17 Things You Thought You Couldn't Recycle
Detox Your Mailbox: Eliminate Unwanted Catalogs
22 Steps Toward Energy Efficiency
What is Your Carbon Footprint?
17 Things You Thought You Couldn't Recycle
Sometimes recycling isn't just about taking something old, grinding it down into small particles, and creating something new. Sometimes it is about repurposing, redistributing, and relinquishing items which we once held dear and for which we had great use. Here's a list items that can be recycled, reused, and reinvented to yield a benefit to the planet and those in need.
Sneakers:
Each year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes find their final resting place in landfills across the globe. These sneakers contain valuable materials that could be re-used. In 1990, blending creative imagination, some ingenious engineering and a persistent pursuit of the principles of sustainability, Nike created the Reuse-A-Shoe program. Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program collects worn-out athletic shoes of any brand from special drop-off sites at Nike stores as well as special recycling programs and events nationwide and turns old athletic shoes into playground and athletic flooring. Since 1990, Nike’s program has recycled more than 21 million pairs of athletic shoes to create more than 265 sport surfaces providing safe playgrounds for kids as part of their Let Me Play global community investment program. For drop off sites in your area or to find out more about Nike’s recycling programs,visit www.nikebiz.com
Rechargeable Batteries:
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) collects used rechargeable batteries at over 50,000 Call2Recycle® drop-off locations nationwide. Started 1994, the RBRC has been committed to educating people about rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling. By providing convenient drop-off sites across the U.S. and Canada, they have, to date, collected and recycled more than 42 million pounds of rechargeable batteries. Retailers can enroll in the Call2Recycle program at www.rbrc.org. Consumers can keep rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream in their community by finding local drop-off sites. Visit www.Call2Recycle.org or call 1-877-2-RECYCLE to find out more.
Christmas Trees:
If you’ve purchased a potted Christmas tree from your local nursery or garden center, replanting it on your property or donating it to your local parks department, school, friend, or neighbor is sure to bring years of continued enjoyment. If you’ve purchased a cut tree, how about treecycling this year? Recycling live Christmas trees after the holiday can have many benefits to your local community. According to www.earth911.com, real Christmas trees can be re-purposed into many eco-friendly options. They can be turned into mulch and used in gardening and landscaping or chipped and used on hiking trails, paths and walkways. Christmas trees can also been used for erosion control, soil stabilization and shoreline maintenance. When used in this manner, the trees not only stabilize the soil, but also provide habitats for fish, birds, amphibians and mammals. In some areas, community groups, like the Boy Scouts, will come pick up the trees curbside for a small donation and take them to the nearest recycling center for you. Find out about treecycling in your area click here: www.earth911.com
BONUS: Send your old Christmas lights to www.holidayleds.com, they’ll recycle them for you and give you a coupon for 15% off the purchase of new, energy-efficient LED lights. WIN-WIN!
Holiday Greeting Cards:
When the holidays are over, why not turn some of those beautiful greeting cards into gift tags for next year? Start by separating the front of the prettiest holiday cards from the back. Trim the edges of the front, following the design of the card, to create a festive gift tag. If the design leaves no room for writing “TO:” and “FROM:” use the back for your message. What a great way to save money and reuse beautiful holiday cards.
Cell phones:
The national Call To Protect program enables people to retire their wireless phones in a manner that will help the environment and provide phones, with matching airtime, to domestic violence agencies. In addition, the funds generated through Call To Protect collections and other wireless industry programs have provided grants totaling over $10,000,000 to national organizations leading the campaign to end domestic violence. To donate or request more info: www.wirelessfoundation.org
Tires:
According to the EPA, you may be able to return surplus tires to either a tire retailer or a local recycling facility. Be sure to confirm that the facility accepts tires for recycling and check for quantity and size limitations. Some local municipalities will also periodically conduct "tire amnesty days" when local citizens can bring a limited number of tires to a drop-off site free of charge. Curious about new uses for old tires? The EPA website suggests that scrap tires may be cut, punched, and stamped into various rubber products after removal of the steel bead. Products include floor mats, belts, gaskets, shoe soles, highway crash barriers, and boat bumpers on marine docks. Or, for an afternoon of good old-fashioned fun, how about installing a tree swing in the backyard? For more information and specific requirements and regulations for your area, contact your local solid waste management agency.
Eyeglasses:
New Eyes For The Needy purchases new eyeglasses for poor children and adults in the United States and recycles donated glasses for distribution to indigent people in developing nations worldwide. Over 4,400 social service agencies and 3,500 optical dispensers partner with New Eyes For The Needy to provide eyeglasses and sunglasses to less fortunate Americans. Since 1932, they have brought improved vision and hope for a better future to more than 7,000,000 people in the U.S. and around the world. Eyeglasses in good condition are also sent to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations. New Eyes for the Needy is a non-profit, non-sectarian volunteer organization. www.NewEyesForTheNeedy.org.
Lions Clubs International is a network of 1.3 million men and women in over 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. Known for their honorable work to end preventable blindness, Lions participate in a variety of projects important to their communities. Through their Lions Recycle For Sight program they have helped to conserve sight by providing usable eyeglasses to children and adults throughout the world. According to the Lions, “donated eyeglasses can help millions to experience corrected vision for the first time, enabling them to read, attend school, gain employment and take care of their families”. The donated glasses are collected and then shipped to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where they will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions and other groups. Eyeglass recycling is one of the Lions' most popular activities. Although the program was officially adopted by the association in 1994, Lions have been collecting glasses for more than 80 years. Find out more at www.lionsclubs.org or contact your local Lions Club.
Computers & Electronics:
Thousands of computers are taken out of service every year when consumers opt for new and improved models. Many of these are still perfectly usable and could be passed along to nonprofit organizations, schools, and used by people with disabilities. If you have a working computer that you would like to donate, please visit www.sharetechnology.org. This website is designed to provide a way for computer donors to locate and connect with local groups seeking computers.
Earlier this fall, RadioShack announced the launch of The RadioShack Online Trade-In Program which allows customers to exchange used, portable electronics for a RadioShack gift card. Customers can visit the RadioShack Trade-In Program site to ascertain their product’s trade-in value. If the value is acceptable, customers can mail their electronics (using prepaid shipping labels provided by RadioShack) and will receive a gift card within 10 to 14 days. Check with your local RadioShack retailer or visit the RadioShack website for terms and conditions of this offer.
Many computer retailers like Apple, DELL, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, SONY offer recycling and trade-in programs as well. Many programs are free and some offer trade-in incentives toward the purchase of a new computer. The programs vary by company. To review the details of a company’s recycling program you can visit the website of the manufacturer or you can visit www.mygreenelectronics.org for a summary of some of the most popular recycling programs offered by the biggest manufacturers.
GreenDisk.org offers a convenient, comprehensive set of services to help individuals and organizations reduce the expense and the environmental impact associated with obsolete technology. Specialized, convenient recycling programs are available for virtually all forms of techno trash. Check for details and related fees at www.GreenDisk.org.
Formal Dresses & Gowns:
Created in 2002, Operation Fairy Dust provides NYC high school girls in need with a formal dress for their senior prom. This gives them the ability to attend their prom with confidence, translating into an increased level of self-esteem. The prom is one of the largest social events of a teenager's high school years. This rite of passage is expensive, and although most teens hope to attend the event, they are often unable to meet the costs to participate. Operation Fairy Dust (OFD) helps these young women by offering them dresses, cosmetics, and accessories which have been donated to the group. If you have a bridesmaid dress or formal dress hanging your closet, why not help make a young girls dream come true? Operation Fairy Dust assists girl within New York City. To find out more about the NYC based group or to find a similar “sister program” in your area, visit www.operationfairydust.org.
Gently Worn Business Attire:
Dress for Success Worldwide is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women located in 85 cities across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and New Zealand. Their mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since 1997, Dress for Success has served almost 450,000 women around the world. Each year they reach more than 40,000 women in their international network. The professional clothing, employment retention programs and ongoing support that they provide symbolize their faith in every woman's ability to be self-sufficient and successful in her career. Find out how to donate at: www.DressForSuccess.org.
Towels:
Clean used towels and washable baby blankets can find great new uses at local animal shelters and rescues. Many shelters welcome the donations putting them to use as bedding, comforting an animal in the medical department, or for drying a rescue animal after a bath. Contact your local shelter to see if they are accepting donations.
Packing Peanuts:
The Plastic Loose Fill Council (PLFC) was founded in 1991 to develop, promote and implement the original use and subsequent recovery, reuse and recycling of polystyrene loose fill, commonly known as "packing peanuts." The Peanut Hotline, 800-828-2214 and www.loosefillpackaging.com, is the national reuse program for plastic packing peanuts. Consumers can drop off their leftover plastic packing peanuts at Peanut Hotline collection sites. There are over 1,500 collection sites in the US. You can search for a drop-off site in your area at www.loosefillpackaging.com.
Videotapes & CDs:
Videotapes and CDs can make a great donation to senior centers, assisted living facilities, and homes for people with special needs. Some schools and libraries may also accept donations. Please call ahead and check with the individual facility before dropping a bag on their doorstep. You can also find out about recycling VHS and CDs at www.GreenDisk.org.
Paint:
The home improvement project is over and you have some leftover paint. While many of us will store the can in the garage for the anticipated touch up in a few years, it is more likely that the paint will not retain its quality and become unusable. Instead, why not record the paint manufacturer and color identification number in a safe place and donate your unused paint? Here are a few ideas for what you can do with your remaining paint. Donate it to our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, offer it to your high school’s drama department where it can be put to great use creating a stunning new set for the Spring musical, or check with your place of worship to see if there is a family in your community who might want to use it for a quick and inexpensive room makeover. Empty steel paint cans are recyclable. To recycle steel paint cans, they must be empty and all paint contents dried. If you have a stack of old paint cans in the garage already, contact your local recycling coordinator for details on how best to handle this item for disposal.
Appliances:
The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) is an industry association that promotes and sustains the recycling of all steel products. The SRI educates the solid waste industry, government, business and ultimately the consumer about the benefits of steel's infinite recycling cycle. According to their website, “recycling steel saves energy and natural resources. In a year, the steel industry saves the equivalent energy to electrically power about 18 million households for a year”. If you are replacing a working appliance due to a design renovation, look to local charities that might find a match for your item. Non-working washing machines, water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, and dryers can all be recycled. The Steel Alliance and the Steel Recycling Institute have teamed up to bring you the first searchable online database specifically designed to help us find locations that will recycle steel cans and appliances. The easy-to-navigate database contains over 30,000 steel recycling locations, searchable by state and zip code. www.recycle-steel.org.
Carpets:
Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a joint industry-government effort to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going to landfills. CARE, which is funded and administered by the carpet industry, was established as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU), a national agreement signed by members of the carpet industry, representatives of government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and non-governmental organizations.
The CARE website offers a great deal of information about the recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet. While some of it is quite technical, they offer sufficient answers to some very general questions, including what can I do with my used carpet (the site offers a map of carpet recovery centers across the country with contact information) and what products are made from recycled carpet (recycled content backing, composite lumber for decks, roofing shingles, railroad ties, automotive parts, and stepping stones). www.CarpetRecovery.org.
Sports Equipment:
Has your son outgrown last year’s football gear? Are you using your exercise equipment as a place to line-dry your favorite jeans? Has your daughter decided she would rather play basketball this year instead of soccer? Want to trade-up those golf clubs? At Play It Again Sports® you can buy, sell and trade gently used sport equipment and gear. Each franchise store is independently owned, to find a location, sell or trade equipment, visit www.playitagainsports.com.
Skating
around town in your size 7 1⁄2 rollerblades not your idea of fun
anymore? Starting a business and in need of a three-draw file cabinet?
Looking to find a new home for the videos and cds your kids no longer
enjoy? What if there was a place where you could connect with someone
in
your neighborhood who either needs what you have or has what you need?
Welcome to Freecycle.org where the mission is simlple: to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community. Now living clutter free also means keeping your community clean and green.
Freecycle™ was launched on May 1, 2003 by Deron Beal, an environmentalist who at the time was working for a small nonprofit recycler in Tuscon, Arizona. Through his job, he saw firsthand, the items people were discarding and thought that some of the items, while no longer useful to their present owner, would make a welcomed gift for someone in need. The wheels started turning, the give and take idea was massaged, and the freecycle concept took flight.
The
Freecycle Network™ as we know it today is made up of nearly 5,000
groups with nearly 6,000,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots
and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff
for free in their own towns. The Freecycle community uses the power and
reach of the internet to connect local individuals looking to give something
away with those who would like to acquire it. The guiding principle is
that everything be free with no strings attached. It might be described
as a virtual yard sale of sorts, where no money ever changes hands, where
communities are strengthened and where the evironment is preserved. Each
local group is moderated by a local volunteer who very closely monitors
the interaction between the givers and the takers.
Freecycle exists because of the volunteer moderators who “own” the local freecycle groups and manage its activity. Owners like Erika Muller who has been volunteering and operating New York’s Nassau County group for the last four years. When asked how much time she devotes to managing her Freecycle group, she replied “probably more than 40 hours a week”. That is in addition to her full time job in New York City and raising her family on Long Island. Like the other “owners”, she doesn’t get paid with money, but is rewarded with the result of doing something good for people and great for the environment. “I do it because it is my way of giving back,” she said. “I don’t have lots of money to donate to charity or lots of free time to volunteer somewhere. This is something I can do that fits into my life and lifestyle. I love doing it. I was raised to understand the importance of giving back.”
Muller’s Nassau County group has nearly 8,000 members who, with another 15,000 or so from the two neighboring Suffolk County groups, bring the total Freecycle membership on Long Island to over 23,000. Part of the owner’s responsibility is to enforce the rules—and there are many. All of them aim to keep the members safe (some of the more obvious rules include forbidding the exchange of tobacco, guns, drugs, or pornography) and to make the experience rewarding. The rules, along with Freecycle etiquette tips are posted online.
According
to Muller, “the most popular items are those for babies and kids—cribs,
toys, clothes, games, DVDs, CDs, and VHS tapes. And maternity clothes
too.” On the day we visited our local Freecycle group online, we
found a number of posts including one from a member offering a black office
chair, another member in need of a microwave, and another looking for
a baby-jogging stroller.
In five short years, Deron Beal’s idea is now a success on so many levels. His Freecycle concept has inspired a grass-roots altruistic trend that has spread to over 75 countries and includes thousands of local groups representing millions of members—people helping people. As a result, the Freecycle website reports that “we are currently keeping over 300 tons a day out of landfills! This amounts to four times the height of Mt. Everest in the past year alone, when stacked in garbage trucks!”
Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box on the network’s website (www.freecycle.org) or by clicking on “Browse Groups” to locate one closest to you. Chances are there is a group already established in your local area, if not, you can volunteer to start one following the posted instructions.
The benefits of the Freecycle Network are many: keeping things out of the local landfills, giving away something that has no use in our life anymore to someone who could extend its usefulness a little longer, giving gifts to people while clearing out our own clutter, and creating, building, and sustaining an environmentally aware community.
The Freecycle Network is a private, nonprofit organization based out of Tucson, Arizona, and stewarded by many volunteers like Erika Muller. Visit www.freecycle.org to find the Freecycle group in your area.
Detox
Your Mailbox:
Eliminate Unwanted Catalogs
Developed
by a group of leading environmental organizations, Catalog Choice is on
a mission to improve the efficiency of catalog distribution by reducing
the number of repeat and unsolicited mailings. It is a free service that
lets you decline specific paper catalogs that you no longer wish to receive.
According to Catalog Choice: Each year more than 19 billion paper catalogs are mailed to American consumers. What’s the impact?
- Number of trees used – 53 million trees
- Pounds of paper used – 3.6 million tons
- Energy used to produce this volume of paper – 38 trillion BTUs, enough to power 1.2 million homes per year
- Contribution to global warming – 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equal to the annual emissions of two million cars
- Waste
water discharges from this volume of paper – 53 billion gallons,
enough to fill 81,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense paper calculator www.papercalculator.org. Source: www.catalogchoice.org.
“Every day, millions of unwanted catalogs clog consumers’ mailboxes and are immediately tossed in the trash. More than just an annoyance, they are overflowing municipal waste systems, devouring precious natural resources, and contributing to pollution and global warming,” says Laura Hickey, senior director for Global Warming Education at the National Wildlife Federation, which joined the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ecology Center to launch the Catalog Choice service in the fall of 2007.
Catalog Choice services both consumers and businesses. Consumers can indicate which catalogs they no longer wish to receive, and businesses can receive a list of consumers no longer wanting to receive their catalogs—saving them production, postage, and associated mailing costs.
Catalog Choice makes it easy for you to simplify your life, reduce clutter, and save natural resources. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
Step 1: Sign up.
Fill out the online registration form using your name and primary mailing address. Your contact information will only be used for the purpose of declining/opting-out of catalog delivery.
Step 2: Find your catalogs.
Find and decline your catalogs, using the Catalog Choice search facilities. Catalog Choice will then contact the catalog providers on your behalf, requesting that your name be removed from their mailing lists.
Step 3: See the results.
It can take at least ten weeks to process your request, after which you should no longer receive your declined catalog. If you do continue to receive them, you can return to the Catalog Choice website to let them know, and they'll follow up with the merchant.
Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and funded by the Overbrook Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, and the Kendeda Fund.
The Catalog Choice community is presently 994,285 persons strong, having already opted out of 13,132,903 catalogs. To take advantage of this free service or to find out more, visit www.catalogchoice.org.
22 Steps Toward Energy Efficiency
Looking for
ways to save energy and money? www.coopamerica.org suggests “go for a big, but doable goal—10% energy saved per
year over the next five years, 50% in five years!” For the
average household, 10% per year energy savings is only about 1,000 kilowatt-hours
(kwh) of energy/year.
Co-op
America is confident that many families could achieve the first 1,000
kwh/year of savings by washing clothes in cold water (770 kwh/yr); placing
several major electronics, such as video and stereo systems, on a surge
protector that can be switched off (47kwh/year); and brushing of their
refrigerator's condenser coils twice a year (392 kwh/year).
Many families could get another 1,000 kwh/year reduction by replacing half of their incandescent lighting with compact fluorescents (440kwh/year), letting the dishes in the dishwasher air dry (404kwh/year), and enabling the "sleep" function on their computer and printer to go on after five minutes of non-use (259kwh/year).
Thanks to the folks at www.coopamerica.org who compiled this list, here are 22 steps you can take—each with the estimated energy savings you can achieve each year.
1. Turn off lights you're not using – There are even have switchplate reminders for you, downloadable from the www.coopamerica.org site. (2% energy savings per year, assuming an average family's energy use)
2. Schedule an energy audit – Your local utility will probably provide an audit for free, and you may also get a more comprehensive audit (saving you more money in the long term) by paying for a whole-house audit. (Up to 50% energy savings per year)
3. Don't heat or cool empty rooms – If there is a room in your house that is rarely used, close off the vents to save on heating and cooling. (Varies by size of room.)
4. Give your dishwasher a rest – Skip the energy-intensive drying cycle on your dishwasher and choose the air-dry option, or open the door for zero-energy dish drying. (5% energy savings per year)
5. Shift your energy load to off-peak hours – Because power sources must produce electricity around the time of use (without capacity for long-term storage) it is our collective peak demand that triggers the building of more polluting power plants. (Varies)
6. Turn off your electronics – If you're going to be away from your computer or other appliance for more than an hour, turn it off. (5% energy savings per year)
7. Eliminate "phantom load" – Many electronics use energy even while turned off, so your best bet is to unplug them when not in use. (5% energy savings per year)
8. Make your fridge more efficient – Keep your refrigerator's coils clean to boost its overall power, and store jugs of water in any empty space inside, because water retains coldness better than air. (4% energy savings per year)
9. Wash clothes in cold water – Your clothes will get just as clean, on half the energy. (7% energy savings per year)
10. Give up your dryer – Hang your clothes to dry on a clothesline or indoor rack. (10% energy savings per year)
11. Plug your air leaks – Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems are wasted when you're leaking out the cool or warm air you're putting in. (5% energy savings per year)
12. Reduce your water use – Simple ways to save water include fixing any leaks and replacing faucets and showerheads with low-flow options. (3% energy savings per year)
13.
Cut waste through windows – Properly seal window edges,
cover windows with curtains to prevent heat loss, or coat windows with
reflective "low-e" films that reduce heat loss while still allowing
light to shine through. (10% energy savings per year)
14. Help your hot water heater – Add an insulating cover to reduce heat loss. (1% energy savings per year)
15. Install ceiling fans – Reduce your air conditioner usage with ceiling fans. Look for "Energy Star" models that use 50 percent less energy. (19% energy savings per year)
16. Get a programmable thermostat – Automate when your heating or cooling systems come on to save energy while you sleep or are away from home. (10% energy savings per year)
17. Upgrade your appliances – Look for the "Energy Star," and you may be eligible for a tax break. (3 - 12% energy savings per year)
18. Upgrade your hot water heater – Save energy and space by upgrading to a tankless or solar hot water heater. (14% energy savings per year)
19. Green your roof – Studies have found that a green roof on a typical one-story building can result in a 25 percent reduction in summer cooling needs. (12% energy savings per year)
20. Save energy through landscaping – The US Department of Energy found that the proper placement of as few as three shady trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually. (12% energy savings per year)
21. Replace your windows – In step 13, you read recommendations for working with the windows you have. Replacing your windows with more energy-efficient versions can save you even more. (14% energy savings per year)
22. Don't waste energy on TV – With the switch to digital TV coming in 2009, many people are buying new, digital-ready TVs. If you must shop for a new television, look for an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, which uses six times less energy than a plasma screen. (2% energy savings per year)
Note: These energy savings assume an average US home, which uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and 19,000 cubic feet of natural gas per year.
Source: Co-Op America. For details about membership in Co-Op America or for more green information and ideas, visit www.coopamerica.org
What is Your Carbon Footprint?
In going about our daily lives, each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Yet, according to the Nature Conservancy, “there are many things each of us, as individuals, can do to reduce our carbon emissions.” Step one is to determine the impact left by the actions we take and the choices we make.
Visit www.Nature.org to use The Nature Conservancy's carbon footprint calculator to measure your impact on our climate. The carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year.
After a few simple questions, the calculator provides your individual emissions number (tons of CO2 eq/year) and shows how you compare to the average person living in the U.S. Click here to connect to the Nature Conservancy’s carbon footprint calculator.
Articles reprinted with permission of the Green Living Newsletter.
