CT Green Scene

Coke and pepsi duke it out over water bottles

Coke and Pepsi are at it again. Like siblings vying for Mom's attention, they want buyers to know how green they are. Both companies plan to bottle their respective beverages in wholly plant-based bottles instead of plastic or partial plastic. Great! When? Nobody knows.

The other issue is what plant materials to use, how to source them, and how cost effective the whole process may--or may not--be. See the excerpt below that The New York Times posted yesterday.

The Race to Greener Bottles Could Be Long
By WILLIAM NEUMAN
Published: December 15, 2011

The beverage rivals are racing to become the first to produce a plastic soda bottle made entirely from plants.

But despite dueling announcements claiming technological breakthroughs, consumers should not expect to see many all-plant bottles on store shelves any time soon. Neither company is confident enough in the technology to say when, or even if, they will be able to deliver on their environmental ambitions.

Coke delivered the latest volley on Thursday, saying it plans to work with three companies that are developing competing technologies to make plastic from plants, with bottles rolling out to consumers in perhaps a few years.

Regression in NYC's Recycling?

Here's just another example of how much we actually throw out. This article published in The New York Times on October 21st takes a close look at what nearby New York City is doing to recycle, especially when it comes to take-out containers. The landfills are littered with plastic domes and styrofoam clamshells. In fact, their recycling score card has dropped significantly. In 2001, the city had a recycling rate of 23%. It now has a paltry 15%.

When it really comes down to it, we could all do a little better. There's always room for improvement. See the excerpt below.

Lunch, Landfills and What I Tossed
By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: October 21, 2011

As any befuddled, frustrated and guilt-ridden environmentally conscious New Yorker knows, takeout food and its containers — salad bar and deli clamshells; plastic cups and utensils; yogurt containers; fancy three-compartment bento boxes — are the bane of this city’s would-be recyclers.  They might reuse plastic shopping bags until they rip and religiously bundle every newspaper and magazine for recycling pickup, only to be undone by lunch.

 “There’s nothing I can do,” said Doug Richardson, 25, an accountant eating a chicken salad from a deep plastic bowl. “It annoys me. It’s plastic in a landfill.”
 
Environmental advocates call recycling the weak link in the city’s green agenda, even after legislation was passed last year to overhaul the 1989 recycling law that made New York a 20th-century leader, not a laggard.
 
How far behind is the city? A survey by the Natural Resources Defense Council this year found that more than two dozen large and medium-size cities in the United States recycle all kinds of plastic containers, while New York takes only bottles and jugs. Another study this year, sponsored by Siemens AG, the global electronics and electrical engineering company, ranked New York 16th among 27 cities in its handling of waste, though it was third in overall environmental performance.

By now, other cities require recyclable or compostable takeout containers and utensils at restaurants — and bins in which to dispose of them. Cutting-edge green cities, like San Francisco, offer curbside collection of food scraps and compostable items at homes, restaurants and offices. And dozens of places now charge residents for their trash by weight to promote recycling and keep refuse out of landfills.
 
New York, meanwhile, is going backward: it now recycles about 15 percent of the waste collected by the Sanitation Department, which is primarily from residences, down from a peak of 23 percent in 2001. And while city officials have said they are reviewing so-called “pay as you throw” systems, there is no indication that the city might adopt one.
 
“This issue is simply not getting the attention it deserves,” said Eric A. Goldstein, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York. “They’ve treated their recycling operation like the after-school clarinet program.”

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of otobeygir.com.

Grease Replaces Fuel

by Christina Cioci

The idea of using grease for fuel is a concept that is new to many people. Fueling a vehicle with used oil from restaurants might seem unbelievable, but it is a technique that has been gaining momentum. Although not all vehicles are easily converted, many are including some vans, Mercedes, GMC and other known models. It is being done throughout the United States and even internationally.

McDonald’s corporation in the United Arab Emirates is planning to reuse the fryer grease from the food to fuel their trucks. Not many people would think of this fast food chain as sustainable but they are partnering with Dubai based company Neutral Fuels, which is the first Middle East commercial producer of biodiesel using used vegetable cooking oil. Cleantechnica reports that “All restaurants throw out a tremendous amount of used cooking oil, but ones like McDonald’s – that deep-fat-fry so much of what they sell – have to throw away even more.”

Bethany HomeCrafts

By Christina Cioci



MaryLynne Boisvert has a talent that we at CT Green Scene appreciate and admire. She recycles wool sweaters and other materials to create unique and fun pieces of clothing, accessories and home décor. About 15 years ago, MaryLynne began to knit. Soon after, her friend Fran Larson of Blue Moon Woolworks taught her how to do needle felting. MaryLynne began her business, Bethany Homecrafts, with rugs made from recycled materials. 

To reach a wider range of customers, MaryLynne decided to incorporate her felted creations. Her booths at local farmers markets and other venues began selling more felted creations than rugs and her business evolved in that direction. “In the past year I've begun making skirts from recycled cottons,” she said. “So now the bulk of my business is in the recycled clothing I make, some of it is needle felting, and none of it is rugs!”

These wonderful creations can take some time to make but MaryLynne has it down to a science. From gathering the used materials to threading the last piece together, the process can take some time. MaryLynne gets a lot of the materials from thrift shops, friends and customers. “I have a friend in Maine who does a lot of shopping for me,” she said. “They have to wear warm sweaters there a lot more than we do, so the sweaters tend to be a lot more interesting there- much more woolly!” 

MaryLynne finds many man-made materials but prefers to use natural. The list of products made with her reclaimed materials is impressive. Everything from skirts to mittens, pot holders and diaper soakers, a customer will be delighted with their choice. Clothing is made from recycled cotton and the adorably charming needling felting includes birds, sheep, chipmunks, bunnies and pretty wall hangings.

Let’s Get Composting!

By Christina Cioci

If you could take a few simple steps to improve the earth, would you? If your answer is “yes” then consider starting the process of composting. Composting is the breakdown of organic material such as food scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, worms, just to name a few. This cycle takes place naturally in the environment when leaves and grass breakdown in the outdoors over time.

People can also recreate the process at home by collecting organic materials in a metal bucket. After the small bucket is filled it can be emptied into a bigger container to allow optimum breakdown. While keeping food scraps and other things in your kitchen may not be your cup of tea, those who have composted before find it easy and sanitary.

Operation Trashdown: The Benefits and Ease of Composting

by Ilene Moyher

Welcome to Operation Trashdown, a concept for creating a cleaner earth. Everyone can help by adopting the "less trash" mindset in their shopping and daily routines. Considering what's in landfills and in our oceans (read interesting facts about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch), here are some ways each person can help reduce the amount of trash created and save money, too!

Composting of household trash– it’s easy to get started and maintain, can reduce the amount of household garbage by one-half (it did in my house), and creates great soil for garden use. It may seem ‘icky’ at first, but in reality composting creates less messy garbage and is as simple as throwing food and paper scraps into a container then adding them to a pile in the backyard.

Operation Trashdown

by Ilene Moyher

Operation Trashdown is a regular column Moyher conceptualized. Each entry will be the next step in the quest for a cleaner planet.

Welcome to Operation Trashdown, a concept for creating a cleaner Earth. Everyone can help by adopting the ‘less trash’ mindset in their shopping and daily routines. Considering what's in landfills and in our oceans (read interesting facts about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch), here are some ways each person can help reduce the amount of trash created and save money, too!

• Use only reusable containers – not disposable bags and wraps - for food storage and packed lunches. Many reusable containers are safe for reheating and dishwasher use. If a container is not microwave-safe, transfer the food to a plate before reheating.
• Use every bag that comes into the household for storage, packing, garbage, etc. Not just grocery bags, but any bag that is clean – be creative! If you must throw away anything plastic, try to use it multiple times first, and/or recycle it. Remember, plastic never goes away.
• Use inexpensive, non-disposable dishes and utensils for outdoor use and kids’ parties, rather than disposable ones that are used for a few minutes then end up in a landfill or an ocean.

Three basics of Operation Trashdown are:

• Reuse or recycle more than you throw away
• Consider product packaging – amount of packaging and whether it’s made of recycled or recyclable materials
• When buying, make choices based on where items will end up (in a landfill? recycled? a treasured keepsake? long usage life?)

Everyone can help make a cleaner Earth by embracing the ‘less trash’ mindset in their shopping and daily routines. Think of something you may have already done or can start doing today. Please share your successes and ideas, and encourage your friends and family to think green in this way, as well. If each person adopts one or more habits to shift away from living a disposable lifestyle, and teaches the next generation Earth-friendly habits, it will make a big difference.

Today's challenge: Adopt a new practice every month. Join Operation Trashdown and start today!

Please share these tips with your email, Twitter and Facebook pals. Thank you!

Image of the Plastiki boat made from 12,500 plastic bottles that sailed around the world.

Taking Out the Trash

By Brittany Shutts
    

It’s hard to beat Germany’s recycling system. Multicolored trash bins line the exceptionally clean streets of German cities where the citizens separate colored glass, paper products, packaging, and food and plant waste. There are even some bins for clothes, shoes, and scrap metal. Black bins are only for waste that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories. Seventy percent of the waste in Germany is recycled every year, whereas the U.S. only manages to recycle 28%.
   
One of the biggest differences between the systems in Germany and the U.S. is that it starts with the manufacturers. It is their responsibility to minimize the amount of waste that is created, recycle any unavoidable waste or convert it into energy, and dispose of waste that cannot be recycled without causing environmental harm. In contrast to the “polluter pays” principle, the U.S. uses the “consumer pays” principle, which requires taxpayer funding for waste management. Since businesses in Germany bear the financial burden, controlling waste and recycling becomes a greater priority.

101 Things To Do with Poop

by Eileen Weber

O.K., maybe not 101 things. More like a tiny handful. But poop is still poop, even when you repurpose it. In this case, jewelry made from moose droppings will probably be the most unusual gift item this coming holiday season. Made in Maine (of course), it’s clear Down-Easters have a lot of time on their hands.

These little beauties can be found as dangling earrings, pendants, tie tacks and even Christmas ornaments. But Mainers aren’t the only ones wondering what to do with poop. Alaskans are also proud producers of poop jewelry, called Moose Nuggets. Earrings, tie tacks, even swizzle sticks. They’ve got ‘em too.

Perhaps it’s the cold that makes them crazy…

Fab Five Tips For Eco-Organized Summer Fun

by Lauren Guiditta, Professional Organizer, Organize for Today

Lauren is a professional organizer based in Glastonbury, CT specializing in helping her clients design simple home organizing solutions with an emphasis on green practices.  For questions or more information contact Lauren at Lauren@Organize4Today.com or online at www.Organize4Today.com.

School is out for summer! Now, it’s time to have some eco-organized summer fun! Did you know that by making a few simple changes to your daily routine, you can keep your household stress-free and focus on more important things? At the same time, you can teach your kids important lessons about caring for the environment.

Eco-organizing is the art of getting organized while going green. Here are some ways to get started.

House of Tires

Apparently, the Mothership has landed in Gene Autry, OK. A couple has built their home from 3,000 old tires. They refer to the house as the "Earthship." Whatever works for you, as long as it's recycled...

In a previous post on this site, we linked to a New York Times article dated September 3, 2009 that showed the houses built in East Texas by a man using leftover construction materials. Old shingles, discarded doors, glass bottles, and even branches from surrounding trees were used to make his "storybook" masterpieces.

With just some scraps and a little ingenuity, green building comes alive. See the excerpt below from The Scripps Howard News Service reposted this morning by The Connecticut Post.

House built with 3,000 old tires
David Zizzo, Scripps Howard News Service
Published: 12:31 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2010

"In 2000, the Dixons moved into their Earthship, 2,300 square feet of colorful and artistic living space surrounded on three sides by load-bearing walls three feet thick -- the size of the tires stacked like brick and covered with adobe. Exposed beams span ceilings, which contain 18 inches of foam insulation and feature numerous skylights to vent heat. Three sides are buried by earthen berms, so, like a cave, temperatures inside vary little and change slowly. Occasional heat from a small propane stove is all that's needed in winter, and in summer, only minor air conditioning from window units is needed.

Sunlight streams in through a wall of windows, where plants grow in a "water treatment plant," a basin that filters water used in sinks in the home before it is routed outside.

But there will always be more to do. Exposed berms will be covered with solar collectors, and the couple are working on a new rooftop greenhouse. A water-storage cistern will come later, and eventually the home will be completely "off the grid."

To read more of the article, click here.

Image courtesy of TheCoolPepper.com.

Green Grads

by Eileen Weber
 
Thanks to about 23 plastic bottles, the cap and gown your grad will be wearing this year may be a whole lot greener. Colleges and universities across the country are ordering environmentally friendly graduation garb for their students. The students can rent the wardrobe and turn them in after graduation for next year’s use. How’s that for Reduce-Reuse-Recycle?
 
The material is made from recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are broken down into plastic pellets. The pellets are melted down, extruded, and spun into fabric. Et voilà, a cap and gown!
 
What is significant here is that traditional pomp and circumstance has caught up with the rest of the world. For years, polyester ruled campuses everywhere. And they still do. Only 100 schools opted for eco-friendly caps and gowns while the remaining 1,500 stayed true to the shiny synthetic. With the green gowns, students can rent their cap and gown and return them for use another year. And for schools that have made a move to be environmentally friendly in other ways—recycling, green building, and local, organic produce in their cafeterias, among other things—this is a perfect way to end a green year.

The Greener Coast

by Courtney Dumais

Hello from San Francisco!  I arrived here in the Bay area a week ago and have been greatly surprised and impressed with the city’s eco-friendliness. San Francisco seems one step ahead of the green curve, encouraging conservation and passing laws to ensure the future sustainability of the city.

Immediately I noticed the crisp, clean air and, at a closer glance, saw electric buses, hybrid cars and compost bins. That’s right, compost bins. In addition to the trash and recycling bins, San Francisco residents also place a green compost bin at the end of their driveways.

These bins are only one of the city’s many initiatives to reduce its’ carbon footprint and become more sustainable. The San Francisco Department of the Environment and Commission on the Environment work together to develop programs and suggest policies to reduce wastes, toxic material and emissions as well as to improve air and water quality and to increase efficiency in transportation and energy use.

The Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance, effective in October 2009, requires residents to separate trash, recyclables and compostables into respective bins. This ordinance is part of the city’s goal of diverting 75% of waste from landfills by 2010 and achieving zero waste by 2020.

Being Thrifty: The Ultimate Green?

by Jessica Levinson
 
Last week, I wrote about the cost of high tech solar gadgets. To a large extent, being on the latest green tech edge can be a very expensive proposition. As the economy seems to be slowly climbing out of its bottomless hole, it may be wise to be a thrifty spender. That doesn’t mean bum-rush through the doors at Wal-Mart. But, it does mean spending on items that are worthwhile and will last a long time.

This is where thrifty meets green! Perhaps the best way to be green is to explore slightly used or unwanted products instead of running out and buying the latest and greatest green thing. What a great way to recycle! So why not just buy something that has already been put into the world but someone else didn’t want?

We don’t usually think that something in an environmentally friendly recycled package can also be a pollution contributor. Whether it’s big or it’s small, each product has its own carbon footprint. Buying post-consumer goods actually means there is no carbon footprint to you.

Put On a Happy Face

by Eileen Weber

I admit it. I make a lousy girl. I don’t do a lot with my hair, besides wash it. I prefer a pair of fuzzy slippers to a slinky pair of Manolo Blahniks. And, it takes me thirty minutes tops to get ready in the morning. I also don’t spend a lot of time on make-up.

That said, I do own a tube of mascara, a little concealer and some lip gloss. I’ve had them for eons sitting in my top drawer. They’re probably riddled with bacteria. (I may, in fact, be personally responsible for the swine flu because I think my Chapstick may be its Petri dish.)

Where will all of these little trinkets end up when I finally break down and get rid of them? A landfill. All that plastic and glass will not get sorted like they should.

That’s where natural cosmetics companies like Origins comes in. According to their web site, the EPA reports that one third of landfills are taken up with cosmetic waste and other related consumer packaging. Most recycling centers will only take those materials that are easily recognized as recyclable. This includes soda and water bottles and other plastics that are classified as PET or HDPE. That leaves out a whole chunk of other materials that are recyclable, too.

So Origins decided to do something about that. They started a cosmetics recycling program. Bring your old or unused cosmetics—regardless of brand—to your nearest store and they’ll sort and recycle it for you. You got it, they want it.

Trash the Trash Bags?

by Eileen Weber

Longfellow once quipped in a poem that into every life a little rain must fall. So it is, I feel, with plastic. Like everyone else who flexes their Reduce-Reuse-Recycle muscles, I do what I can to rid my life of the offending polymer.

But there’s one plastic item that’s tough to let go of: Trash bags. I use a lot of them. I have three kids and three dogs, two of which are puppies and make a big mess. (If anyone knows where I can find a biodegradable doggie diaper, let me know.)

My answer to the trash bag dilemma has been to purchase the post-consumer eco-friendly kind. I know that at least I’m using repurposed material. But there are two big problems I have with them: cost and performance.

I’ve been using Seventh Generation trash bags for a couple of months, now. I like the concept of using post-consumer material. But too often when I lift the bag out of the trashcan, the top edges break. I feel like the material is flimsier than other brands on the market. I end up using more trash bags with less trash in it to avoid breakage.

The Archenemy: Plastic

by Eileen Weber

I have three kids, two dogs, and whole lot of chaos at my house. My mornings start with getting the kids up, throwing in a load of laundry, making breakfast, feeding the kids, dropping them off at school, and cleaning up the mess when I get home. With any luck, I end my day with enough sanity to germinate for another tomorrow.

While I try to be eco-conscious as much as possible, I think I still throw out too much plastic. Our town only accepts some of the plastics, not all. They take #1 and #2 bottles, but none of the other plastics that litter my countertop. So that means the rest is going into the garbage. It makes me wince every time.

I could lull myself into complacency and tell myself that at least I’m doing something for the environment. Perhaps ignorance really is bliss. But sometimes, it takes a little wake-up call to remind us of what throwing out plastic really means.

I had bookmarked a page from Earth911.com a few months ago researching an article on plastic bottles. I just came across it again today. Here are a few sobering statistics:

• In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each but only recycled an average of 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.
• Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon, and 90 percent of the cost is in the bottle, lid and label.
• According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006 that number jumped to 28.3 gallons.
• It takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to manufacture a year’s supply of bottled water. That’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.
• Eight out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste.
• In 2007 we spent $16 billion on bottled water. That’s more than we spent on iPods or movie tickets.
• Plastic bottles can take up to 1000 years before they begin to decompose once buried.
• If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week, they would save 24 million bottles from being landfilled. One month on the same plan would save 112 million bottles, and one year would save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill.

So the next time I recycle, I will remember why the effort is worth it.

Yale’s Sustainable Choices

by Eileen Weber

Ever wonder what your T-shirt is made of or how far it traveled? Have you considered how much water your washing machine uses? Did you know that using a gas mower for one hour pollutes the air as much as driving a car for 20 miles?

We have all heard the green mantra: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. But the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History wants you to “Rethink” as well. In their Sustainable Choices temporary exhibit, they illustrate all the simple, little things we can do every day to make a difference in how we affect the environment.

"This is a very practical exhibit that tells you how you as a family can change what you do in your daily life to live more sustainably," said Jane Pickering, the museum’s deputy director in a press release from the university’s Office of Public Affairs dated April 1st. "The big-picture discussions and ongoing research are very important, but this exhibit brings it down to individual action."

The exhibit, which opened on March 28th and runs until August 23rd, is geared toward younger school-age children. The kids can have hands-on interaction riding a bike, sorting recyclables, or switching lights on and off.

Revenge, The Environmental Way

by Eileen Weber

You know the old adage, “Love is…never having to say you’re sorry.” Honestly, I can’t think of a single time someone done me wrong in which I wasn’t expecting an extra sweet apology at the end. Some flowers and a bottle of wine might be nice, too.

But take that same quote and change it to “Revenge Is…” Now apply it to the environment. That’s what Marilyn Barrett did with her company of the same name that sells T-shirts and reusable bags made from recycled plastic bottles. To Barrett, Revenge Is…wearing your plastic instead of throwing it out. She bases her company on the belief that the “best revenge is living well.”

Her passion about the environment has been heartily focused on reusing plastic bottles in her merchandise. The RPET bottles, or recycled polyethylene terephthalate, are broken down into chips and melted into molten polyester. It is then pushed through what looks like a showerhead and made into filament. The filament is then spun into fibers that are woven into fabric. All of this is done without using any further oil or oil by-product in the process.

Not surprisingly, the company’s biggest seller is the plastic bottle T-shirt. “We get a lot of feedback from people who love the material,” said Bill Schlueter, a public relations representative from LaunchPad PR Inc., a fashion focused marketing firm for Revenge Is… and other companies that use recycled polyester. “It’s made from plastic bottles yet it feels ultra-soft like cashmere.”

Are the Green Bags Really Green?

by Eileen Weber

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about reusable bags. Whether it’s at your supermarket chain or an organic market, a growing number of shoppers are toting around these spiffy little bags.

Allie, a reader who commented on the article and has her own “green” web site, had this to say: “I remember about a year or two ago when every grocery store caught up with Stop & Shop and started crowding their front aisles with reusable, polyethylene bags. I was driving home from work on Route 8 and saw one of the tell-tale green bags on the side of the road. I thought, ‘Well, it was only a matter of time before they started clogging the storm drains like their plastic predecessors.’”

She continued by posing a few queries: What is the environmental impact of producing all these new bags? And how safe is polyethylene, for us and the environment? What about the communities where these are being produced?

Excellent questions. What is the impact of disposed reusable bags? And, are they as great as we think they are?

Easy CFL Recycling

By Elizabeth G. Howard

OK, as good and decent greens, we try our hardest to hate the BIG BOX STORES that swallow up our open spaces and cause massive globalization and needless consumerism.

However, occasionally they do something useful that I encourage. In June of 2008, Home Depot, the nation's second largest retailer (behind guess who) launched a nationwide CFL recycling program at their stores.

Unlike other ridiculously complicated and antiquated Connecticut recycling programs, there are no restrictions on the return of CFLs to Home Depot, except that they must not be broken.

The program has been in effect for over 6 months, but it isn't likely to see a huge impact until 2009, since CFLs (which last a long time!) were not widely available or in use before 2008.

True Colors?

I am sure there are heaps of people who might argue that anything a BIG BOX STORE does to seem environmental is "greenwashing," however I feel that we can draw the line with a free recycling program. After all, customers do not need to buy anything from the store in order to leave their bulbs at customer service.

I am following up on what happens to the recycled CFLs after they leave the store and I'll let you know. Meanwhile, tell me what you think? Home Depot's recycling program another corporate evil, or useful community service?

Green B&Bs

by Eileen Weber

 

Thinking of making a last minute get-away for the holidays? You might want to consider a “green” hotel or bed and breakfast.

Increasingly, proprietors are trying to meet their clientele’s interest in greener practices. From organic foods to green cleaning practices to energy efficient amenities, your next stay could be more eco-friendly than stopping off at a roadside Super 8.

Kate Bauer, co-owner of Homespun Farm Bed and Breakfast with her husband Ron in Griswold, takes being green very seriously. They compost their organic refuse and use the eggs from the chickens they recently purchased. Bauer said on the B&B’s web site, “I hope this [green] movement is in time to save what is so important to us all.”

In a New York Times article dated June 26, 2007, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants found in a survey they conducted in 2005 that 16 percent of guests choose their properties because of the company’s environmental practices. Kimpton, named for its founder Bill Kimpton in 1981, is a San Francisco-based collection of boutique hotels that leads the hospitality industry with its ecologically-sound practices.

Michael Depatie, Kimpton’s president and chief executive, was quoted in the article saying he got a lot of unsolicited letters from guests about the company’s green initiatives. “I’m a little surprised by how many mention our green programs. We’ve been doing this for a while, but it seems like it’s suddenly at a tipping point.”

X-Actly What I Wanted

by Elizabeth G. Howard

I had really just one thing on my Christmas list this year that I REALLY wanted, and this is it: a wall-mountable pencil sharpener.

I don't have to tell most of you who are over the age of 30 what the nostalgia factor of this item is. You can instantly remember the scent of pencil shavings and hear in your memory the familiar grinding noise, the one you made as you cranked away at the wall-mounted sharpener in your third-grade classroom.

At my school, it was the one place in the whole school you could go without asking permission. Mrs. Bacchus (yes, that was her real name... amazing the awareness of names you achieve when you are grown up. My first-grade teacher was Mrs. Lemming) would eyeball you as you got up, so you'd have to give body signals to ensure she knew just where you were headed-- and not, apparently, to escape out the door to pull the fire alarm. 

The Forest for the Trees

But for me, it was more than the nostalgia. I love to write anything anywhere, not just virtually. And as I progressed through My Office Life, I noticed that pens were all disposable, as were even the pencils, in their clicky-plastic casing. The only time you ever came across a real PENCIL, made of wood, was at trade shows, where they were given as quirky gifts that were merely there to carry around a logo. To use them, you had to cram their heads into sad, whirring electronic sharpeners that inevitably lived on that one secretary's desk that you didn't much like to talk to anyway.

What We Are Made Of

So it was these two things that pushed me to edge of desire this season of receiving. Colin was renovating a room and needed a pencil to mark the boards he was cutting. I discovered we had just one busted out pencil in our house. The eraser was gone, and its lead was warn to the nub, unusable without a sharpener. Colin had to use a pen to mark the boards, a pure travesty in my mind.

My Dad always has had a wall-mounted pencil sharpener in his shop and he used it as frequently as his children did as they worked on their math homework. He reminded us that we all make mistakes, and we have the tools to fix them.

So now I have my Boston X-Acto Wall/Table-Mountable Pencil Sharpener KS, Model 1041. It is made in China and I can see that it isn't as sturdy as the ones I used a a kid. But I was happy to receive it shipped in a box with almost all paper packaging. The simplicity of my sharpener reminds me of my own strengths, of the energy I have to give to things, and all the extra crap we don't need.

I think it makes me more human, and I like that.

Thanks, It’s Just What I Wanted!

by Eileen Weber

One Christmas, my sister-in-law gave my husband a nose flute. Yes, a nose flute. It is exactly what it sounds like and it sits untouched in his sock drawer for obvious reasons.

There is a little piece of me that dreads Christmas. Inevitably, and I say this with only a touch of guilt, I get a gift that is just…well, less than thoughtful. And somehow, my husband’s nose flute comes to mind.

What is thoughtful is the “green” gift. Below, thanks to TheDailyGreen.com, you will find a a partial list of last-minute gifts that don’t tweak your environmental guilt button. These are just some of the gift items you can pick up before you croon “O Tannenbaum” with your Uncle Murray after he’s had the last of the hot crab dip.

1. Giving Handmade Gifts
You can make or bake. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s from the heart. After all, isn’t it the thought that counts in gift-giving?

2. Green Knickers. Yup. Underpants. Who doesn’t need a clean pair of underpants on Christmas?

3. Recycled wine glasses. These little beauties are available at Target.

So when Aunt Martha has had a few too many and knocks one over, you can tell yourself at least they were cheap.

4. Renewable Bamboo Cutting Boards It’s a cutting board. It’s bamboo. It’s a renewable material. What’s not to like?!

5. Sprig’s Discover Rig For the little “green” tyke in your life, a truck that is made of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. Available at Toys R Us.

6. Recycled Watering Cans You know, you just can’t prepare enough for the next season. While we’re barely into winter, let’s start thinking of spring!

7. “Upcycled” Gifts Using old materials and making them new, discarded cassette tapes are made into a wallet. Who knew there’d be a great use for the Best of ABBA?

8. Staple-free Stapler A bit like having the ice-free ice tray, isn’t it? However, this little gadget punches the paper in and folds it over so there’s no need for a metal staple to keep your papers together. Sweet office equipment.

9.Foldable Bike from Dahon Speed P8 It’s a bike. It folds up. It’s a green way to travel. What more can you say?

10. Dedicate a tree at TreePeople.com What could be greener than giving a tree? Give a big tree. Give a small tree. Heck, dedicate a hedge if you like. Either way, it’s better for the planet.

Whatever your choice this holiday season, it’s never too late to get a thoughtful gift and it’s never too late to think about the environment while you’re doing it.

Nose flute photo courtesy The Nash Company.

 

Bagging It

by Eileen Weber

A friend recently sent me a link for reusable bags to purchase online. “Green” bags have become a growing phenomenon (and with Connecticut towns fighting and Westport finally banning plastic it's sure to grow even more), and a not too shabby one at that. I see so many people these days taking the time to bring recycled and reusable bags to the grocery store. When you consider how long it takes plastic to break down in a landfill (approximately 500 years, give or take a century), taking your goodies home in a plastic bag just feels wrong.

The link made me think: How many other web sites promote reusable bags? Plenty, it seems! In fact, just punching in the word “reusable” brought an onslaught of hits. From reusable lumber to reusable condoms (although I’m a little sketchy about the need for recycling that one), there’s something for everyone.

Even better, consider some of these handy-dandy little items as gift bags! No more holiday wrapping paper on the floor. ‘Tis better to give—and reuse.

Each company offers 100% recyclable bags. And now, we’re starting to see a little flair. Some of them, I must admit, are actually kind of cute. Without getting too Paris Hilton on you, one of them has a bag that perfectly matches a sweet pair of shoes I just bought. Who knew you can go green and be stylish, too?

Below is a list of places to get some cute bags to tote around. Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!

Be Neat

by Krista Richards Mann

Last week, I stowed away with a friend on her business trip to Barcelona.  I hadn’t spent much time preparing for the trip, so my expectations were limited to Gaudi architecture, tapas and what I had seen in the Olympic games in 92. 

My girlfriend worked and I wandered during the days (a perfect division of labor).  As soon as I walked out of the hotel room on the first morning, I fell in love with this city.  It was impossibly neat. 

Bicycles could be rented with a monthly subscription and left at varying posts around town.  Residents drove small scooters, rode bikes or walked.  It seemed cars were left for large parties and delivery vehicles.  On every road, there was a large pedestrian and bike route.  Even as the roads were built centuries before Europeans discovered the New World, civil engineers managed to make room for strolling. 

On every block there are three trash receptacles for various forms of recycling, and not a gum wrapper or cigarette butt littered the streets.

Though, I spotted a few Starbucks, coffee was consumed seated with a friend in a café or bakery out of a ceramic cup– not sloshed from a paper cup, fitted with a spill-proof plastic lid. 

I was away from home, and speak no Catalonian.  It was a perfect time to observe and to reflect.  In the mornings, I noticed residents in the building across from my hotel hanging out their laundry to dry, and in the evenings, it was removed.  Shoppers pushed handcarts to outdoor markets with gorgeous locally grown vegetables and fresh-caught fish.  Dinner is consumed late; small plates of flavorful and satisfying tapas and is punctuated by philosophy, laughter or the occasional political (or domestic) debate. 

The simplicity of this city enhanced its luxury.  I found myself embarrassed by the suitcase of clothes I didn’t wear, and the waste that so often pervades my life.  I waste not only resources, but also opportunity.  How many lunches have I gobbled thoughtlessly, scarfing nutrients alone, I have neither savored taste nor company?  I’ve hardly stopped to breathe. 

I’m glad to stepped outside of my town and my life long enough to consider how I might bring the lessons of Barcelona home.  I’ll invite a friend over to join me for a cup of coffee and a bit of chatter this weekend.

Take My Recyclables, Please!

by Eileen Weber

You think you’re doing your part for the environment. You diligently separate out your glass from your newspaper into that funky blue bucket and put it out on the curb for garbage day. But now those materials are backing up with no place to go.

According to yesterday’s New York Times, the trash is piling up and the buyers who typically purchase the recycled material aren’t purchasing them anymore. Where metals and plastics might be turned into car parts and paper and cardboard used for packaging, those materials are now being stockpiled.

The Times reported that in West Virginia, one county stopped accepting recyclables completely. In a small Pennsylvania town, dumping the trash is cheaper than recycling so their program came to a halt as well. In Montana, a recycler near the Yellowstone National Park now doesn’t accept anything but cardboard.

Ode to the Transfer Station

By Krista Richards Mann

Having given up on my garbage collection service for both financial reasons and the early hour at which the cans were clattered and garbage compacted, I have begun making frequent trips to the transfer station.

I know now why it is called the transfer station.  I seem to transfer as much to my vehicle and back to my garage as I leave there.  While, the town for reasons of liability does not condone “scavenging”, how can one let three adorable retro-chic bicycles go to landfill?  The timing was perfect!  My daughter had just outgrown her bicycle and nearly everything else she possessed.  The difficulty would be in convincing her to accept a rusted and dented old bike. 

While still in my car, I took the bike to Westport Hardware begging a bit of advice.  Restoration would require a can of paint, another of WD40 and some sandpaper.  Before she arrived home from school the bike was painted green (representing the intention of conservation) and leaned against the garage.  I turned its front wheel in a beguiling manner and hoped for the best.

It worked!  With a promise of letting her further decorate it with peace signs and flowers, and attach a basket with zip-ties, she was beaming with contentment.  (It should be mentioned that the bike could also use some new brakes in the near future, but for now we’ll stop sparingly.)

My son has asked that I help him restore one of the other cycles now cluttering our garage, but they are a bit tall for him, and I am still scraping rust from my cuticles.

I’ve been to the Greenwich town dump.  (I know... I go to the nicest places!) 

Sign Up to Stop Getting the Yellow Pages Delivered

by Kate Harrison

Image: G5 Search Marketing

Okay, so I usually blog about green weddings, but sometimes I find a non-wedding related item that I can't resist sharing.  I came across a link today for an organization called Yellowpagesgoesgreen.org that allows you to sign up to stop receiving paper copies of the yellow pages and/or the white pages. If you usually rely on the internet to find businesses, this is a quick and easy way to decrease paper waste.  Sign up today!

Recycle Plastic Bottle Caps

by Megan DiPerri

Don't throw out those pesky plastic bottle caps, recycle them.  I know it's not as easy as recycling the container itself but plastic bottle caps don't belong in the garbage.  Caps don't break down and actually pose a significant threat to our wildlife.  The plastic caps make their way into landfills and waterways and are often mistaken for food by many animals. It's time we start resisting the urge to just toss plastic bottle caps out.  There are alternative and they aren't as difficult as you may think.

If your community doesn't require or even offer recycling options for plastic bottle caps, you're not completely out of luck.  A great resource I stumbled upon is a website called Earth911.  From this website you can search recycling options for just about anything, even plastic bottle caps!  You're likely to find a center that is somewhere along your daily commute.  If there isn't one, there are still options I promise.  Check with local schools and charities as they often team up with larger corporations for different recycling initiatives.

One very strong recycling initiative has been made by Aveda.  They recently kicked off a powerful grass-root effort to recycle plastic bottle caps at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009 called Recycle Caps With Aveda.  Finding that a majority of caps today are not recycled, their vast network of salons and stores has teamed up with schools, charities and local consumers to launch this new recycling program.  In a nutshell, here's how it works.  Aveda collects plastic bottle caps at their stores and participating schools and sends the caps to their own recycler.  From there the caps are transformed into new caps and containers.  How fantastic is that?

Before you toss out that plastic bottle cap remember, they can be recycled.  This is one pollution problem we need to put a lid on!

eWaste

by Eileen Weber

What do you do with your old computer, cell phone or clock radio? Most people don’t know. It’s not like you can just throw that kind of stuff in the blue recycling bin on garbage night and hope for the best.

But many computers and other electronics end up in landfills wedged between last night’s take-out and an old couch cushion. Environmentally speaking, that’s a tiny nightmare. Hazardous materials like lead and mercury can seep into the ground. Eventually, this ends up as run-off in our waterways. Not exactly ideal.

More recently, eBay has become the pseudo-garbage disposal. Make a couple hundred bucks on last year’s laptop and let some other poor slob worry about it. But whether it’s you or the poor slob you sold it to, that computer will have to be thrown out sooner or later.

That’s where The Computer Recycler comes in. Located in Cromwell, they will take your computer trash—or eWaste—and recycle it.

The company started out as a computer repair service. But gradually, more and more clients left their old computers in favor of buying a new one that was relatively inexpensive. That left Cianci with unclaimed computer equipment and no place to put it. “I kept thinking, ‘How can I reuse this?’” he said. “Then a light bulb went off.”

Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags

On What to with A Handful of Dog Poo

by Elizabeth Howard

After we got finished discussing wine, films, Sex and the City, Myanmar and the general state of the weather at our cozy Southport luncheon, we finally got around to chatting about poo.

It started innocently enough, with a conversation about weaning ourselves off of plastic grocery bags. 

It evolved from the full-fledged bags to finding a replacement for the produce bags, which I had recently found a solution for.

"But then, you know," Carol asked, "what do you do about picking up the dog poop?" Carol is nothing if not practical. And she has a Black Lab.

Not to worry: when we aren't slathering butter on a cob, or pumping it into our gas tank, corn apparently has another brilliant use: biodegradable dog poop bags!

NOTE: The instructions on this product say you can toss the pet waste in the compost heap. DON'T!! Pet feces should not be mixed with normal garden compost that may come in contact with food. For a better alternative, check out Sharon Slack's Pet Waste Composter.

Recycling is Too Much Fun! Take 7,382 chopsticks...

OK: we are going to make this an ongoing series. This week's entry: chopsticks. Can you match this?

Thanks to CraftingaGreenWorld for their take on this though this is all over the Web right now:

Living in the Western world we Americans aren’t quite attuned to the disposal of used chopsticks. It simply isn’t that big of a problem, as we hurl food into our gaping maws with spiky metal shovels. Generally speaking, the only time we chop down forests in order to feed ourselves is when McDonalds expands its beef production into the Amazon. The Chinese, our brothers and sisters across the great blue expanse, have an additional problem: chopsticks. They produce approximately 45 billion pairs a year, most of which being as disposable as a Uwe Boll movie. That amounts to about 25 million trees a year.

Fun, Function, Art and Sustainablity

Consumers currently use 500 billion (yes, that's with a "B") plastic bags each year for shopping: that's 60,000 every 5 seconds. And what happens to many of those bags?

According to the San Fransisco Chronicle, "In reality, the rogue bag would float into a sewer, follow the storm drain to the ocean, then make its way to the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch - the enormous stew of trash - twice the size of Texas, which consists of 80 percent plastics and weighs some 3.5 million tons, say oceanographers - floats where few people ever travel, in a no-man's land between San Francisco and Hawaii."

OnusGear is focused on the solution. They have developed a unique way
to reduce the use of plastic bags and inspire community participation by conducting monthly design contests through their website, OnusGear.com.

Members can submit designs and other members can vote once per day.
Each month the 3 designs with the most votes will have their winning images printed on the heavy-duty canvas bags that come complete with a beverage holder and straps that are easy to sling over your shoulder. Membership is free.

The theme for the May contest is any design that has to do with trees.

So grab a pen, let the creative juices flow, and sign up on their website to submit your own design and vote!

Help the Planet and Our Students: Recycle Your Cellphones!

Image via TreeHugger

The average lifespan, in months, of a cell phone in the US, according to Earthworks' Recycle My Cell Phone. At that rate, 130 million cell phones are added to the waste stream in the US every year. Worldwide, according to CNN (and noted here on TreeHugger), global mobile phone use will top 3.25 billion users in 2007. Yikes.

Well, here in Connecticut...you can do something!

During the month of May (and year-round for those of you who are interested), The Metropolitan Learning Center Class of 2013 is sponsoring a collection of old and/or unused cell phones for recycling through Phoneraiser. 

Cell phones may be dropped off at MLC, located at 1551 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT.  Cell phones can also be given to any MLC student from Bloomfield, East Windsor, Enfield, Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks.  To arrange a collection box for your company/office or for pick-up of large quantity donations, call 7th grade parent representative Laurie Prouty at (860) 212-2383 or email MLCclassof2013@aol.com.

Don't Use Your Dryer on National Hanging Out Day

By Alex and Jordan of Little People, Big Changes

Did you know that the electricity your dryer uses takes up about 6% of your electricity bill and that there are 88 million dryers in the world! 

In fact, the average American uses more energy running a clothes dryer than the average African uses all year round for their energy needs.  We can all save a lot of electricity by using the wind and the sun to dry our clothes instead of a machine.

April 19th is “National Hanging Out” Day! Show your support by hanging an item of clothing from a pole in front of your house or simply hang your laundry out to dry on a line to show that you are willing to change little things in order to help reduce carbon emissions.  Our planet needs you! If you absolutely must use your dryers, there are still things you can do to help.  Lower your temperature settings and for your washer, use warm water instead of hot when possible.  Make sure your washer or dryer is full before running it.  Clean your dryer filter after every use.

We hope to see you in your long johns on April 19th! Your friends, Alex and Jordan

Landfills aren't the Crisis

NPR had a "Trash Talk" series this week, and my favorite was the interview with Eric Lombardi from Eco-Cycle.  He said:

"We never had a landfill crisis. What we have is a resource-efficiency crisis. There are resource wars going around the planet right now to get the raw materials that are being destroyed in our landfills and our incinerators."

To listen to the interview, click here, or read and print the transcript here. Lombardi is among the experts whose goal isn't REDUCING waste-- it's ZERO waste. Waste is expensive and inefficient.

For Other Trash Talk from NPR this week see "Getting Rid of Junk, Staying Green."

How Green can St. Patrick’s Day Be??

By Kia Martinson-Wenzel

www.ESTOccasions.com

You won’t need the help of wee little leprechauns to make your St. Patrick’s Day celebration green in all sense of the word. Just a little clever planning and effort will lead to a successful green event.

First off, comes the invitations to your green party. Online sites like www.evite.com and www.zoji.com allow to send and keep track of your guest list. Do something clever and have everyone bring a green article of clothing that can be donated to the Salvation Army. This is a great way to get a head start on spring cleaning and to help out others.

Visit your local nursery and purchase a full sheet of clovers in mini biodegradable planters. Fill one of your trays at home with them and place them in the middle of your party table as the centerpiece. Best thing is, that at the end of the party, let your friends take some home with them to plant. So with one stop you have taken care of your centerpiece and favors.

Serve www.Steaz.com sparkling green tea soda. Their use of the best tea leaves and organic sugar cane gives the product an amazing taste. Now there are more flavors than just green tea to try. Local Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Trader Joes and other health stores do carry them. Finding a great organic beer is getting easier for all of your beer lovers. In Portland Maine, Peak Organic Beer brews three different types of beer. All of their barley and hops are grown without toxics or pesticides. www.Peakbrewing.com Serve these all in your biodegradable plastic cups. The Fabrikal cups are made agricultural crops, like potatoes and corn. They are reusable but the amazing thing is that they can be placed in your compost pile and they will biodegrade. Order them at www.greenearthofficesupply.stores.yahoo.net

Start your party off with a chilled cantaloupe melon soup. This can be made in a day or two before the party. Serve them in shot glasses as a starter or a passed appetizer. For added cuteness place them in the clover tray and give the centerpiece an extra duty. A simple Kiwi and green grape salad is a refreshing treat. While it can be hard to locate great food that is green in color, just remember to keep it green in the other sense.

If there is going to be children at the party, have them all bring two old coffee cans and have them make their own Lime ice cream. This is a great way to show them how to recycle a common household item and it is fun. http://crafts.kaboose.com/coffee-can-ice-cream.html

Last of all, for all the parents who send in treats for the St. Patty’s Day parties at school, this year send in a packet of seeds for each child. Have your own child pick out their favorite green veggies and give peas, cucumbers and lettuce packets. We can all hope the children will be interested in growing and making their yard a little greener this spring.

         

Will Connecticut Ban Plastic Bags?

It seems there's another battle being fought, though both sides appear to agree on one thing: plastic bags = bad news for the environment. Retail stores seem to favor incentives such as charging for using plastic, or rebates given for plastic bags that are returned to the store, but lots of people think an outright ban is the way to go.

What's most interesting is yet again, our youth in Connecticut is leading the charge!

According to this article in The Day...

On Monday, the growing movement to curtail the use of plastic bags by grocery stores and other retail outlets gained a foothold in Connecticut when the legislature's Environment Committee heard testimony on a bill that would ban the use of non-biodegradable bags by 2010. Americans use an estimated 50 billion to 80 billion plastic bags annually, only a small fraction of which get reused or recycled.

“Life will go on without plastic bags, as it did for thousands of years,” said Emily Rintoul, 15, of Portland, one of several youths who urged lawmakers to push Connecticut to become the first state to enact a law to ban or discourage their use. “Please don't pass this burden of these bags onto my generation.”

Eleven-year-old Malaika King of Hartford, who preceded Rintoul with similar testimony, concluded by handing out nylon reusable bags to each member of the committee. Her mother, Imani Zito, sells the bags in her store, The Green Vibrations Alchemy Café and Eco Boutique in Hartford.

Sleep Better with IKEA

Last year, Sweden-based IKEA launched an initiative called “Bag the Plastic  Bag.” 

The  goal was to reduce the more than 100 billion plastic  bags used annually in the United States. Beginning March 15, 2007,  they began charging customers 5 cents for every plastic bag; they  also reduced the price of their durable, reusable IKEA blue bag from  99 cents to 59 cents. 

And, to make it a win-win for everyone, all proceeds from the plastic bag sales are donated to American Forests, the  nation’s oldest non-profit citizens’ conservation organization.   IKEA North America has partnered with American Forests through the  Global ReLeaf Tree Planting program and over ten years, has planted 
more than 500,000 Global ReLeaf trees in environmental restoration  projects.

So how much  money has been raised by selling the plastic bags, by what percentage were they able to reduce the number of plastic bags used, and what are their plans for the next phase of the “Bag the Plastic Bag” program?  (The  goal was a 50% reduction in bag usage, but it’s projected that that they surpassed expectations.) Stay tuned or read on for reasons why banning plastic bags is vital.

Linen and Towels - The Perfect Green Solution

Or... Use What You've Got

by Elizabeth Howard

In offering green tips, I work generally on the principle that other people, like me, are imperfect and not immune to temptation.

As for me, I have a problem with the lure of lush bath towels and crisp new sheets.

By way of confession, at right I have posted a photo of my linen closet. Note that it is perfectly well stocked (though not perfectly folded) with towels, hand towels and face cloths. The sheets--indicating various stages of taste, husband's bachelorhood, duvet shades and mattress sizes-- are nonetheless, intact and well-stocked.

So, what's the tip? For most of us, by now it should be obvious, though I will be the first to admit, actually living this tip isn't easy.

It's worth repeating though, and I will because REUSE is my favorite R: Use what you've got!

Die, Old Habit!

Stopping ourselves from making purchases, for the sake adorning or updating our homes (or ourselves, not to mention those bothersome children and pets, OY!) isn't easy. I mean to tell you, it is downright a pain in the donkey.

So here's something to puzzle yourself with when you are, like me, wandering around Crackville (aka Target), goggling at the pretty-pretty, matchy-matchy blue margarita glasses and serving platters.

"How many towels does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb?"

Existential? Sure. But then, it's all a personal matter of how you face the crisis: just push your Target trolley through it.

Join the Yogurt Brigade!

It appears my plea for finding a use for yogurt cups was heard... once again by the innovative folks TerraCycle.

In conjunction with Stonyfield Farm, TerraCycle's Yogurt Brigade is collecting 6 and 32 oz yogurt containers from the Northeast part of the country and arranging to have them reused as disposal planting pots! Brilliant! You can get rid of all those pesky, lidless yogurt cups!

The second brilliant part of TerraCycle's scheme? For every pot you send, they'll donate 2 or 5 cents (more for the biggies!) to a charity of your choice! You just need the Tax ID number!

There are certain guidelines for the Yogurt Brigade so be sure to read their FAQs before signing up.  For any questions, send an email to info@terracycle.net or call 609-393-4252 x 36.

Be sure to read about TerraCycle's other brilliant brigades for Drink Pouches and Plastic Bottles.
 

De-commercializing the Holidays... A Swap

by Elizabeth Howard

Every year, earlier and earlier, the decorations come up at the stores. Ugh.

This year, on Halloween day at Target, I overheard one morose father contemplate giving out candy canes for Trick or Treat: the sales associates were stripping down the Halloween merchandise before the holiday had even started. Why? To make way for the lighted trees and green and gold wrapped Hershey's Kisses.

That's why I LOVE this article "12 Ways to Decommercialize Christmas" by Megan Kamerick, posted on Bankrate.com. She offers a slew of ways to take it all DOWN a notch. Number one on the list is my favorite, a "Yankee Swap" or what my Canadian family calls a "Chinese Gift Exhcange." Called by many other weird names-- White Elephant, Thieving Elves, and my personal favorite, Dirty Santa-- it's a gift exchange for adults: one gift each, a price limit, a certain amount of creativity and theft! How can you go wrong?

Just Beat It

One of the hardest things to deal with at this time of year is the pressures, most significantly, I believe,  the pressure of competition. For example, one woman ahead of me in line at Christmas Tree Shops was spending $300 on wrapping paper, stockings, their stuffers, and dozens of other throw-away pieces of junk. What for? A school Christmas party. At what point does (or has?) the "holiday spirit" become infected with something else entirely?

At the holidays, I feel there seems to be a sense that because we have the means, we need to somehow-- if not each other-- at the very least outdo ourselves. A better and bigger gift, party, tree than last year.

The decision to embrace a greener, more holistic lifestyle definitely means fighting all sorts of demons. And for American consumers at the holidays, the meanest demon of all is that one inside, something like "competitive goodness," which, if you are looking for it, often disguises itself as "giving."

Freecycle Connecticut

by Elizabeth Howard

Recently my husband and I acquired a Connecticut-sized house and suddenly it occured to me that I needed stuff. Not just the decorative, make-it-your-own stuff, but basic, don't-want-to-look-like-a-squatter stuff: a rake, a lawn mower, bookshelves, lamps. Where we lived before, we had much less space, and no grass.

So there I was, wandering in Home Depot, depressed. I couldn't bring myself to buy that plastic rake and that shiny shovel. I mean, there is something wrong about buying a clean hoe. You just know the next day you'll turn the corner and spot "10 for $10" sign on a pile of rusty, dirty, perfectly good garden tools at a tag sale.

Letting the weeds grow and the garden fester, I researched. Craigslist was good. But Freecycle one upped it.

So what exactly is Freecycle?

The Freecycle Network is a web of individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and nonprofit movement of people who are giving away and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Currently, there are about 4100 local groups and almost 4 million members in the world. Groups are moderated by local volunteers. In the U.S. these groups are run through Yahoo Groups. Membership is free.

How do I join?

In Connecticut there are currently 34 Freecycle groups, including groups for New Haven, Stamford/Greenwich, Litchfield area, Torrington, Bridgeport area, Hartford, Shelton/Oxford area and many others. The Freecycle website makes it simple to find the groups nearest you, and you are welcome to join more than one. However, some groups may ask for a zip code to verify the area you live in. This is to limit the groups to the local areas and to prevent spammers on the web groups.

Green Quandry #1

A few weeks ago I took my laptop to a major electronics chain for repair. The woman at the service desk suggested that I purchase a new AC adapter from the store, see if it solved the problem, and return the product for a full refund if it didn't. Sounded easy enough.

It turned out not to be the AC adapter and I went back to the store to get my refund. With the adapter on the counter, my newly-found green conscious prompted me to ask the cashier what would happen to the perfectly good piece of electronics sitting before us. "Just tell me it won't just end up in the trash, that it will be repackaged (it came in one of those plastic containers that you have to cut to get open) and re-sold--it's perfectly good," I studdered. "It'll go back to the vender, and they'll throw it away," she spat.

So now what? Write a letter to the chain? Boycott the store? Suck it up and accept it? Anyone....?

Growing Green Businesses

More and more people are bringing their awareness of green living to their place of business. From large corporations like Walmart to small businesses like my neighborhood printer--a growing number of businesses are becoming more environmentally responsible.

According to an April 2007 Gallup survey, 47% of small business owners are taking steps to being more environmentally responsible. They're learning that eco-conscious choices not only help the planet and the people on it, but boost their bottom line as well. Lower maintenance and operating costs, and a growing market share of consumers who are supporting green business make environmentally sound business a wise choice. What's more, grants like those available from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund can refund up to half the cost of installing solar panels, which quickly decreases utility costs.

Want to learn more about recycling in your office?  Check out these resources.

Recycling: www.earth911.org (general office), www.eiae.org (electronics), www.dell.com/recycling, www.apple.comenvironment/recycling/program, www.hp.com/recycle (computers), www.greendisk.com (computer disks, CDs), www.rbrc.org/call2recycle (batteries and cell phones), www.lamprecycle.org (fluorescent lamps and bulbs (containing mercury), www.carpetrecovery.org, www.antron.net (carpet).

Source: Priority Magazine, September/October 2007

From Junk to Funk

aGaiN NYC’s products are made from rescued or repurposed materials (junk) and transformed into stylish accessories for modern life (funk). From laptop bags to yoga mat holders and one-of-a-kind clutches, aGaiN products are made in the United States, and a portion of profits are donated to environmental charities.

Environmental advocate and designer Allison Teich scours thrift stores and garage sales for unusual vintage fabrics, buttons, ties and belts to create her unique line of handbags. By creatively transforming materials from bygone eras into reliable, hip bags and accessories, beautiful materials that may otherwise be headed to a landfill are revived into functional and fashionable accessories for everyday life.

Call aGaiN NYC 212-744-3912 to schedule an appointment at their NYC studio, or visit their website to order online.

Lead and Mercury in Electronics--Recycling Program on Deck

Governor M. Jodi Rell has introduced a new state law, Public Act 07-189, that creates a mandatory recycling program for certain major electronic appliances such as computers and televisions, slated to begin in 2009, Government Technology reports.

Under the law, manufacturers of those devices will have to register with the state Department of Environmental Protection, starting in 2009, and pay an annual fee that DEP will use to administer the recycling program. Also in 2009, cities and towns will be required to begin providing for the recycling of the affected devices, including making arrangements for collection and transportation of the devices to a DEP-approved recycler.

The new law specifically exempts certain smaller electronic devices from the recycling requirement, including cell phones, PDAs, calculators and pagers, computers or TVs that are parts of a motor vehicle or household appliance, home telephones (unless they have a video display larger than 4 inches diagonally) and devices that are part of equipment used in an industrial, commercial or medical setting.

Source: EnvironmentalLeader.com

Special thanks to Colin Beavan for helping me compute 2 plus 2. You can find this video clip and other great stuff on his No Impact Man blog.

Buying Locally--Farm Markets and Beyond

Summer is a great time to purchase fresh produce from one of Connecticut’s organic farm markets. Not only will you support your local farmers, you’ll greatly shorten the average 2,500 miles from field to table that most food travels. What's more, the environmental advantages of buying locally can extend well beyond shopping at your local farm market or organic grocer.

For example, buying furnishings, appliances and building materials saves the tons of greenhouse gas emissions that are emitted as a result of transporting raw materials (by cargo ship, plane, train and semi-truck) and finished products long distances to distributors and retailers.

Purchasing gently used or pre-owned items through Craigslist or Hartford backpage can greatly extend a product's lifecycle, thus diluting its embodied energy (the amount of energy needed to produce a new product) and giving away your unwanted household items can provide others with necessities and make room for your new purchases.

When building or remodeling your home, you can find high-end or unique salvaged building materials at urbanminers.com or greendemolitions.org and feel good about saving energy that would otherwise be spent on mining, extracting, processing and producing new material. 

So when considering a new purchase visit local shops, artisans, and furniture makers. Mine garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets to put a unique spin on everyday items and have fun exercising creativity while treading a little lighter. 

BioDiesel in Connecticut

Lots of people have been inquiring about buying biodiesel in Connecticut, and boy am I glad I'm not the only one looking for it! The Connecticut Waste Oil List, formerly the Connecticut Biodiesel Co-op, offers information for the adventurous Do-It-Yourselfer who wants to make their own.

For those willing and able to pay more for convenience, Greenleaf Biofuels in Guilford, Connecticut, will deliver 55 gallon drums for $3.49 per gallon. Greenleaf also sells personal filling stations priced between $275 (manual) - $675 (complete with an electric pump). For more options, visit the National Biodiesel Board, which lists the contact information for over a dozen biodiesel distributors around the state; and please share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences making, purchasing or using biodiesel.