Moving on......

Starting today, my postings will appear on http://earthpromise.wordpress.com/. In addition to my posts about recycling, you'll find other environmental information.



For Earth Promise's main page, go to http://www.earthpromise.com/

Reusing Waste: Good for the Environment and Your Business

Remember, reusing materials is not only helpful to preserving our environment, but it can offer creative opportunities. I came across two noteworthy sites that allow businesses to reduce their waste that goes into our landfills and at the same time, help their local schools and youth programs.


Extras For Creative Learning, is a Boston-based center where "Teachers, group leaders, parents, and artists are able to obtain low-cost or no-cost recycled materials that offer unlimited creative opportunities to nurture learning, exploration, and discovery in classrooms, child care centers, youth groups, and beyond." The businesses that partake get the benefit of tax-deductible recycling services.



The Resource Depot is located in Riviera Beach, Florida. Here, they "collect business discards, samples, and scraps that would ordinarily end up in the landfill. These materials, such as foam, plastic, wood, and fabric, are donated free back to educators, parents, children, seniors and other nonprofit agencies."



Both centers are a win-win situation for local businesses and the community. Do some research in your own area to see if there is a reusable resource center available. If not, what a great opportunity to make an environmental change!

Let's Stop Receiving Junk Mail and Catalogues!!!

If you haven't made the call to stop receiving the avalanche of catalogues and junk mail, be sure to read this important information I found from http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/getridofit/junk_mail_reduction_kit.pdf

This site gives you all the detailed information on how to stop those endless holiday catalogues or even how to stop local businesses from sending their materials to you.

Reuse and Recycle Books

Do you have textbooks from 2000 and newer, travel guides/books from 2003 and newer, hardcover and softcover fiction/non-fiction sitting collecting dust? These are just some of the types of books that are accepted by Better World Books. This "online bookstore with a soul collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide."

Here’s the best part: In addition to selling new titles, Better World Books supports book drives and collects used books and textbooks through a network of over 1,600 college campuses and partnerships with nearly 1,000 libraries nationwide. So far, the company has converted more than 11 million donated books into $4.5 million in funding for literacy and education. In the process, we’ve also diverted more than 6,000 tons of books from landfills.


So, the next time you are about to order a book online (free shipping anywhere in the US, or $3.97 worldwide from Better World), or would like to sell or donate some of the books that are taking up too much space on your bookshelf, be sure to visit, http://www.betterworld.com/.

How To Recycle Deoderant and Antiperspirant Bottles

I'd like to think by now, most everyone no longer uses aerosol deodorant/antiperspirant. A nice step in saving the environment (and our lungs!) So we are left with the options of stick or roll-on containers. But, are these other selections recyclable?





On the Real Simple website, it tells us that with the 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."





Kiss My Face makes a 100% Biodegradable container for their roll-ons. Bormioli Rocco, a leading producer of packaging for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, dietary and food industries, makes 100% recycled PET bottles and roll-on deodorant dispensers. The brand that you use may not be so environmentally savvy. So if changing deodorant/antiperspirant brands to save the planet is not your number one Earth Promise, and if your local recycling center will not accept your bottle, don't fret! There are many ways to reuse the roll-on containers. Check out some clever ideas on How I Can Recycle This.





To be safe, as always, check with your local recycling center and remember to remove the tops since they are most probably made of different plastics.

How To Recycle Toothpaste Tubes

Some good information about how to recycle toothpaste tubes can be found at greenyour.com

Ideas for Reusing Paper

Instead of recycling all that used photocopy paper, newspaper and junk mail try to reuse it!

Since it's almost time for Thanksgiving and winter break (for those of us with kids), and you need some ideas to keep the kids busy, try making old paper into new paper. I did this recently with my girls and they LOVED it. They've been using their homemade paper to make cards and tags for holiday gifts. Also, tearing paper into strips and then using it to make paper mache projects will keep the kids busy.

If you have a shredder (a child can do it , too), you can shred paper for your hamsters or guinea pigs. Perfect alternative to straw for those with allergies. Also, all that shredded paper can be used for packing up all the holiday gifts you need to send. It's a much better option than the packing peanuts.

If you have an exorbitant amount of paper, try using it as mulch.

Some Holiday Recycling Ideas

Now that the holidays are upon us, it is even more important to make sure we reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce the use of paper, envelopes and stamps by sending holiday e-cards. Although I do enjoy receiving the annual holiday cards from family and friends via snail-mail (especially when photos of families are included), I hate to admit, but I do end up tossing them. Some sites are free to use, such as http://www.bluemountain.com/. Others offer a free trial period, http://www.americangreetings.com/. A fun site, like JibJab Sendables have a section of free e-cards in the hopes that you'll become a paying member to use their witty templates for you to add some personal photos.

For holiday parties, use reusable glass or plastic ware, and cloth napkins. If you buy gifts, purchase reusable items. Try going to consignment stores or thrift shops. Remember to have your car stocked with canvas bags to tote all those gifts when shopping. No need to buy wrapping paper: wrap the gifts in fabric, newspaper, or your kids' artwork (that you don't mind not keeping, of course!) If you plan to mail your holiday gifts, be sure to reuse recyclable and recycled-content boxes and all that bubble-wrap you've been saving.

Most importantly, be sure to recycle your holiday waste from your household correctly. Be sure to contact your local recycling center to find out how, what and where to recycle items you are unsure of. Earth911 is a great site to help you out!

Help Keep Our Landfills at a Minimum!!!

This is a must read!!!! This is a great site that reuses unwanted items to help those in need. Be sure to check out http://www.refusedreused.com/

So You Thought Milk and Juice Cartons Went in With the Paper?

Every time I finish a carton of milk or orange juice, I check the side of the fridge for my handy "Remember to Recycle " information magnet: Yellow bin is for newspapers, magazines, catalogues, phone books, corrugated cardboard. The Blue bin is for the plastics (#1-7), aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, aluminum foil, pie pans, drink boxes and milk and juice cartons. But aren't those cartons made of paper or cardboard? Wouldn't I just have to remove the plastic spout?



I did some research as to why these cartons get mixed in with the plastics. Planet Ark gave a straightforward explanation: the two types of cartons (Gable Top Cartons and Aseptic Bricks) both have a layer of plastic and/or foil. Well, that makes sense! To get more detailed information about the how's and why's of recycling milk and juice cartons, visit, http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/69/newsDate/12/story.htm.



(An important note I must add: I am quite fortunate to live in an area that takes almost all items to recycle. If your community does not recycle milk and juice cartons, please contact your local recycling center and find out why. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!)



If you are interested in gathering some ideas about how to reuse these cartons, visit sites such as

http://www.make-stuff.com/recycling/milkcartons.html

http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/extraordinary-uses-for-milk-cartons/article23899.html

http://www.frugaljapan.com/Main/Ency012



For other great recycling ideas, be sure to check out one of my favorite sites, http://www.earthpromise.com/

Recycle Those Political Election Signs

Not sure how to dispose of your election yard sign? Be sure to read the article on Planet Green.

How To Recycle Aerosol Cans

Where I live, I'm fortunate enough that my recycling company accepts all plastics #1-#7. This makes it quite easy for the community to recycle. If recycling is simplified, the more people will participate. Since my community accepts most items in our recycling bins, I assumed, then, they would take aerosol cans, too. When it comes to recycling, (or anything, for that matter) you should never assume.

How are we to dispose of aerosol cans? Most states have their own recycling guidelines regarding aerosol cans which vary state to state. Not all recycling sites will accept these cans, so if your location falls into this category, be sure to contact your state or local recycling department.

There are various companies that have innovative aerosol recycling systems that simplify the safe disposal of these cans.

Be sure to check out these sites:
http://www.newstripe.com/result.php?catid=10&page=Crushing_&_Compacting
www.aerosolv.com
http://www.americangasproducts.com/

Is the Sticky Part on Post-it Notes Recyclable?

I always wondered if the sticky part of the Post-it made it difficult to recycle. All my questions were answered at the 3M Post-it site.


"Why won't my recycler take Post-it® Notes?
Recycling depends on both available technology and prevailing economics. Historically, some recyclers assumed that Post-it® Notes were difficult to recycle because of their "sticky" adhesive. This is not true. Any mill that accepts mixed-paper recycling can accept Post-it® Notes and 3M is working with industry associations to encourage the inclusion of Post-it® Notes in all mixed-paper recycling programs."



For more queries relating to the Post-it Notes, be sure to read through the Frequently Asked Questions.

Why Don't All Cities Accept All Plastics to Recycle?

After a friend read one my posts relating to deciphering the numbers on the bottoms of plastics, she came to me with a great question: Why don't all cities accept all the plastics (#1-7) and how can we find out which plastics our city will accept to recycle?

These are both valid questions. I came across a site that addresses these queries. Check out, http://tinyurl.com/5c4lq9

Overall, it all depends on your local solid waste management, so contact them to confirm what they will and will not accept. Another site I often go to is, Earth911.com . Here, you can look under plastics, type in your zip code, and they will list all the places within a particular mile radius, where you can recycle your #1-7 plastics.

Recycle Glue Sticks and Bottles

Did you know those glue sticks you buy for your kids are recyclable? My daughters' elementary school started collecting empty Elmer's glue bottles and glue sticks which are then rinsed out and brought Wal-Mart starting Earth Day, April 22, 2008 through the end of the school year.

"More than 40 million students use Elmer's glue and glue sticks annually," said Terri Brown, Elmer's marketing services and communications manager. "By recycling Elmer's, the #1 brand of school glue, teachers and students can take pride in improving their communities. To provide teachers with all the tools to execute recycling, we have developed a classroom program with online support to keep students engaged and excited about the recycling project."

Visit the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program Web site, http://www.elmersgluecrew.com/ to join (at no cost) or learn more about the program. Good to know: they will accept all brands of empty glue bottles and glue sticks for recycling, but they cannot guarantee that they will meet the guidelines for recycling these different types of plastics.

One Person's Trash is Another's Treasure

A big part of the recycling loop is "REUSE." I'm always lugging bags of outgrown clothes and toys to my friends' houses or donating them to charity. Both are very good recycling options. Clothing and toys are the obvious products families reuse. How about pots and pans, a table or a ladder? What if you are looking to acquire something, but don't have the extra cash?

A fantastic site to visit is Freecycle.org. Their goal is "to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community." Did you catch the term "gifting?" That means anything you donate or acquire is FREE. Simply send an e-mail to the members of your local Freecycle community and provide a treasure to another individual.

Decifer the Plastic Recycling Numbers

So, do you think your plastic take-out food container is recyclable just because it has the chasing arrows symbol on the bottom? Talk about a misconception! This symbol with the number inside simply indicates the type of resins used to produce the product.

Once all your different plastic recyclables has reached the recycling plant, it is important that the plastic types are not mixed. Just a tiny amount of the wrong plastic can destroy the melt. That is why the Society of the Plastic Industry has come up with a code, or number, inside of a recyclable-looking triangle to allow recyclers to differentiate between the various types of resin, or plastic. To find out in more detail what the numbers mean, check out http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/work/recycle.htm.


The numbers range from 1 to 7; 7 being the notorious, NO RECYCLING POTENTIAL. Most water bottle lids are made from this #7, so remember to take off the lids before you throw your bottle into the recycling bin. Other plastic products you may purchase may be labelled with the #7, so be really sure you want it. You'll have to hold onto it for eternity since it is un-recyclable!

Recycle, Donate or Sell Your Cell Phones

How many old cell phones (minus the battery, of course!) does your child have hiding in their toy chest? Cell phones are one of the many electronics that people are starting to purchase on an annual basis. So if you don't want your child to play with your old one, where do you dispose or donate them?



Many stores, gyms, and community centers have boxes set up to collect old, used cell phones to donate to victims of domestic violence. A brother and sister from Massachusetts started a worthy program, Cell Phones For Soldiers, where they collect discarded cell phones and send them to soldiers around the world.



Little did I know, you can actually get cash (from a few dollars to over $100) for your old, used cell phone. Check out, http://www.cellforcash.com/index.asp. Simply, find your model cell phone, request a postage paid box, and send back the cell phone with its charger. They will verify all the contents and mail you a check. Cell For Cash has many models to chose from, but if your particular phone is quite archaic, you just may have to donate it. Cell For Cash has a variety of safe options for you to recycle your cell phone.

No Sorting Needed...and You Get Cash?!

RecycleBank has come up with a revolutionary concept that entices people to WANT to recycle: combine all of our everyday recyclable items together in one large bin and get paid in the form of useful grocery and pharmacy coupons.

So far, this single stream recycling program is working in communities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey. Here's how it works:

"Each household in a RecycleBank area receives a bin with a computer chip in it. The household then fills the bin with paper, glass, plastic and metal--no sorting needed--and sets the bin on the curb. When the recycling is collected, an arm on the truck weighs the bin and uses the computer chip to record the weight. The data is added to an online account, and customers can log in to redeem their points each month for coupons and gift certificates.
"We generally see about a 100 percent increase in recycling in mid- to affluent neighborhoods," says CEO, Ron Gonen. "In lower-income neighborhoods, it can be up to 1,000 percent, because the recycling rates are so low there.
"If you think about solar or wind power or buying a hybrid, they're very important, but today they're not something that's accessible to the average person," he said. "I look at recycling as the average thing that every person and household can do."
Especially if it puts cash in your pockets."

Reuse, Donate or Recycle Your Hangers

Luckily, hangers are one of those items that we don't have to discard on a daily basis. But when it's time to get rid of them, what do we do with them?

Wire hangers can be either recycled as scrap metal or donated to your local dry cleaners, as long as they are in good shape--literally! Unfortunately, many plastic hangers are not always recyclable, so you really can't throw them in with your other plastics. If you've constructed enough fairy wings or mobiles with your children, you can always connect with other people on freecycle.org to see who needs extra plastic hangers in your area. Some plastic hangers do have an identification number (a number inside the recycling symbol) on them so this way you know if your local recycling program will accept them.

Green Heart Global is a sustainable product development and manufacturing company, that has come up with a fantastic solution: 100% recyclable paper clothing hangers and 100% PET Plastic Hangers. Be sure to check out the site at http://www.dittohangers.com/index.php

What to do With Used Aluminum Foil and Zippered Plastic Bags

Since I've made an earth promise to drastically cut down on my use of aluminum foil and zippered plastic bags, I not only save money, but am helping lessen the impact of the already over-flowing landfills. I'm a member at EarthPromise.com, where they provide an easy way for people to make, track and keep promises about actions that will benefit the earth. This community is a caring and positive voice for the environment. You should definitely check it out.



Every so often, though, I do need to use aluminum foil and zippered plastic bags. They are both easily recyclable!! Aluminum foil (a.k.a. Tin foil) is made of aluminum, not tin. So, if possible, rinse off, wad it up and throw it in with your bottles and cans. For those zippered plastic bags, (i.e. Ziploc), just cut off the top zippered portion, rinse out, and toss in with your other plastic items.

Reuse Those Juice Pouches!

"Reuse" is part of the three part eco-mantra we hear so much about today: reduce, reuse and recycle. Many old products can be reused and made into useful new merchandise.

Take, for example, the impressive handbags, pencil cases and lunch bags made from different types of drink pouches. Thanks to TerraCycle , Capri Sun and the organic drink company, Honest Kids, they have found a way to keep billions of those non-recyclable drink pouches out of the overflowing landfills. Once you join the Drink Pouch Brigade, TerraCycle will not only create funky, useful bags to tote around, but they will donate up to $.02 per pouch to a charity of your choice.

For more detailed information and see what other everyday packaging you can collect, check out, http://www.terracycle.net/index.htm

Recycling Bottle Caps

Just when I thought I was doing my part by tossing my water bottles into a recycling recepticle, I find out the bottlecaps need to be removed. I've read that some workers are required to remove the caps prior to crushing, so why not help them out and untwist?! Unfortunatley, not all the bottlecaps are recycleable, so you might as well remove them all and either find a crafty use for them or bring them in to a place like Aveda that collects plastic bottlecaps to recycle into new products.

The article in greenbiz.com, simply explains Aveda's nationwide recycling cap program. Even the comments below the article have some informative information that's worth reading.

Finally a Solution for Those Dead CFLs

Just read about an easy way to dispose of those CFLs. Since they contain small amounts of mercury, you cannot toss them out with your regular garbage. Next time you make a Home Depot run, bring those dead CFLs along with you to recycle. Check this out from an article in Scientific American Earth 3.0 Special edition (http://www.sciamearth3.com/)


Dead Bulb DepositoryEveryone’s rushing to replace old incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which last longer and use far less electricity. The bulbs contain tiny amounts of mercury, however, so tossing them in the garbage when they do finally burn out poses an environmental hazard. Most trash collectors won’t take them. To help, Home Depot is now accepting used CFLs at all its 1,970 building supply stores. A few other retailers such as True Value and IKEA are also taking the dead lamps.