Image by U.S. Army Environmental Command / Creative Commons

To many, recycling e-waste ranks right up there with going to the dentist and protecting your compost pile from marauding wildlife. But leaving a 36-inch TV on the curb really is not the best way to ensure it’s going to find a safe afterlife. E-waste is defined as televisions, computers, laptops, printers, cables, VCRs, cell phones, copiers, fax machines, stereos, and electronic games. If this goes into a landfill, its toxic component goes into our water table. In many states, such as California, it is illegal to place your e-waste in with the regular trash. So how to ensure our electronics are being disposed of in a responsible manner?

You can sell your electronics to recyclers via the web. Sites such as Gazelle.com will buy your old electronics off you, compensating you by Paypal. Gazelle allows you to donate your proceeds to charity. Other companies doing similar work are Nextworth.com, which allows you to recycle your electronics for cash. YouRenew.com does the same for your “old” iPods, mp3 player and more.

But what if your product is broken or otherwise unusable? You can find a responsible recycler from e-Stewards who will make sure it is disposed without harm to developing nations. Sometimes, old products are shipped to developing nations, where they are dismantled without concern for workers and communities absorbing the toxic materials from the products. This leads to a chain of waste containing PVCs, lead, mercury, and solvents, all which poison communities, workers, and ultimately, the planet.

Finally, feeling altruistic? You can always drop your e-waste at your area Best Buy. The giant chain of electronic stores offers up a substantial electronics recycling program at store locations through a program of responsible recycling. Give them your tired, your poor, your huddled 2003 iPods, yearning to breathe free. Best Buy will take them. Here’s a complete list of what Best Buy will accept into their e-waste program.

Want to learn more about e-waste? Check out Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Electronics”. In this clip, Leonard explains the “design for the dump,” or when companies design our electronics to be thrown away quickly into our landfills.

Many thanks to Katherine Butler (whose regular articles and posts can be found on MNN, EcoSalon, and 89.3KPCC) for this timely guest post. With the holidays approaching and the possibility that Santa, or maybe a loved one, will bring you one or more of the latest electronic gadgets, now is the perfect time to recycle your existing e-waste.

Image by Jaine / Creative Commons

Although November 15th, 2011 is the official America Recycles Day, there are actions each of us can take every day of the year to increase recycling and reduce waste. You are probably already aware of the importance of recycling and why it is better for the environment. Maybe you even take steps now and again to recycle. The question is…how can you contribute today, right now, to the recycling movement?

Here are 5 easy ways to contribute on America Recycles Day:

1) Take the America Recycles Day pledge: New Year’s resolutions, personal declarations, and all manner of decisions start with a pledge. Pledging you will do something is one of the first steps towards reaching your goal.

2) Get yourself a recycling bin: Think about it. Whether large or small, a recycling bin serves to remind you, on a daily basis, that you should recycle certain items rather than trash them.

3) Get educated: Learning what can and cannot be recycled is key. There are many things people throw away which could in fact be recycled. Take a few minutes and get yourself educated.

4) Switch from disposables to reusables: Go through your home and find one-use, disposable items. Figure out what reusable items you could use instead and use those. In other words, instead of grabbing a bottle of water, grab a reusable water bottle. Instead of using paper towels to wipe up every kitchen mess, use a washable rag.

5) Reduce your waste: The best way to reduce waste is to not buy as much in the first place. This is a key point, especially with the holidays coming up. Why buy tons of new things, just to have them lying around, when you can reuse existing items or buy/trade to get gently used items.

As americarecyclesday.org says:

“One day to educate. One day to motivate. One day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year. Get Involved!”

What steps do you take to recycle or contribute to generating less waste? Even the little actions add up quickly and can make a big difference. So, in honor of America Recycles Day, take a few minutes and make a decision to change how you think about recycling.

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?

One of the things even the most environmentally-conscious parents sometimes forget is to include their kids in on their “green” actions. I learned early on that my kids were very interested in doing things that helped save energy, prevent waste and protect the earth.

My daughter, for example, doesn’t let anyone in the family leave lights on. She immediately speaks up letting the offender know that leaving lights on wastes power and we don’t want to waste power. She turns the water off when brushing her teeth and makes sure her brother does the same. If either of my kids see trash on the ground, they let me know and ensure it gets picked up so that “the earth doesn’t get hurt”.

When it comes to any actions we take around the house to save energy, water, recycle, reduce waste, etc. my kids like to be involved. So, I figured I’d lay out some simple examples of environmentally-friendly actions your kids can take.

1 – Get your kids using reusable containers. My kids each have their own water bottles we fill up in order to take on walks, when we go somewhere in the car, etc. They also use reusable containers when they take food to day camp or school.

2 -Educate your kids on how to reduce waste. This includes reducing waste by eating all the food on their plate, only using the materials they need to do projects (and saving any leftover materials for next time), and cutting down on unnecessary packaging. To name a few.

3 – Teach them the importance of saving water. Save water when they brush their teeth, when they wash their hands, when they take a bath (or shower), when they help do the laundry or dishes, etc. Reusing gray water to water plants is also something most kids enjoy doing.

4 – Inspire a love of the great outdoors. Kids almost naturally like to spend time outside. They like to play in the park, go for walks, ride bikes, go skating, climb trees, etc. As long as they are outdoors, they seem to be happy. Don’t stifle this love by keeping them connected to the TV or other electronic devices all day. Encourage their love of nature.

5 – Start recycling. A few simple steps are all it takes to get your kids grooved in to recycling. When kids understand that recycling allows for one item to be saved so it can begin a whole “new life” as something else, they seem to get interested. Who wouldn’t? Here are 10 things you never knew were recyclable.

6 – Saving energy. Involve your kids by making them responsible for saving energy in their own rooms and around the house. Turning off lights during the day or when they leave a room. Opening their shades or blinds in the morning to let natural light in, rather than using electricity. Kids are more than capable of generating their own energy.

7 – Teach your kids about the value of using their own two feet. Not everything requires we hop in the car and drive somewhere. Many adventures occur down the block, right around the corner and within walking distance of home. Besides, walking is good for everyone. Take a look at these 10 reasons why you should walk instead of drive.

8 – Gardening. Kids love to create new things. They love to see things grow and love knowing their actions helped make those things grow. Teach them to grow their own vegetables. How to care for them from seed to table. Get them to know all food doesn’t need to come from grocery stores. They can grow their own.

These are just eight of the many, many environmentally-friendly actions you and your kids can take. Remember, it’s not about teaching your kids to be “greener”, it’s about teaching kids to be smarter. To respect and care for the environment around them and the earth itself. What environmentally-friendly values do you share with your children?

Image by Christopher & AmyCate

People have been riding the rails for centuries. Traveling by train is one of the oldest and smartest ways to travel. It’s a very environmentally-friendly form of transportation while at the same time provides a relaxation and view of the world that you can’t get from any other angle.

This Saturday (May 7th) is the perfect time to climb aboard and go for a train ride. Why? Well, it’s National Train Day!

This year National Train Day has something extra special to celebrate. It’s Amtrak’s 40th birthday! America’s railroad has been providing intercity and high speed rail service for four decades.  That’s forty years of being a staple when it comes to environmentally-friendly forms of transportation. Whether it’s for a weekday commute, a weekend getaway or even a cross-country vacation, taking the train is once again taking shape as the green way to get where you are going.

Now in terms of National Train Day, whether you’ve taken a ride on a train before or not, that doesn’t matter. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend a National Train Day celebration. Major events are being held in cities such as Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Other events can be found here (or you can hold your own).

Each major event will include entertainment, interactive exhibits, etc. In Los Angeles (where my family and I will be attending National Train Day) they are scheduled to have:

• An East Meets West Exhibit
• A California Missions Exhibit
• An Amtrak High-Speed Rail Display
• Train Equipment Displays
• Model Train Displays
• An Amtrak 40th Anniversary Display
• AmtraKids Depot
• and more.

Needless to say, we are all looking forward to it. We’re planning on taking the train right into Union Station and checking out all that National Train Day has to offer.

To give you a little history on Amtrak, check out this official Amtrak video reflecting on its first 40 years. The video shows some incredible footage along with interviews which provide insight into the history of America’s railroad:

If you’re interested, you can also check this video out for a behind the scenes look at Amtrak’s Exhibit Train:

Now of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t cover a few of the environmentally-friendly actions Amtrak is taking to make this already green form of transportation even greener:

• They have recycling programs for bottles, cans and newspapers.
• They’ve already cut their diesel fuel use by more than 5% and have steps in place to reduce idle time for diesel locomotives.
• They use bio-lubricants (maybe they need a little Green Plus® too).
• They have “electrified” lines that take advantage of electric “plug-in” technology.
• They are a member of The Climate Registry (TCR) and as such are committed to tracking, managing and cutting down their greenhouse gas emissions.
• They encourage and support freight rail transportation, especially since American railroads move an estimated 40% of the nation’s freight yet only generate 2.2% of all transportation related greenhouse gas emissions.
• They also have employee training and awareness programs to raise employee understanding and participation in making Amtrak even more environmentally-friendly.

Also, next time you make plans to travel, keep in mind that traveling by rail uses less fuel than traveling by car or plane.

Image via Amtrak.com

Riding the rails is truly an energy efficient way to travel. So, hop on board a train this Saturday and help celebrate National Train Day! Then figure out how you can fit the train into your environmentally-friendly transportation plans. See you there!

Image by Randy Wood

When it comes to Earth Day I could update you on all the activities and events that are planned. I could go over the idea behind Earth Day and why it’s important to educate people on sustainability and the need to protect the environment. I could tell you all about climate change and why it’s key to lower your environmental footprint. I could do many things, but this time around I decided to give you some simple Earth Day Do’s and Don’ts. So here you go:

1 – Don’t think buying these stamps counts towards the one action you can do to make your life a little more “green”. Do check out these 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green.

2 – Do grow your own fresh herbs and vegetables. Local Farmer’s Markets and local growers are great options as well. Don’t resort to eating canned or heavily processed foods.

3 – Don’t paint your house green (unless it’s low VOC paint of course). Do pledge a simple Act of Green and be entered in the Billion Acts of Green Sweepstakes.

4 – Don’t throw away your bottles and cans. Do learn about and implement ways to reduce waste at home. Composting, recycling and waste reduction can go a long way.

5 – Don’t just sit under a tree on Earth Day. Do plant a tree or make a small donation to have trees planted in much needed areas around the world.

6 – Do work out smart ways to dramatically reduce your energy costs and usage as the weather gets warmer. Don’t think you’re going to make it through the hot months with just a hand-held fan.

7 – Don’t load the family up, drive hundreds of miles only to spend the weekend in a hotel. Get outside. Do visit, appreciate and come to respect the wonders of our national parks. April 16th through April 24th, 2011 is National Park Week!

8 – Don’t think Earth Day has nothing to do with you. Do learn about the history of Earth Day and how each person plays a part.

9 – Don’t just step outside and say you went green for Earth Day. Do ride a bike, ride the rail, go for a hike and then when you are done figure out how you can adjust your “normal” transportation habits in favor of a more environmentally-friendly transportation routine. Even riding one of these would be pretty cool:

10 – Don’t think kids and schools have no place in Earth Day. Do learn about why greening schools is so important to our children’s future.

And remember that moms always say they know best when it comes to tips or tried and true ways to do things, so this Earth Day take a look at these 20 Green Summer Tips…Mom-Approved. In all honesty though, when it comes to the Earth, every day is Earth Day. So, take a look at how you live your life and see what simple changes you can start making to help live a more sustainable life!

Over the years, many ideas have been placed on the table for eco- or biofriendly cities. Designs have shown futuristic buildings, domed communities and places most of us never would have thought of, even in our wildest dreams.

Image by Emma Buckley

So what makes up an eco city? Well sustainability should be a key factor. Of course many other factors could be considered including green design, a close proximity to nature, rooftop or community gardens, recycling, waste to energy, sustainable building practices, solar, wind and other alternative energies, public transportation, car-free, walkability, work-live-play environment, etc.

Image by J. Scratchley

Here are a few cities who are actually bringing the future closer to the present. Check out these eco cities of the future coming to the here and now:

1. Tianjin Eco-City in China: Eco cities are starting to become the latest trend in green. I mean why settle for a simple building or business when you can green an entire city?! Tianjin Eco-City for example has been designed to highlight many of the latest green technologies and amenities. Sun-powered solarscapes, light powered rail (with plans for 90% of transportation to be public transport), wind power, rainwater collection, wastewater treatment, an eco-valley and rolling landscapes are just a few of the biofriendly features of this eco-city.

2. Dockside Green in Victoria, B.C.: Located near downtown Victoria, B.C. Canada, the eco-environment known as Dockside Green has been taking strides to become a self-sufficient, sustainable community. It is a truly all-inclusive mixed development designed in and around nature. Dockside Green hopes to be right up there in terms of eco cities of the future and with the inclusion of waterways, a mini-transit system, vehicle-sharing programs, walking and biking trails they are well on their way. Take a look at the story of Dockside Green:

3. Low Carbon Future City of the island of Hainan: Then there is the low carbon “future city” from SBA Design for the Chinese island of Hainan. One of the key features of this city is it is designed to be a low carbon smart city which generates, stores and delivers renewable energy based on demand.

Image from archdaily and SBA Design

It also has environmentally-friendly transportation, a broad walkability and an abundance of green areas. Of course, since tourism is a big item for the island, the future city factors in eco-tourism as part of its sustainability.

4. Amanora Hills in India: Located in Pune, India, MVRDV has broken ground on what they consider as Phase I of a truly revolutionary vertical city. Amanora is a large (4.3 million sq ft) mixed-use development which will include affordable housing as well as a variety of amenities (herb gardens, courtyards, etc) designed to make vertical living comfortable and eco-friendly.

Amanora future towers will include such features as: an abundant clean water supply, 20% of the area being used for innovative parks, gardens & playgrounds, caring for the existing ecological system, providing efficient waste management systems and tapping into rainwater harvesting systems. The sound isn’t the best, but watch this video to get a more in-depth look at the Amanora Township:

5. Masdar City in Abu Dhabi: Promoted far and wide as a green city rising out of the desert sands of Abu Dhabi, Masdar City had high hopes of being the first zero carbon, zero waste city. Truly a city of the future.

Unfortunately due to required cutbacks and budget woes, Masdar City isn’t exactly panning out as they originally envisioned. However, that doesn’t mean their ideas about renewable energy, clean technology, public transportation and sustainability won’t eventually be brought to fruition.

But while Masdar City is working to build sustainability from the ground up, many of their innovative designs and ideas could also be incorporated into refurbishment and reuse projects around the world. Turning existing resources into more sustainable resources is a smart way to bring out eco cities of the future.

It’s the idea of taking what we have i.e. instead of imagining science fiction cities of the future, going with a little more street level livability like can be found in Copenhagen.

Then there are cities, such as Paris, France, who are envisioning a utopian city sprouting up from a busy metropolis into a thriving green community designed and transformed into an urban paradise.

The ideas are limitless, but in my opinion the key to eco cities of the future revolves around making use of existing resources. Refurbishing and re-using buildings and land that were once allocated for something else. Putting solar on existing buildings rather than open land. Bringing communities back together through gardens, projects and centralized parks, etc.

What the future holds for eco cities has yet to be seen. But based on recent progress, advancements and the determination of cities to become more self-sufficient and sustainable, I have no doubts that the cities we once thought were only visions of the far-off future, will soon become the realities of tomorrow.

When it comes to going green there are many different steps you can take. You can do all kinds of things including cutting down your energy use, recycling, minimizing your water usage, cleaning with natural products, eating organic and locally grown food, etc. But in honor of my Irish roots, I figured now would be a good time to share 3 simple ways to go green Irish style.

1) Plant shamrock or clover: The shamrock is a widely-recognized icon associated with the Irish and in particular with St. Patrick’s Day. As you are probably well aware, people wear green or shamrocks as part of the St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

Image by vawa_92

But this year, instead of wearing a shamrock, you can go green by planting shamrocks or clover. This way you are bringing a new plant to life and you’ll have a little bit of Irish growing throughout the spring. Here are some facts and information about growing shamrocks/clover. And you never know, if luck is with you, you might end up planting a four-leaf clover!

2) Green up your food and drink. Many people in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day add a little bit of green color to their food. You can do this literally or discover the wonderful tastes of naturally green and/or organic foods.

If you are set on having a green beer, choose a good organic or locally brewed beer as your base. There are also many green food and wine options to choose from for a great meal. Needless to say, there is no shortage of ways to make your food and drinks green!

Image by Jaymi Heimbuch

For those of you looking for an appetizer or other dish using the “poster child” of Irish beers, Guinness®, here are a few recipes worth checking out. Besides, scientists have recently come up with some new technology which could create a more eco-friendly head on your Guinness.

Image by TiM_BiG

3) Get outside. Go to a parade, attend a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in town, have a picnic in the park, take the dog for a walk, go to a local festival, etc. While tradition has people attending celebrations all over the world, simply getting outdoors is a great way to go green. Spring is in the air, so it’s the perfect time to go outside and find some green!

Image by andreavallejos

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and in celebration of going green Irish style, here’s a little Irish blessing:

“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”

And please keep this in mind, being green isn’t reserved for the Irish or for St. Patrick’s Day. These are steps you can take every single day to help improve your life and be a little greener. What steps are you taking to go green?

We’re almost through the first month of the new year and hopefully you’ve been hot and heavy working on your eco-New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you’ve even been working on making some biofriendly changes in the way you live. Or maybe you started off with the best of intentions, but haven’t really gotten anywhere yet. Whatever situation fits you best, I wanted to give you a simple tip to help you recycle, or actually precycle, your way into the new year.

Image by loop_oh

Now I could tell you to recycle your bottles, cans, newspapers, plastics, etc. I could also say to get a separate recycling bin in your house to make it easy to recycle. I could say compost leftover foods rather than putting them in the trash, etc.

However, recycling your way into the new year starts way before all those steps. It starts back around the point of purchase. Deciding what items to purchase can go a long way in terms of reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling. For example, rather than buying plastic water bottles, invest in a reusable drink container.

Image by peyri

Rather than buying pre-cut vegetables packaged in a container with plastic wrap on them, buy fresh fruit and vegetables or grow your own. No wrapping required. Local growers or Farmer’s Markets are great places to get fresh fruits and vegetables. You support your local community and get fresh food without the need for additional packaging. Don’t forget to bring your re-usable bags.

Recycle or reuse any uneaten food. Here’s another place where many people forget to recycle or reuse items. Of course it’s common sense to save leftovers and/or reuse them in later meals. However, you should also work on portion control. By correctly portioning out your meals you can actually end up with less waste and less uneaten food.

Image by cathyse97

When it comes to buying items, such as toys for your kids, be aware of how much packaging is being used. Most packaging is completely unnecessary. If you are the kind of person who does a lot of their shopping online, Amazon has a whole section dedicated to items that come with “frustration-free packaging” (i.e. they are easy to open, come in recyclable packaging and ship in their own packaging without the need for an extra box). Simple and smart.

I guess when it all comes down to it, the key is really in the precycling. Precycle whenever and wherever you can and you’ll be rapidly recycling, or precycling, your way into the new year. Here are some tips that can help you even further.

When it comes to recycling, not everyone has the same point of view. Some people are die-hard recyclers and recycle everything from bottles and cans to glass and newspapers to e-waste. They are even dedicated enough to refurbish or donate their used furniture and home appliances rather than let them find their way to the local landfill.

Image by mackensienicole

What about you? Where do you stand when it comes to recycling? Do you recycle? Do you reuse or re-purpose items? To be completely honest, I’m not as good at recycling as I could be, but I do try to recycle and definitely would rather donate than toss larger items.

So, since November 15th is America Recycles Day, let’s remember to spread the word as well as take the pledge to recycle more. Now, let’s go over just a few of the many kinds of items you can recycle:

1) Glass: Items such as bottle and jars.

2) Paper: Things like newspapers, office paper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, etc.

3) Aluminum: Such as soda cans, etc.

4) Steel Cans: Aerosol or paint cans, food cans, etc.

Image by auntjojo

5) Batteries: Used car/truck batteries

6) Plastics: Certain plastics can be recycled. Click here for more information on the different types of plastic bottles/containers and how they are recycled.

7) E-waste: E-waste items such as computers, light bulbs, electronics, etc are sometimes harder to recycle, but here is a simple list to help give you some ideas about “Where to Recycle Household E-Waste“.

Image by Greenpeace India

For a more complete list and a little Recycling 101, check out Earth911.com.

Additionally, Greenopolis will be having its first online “Recycling Forum” being held on Monday, November 15th at 3pm PST and 6pm EST. Don’t forget to register to reserve your spot so you can be involved in an “interactive discussion that will help shape the future of recycling – inspiring environmental thought, discussion, and progress for years to come“. Make sure that your voice can be heard and that you become part of the positive change.

Image by Jason Tester

Then, with the holidays rapidly approaching, please remember to keep recycling in mind when you go on your holiday shopping spree. Even Amazon.com offers “frustration-free packaging” and more environmentally-friendly packaging as a smart (and greener) option for shipping your holiday gifts.