Port of Seattle Leads the Industry in Green Ways

Below is a video on how the Port of Seattle is leading the way to green practices within its organization. The below video is how at its Airports it has its coffee barristers recycle their coffee grinds. It save a tremendous amount of waste from going into the local landfill. Recycling coffee grounds can be done by everyone very easily by just sprinkling them among your garden plants or adding them to you compost bin. Enjoy the video below and begin recycling them today. If you are interested in adding coffee grounds to your compost pile or garden Starbuck’s has a “Grounds for Gardens Campaign” where they will happily let you pick them up from your local one. Read more at Port of Seattle.

Only a Very Small Percentage of Retired Phones are Recycled

While the huge number of retired phones continues to grow and the demand for refurbished phones is accelerating, only a very small percentage of displaced phones are actually making it into the recycling channels.

Nokia estimates that 74 percent of people are not even aware that their old phones can be recycled and most others don’t know how or where to recycle them. From the results of a worldwide survey done in 2008 by Nokia, only three percent of displaced phones are being returned for recycling – even less than the four percent that are being thrown in landfills. The rest remain in our respective drawers at home.

So Where Can They be Recycled?

The first thing you should attempt to do is to clear your mobile phone of all data and get it back to its original state. If you still have the manual you can easily find how to do it. If you do not , you will have to scroll through the set-up and or mechanical menus to find the option to do this. Another method that I recently did to clear my Blackberry of data before selling it on eBay, was to search the internet via your favorite browser search engine with “erase data on XXXX” where XXXX is the manufacturer and model on your phone. This popped up a number of  sites to assist me through the process. While also doing a search, key in “cell phone recycling” to get a list of places to either resell, donate or eco dispose of it.

Some sites we like are:

• Charity Guide
• GRC Recycling
• Gazelle
• EcoCell

This a small listing of many you will find if you search the Internet as mentioned above. Many of the large office supply chain stores also offer drop boxes as well as many of the cellular phone providers either at their retail locations or via programs on their websites. The bottom line is to get rid of the old ones cluttering your draw to save some space, make a few bucks or to donate to the less fortunate. Don’t delay do it today!

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday

Re-use old holiday cards to create gift tags. It’s easy – cut off the front of a previously used holiday card (or trim out a section of the front), write your message either on the front or the back of the new tag, then add some ribbon or attach it right onto the present.

Create a natural centerpiece. Instead of buying a store-bought centerpiece, try making your own for a great personal touch! Ideas include making a centerpiece out of pinecones or trim evergreens and place them in a vase or directly on the table. If you’re buying a real tree don’t be shy about asking to take home any discarded branches left on the ground. You can add seasonal fruit, candles or nuts to spruce it up. You will save money and you can eat it afterwards! (If you add candles, please remember to not leave them unattended.)

Get creative with gift wrapping. Think of some new innovative ways to wrap presents—try using newspaper, paper bags, cloth gift bags or even cookie tins instead of wrapping paper. If your child has an artistic streak you can add a personal touch to a gift by reusing their finger paintings to wrap presents. Get even more creative by using old maps or sheet music!

Try any of these holiday tips and you could save money and also help reduce your environmental footprint over the holidays. Visit the OneChange website for more holiday simple action tips to save money and help the environment.

What is in our Garbage?

Paper accounts for 47% of it, Food waste 18%, Plastic 15%, Yard Waste 9%, Wood 3%, Metal 3%, Glass 2% and Other 3%. So if we could get rid of or greatly reduce the first four categories listed we can reduce overall garbage by as much as a WHOPPING 89%!! How? Read below for two easy ways to reduce your trash, save your community money and cut down on your carbon footprint.

Recycling

Another “YesterYear” technology that has been around for quite some time is recycling. It is easy to do and if you have young children they will probably teach you or guilt you into to it as they are now taught its benefits in school. Many municipalities require at least some level of recycling for containers of glass, metal and #1 or #2 plastics and newspapers. These types of  materials are the most valuable and allow them to make money to at least cover the cost of collection. So what about all that junk mail, card board packaging, used electronics and fluorescent lights? Well many municipalities will also take these materials however you have must take them to their respective recycling centers, so it does requires an effort. If your municipality does not take some of these items yet go here find where to recycle it.

Is it worth the effort?

Well the picture shown tells the tale. The picture on the left  is our garbage can and next to is two of three of our neighbors trash cans both are holding trash from one week. We have a household of five people, two adults and 3 children. They have two adults and one child. The difference is we make an effort to recycle as much as possible beyond what the town requires, they do not. Essentially our energy usage and carbon footprint is less because of  our recycling efforts. This is easy enough for everyone to do with a small amount of effort and thought.

Composting

Circular Compost Bin

Another big way we cut down on trash is by composting. We take all our food scraps, grass clippings, leaves and other yard debris and put them in a composting bin. The one pictured is one of many types available. This particular model allows you to spin it frequently speeding up the process of decomposition turning it  into “black gold”. We use this black gold as a natural soil enhancer as it contains many natural nutrients that plants and shrubs need. This also allows us to not have to use fertilizers for feeding our plants. This added benefit makes this an even more Eco friendly solution.   Doing both these simple things adds up to big energy savings and reduces your carbon foot print.  A good site to start with to learn about it is Master Composter.

Start today it is easier to do than you think.

And Recycle Your Clippings

Grass recycling is about leaving your glass clippings on your lawn, allowing them to decompose which fertilizes your lawn. The benefits are reducing waste that goes into landfill, healthier lawns, less costs due to the elimination of disposal and no fertilizer runoff to pollute rivers and streams!

Best practice for grass mulching is not to cut any more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade at one time. The grass should be dry when you mow and your mower blades kept sharp.  Adjust your mower to raise cutting height accordingly and remove the collection bag. Another added benefit for keeping your lawn a tad higher between cuts is that it will need less water as well. Many newer mulching mowers are set up for recycling already so all you have to do is not use the grass catching bag.

The most green eco-friendly mower is the classic push mower which also saves energy.  No gas, no fumes to worry about and by also pushing the mower you will get an additional benefit of burning 540 calories an hour using it.  It all adds up to a healthier, eco friendly lawn that saves you time and money!