Image by Paul Swansen / Creative Commons

Every week I run across environmental and green articles that catch my attention for one reason or another. This week I came across a number of recycling articles that I thought were worth sharing. So, without further ado, here is the recycling edition of the Weekly Greens:

1) 10 Things You Never Dreamed You Could Recycle: Most people recycle at least one or two items on a regular basis. Some toss their bottles and cans in recycling bins, while others have and use an at-home recycling container. Here are a few things you may not realize you can recycle.

2) New Merger of Recycling Pioneers Holds Promise for a Greener Future: It looks like Recyclebank and Greenopolis have joined forces in order to raise consumer awareness about recycling, and spark innovative ideas which could take recycling technology up to a whole new level.

3) Get Creative! 5 Easy, Inexpensive DIY Decorating Ideas: There is more than one way to recycle items. Even at home you can recycle, or reuse, items in order to make inexpensive decorations. Not everything needs to be purchased new. Some of the best decorating ideas come from recycle items and giving them new life!

4) The Caesars Foundation Brings Clean the World Recycling Center to Las Vegas with $150,000 Grant: It looks like many of those Las Vegas hotel room soaps and hygiene products are going to begin making their way to a new recycling center for non-profit Clean the World. The non-profit organization works to save lives by providing hygiene education and products to those in need.

5) Leading Brands to Pilot New Recycling Label in 2012: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has come up with a new label to more clearly show consumers how a product is to be recycled after it has been used. Costco, Microsoft, Seventh Generation and other leading brands have all committed to using the new labels on select products.

6) Turning Bras Into Fuel: Well, it looks like Japanese underwear makers are finding a better option for women who would rather not have their bras left sitting in a landfill somewhere. Why not turn them into fuel…of course.

7) Next Ford Escape to Use Recycled Plastic Bottles for Carpeting: Although there is no mention of Ford using bras, or any other underwear for fuel in their Ford Escape, they have reported they will be using plastic. The next generation Escape will have 25 recycled bottles in the carpeting of each vehicle. And that’s just one of their many innovative recycling ideas.

Image by COP10 Japan / Creative Commons

These various articles go to show how many different ways and ideas there are for recycling. It is not just about taking your bottles, cans and newspapers to the recycling center anymore. There is so much more that can and is being done. What steps are you taking to recycle?

Image from PathtoFreedom.com 

When it comes to sustainable-living, not many people can say they are living a sustainable life, much less a green one.  Don’t get me wrong, many people have parts of their life where they are trying to be green or trying to act more responsible when it comes to the environment, but aside from maybe using biodiesels, driving a hybrid, recycling or trying to conserve water, how much are we really doing?

Well the DerVaes family in Pasadena, CA decided they wanted to do more.  Over the past 20+ years, they have transformed their early 1900′s Craftsman bungalow home and run-down yard into a whole new level of urban living.  Determined to live a self-sufficient, low-impact life right in the middle of a big Southern California city, the Dervaes set out along their “Path to Freedom”.

Here are just some of their accomplishments on their Urban Homestead:

To start off, they try to do four days every week without using their car.  That’s four days where they walk, ride their bikes or take public transportation.  The other days when they do drive, they use their own homemade biodiesel.  Since they average less than 4000 miles a year on their car, every month or so they just brew up a 30-gallon batch of biodiesel made from used vegetable oil provided by one of their restaurant clients.  (NOTE: For those of you who don’t have vehicle that runs on diesel or don’t have a hybrid/electric vehicle, using a reliable fuel additive is another good alternative to help reduce emissions and increase fuel economy.) 

They have organic vege-fed ducks and chickens which provide eggs and goats which are used for milk.  None of the animals are grown for meat purposes, but the manure from those animals (and their rabbits) is another re-usable product and great for gardens and future growth.   

They have about 4350 sq ft of gardens where year-round they grow fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and even edible flowers.  Any excess the family doesn’t use is usually sold to local restaurants and caterers, however individuals can also get on the mailing list to be notified when excess produce is available.  They grow over 350 varieties of edible and useful plants (seasonal, of course) totaling about 6,000 lbs per year.

They have cut their energy use in half with 2/3rds of their energy coming from their 12 solar panels.  They also follow key energy saving tips such as using rechargable batteries, line-drying their clothes, using energy-efficient appliances, using olive oil lamps and homemade candles.  They use people-power to run many of their small applicances including a hand-powered toaster, bike-blender and radio.  They even have a solar powered oven.  They have no A/C and no central heating, but have solar attic fans and a wood-burning stove which uses up their scrap wood.

They have dramatically cut down on their water-waste, even with the large volume of produce they grow throughout the year.  They have incorporated low flush toilets and solar outdoor showers into the household.  They also do hand watering, mulching, re-use laundry water, etc.

I, for one, am very impressed not only with their dedication but with their accomplishments.  They aren’t living on a 12-acre farm somewhere, instead they have turned their city home into a profitable and viable way of sustainable living.  Incorporating everything from biodiesel to water waste, the DerVaes family has set the pace for urban homesteaders everywhere!

Biodiesel Home Brewing Guide photo from Peddlerswagon.com. Garden photo from DerVaesGardens.com.

Image by vagawi 

Whenever you have tires that just don’t have any tread left on them it’s time to get rid of them.  But what happens to tires that are worn down or no longer able to be used effectively?  Is there a biofriendly way to recycle them?  What kinds of things can be made by recycling tires?

First of all, before I go into tire recycling, let me mention a few tips to improve the life of your tires.  Make sure you rotate your tires regularly and keep them properly inflated.  Keeping your car tuned up (regular oil changes, using a proven fuel additive, tuning up your brakes, etc), driving on paved roads, ensuring your car isn’t weighed down with heavy items and even car-pooling are also steps that can help improve the life of your tires.  

But, when the time has come time to trade in those worn tires and get new ones, make sure you take your tires to a company that will recycle them.  Recycled tires can be used for a wide variety of products and with approximately 290 million tires discarded every year, recycling them is vital. 

For example, Vulcana® has a leather alternative (RubbRe™), which is made using recycled rubber from tires that were dumped in landfills.  Recycled tires can be used as planters in gardens or for that all-important tire swing in the backyard.  There are even companies who make tire mulch for use in gardens and playgrounds.  Mats, runners and truck bed liners are also common uses for recycled tires.   Another great use is as a fuel supplement for power plants, steel mills, etc.

Needless to say, there is no reason to fill up landfills with “used” tires when there are so many products that can be made by recycling tires.  Additionally, biofriendly tire advances continue to be made, like the researchers at Oregon State figuring out a way to “insert cellulosic plant material into tires, thereby cutting down the amount of dirty carbon black needed to make tires“.   Their cellulosic tires are not only more biofriendly, but have better traction on wet surfaces and are less affected by the heat.  Sounds like a winner all around!

Image from Pricegrabber.com 

Ziploc recently launched their Ziploc® evolve™ Sandwich and Storage Bags which are designed to be better for the environment. Great news, right?! But, why did they make a new line of bags instead of just making their existing bags more environmentally-friendly?  Well, according to their website, the new bags “are an option for those consumers looking to make better environmental choices in their lives”.

Wait…if you don’t want to make better choices for the environment, then Ziploc will continue to make their regular plastic bags so you can have more plastic, fill more landfills and continue polluting?  That seems a little off to me.

But let’s check out the new Ziploc® evolve™ Sandwich and Storage Bags anyway.  According to Ziploc, these new bags use a resin blend that uses 25% less plastic.  One other good thing is the boxes they use are 100% recycled paperboard.  SC Johnson also states their Ziploc products do not contain harmful BPA and they are 100% dioxin free.  All good things!

Here’s my question though…if Ziploc is really serious about making a change for the environment, why aren’t all their bags made with 25% less plastic, packaged in recycled paperboard boxes and manufactured with wind power?

What are they waiting for? Their website states they are “continuing to explore environmental improvements for all of our products”. That’s a good thing, but does that mean these bags were just a stop-gap measure designed to promote how “Ziploc is going green”?

A few other things to note: these bags are NOT reusable.  You also should not use them in the oven or microwave.  As far as whether they are recyclable, One Earth Recycling suggests that most recycling centers will take these types of plastic bags.

So, what do you think? Do you think Ziploc is making some good environmental changes or do you think they should go a little broader?  Let me know, I’d love to hear what you think.

Image by CSatch

The other day I was flipping through Woman’s Day magazine and I saw this great little article titled “the best way to recycle it”.  It basically said how to recycle old outdoor equipment.  Of course that got me thinking, what other odds and ends (or even every-day use items) can you recycle rather than toss?

So I figured I’d do some looking and see what I could find.  Here are just a few things I found:

• Old sports equipment, balls, hockey sticks, skis, camping gear, etc – donate it to your local community center or youth organization.  I’m sure there are many kids/adults who would be happy to use your “recycled” equipment.
• CDs, DVDs and their cases – If you don’t want to donate them for someone else’s enjoyment, you can always give them to a recycling program to be recycled into an egg carton or automotive part. 
• Tennis shoes and other athletic footwear (no cleats) – Nike has a great program caleld Reuse-a-shoe that turns athletic footwear into a material called “Nike Grind” and then uses it to surface playgrounds, running tracks and outdoor courts.  Talk about giving back to the sport.
• Glasses, please don’t throw them away – You can donate glasses or frames to the Give the Gift of Sight Foundation or drop them off at your local eyeglass chain such as LensCrafters or even Walmart has recycling bins for glasses/frames (cell phones, too).
• Your “old clunker” - rather than trying to sell it to someone else so that they drive around in your high-emission, low-mpg vehicle, trade it in at your local dealer as part of the Car Allowance Rebate System (aka Cash for Clunkers).  Oh wait, they just suspended that program as it was a little “too successful”.  Well, you can still donate your old car to programs like PurpleHeartCars.org where your donation supports combat-wounded veterans and their families.

And remember, until they reinstate the Car Allowance Rebate System, you can always do simple actions to increase the fuel economy and lower your emissions.  Rotating and properly inflating your tires, using a proven fuel additive, getting your car a tune-up, etc. all help lower emissions and improve fuel economy.

Now of course most of these items can be donated to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, your local church, shelters or other non-profit charities that accept goods.  The main thing to remember is even if you can’t use it or no longer use an item, it doesn’t mean you should just throw it away.  If it is in workable condition, someone else can most definitely make good use of it.  If it really is “junk”, then ensure you recycle it if you can.  You never know what wonderful things your recycled junk could bring to life.

Image by SanyamStudios

Anything having to do with “going green” or green/clean technology is definitely a hot subject these days. Companies taking steps towards improving the environment, lessening their carbon footprint and promoting sustainable/eco-friendly living are what everyone wants to see and hear. It is so big in fact, that per the UN, it is estimated the world’s green economy will be worth close to $3 trillion dollars by the year 2020.

But, what about the next generations? What about our children? Many students are about to step into the working world, but are they prepared to carry forth with everything that is being done in these green economy sectors? What do they know about energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation, fuel additives, agriculture, green transportation, etc?

Yes, maybe their parents teach them some of these valuable environmentally-friendly tips, but what are they learning in school? With unemployment rates where they are today, students need an upper edge that will prepare them to get a good job. With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $50 billion for green jobs, teachers owe it to their students to help ensure they have the knowledge and skills needed to get those GREEN jobs.

Thankfully, Green Technology is working to bridge that gap. The first “Green Pathways to the Future” Teacher Institute is taking place in Northern California on August 10-11, 2009 and the second in Pasadena, CA on December 10-11, 2009. These events are designed to provide that much needed interaction between educators and green industry/business representatives.

If you work in the green industry, it would be worth it to attend and/or make a presentation at the “Green Pathways to the Future” event. Besides giving valuable green information and resources, you will be helping mold the future of the green industries though our children.

Green industries are the future and we must educate our children so they can help power that future. Therefore, the time to start getting the word out is now. So, if you work in a green business/industry, please see what contribution you can make to educating our educators about how your green business helps the environment. You’ll be thankful you did!

Image by WalkingGeek 

If you are looking for a better, more biofriendly way to get around Manhattan’s West Side, how about using the High Line.  What is the High Line you ask?  Well, it’s an environmentally-friendly elevated park which runs for about 1 1/2 miles through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.

The High Line features an integrated landscape which combines concrete walkways with naturalistic paintings all within a beautiful park filled with plants, trees, flowers, etc.  It also has fixed and movable seating as well as nice lighting and other appealing features.  Running high above the crowded Manhattan streets, the High Line literally rescues pedestrians from the crowded, exhaust-filled streets below and transports them into a pleasant walking park 30 feet above.

The original High Line was constructed in the 1930s as part of a massive project to lift freight traffic 30 feet in the air, thus getting dangerous freight trains off Manhattan streets.  Last used in 1980, the tracks have been barren and unused for almost 30 years.  But back in 1999, a community-based non-profit group formed to save the historic structure, which was under threat of demolition.  That group, “Friends of the High Line”, worked in coordination with the City of New York and managed to preserve and refurbish the structure.

If you’ve ever been to New York, you’re familiar with the crowded streets, taxi cabs running everywhere (most in serious need of a good fuel additive to at least lessen the exhaust they produce) and crowds pushing along trying to get where they need to go.  The High Line cuts through that and takes walking in New York to new heights.

In a big city like New York the fact that city officials and private citizens are taking their time and effort to figure out green and eco-friendly uses for an old elevated track is a good sign.  That it also gets pedestrians up and off crowded city streets and walking through a freshly landscaped park, all the better.

Hopefully we’ll see more biofriendly plans like this coming to fruition in crowded, high-pollution cities.  Anything that can be done to take an obviously non-green structure and turn it into a green, eco-friendly structure, is a good thing.  It means more people are starting to think about recycling and re-using on a bigger scale.  Do you have any structures in your city that could use a “green” redevelopment?

Image by Giles Douglas

Most of us are trying to do our part, no matter how big or small, to help the environment and make our lives a little more “green”.  Any little bit helps and when it comes to kids, they like to do their little (or big) part to help.  They want to do what we’re doing, so…why not let them make a difference?

Well, Disney is counting on just that.  With their recent launch of Friends for Change: Project Green, they are asking kids to come and take a pledge to start doing small actions that can make a big difference.  Pledges like turning off the lights when they leave the room, turning off the water while they are brushing their teeth, using rechargeable batteries, donating or recycling instead of throwing things away, etc.  And if parents are smart, they will encourage their children to take the challenge so they can learn more about conservation, how to save energy, etc.  Trust me, it will teach good habits AND save you money!

For example, my three year old daughter turns off the lights when she leaves a room (and reminds us if we don’t), she likes to fill up the tub half-way and turn off the water so she can take a bath and not keep the water running, she knows that cans get recycled not just thrown away, etc.  My one and a half year old is even learning to keep areas clean by picking up trash, etc.

So if you are looking for ways to help the environment and save money, in addition to the things you are probably already doing like buying local and/or organic, using an effective fuel additive, cutting down basic household expenses, recycling, etc – get your kids to take the Friends for Change pledge.

As a bonus, when the kids complete the projects they’ve pledged to do they get to help decide how Disney will distribute a quarter of a million dollars to environmental causes every three months for the next year – one million dollars total.  Remember, it doesn’t matter how big or small you are, everyone can do something to help live a little “greener”. 

Image from GreenisUniversal.com 

I first heard about iBloom when a friend of mine sent me a link to download it the other day.  She knows I have a lot of interest in environmental and green activities and knows I even have a (Lil) Green Patch on Facebook.  So she thought I might appreciate the new Green is Universal iBloom application.  Unfortunately since I don’t have an iPhone I didn’t download it, but it did get me interested in finding out more.

For those of you not familiar with GreenisUniversal.com, it was launched by NBC Universal last November to show their commitment to bringing “an environmental perspective to our networks, our platforms, our audiences, our communities…in fact, to everything we do.”

The iBloom application is one of their latest “green” activities.  The iBloom application apparently allows you to virtually plant a seed and watch it grow.  You can water it, feed it and protect it from pollution so it can grow into a happy flower and you can make it to the next level.  Sounds kind of cool….personally I like the Facebook (Lil) Green Patch application though because for every ten friends you send a virtual plant to, you are helping to save 1 square foot of actual rain forest from deforestation.  (I’ve saved over 70 sq ft so far.)  Maybe the iBloom application has a similar feature that allows you to do something for the environment not just virtually but in reality too.

But, regardless of whether the application has actual environmental benefits like cleaning up pollution/trash at your local beach, or cutting down harmful emissions by using an effective fuel additive, or conserving water, or recycling your bottles and cans or even planting a real tree in your own yard, the launch did make a difference.  As part of the iBloom launch, Green is Universal (in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation) committed to donating 10,000 trees to parks and schools across the U.S. during Earth Week.  So long as someone waters the real-life trees, feeds them and protects them from pollution, I’d say that’s a good benefit.

Image from Earthday.net

Earth Day Network is launching their “Green Generation™” campaign on Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 aka Earth Day 2009.  The Green Generation campaign is not an initiative solely designed to generate interest in Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary (coming in 2010), but is a genuine movement that people of all ages and walks of life can and should become involved in.

It doesn’t matter what your ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views, etc. are, if you think it is worthwhile to have a healthier, cleaner planet then there is something you can do.

The Green Generation campaign wants to reach out to ordinary people, like you and me, who are engaged in activities or want to take steps to improve their health, improve the schools in their areas, improve the air quality around them, etc.  From what I’ve read, this is not one of those groups where only large corporations or mega-millionaires can make a difference.  This campaign is open to anyone and everyone.

This means you too can join the Green Generation by committing to steps such as buying green, recycling, working with your child’s teachers to provide healthier foods at school, using biofuels or fuel additives to lower harmful emissions and even looking for a green job.  These are all simple actions we, as individuals, can take that when added together with the actions of those around us, can make a significant difference.

Remember, creating a better and greener world is not something you can leave to the next guy to do.  It is something we all need to be aware of in the decisions we make on a daily basis.  So, what commitment are you going to make on Earth Day 2009?