridges were stacked end-to-end, they would circle the earth over three times. WOW.
Here are some more businesses recycle ink cartridges and other items!
Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat149900050025&type=category&searchresults=1&searchterm=recycling&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=30&loc=KW-2430
Office Depot:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/ink-toner-and-ribbons/?cm_mmc=360i-_-Google-_-Ink_and_Toner-Ink_and_Toner_General-_-cartridges
Staples:
http://www.staples.com/sbd/content/about/soul/recycling.html
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Earth Day Blog
Happy Earth Day to all! Creatures big and small share the earth with us upright walking folk. So let's not forget about critters that need a clean and healthy Earth to survive.
If you know me I love Going Green and I'm a fool for animals. I LOVE ANIMALS! (except bugs. ew.)
The National Humane Society sent me the following ideas to incorporate eco-friendly living into one's lifestyle. I hope you can take the time and help animals (and humans) live on a healthier, better, Earth.
The Humane Society of the United States Celebrates Animals and the Environment this Earth Day
Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, is an opportunity to reflect on the effects our daily lives have on the environment and to take action to improve the health of the planet. The Humane Society of the United States suggests ways to learn more and help the animals who share our environment.
In Your Own Backyard: Here are 10 easy ways to go green in your back yard! These tips benefit our wild neighbors.
1. Let your lawn grow into a meadow. This cuts down on the use of fossil fuels and increases habitat for birds and butterflies.
2. Avoid cutting down dead trees in spring time whenever possible. Old, decaying trees provide important habitat for wild animals, who are likely to be nesting in them during spring.
3. Keep cats indoors. Even a gentle, well-fed house cat will prey on wildlife when given the chance. Outdoor-roaming cats are at risk for accidents and diseases as well.
4.Garden with plants that are native to your area. They thrive better, resist disease, require less maintenance and prevent the spread of invasive species.
5. Do not trap “nuisance” wild animals, who are likely to have young at this time of year. Instead, use eviction and exclusion strategies (humanesociety.org/wildneighbors ( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855622x846880 )) to solve wildlife conflicts around your home.
6. Never keep a wild animal as a pet- it is very difficult to meet a wild animal’s needs in captivity.
7. Cut up plastic 6-pack holders before disposal so that wild animals do not get tangled up in them. Do the same for Yoplait yogurt containers, which commonly entrap skunks’ heads.
8. Thoroughly rinse food jars before recycling them. Hungry raccoons and skunks can get their heads stuck in peanut butter, jelly or other containers with leftover food.
9. Walk through your yard and look carefully for rabbits’ nests before mowing in the spring. Look for clumps of fur as a sign of a shallow nest underneath.
10.Pick up trash with your family at your local stream or pond. You’ll help wildlife far downstream.
Other Opportunities:
Save the Whales
Buffalo Exchange, a chain of resale stores offering new and recycled fashion, will hold a Dollar Day sale on Saturday, April 25 to benefit The HSUS and its international arm, Humane Society International. Proceeds from the sale of all $1 items will support the Save Whales — Not Whaling campaign, which motivates people and countries around the world to protect whales from the cruel, ecologically destructive practice of whaling.
( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855631x846889 )
Customers can get bargains on clothing and accessories, learn more about whales and help the Save Whales — Not Whaling campaign by visiting one of Buffalo Exchange’s store locations. If you aren’t able to attend the Dollar Day event, you can still sign an anti-whaling petition by going to: http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855628x846886
Recycled Threads from Ellen
Reduce your carbon footprint, and increase your cool factor, with something pre-owned by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. She’s launched an eBay online charity clothing auction benefitting The Humane Society of The United States.
Through May 8, Ellen will list more than 75 clothing and accessory items from her closet. Some of the items include clothing and accessories worn on the red carpet and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” such as the Navy jacket Ellen wore during President Barack Obama’s appearance. Bidding starts at just $1 per item and each auction will be live for seven days. Fans can bid online at ellentv.com
Fur Hurts the Planet
In addition to the fur industry’s cruelty to animals, including documented incidents of raccoon dogs being skinned alive, wearing animal fur harms the environment. The fur production process consumes large amounts of fossil fuels and pollutes the air and water with toxic chemicals and animal waste. “Wild fur” causes environmental harm as well. Traps commonly used to catch fur bearing animals from the wild are indiscriminate and may catch endangered animals as well as their target species.
The HSUS has produced a report and animated video on the detrimental environmental effects of fur, available at humanesociety.org/furhurtstheplanet
A Greener Plate
In 2006, the United Nations issued a report ( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855625x846883 )finding that the global farm animal sector is responsible for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than the world’s cars, trucks, SUVs, airplanes and ships combined. Intensive factory farming also harms the environment by polluting the air, water and soil with manure and other contaminants.
You can help improve the health of the planet by reducing the amount of meat and animal products in your diet. The HSUS offers information on how to reduce, replace and refine methods of farm animal production, and offers delicious and easy recipes
Wildlife in Focus
Select U.S. movie theaters will premiere the film Earth in honor of Earth Day. Produced by Disneynature Films and BBC, this 90-minute documentary film follows the migrations of three animal families: polar bears, African elephants and humpback whales.
In the spirit of The HSUS’ mission to celebrate animals, the film inspires a sense of awe and responsibility toward wildlife as these animals teach their young to survive in a changing world. For a list of locations and a film trailer, visit disney.go.com/disneynature/earth . The film is rated G.
Media Contact :Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org
If you know me I love Going Green and I'm a fool for animals. I LOVE ANIMALS! (except bugs. ew.)
The National Humane Society sent me the following ideas to incorporate eco-friendly living into one's lifestyle. I hope you can take the time and help animals (and humans) live on a healthier, better, Earth.
The Humane Society of the United States Celebrates Animals and the Environment this Earth Day
Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, is an opportunity to reflect on the effects our daily lives have on the environment and to take action to improve the health of the planet. The Humane Society of the United States suggests ways to learn more and help the animals who share our environment.
In Your Own Backyard: Here are 10 easy ways to go green in your back yard! These tips benefit our wild neighbors.
1. Let your lawn grow into a meadow. This cuts down on the use of fossil fuels and increases habitat for birds and butterflies.
2. Avoid cutting down dead trees in spring time whenever possible. Old, decaying trees provide important habitat for wild animals, who are likely to be nesting in them during spring.
3. Keep cats indoors. Even a gentle, well-fed house cat will prey on wildlife when given the chance. Outdoor-roaming cats are at risk for accidents and diseases as well.
4.Garden with plants that are native to your area. They thrive better, resist disease, require less maintenance and prevent the spread of invasive species.
5. Do not trap “nuisance” wild animals, who are likely to have young at this time of year. Instead, use eviction and exclusion strategies (humanesociety.org/wildneighbors ( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855622x846880 )) to solve wildlife conflicts around your home.
6. Never keep a wild animal as a pet- it is very difficult to meet a wild animal’s needs in captivity.
7. Cut up plastic 6-pack holders before disposal so that wild animals do not get tangled up in them. Do the same for Yoplait yogurt containers, which commonly entrap skunks’ heads.
8. Thoroughly rinse food jars before recycling them. Hungry raccoons and skunks can get their heads stuck in peanut butter, jelly or other containers with leftover food.
9. Walk through your yard and look carefully for rabbits’ nests before mowing in the spring. Look for clumps of fur as a sign of a shallow nest underneath.
10.Pick up trash with your family at your local stream or pond. You’ll help wildlife far downstream.
Other Opportunities:
Save the Whales
Buffalo Exchange, a chain of resale stores offering new and recycled fashion, will hold a Dollar Day sale on Saturday, April 25 to benefit The HSUS and its international arm, Humane Society International. Proceeds from the sale of all $1 items will support the Save Whales — Not Whaling campaign, which motivates people and countries around the world to protect whales from the cruel, ecologically destructive practice of whaling.
( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855631x846889 )
Customers can get bargains on clothing and accessories, learn more about whales and help the Save Whales — Not Whaling campaign by visiting one of Buffalo Exchange’s store locations. If you aren’t able to attend the Dollar Day event, you can still sign an anti-whaling petition by going to: http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855628x846886
Recycled Threads from Ellen
Reduce your carbon footprint, and increase your cool factor, with something pre-owned by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. She’s launched an eBay online charity clothing auction benefitting The Humane Society of The United States.
Through May 8, Ellen will list more than 75 clothing and accessory items from her closet. Some of the items include clothing and accessories worn on the red carpet and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” such as the Navy jacket Ellen wore during President Barack Obama’s appearance. Bidding starts at just $1 per item and each auction will be live for seven days. Fans can bid online at ellentv.com
Fur Hurts the Planet
In addition to the fur industry’s cruelty to animals, including documented incidents of raccoon dogs being skinned alive, wearing animal fur harms the environment. The fur production process consumes large amounts of fossil fuels and pollutes the air and water with toxic chemicals and animal waste. “Wild fur” causes environmental harm as well. Traps commonly used to catch fur bearing animals from the wild are indiscriminate and may catch endangered animals as well as their target species.
The HSUS has produced a report and animated video on the detrimental environmental effects of fur, available at humanesociety.org/furhurtstheplanet
A Greener Plate
In 2006, the United Nations issued a report ( http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?94x855625x846883 )finding that the global farm animal sector is responsible for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than the world’s cars, trucks, SUVs, airplanes and ships combined. Intensive factory farming also harms the environment by polluting the air, water and soil with manure and other contaminants.
You can help improve the health of the planet by reducing the amount of meat and animal products in your diet. The HSUS offers information on how to reduce, replace and refine methods of farm animal production, and offers delicious and easy recipes
Wildlife in Focus
Select U.S. movie theaters will premiere the film Earth in honor of Earth Day. Produced by Disneynature Films and BBC, this 90-minute documentary film follows the migrations of three animal families: polar bears, African elephants and humpback whales.
In the spirit of The HSUS’ mission to celebrate animals, the film inspires a sense of awe and responsibility toward wildlife as these animals teach their young to survive in a changing world. For a list of locations and a film trailer, visit disney.go.com/disneynature/earth . The film is rated G.
Media Contact :Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org
Friday, April 10, 2009
A Green Easter
Easter is a special holiday no matter how you celebrate. Christian or not, Easter is a sign of spring and new life. When we celebrate the spirit of earth , its creatures and what it grows, why not be kind to the earth in return? After all, it is Earth Month! If you put just a small thought into how you and your family celebrate, it is really quite easy to have an Eco-Friendly Easter. If nothing else...AT LEAST don't buy that awful plastic grass! Its annoying anyway!
One easy way to green up your Easter, pay attention to PACKAGING. Try to buy candy and gifts in with the least amount of packaging. Look for recyclable packaging. Buy in bulk. Stay away from bulk that has individually wrapped items.
Forget buying an Easter basket. Don't you end up throwing them away anyway? You might try to keep it, but in a few months when you find it shoved in your closet you just heave it. Why not make your own basket or container. Get creative! Make a craft as a family. Learn why the basket became a tradition and make a nest instead!
Use NATURAL DYE for coloring eggs! Its not that hard! See ways to color below...
Take a hint from a few Christian groups who are bring a special meaning to a GREEN Easter:
Courtesy of: Associated Press
Palm Sunday goes greener with fair-trade fronds
By MATT REED
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Christian churches are turning over a new leaf for Palm Sunday.
About 2,500 congregations nationwide will use fair-trade palm fronds at services this weekend.
The University of Minnesota's Eco-Palms program ensures the leaves were harvested in Central America in an environmentally sensitive way.
Organizers say orders came for well over a half-million fronds this year -- a big jump from 5,000 ordered four years ago.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, accepted about 300 fronds this week. Administrator Laura Hudson says God created Earth and it's everyone's duty to preserve it.
The holiday marks when Jesus is said to have arrived in Jerusalem before crucifixion, with followers paving his way with palm fronds.
Dying eggs is a fun family tradition. So do it Earth Friendly! And no. Not all of your eggs have to end up green. Forget Kits that contain dyes made from chemicals, dye eggs with natural ingredients.
Sources:
Make your Easter Eco Friendly (http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_your_easter_ecofriendly)
Eco-Friendly Easter (http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/03/06/eco-friendly-easter/)
HOW TO: Put raw, white-shelled eggs in a pan and cover with water and a teaspoon of white vinegar. Add your coloring agent and bring to a boil and then let the eggs simmer for 15 minutes. Rinse and allow to cool.
OR:
You can also hard boil them first and then fill glass jars/bowls with water and the coloring agent-put the jars in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and then stir. Just allow the eggs to sit in the jars overnight.
* Purple or lavender: Purple grape juice or red wine
* Blue: Red cabbage leaves or blueberries
* Green: Spinach
* Yellow: saffron, tumeric, carrot tops, orange peels or lemon peels
* Brown: Coffee, black walnut shells, rosehip tea, or coffee.
* Yellow onion skins (for orange)
* Red or Pink: Beets, cranberries or cranberry juice or raspberries
Have a safe and Happy Easter!
One easy way to green up your Easter, pay attention to PACKAGING. Try to buy candy and gifts in with the least amount of packaging. Look for recyclable packaging. Buy in bulk. Stay away from bulk that has individually wrapped items.
Forget buying an Easter basket. Don't you end up throwing them away anyway? You might try to keep it, but in a few months when you find it shoved in your closet you just heave it. Why not make your own basket or container. Get creative! Make a craft as a family. Learn why the basket became a tradition and make a nest instead!
Use NATURAL DYE for coloring eggs! Its not that hard! See ways to color below...
Take a hint from a few Christian groups who are bring a special meaning to a GREEN Easter:
Courtesy of: Associated Press
Palm Sunday goes greener with fair-trade fronds
By MATT REED
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Christian churches are turning over a new leaf for Palm Sunday.
About 2,500 congregations nationwide will use fair-trade palm fronds at services this weekend.
The University of Minnesota's Eco-Palms program ensures the leaves were harvested in Central America in an environmentally sensitive way.
Organizers say orders came for well over a half-million fronds this year -- a big jump from 5,000 ordered four years ago.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, accepted about 300 fronds this week. Administrator Laura Hudson says God created Earth and it's everyone's duty to preserve it.
The holiday marks when Jesus is said to have arrived in Jerusalem before crucifixion, with followers paving his way with palm fronds.
Dying eggs is a fun family tradition. So do it Earth Friendly! And no. Not all of your eggs have to end up green. Forget Kits that contain dyes made from chemicals, dye eggs with natural ingredients.
Sources:
Make your Easter Eco Friendly (http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_your_easter_ecofriendly)
Eco-Friendly Easter (http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/03/06/eco-friendly-easter/)
HOW TO: Put raw, white-shelled eggs in a pan and cover with water and a teaspoon of white vinegar. Add your coloring agent and bring to a boil and then let the eggs simmer for 15 minutes. Rinse and allow to cool.
OR:
You can also hard boil them first and then fill glass jars/bowls with water and the coloring agent-put the jars in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and then stir. Just allow the eggs to sit in the jars overnight.
* Purple or lavender: Purple grape juice or red wine
* Blue: Red cabbage leaves or blueberries
* Green: Spinach
* Yellow: saffron, tumeric, carrot tops, orange peels or lemon peels
* Brown: Coffee, black walnut shells, rosehip tea, or coffee.
* Yellow onion skins (for orange)
* Red or Pink: Beets, cranberries or cranberry juice or raspberries
Have a safe and Happy Easter!
Monday, April 6, 2009
BYOB
It's Earth Month! Hooray! While the green folks keep on living green, hopefully we can encourage some not-so-green folks to do their part, even if it is for just one month. Or even one day! Every bit helps.
It is now Mid Columbia Earth Month and the City of Richland goes ABOVE and BEYOND traditional activities. This year the theme is CHOOSE TO REUSE! Gail Everett is the Environmental Education Coordinator for the City of Richland and she along with Tracy Roberts have put together a fantastic month and I would like to thank them for sharing their time and their resources with me. If you watch Good Morning Northwest (which you all should weekdays from 5:30-7AM) Gail comes in and shows us easy ways to live a greener lifestyle. You can catch special On The Green segments EVERY MONDAY for Earth Month on Good Morning Northwest.
You can find all kinds of information, activities, events, projects and facts on the very easy to navigate Earth Month Website
We are kicking off the Choose to Reuse Earth Month and all events are B.Y.O.B. that means... Bring Your Own BAG! What were you thinking? Hmmm?
Stop using plastic bags! Gosh, I'll even give you a reason to go shopping.To encourage shoppers to CHOOSE a REUSEable shopping bag, Wal-Marts in Kennewick, Richland and Pasco are giving away 1,500 reusable shopping bags this Saturday, April 4th. The first 500 shoppers, (while supplies last) between Noon and 3pm get one free reusable shopping bag. Wal-Mart reusable bags normally sell for $1 each. And get this, according to Walmart.com, their bags hold twice as much as the average plastic bag and are made from 85% recycled content! Wal-Mart also recycles plastic and reusable bags. Can't go wrong here.
Get out and get shopping! Here are some facts courtesy the City of Richland on Plastic Bag WASTE.
Remember: Choose to Reuse
Check out the Earth Month Calendar
According to the Earth Month Website, Tri City residents can make a BIG difference! Here are the numbers. There are about 57,500 families here. If those families exchanged 6 plastic bags per week with 6 reusable bags. We could save (insert drum roll here)
*49,286 bags per day
*345,000 bags per week
*1,495,000 bags per month
*17,940,000 bags per year
18 MILLION BAGS PER YEAR! Just the Tri Cities alone.
How about you? Just ONE PERSON. What can you do?
1 reusable bag keeps 1000 plastic bags out of a landfill over it's lifetime!
Now you KNOW one person really can make a difference.
Plastic Bag Facts
• According to the EPA, about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used each year in the US.
• Only 5.2 percent of the plastic bags and sacks in the municipal waste stream were recycled in 2005.
• Plastic bags do not bio degrade! They do break down but never all the way. They break down into smaller bits that contaminate soil and waterways.
• Small plastic bags made up about nine percent of the debris found along various U.S. coasts in a five-year study.
*Here are some Tips For Remembering Your Bags submitted by people living in the Tri Cities:
* Keep reusable bags in the trunk of your car and put a small note on the dashboard to remind you to bring them.
* Put your keys and coupons in a bag so you can't leave without it.
* Keep your bags the same place you keep your purse or wallet.
* Include "BAG" in you shopping list as Item # 1.
* Ask the kids to remind you to bring your bags as part of earning their allowance.
* Put a reminder in your Outlook or Yahoo calendar and set it to 'ding' in the morning of the day you usually go grocery shopping.
It is now Mid Columbia Earth Month and the City of Richland goes ABOVE and BEYOND traditional activities. This year the theme is CHOOSE TO REUSE! Gail Everett is the Environmental Education Coordinator for the City of Richland and she along with Tracy Roberts have put together a fantastic month and I would like to thank them for sharing their time and their resources with me. If you watch Good Morning Northwest (which you all should weekdays from 5:30-7AM) Gail comes in and shows us easy ways to live a greener lifestyle. You can catch special On The Green segments EVERY MONDAY for Earth Month on Good Morning Northwest.
You can find all kinds of information, activities, events, projects and facts on the very easy to navigate Earth Month Website
We are kicking off the Choose to Reuse Earth Month and all events are B.Y.O.B. that means... Bring Your Own BAG! What were you thinking? Hmmm?
Stop using plastic bags! Gosh, I'll even give you a reason to go shopping.To encourage shoppers to CHOOSE a REUSEable shopping bag, Wal-Marts in Kennewick, Richland and Pasco are giving away 1,500 reusable shopping bags this Saturday, April 4th. The first 500 shoppers, (while supplies last) between Noon and 3pm get one free reusable shopping bag. Wal-Mart reusable bags normally sell for $1 each. And get this, according to Walmart.com, their bags hold twice as much as the average plastic bag and are made from 85% recycled content! Wal-Mart also recycles plastic and reusable bags. Can't go wrong here.
Get out and get shopping! Here are some facts courtesy the City of Richland on Plastic Bag WASTE.
Remember: Choose to Reuse
Check out the Earth Month Calendar
According to the Earth Month Website, Tri City residents can make a BIG difference! Here are the numbers. There are about 57,500 families here. If those families exchanged 6 plastic bags per week with 6 reusable bags. We could save (insert drum roll here)
*49,286 bags per day
*345,000 bags per week
*1,495,000 bags per month
*17,940,000 bags per year
18 MILLION BAGS PER YEAR! Just the Tri Cities alone.
How about you? Just ONE PERSON. What can you do?
1 reusable bag keeps 1000 plastic bags out of a landfill over it's lifetime!
Now you KNOW one person really can make a difference.
Plastic Bag Facts
• According to the EPA, about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used each year in the US.
• Only 5.2 percent of the plastic bags and sacks in the municipal waste stream were recycled in 2005.
• Plastic bags do not bio degrade! They do break down but never all the way. They break down into smaller bits that contaminate soil and waterways.
• Small plastic bags made up about nine percent of the debris found along various U.S. coasts in a five-year study.
*Here are some Tips For Remembering Your Bags submitted by people living in the Tri Cities:
* Keep reusable bags in the trunk of your car and put a small note on the dashboard to remind you to bring them.
* Put your keys and coupons in a bag so you can't leave without it.
* Keep your bags the same place you keep your purse or wallet.
* Include "BAG" in you shopping list as Item # 1.
* Ask the kids to remind you to bring your bags as part of earning their allowance.
* Put a reminder in your Outlook or Yahoo calendar and set it to 'ding' in the morning of the day you usually go grocery shopping.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Community Reuse Opportunities '09
Choose to Reuse! Its all about a the choice to make a difference here on Earth. As we gear up to Earth Month, the City of Richland makes CHOOSE TO REUSE this year's theme. You can donate used items, you can keep plastic grocery bags it can even be as simple putting items outside at the end of your driveway with a sign saying FREE. There are several resources available and the City of Richland has provided the following info so its easy to CHOOSE TO REUSE!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
You're Garbage....oh I mean YOUR Garbage
On Monday's Good Morning Northwest we showed you some garbage from the 1970s. *If you missed it click here to see the trash! http://www.kvewtogo.com/news-video/
The 70s rubbish ranged from aluminum pop cans, to plastic food wrappers, to milk cartons, newspapers and even some groovy pjs. I was ASTONISHED, and I don't use that word lightly, at how all of these items were PERFECTLY intact. In fact, the 1978 edition of the TC Herald was totally readable and only looked a few weeks old.
So, why do you care? This trash was buried in a local landfill then dug up 20 years later, totally preserved. Yes. Preserved. Intact. Undamaged. Complete. Again, why do you care? This shows that garbage doesn't just GO AWAY. When you throw something in the trash can its outta sight, outta mind right? Well, maybe, but its not outta this world. Just because you tossed out that plastic fork after eating birthday cake at the office doesn't mean it just dissapears. Your fast food wrapper, drink napkins and the plastic bag you brought it home in don't vanish when you hit the three pointer in the wastebasket.
Follow the path of your garbage and you will find many items remain exactly the same. That is scary. Your stinky, smelly, nasty, probably somewhat recyclable garbage is buried under the earth just hanging out.
Did you think it went away? Its ok if you did. I thought most of my trash went away, decomposed, biodegraded, vaporized whatever. That is until I learned how most landfills work.
In order to biodegrade or decompose, certain factors need to be present. Sunlight, moisture, air and microbes (bacteria). When you bury trash in sealed layers in landfills, its not exposed to sunlight, moisture or air.
Ok, so how long does it take for our trash to break down? You might be surprised. These are not rates for a landfill. These are rates if left out in the open. These are also estimated from sources online :
http://mdc.mo.gov/nomoretrash/facts/ and
http://www.qldlitter.com/litter_facts3.php
‑ Banana Peel: *3‑4 weeks*
‑ *Newspaper: **2 to 4 weeks*, can take longer in landfills due to lack
of microbes; will decompose much faster when wet
‑ Paper Bag: *1 month*
‑ Cardboard: *2 months*
‑ Wool Sock : *1 year*
‑ *Milk carton: **5 years*
‑ *Cigarette butt: **1 to 5 years*
‑ Tinned Steel Can: *50 years*
‑ Aluminum Can: *200‑500 years (But if recycled, it can be reused within
6 weeks!)*
‑ Disposable Diapers: *550 years*
‑ Plastic Bags : *20‑1000 years*
‑ Plastic Jug*: 1 million years*
‑ Styrofoam: *1+ million y**ears*
‑ Glass : *DOESN'T DECOMPOSE...but you can recycle!*
[image: plastic bag][image: plastic water bottle][image: Styrofoam
cups][image:
milk carton]
A scary reminder, and I'll have more info on this topic at a later time, A plastic item can break down. BUT, some of the chemical compounds will NEVER break down, never dissolve, never go away.
There is hope for your garbage. Here is an article I found that has a positive outlook on how we can improve landfills and even use them to generate some green energy:
*http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/02/980220063720.htm*
Please help do your part and REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE!
The 70s rubbish ranged from aluminum pop cans, to plastic food wrappers, to milk cartons, newspapers and even some groovy pjs. I was ASTONISHED, and I don't use that word lightly, at how all of these items were PERFECTLY intact. In fact, the 1978 edition of the TC Herald was totally readable and only looked a few weeks old.
So, why do you care? This trash was buried in a local landfill then dug up 20 years later, totally preserved. Yes. Preserved. Intact. Undamaged. Complete. Again, why do you care? This shows that garbage doesn't just GO AWAY. When you throw something in the trash can its outta sight, outta mind right? Well, maybe, but its not outta this world. Just because you tossed out that plastic fork after eating birthday cake at the office doesn't mean it just dissapears. Your fast food wrapper, drink napkins and the plastic bag you brought it home in don't vanish when you hit the three pointer in the wastebasket.
Follow the path of your garbage and you will find many items remain exactly the same. That is scary. Your stinky, smelly, nasty, probably somewhat recyclable garbage is buried under the earth just hanging out.
Did you think it went away? Its ok if you did. I thought most of my trash went away, decomposed, biodegraded, vaporized whatever. That is until I learned how most landfills work.
In order to biodegrade or decompose, certain factors need to be present. Sunlight, moisture, air and microbes (bacteria). When you bury trash in sealed layers in landfills, its not exposed to sunlight, moisture or air.
Ok, so how long does it take for our trash to break down? You might be surprised. These are not rates for a landfill. These are rates if left out in the open. These are also estimated from sources online :
http://mdc.mo.gov/nomoretrash/facts/ and
http://www.qldlitter.com/litter_facts3.php
‑ Banana Peel: *3‑4 weeks*
‑ *Newspaper: **2 to 4 weeks*, can take longer in landfills due to lack
of microbes; will decompose much faster when wet
‑ Paper Bag: *1 month*
‑ Cardboard: *2 months*
‑ Wool Sock : *1 year*
‑ *Milk carton: **5 years*
‑ *Cigarette butt: **1 to 5 years*
‑ Tinned Steel Can: *50 years*
‑ Aluminum Can: *200‑500 years (But if recycled, it can be reused within
6 weeks!)*
‑ Disposable Diapers: *550 years*
‑ Plastic Bags : *20‑1000 years*
‑ Plastic Jug*: 1 million years*
‑ Styrofoam: *1+ million y**ears*
‑ Glass : *DOESN'T DECOMPOSE...but you can recycle!*
[image: plastic bag][image: plastic water bottle][image: Styrofoam
cups][image:
milk carton]
A scary reminder, and I'll have more info on this topic at a later time, A plastic item can break down. BUT, some of the chemical compounds will NEVER break down, never dissolve, never go away.
There is hope for your garbage. Here is an article I found that has a positive outlook on how we can improve landfills and even use them to generate some green energy:
*http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/02/980220063720.htm*
Please help do your part and REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Green Vday Blog PART TWO
OK. Valentines day is almost here. The pressure is on. Do you have a gift? Gift idea? Totally Clueless? I've got a few more ways to ooze green love for your honey bunny. You can even take the credit for the fantastic ideas.
Guess what... V-day is on SATURDAY! That means you can make it into a weekend long event. (sorry) Why not plan a romantic getaway? Get out of your pjs, get out of your house and go live a little! I found a few GREEN hotels you can stay at around the country. There are a few local green getaways in our very own Cle Elum and Leavenworth. Check them out, along with other green hotels at: http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm
Who doesn't love a day at the spa? Well, I've never been to a spa, but I can imagine how wonderful it would be. Spas can be expensive so save money and give it your own touch (get it) by treating your loved one to a day at ______ (insert your name here) Resort and Spa.
Here's how: Clean up your living area and bathroom and make it feel cozy and unique. For a bit of fun, mix things up. Create a waiting room with a chair and magazines or newspapers on a coffee table. Provide your loved one with a drink of their choice and a soothing environment. I suggest playing some relaxing music or relaxing noise...think classical music or ocean sounds.
Set up different spa stations. You can do several... use your imagination! Massage, facial, foot soak, bubble bath, hand treatment.
Body: I don't want to pay for my loved one to go get rubbed down by some random person. Share that experience with each other! After a long hard week at work or school or dealing with life, a massage will probably feel pretty darn good. So treat your loved one to it!
Look into finding some Green massage oils. Try going to health food stores or supplement stores for ideas. Your special touch on aching muscles and joints could be the best gift ever.
Before or after the massage, Draw a nice hot bath or bubble bath for them to soak in.
Piggies: Focus on the feet. Have your spa visitor soak their feet in a big bowl or even just sit on the side of the bath tub and soak for 10minutes in warm water. Add in Epson salts, lavender or peppermint oil.
Here is an article on how to give a good ol' fashion foot rub. http://www.learnfootmassage.com/
Face Time: Look beautiful and feel refreshed after a home facial treatment. Start out with fresh cucumbers over the eyeballs. There are debates over the fact if this treatment works...but for the most part cucumbers will feel good on your eyes and the water in them will help hydrate your skin. The fresh scent can also relax you and lift spirits.
Try making your own face mask. Look online for recipes that suit you...otherwise here is are two easy ones for all skin types:
Natural exfoliate for all skin types Mix a tiny amount of brown sugar with olive oil in your palm. Once it turns into a paste, massage into your face. (Courtesy of: Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and makeup artist Jemima Kidd, in the July 2008 issue of Cosmo)
Natural Face Mask: Combine 1 tbsp natural yogurt, room temperature (not lowfat or non-fat) and 1 tsp runny honey (microwave for a few minutes to soften) Apply to face and let sit for 15minutes. Wash face with steaming washcloth. For dry skin, use an extra tsp of honey.
Oily skin? Add a few drops of fresh lime juice.
OK my LAST idea is to be childish. Get silly. Be goofy. Be you. When you love someone you really can be yourself without worrying about judgment. Being around the people you love is usually a gift enough. So just enjoy some time together with the person or people you love. Friends, family, pet, wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or whatever! Being able to be yourself around true friends or true loved ones is not only a gift to them but a gift to you.
What else? Play a game. Board games, card games, video games computer games, trivia games. Its fun to have a friendly competition and gets adrenaline pumping.
I recommend turning on some favorite tunes and having a dance party. If you are with pals have a crazy goofy dance party, see who can create the most awkward dance moves. If you are with your partner, turn on a few of "your songs" and slow dance while singing (loudly) along. Do living room karaoke and grab a hairbrush or a spoon and serenade each other together. Singing is euphoric and makes you feel good.... yes even when it doesn't sound good.
I hope these green Vday Ideas tip you off to a few ideas of your own. Remember Valentines Day doesn't have to be about being IN LOVE. It can simply be a day to show a special someone, or all of the special people in your life how much you care.
Guess what... V-day is on SATURDAY! That means you can make it into a weekend long event. (sorry) Why not plan a romantic getaway? Get out of your pjs, get out of your house and go live a little! I found a few GREEN hotels you can stay at around the country. There are a few local green getaways in our very own Cle Elum and Leavenworth. Check them out, along with other green hotels at: http://www.greenhotels.com/members.htm
Who doesn't love a day at the spa? Well, I've never been to a spa, but I can imagine how wonderful it would be. Spas can be expensive so save money and give it your own touch (get it) by treating your loved one to a day at ______ (insert your name here) Resort and Spa.
Here's how: Clean up your living area and bathroom and make it feel cozy and unique. For a bit of fun, mix things up. Create a waiting room with a chair and magazines or newspapers on a coffee table. Provide your loved one with a drink of their choice and a soothing environment. I suggest playing some relaxing music or relaxing noise...think classical music or ocean sounds.
Set up different spa stations. You can do several... use your imagination! Massage, facial, foot soak, bubble bath, hand treatment.
Body: I don't want to pay for my loved one to go get rubbed down by some random person. Share that experience with each other! After a long hard week at work or school or dealing with life, a massage will probably feel pretty darn good. So treat your loved one to it!
Look into finding some Green massage oils. Try going to health food stores or supplement stores for ideas. Your special touch on aching muscles and joints could be the best gift ever.
Before or after the massage, Draw a nice hot bath or bubble bath for them to soak in.
Piggies: Focus on the feet. Have your spa visitor soak their feet in a big bowl or even just sit on the side of the bath tub and soak for 10minutes in warm water. Add in Epson salts, lavender or peppermint oil.
Here is an article on how to give a good ol' fashion foot rub. http://www.learnfootmassage.com/
Face Time: Look beautiful and feel refreshed after a home facial treatment. Start out with fresh cucumbers over the eyeballs. There are debates over the fact if this treatment works...but for the most part cucumbers will feel good on your eyes and the water in them will help hydrate your skin. The fresh scent can also relax you and lift spirits.
Try making your own face mask. Look online for recipes that suit you...otherwise here is are two easy ones for all skin types:
Natural exfoliate for all skin types Mix a tiny amount of brown sugar with olive oil in your palm. Once it turns into a paste, massage into your face. (Courtesy of: Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and makeup artist Jemima Kidd, in the July 2008 issue of Cosmo)
Natural Face Mask: Combine 1 tbsp natural yogurt, room temperature (not lowfat or non-fat) and 1 tsp runny honey (microwave for a few minutes to soften) Apply to face and let sit for 15minutes. Wash face with steaming washcloth. For dry skin, use an extra tsp of honey.
Oily skin? Add a few drops of fresh lime juice.
OK my LAST idea is to be childish. Get silly. Be goofy. Be you. When you love someone you really can be yourself without worrying about judgment. Being around the people you love is usually a gift enough. So just enjoy some time together with the person or people you love. Friends, family, pet, wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or whatever! Being able to be yourself around true friends or true loved ones is not only a gift to them but a gift to you.
What else? Play a game. Board games, card games, video games computer games, trivia games. Its fun to have a friendly competition and gets adrenaline pumping.
I recommend turning on some favorite tunes and having a dance party. If you are with pals have a crazy goofy dance party, see who can create the most awkward dance moves. If you are with your partner, turn on a few of "your songs" and slow dance while singing (loudly) along. Do living room karaoke and grab a hairbrush or a spoon and serenade each other together. Singing is euphoric and makes you feel good.... yes even when it doesn't sound good.
I hope these green Vday Ideas tip you off to a few ideas of your own. Remember Valentines Day doesn't have to be about being IN LOVE. It can simply be a day to show a special someone, or all of the special people in your life how much you care.
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