Beyond Bottles and Cans

Recently I updated one of my most popular Squidoo lenses to incorporate lots of info and ideas on ways anyone can do more to recycle, reuse and reduce at home. Here's an excerpt:

Ok, so you sort out your bottles, cans and newspapers for recycling... but are you aware of the hundreds of ways you can recycle common household products like coffee filters, silica gel packets, haircolor kits, cereal boxes and egg cartons? 

READ MORE:Recycling at Home - Beyond the Bottles and Cans

Community Gardens: An Excellent Way to Celebrate Earth Day

Community Gardens are a great way to do something positive for the community and the environment, and would be a great event to kickoff on Earth Day 2011 if you're looking for an eco-friendly event idea for your community. I recently checked out a local community garden known as Tucson Village Farm, The working urban farm is maintained by local kids through the organization's seed-to-table program. Children (and adults) are taught the benefits of healthy eating while helping to maintain crops that include vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers. "Growing Forward” is their K-5 state standardized agriculture literacy program. Hands-on learning stations include: farming, composting, worms, pollinators, and nutrition.

Junior high school art students have created more than a dozen colorful signs that educate visitors as well.
I'm lucky. I get to enjoy the ongoing fruits of their labors every time I walk to Trader Joe's. A neighbor's 5-year-old daughter often comes with me - I think it's just so she can see the progress... or because they have a full-size tractor, hay bales, a very wormy-y compost bin and a big red barn!

Saving the Earth means the World - Shopping Bag by UponRequest

Earth Day Around the World

How will you celebrate Earth Day this year?

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the environment, and will be celebrated in the US on April 22, although there will be tons of Earth Day/Week celebrations around the world.

From Wikipedia: "In the United States, Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the Spring Equinox, which is often March 20. This is a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. The first governmental recognition of Earth Day, authorized by the city of San Francisco, was on the Spring Equinox in 1970. The United Nations adopted this holiday the next year and celebrated Earth Day for the first time on the Spring Equinox in 1971."

Here's just a sampling of Earth Day celebrations around the globe:

• Climate Rally at National Mall, Washington, DC
• Earth Day Events in Southern California
• Convergence Festival: Earth Day Conference and Celebration in Ireland
• Earth Day Canada - search for events
• Earth Day Events - Australia

Can't make it to one of the above listed events? Why not celebrate Earth Day at home with friends and family... maybe you'll be inspired by these plastic bag artists: http://www.oddee.com/item_97040.aspx  or you'll be inspired to plant some wildflowers... you can get some FREE from Mount Sinai (LA). Whatever way you decide ... decide to make a difference.

Share
|

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The area of the Pacific Ocean dubbed The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 1,700 miles of floating plastic trash --think bigger than Texas. In fact, some say it stretches from the coast of California to China (an area estimated to be larger than the Continental U.S.)  For arguments sake, let's just say it's beyond BIG - it's almost unfathomable.  The vast majority of trash is Styrofoam and plastics - things that aren't biodegradable.


Awareness is the first step -- but certainly not enough to change or remedy the situation.  That's up to us.  It's up to us to dramatically reduce not only our plastic consumption, but also the amount of plastic waste that goes straight to landfills, and ultimately ends up in the Garbage Patch.

Feel like getting involved?  Check out these resources and stories of other eco-activists that are hoping to make a difference:

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is Worse Than We Thought - Inhabitat.com

Stop Trashing The Ocean: The Great Garbage Patch Facebook Page

Plastiki - Boat Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles Set Sail to Raise Awareness

E-Waste Recycling: Upcoming Events in Southern California

As you probably already know, electronic devices (everything from old laptops and monitors, to stereo systems and TVs) can not and should not be dumped in the local landfill.  There are several sites around Southern California that allow for dropoff of e-waste, but usually there's a charge.  Here are a few links for free and easy dropoff events coming up around Southern California.  Mark your calendar and gather up your electronic waste items!

San Diego Area (4 different dates/events in the San Diego area in January/February 2010)

Orange County - City of Huntington Beach, Central Library

Saturday, January 8 & 9, 2010
Orange County - Goldenwest College, Huntington Beach, Saturday Feb. 6, 2010 9am-3pm
Orange County - Garden Grove High School, January 16, 2010
Covina (LA County) Masonic Homes of California Fundraiser, January 23, 2010
North Hollywood  - January 17, 2010 Fundraiser event

* For business or schools with 5 or more e-waste items, contact http://www.recycle4free.net/ for free pickup in L.A. and Orange counties.

Eco-friendly Driving - Lessening Our Carbon Footprints

For many of us, walking or using public transportation is not a viable option for getting around on a daily basis, however, there are still plenty of ways we can strive to lessen our carbon footprints.

• Combine errands that are usually spread out over a couple of days into one trip.

• Park and go inside to order food as opposed to using the drive-thru.
  
  
• Carpool with neighbors or co-workers at least once a week.
  
  
• Buy eco-friendly car parts (like oil filters)
  

• Keep your car maintained. Change the oil, check the tire pressure, and regularly replace the oil filter.

• Drive an eco-friendly car. Yes, there are some affordable options - The one pictured is the Alpin Hybrid Concept Car. More info here
  
  
• For more eco-friendly driving tips, check out the EPA's Drive Wise page.
  

How to Be an Eco-Friendly Reader

I'm an avid reader, but I rarely buy new books and magazines for myself. Originally, I was doing this because of my "genetically instilled" thrifty values - my mother was the queen of yard sale bargains when I was a kid, and I'm happy to say that particular trait didn't skip a generation!

Reading enriches our lives and creates lifelong readers and book collectors. Of course, that in itself is the main reason for the number of vast home libraries and collections. However, according to some reports, as many as 30 million trees are cut down in the U.S. alone to be used in the production of new books and magazines.
So how do you continue to enjoy reading, but minimize the effects on the environment? By becoming an eco-friendly reader. Here are a few ideas to get started: Read the full article here

How to Recycle Old Electronics | eHow.com

Many of us have old cell phones, calculators, DVD players, or other small electronics that we are no longer using. There are several ways you can recycle old electronics, possibly allowing others to find a good use for them, and saving our landfills at the same time. Read the full article here: How to Recycle Old Electronics | eHow.com

Cradle to Cradle Products

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) products are becoming more and more popular (thank goodness) and incorporate using recycled materials, helping us to get one step closer to being waste free. McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC. (known as MBDC) are the folks currently issuing C2C certificates for manufacturers of everything from roofing materials to baby products. You can view the list of current C2C certificate holders here. Certification criteria includes using safe and healthy materials; using water efficiently for production, and instituting socially responsible strategies. Hopefully, there will be thousands of products added to this list in the next 3-5 years.

By the way, in a previous post I mentioned Aveda's cap recycling program... I'm happy to report they are also on the C2C list and have received Gold certification for several of their products.

Check out the YouTube Channel Cradle to Consumer for more products:

Biodegradable Pet Poop Bags

Check out the eco-friendly pet poop bags at FlushDoggy.com.

• 100% biodegradable & flushable
• Dog waste bag measures 10.75" X 8.5"
• 10% of sales donated to the ASPCA to fight puppy mills
• ON SALE now - get an annual supply (420 biodegradable flushable poop bags) + Free Shipping for less than $55!
• Great gift idea for your favorite dog walker or dog lover.
  

Here's some statistics from FlushDoggy.com -
71,000,000 dogs create 29,000 pounds of waste each day.
While dog poop is biodegradable, the traditional plastic bags we often use to dispose of it are not, which means it creates problems for our landfill and sea-bound water systems.

FlushDoggy even offers a poop calculator, just in case you're really that curious...

Recycle Caps with Aveda

In case you haven't heard, Aveda has a recycling program for plastic jug & bottle caps that is a simple way to help the environment. Did you know many of the city curb side recycling programs don't want you to throw in the caps when you throw away your plastic water and soda bottles, or milk and juice containers? Huntington Beach's recycling is one of those who don't, and at times it's felt like those little caps were multiplying everywhere! I found them in baskets, the junk drawer, shoved at the back of the counter... you get the picture. So I was very happy to hear about Aveda's program - and it couldn't be easier! Simply take all your collected caps into the Aveda Salon/store nearest you, and they'll do the rest. Aveda has pledged to keep these rigid caps out of our water and away from birds and other marine creatures by repurposing them into product packaging. Now that's what I call a beautiful thing! For more information, click here.

Speaking of beautiful things -- Check out these great recycled shopping bags!

From Washing Machine To Ottoman

What you're looking at is a recycled drum from an old washing machine. Add a seat, casters (although I think those could be optional) and you've got cool extra seating available for indoors or even out on the patio, depending on the type of fabric you use for the cushion. I came across this eco-friendly DIY project on the Eco-street.com blog. I'd love to see how other readers became inspired to do something similar.

Budget-friendly, eco-friendly... it's definitely a good green thing.

Recycled Jewelry Artisan

Check out the fun & funky jewelry made by crafter Michele Rappoport (BlingALing on Etsy.com). She's got lots of creative pieces that she's created from recycling a variety of objects. These earrings caught my eye because they're made from recycled Starbucks Gift Cards. How clever! (Click the Title to go to her Etsy store). I'll be checking back with her from time to time to find more fun & funky recycled crafts.

Activism

Photo credit: ©Angela Fuller

Activism: Intentional action to bring about social or political change.  

I think more and more, the average "global citizen" is realizing that (1) we are all in this together (2) EVERY voice, every action that is taken to make our world a better place for all that inhabit it, is a worthwhile intention to pursue.  Historically, it is the grass-roots efforts, the ones started by a single word, a single spark of ingenuity or a single tear shed for an injustice, that have an effect on us. It's in our nature to champion "the little guy", the "underdog", the "David" that takes on Goliath...  What change can YOU affect in your little corner of the world today?

Need an idea or two to get you started?  How To Be An Effective Activist

Be well. Be inspired. Be the change.

From Soda Cans To Solar Heating

Free Solar e-book offer

For a limited time, RealGoodsSolar.com is offering a 37-pg FREE e-book called From Sunshine to Electricity (an excerpt from their book for purchase: Solar Living Source Book).  Get your copy while you can!  Click here for free e-book 

How To Recycle Hair Color Kits

So you're already saving big bucks by coloring your hair at home, but did you know you can use many of the items in hair coloring kits for other projects? Read more

Recycled Jewelry Boxes

Check out these great little recycled Indian bangle bracelet boxes from VivaTerra.com.  They're on sale for $9 (a 60% discount) so get them while you can!  VivaTerra has lots of other gifts and home decor that are eco-friendly! Mother's Day is just around the corner...

How to Go Green in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, CA is committed to being an environmentally safe, energy efficient, healthy community. If you are a resident here, there are many ways you can support the City's commitment to Going Green. Read more of this article