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/
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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/.
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/.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, December 1, 2008
How To Recycle Toothpaste Tubes
Some good information about how to recycle toothpaste tubes can be found at greenyour.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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.
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.
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