Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program

I just learned of another recycling program that recycles specific items (like the wine cork recycling program I wrote about last week). This time it’s glue bottles and empty glue sticks. 


Elmer’s is sponsoring a program where schools can collect the empty bottles and sticks and drop them off at the nearest Wal-mart store beginning Earth Day, April 22. There is also a chance for school’s to win prizes. 

Sounds like a good program. I e-mailed the details to my son’s teacher who runs an environmental club after school for the kids.

One thing that bothered me at first is that the instructions say to collect Elmer’s products specifically.  But after digging down on the website a bit, it does say that they will accept bottles and sticks from other manufacturers. They just can’t guarantee they will end up being recycled because they may not be made of the specific kind of plastic their program covers. Okay, I’ll accept that.

Click here to go to the Elmer’s website. Please think about alerting your school to this program.

2008
03/05
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
educating kids about green
recycling
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I Love My Prius – A Little Praise for my Hybrid

For the past few days every time I’ve driven by the local gas station it seems the price has gotten higher and higher. I live in a state that has some of the lower gas prices, at least in the northeast, but they’ve gone well over $3/gallon in the past few days.


So I’m just taking a minute to say, “I love my Prius.” Technically, it’s my husband’s Prius. A year ago he traded in his SUV that was getting maybe 12 mpg for the little hybrid sedan. I have a mini van that I rarely drive. Since we both work from home, if I need to run out, I take the hybrid. 

The Prius was more expensive than any car we had bought in the past. Initially, it was a financial hit. But, the money it saves on gas will more than make up for its initial cost long before we’re done with the car. 

If you’re in the market for a new car, please consider checking out hybrids. Don’t allow the initial sticker shock to turn you off before you educate yourself on the benefits of owning a hybrid. Not only do you save money on gas, but you save gas and create less pollution by driving a hybrid. 

There are so many options out there, and each year car manufacturers are adding new hybrids to their lines. And not only are they adding new models, they are working to make the hybrids even more fuel efficient. GM is currently working at making their hybrids 15-20% more efficient by 2010. 

2008
03/04
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
automobile efficiency
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Green Reading for Read Across America Day

Today is Read Across America Day which is celebrated every year on the anniversary of Dr. Suess’ birthday. Dr. Suess was a tree hugger, you know. 


In honor of Dr. Suess, who we love in our house, I’ve compiled a list of some of the books that I’ve read that have something to do with being green. Maybe you’ll find something here to read. There may be better books out there – I’ve got a whole list of ones I want to read, but these are the ones I’ve read that have inspired me.

  • The Lorax – Dr. Suess – a classic
  • Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year: A Year of Food Life – Barbara Kingsolver – lots of great inspiration about organic food, the local food movement, and lots of information about how the growing of food works (or doesn’t work) in our country
  • How to Rescue the Earth without Worshipping Creation – Tony Campolo – A Christian perspective on why we should care for creation
  • Silent Spring – Rachel Carson – this 1962 book is given credit for starting the environmental movement in the US
Even if you choose not to read something about green today, read something. And if you’ve got children read to them tonight (especially if you’ve got The Lorax).

2008
03/03
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
recommended books
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If Only I Had Known about This Eco-Friendly Site

So I write this column, “Green Like Me”, for Primal Parenting, and in the Spring issue my column will be about catalog waste. I won’t let you know what I say in the column. You can go to their website and subscribe if you really want to know.


But, I will say this. If I had known about a website I stumbled upon today, Catalog Choice, the footwork for my column would have been a lot easier. What a fantastic site! 

Here is their mission statement:

The mission of Catalog Choice is to reduce the number of repeat and unsolicited catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable industry best practices. We aim to accomplish this by freely providing the Catalog Choice services to both consumers and businesses. Consumers can indicate which catalogs they no longer wish to receive, and businesses can receive a list of consumers no longer wanting to receive their catalogs.


Basically, you register – which is very easy – then you can type in the name of any catalog that you receive that you don’t want, and if the catalog is in their system, you can ask to have the delivery discontinued. If the catalog is not in their system, you can suggest that it be added. They say it should take about ten weeks before you stop receiving the catalogs that you discontinued.

If you don’t think you get a lot of catalogs, you may not be right. I thought I received about 25 catalogs (which I thought was a lot), but in reality, I was receiving catalogs from 60 plus companies. 

Please take a minute to check out the Catalog Choice website.

2008
02/28
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
paper waste
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Green Term of the Week – Locavore

Locavore - someone who eats locally grown food


Last year, the New Oxford American Dictionary made locavore its word of the year. 

Why is being a locavore considered green? There are several reasons.

  • Locally grown food is usually grown more naturally, with fewer chemicals and pesticides than food that is grown on huge corporate farms. Often it is grown organically.
  • Locally grown food doesn’t have to travel far. That means that means that far fewer fuel is being used in transporting the food.
  • Locally grown food is usually minimally packaged. This creates less waste.
  • Choosing food from local farmers supports the small farms. If we don’t support the small farms, they will continue to disappear and most of us will only have the choice of buying food that has been shipped from far away.

Some people choose to be full locavores, eating what is only locally grown and what is in season. I applaud them, but I don’t see my family going over completely. I’m trying to buy more locally, and I really look forward to the farmer’s market season when buying from local farms is easier. 

We’re also going to grow a garden this summer so that much of our food is really local. 
If you can think of any other ways that being a locavore benefits the environment, let us know.

2008
02/27
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
green term definitions
organic food
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Green Products are Making Their Way to Club Stores

I stopped shopping at my local BJ’s quite a few months ago. When I started buying a lot of organic food, many of the things that were cheaper at BJ’s were not organic like milk, eggs and meat. But I still have a membership and yesterday I got their coupon magazine in the mail.


I was surprised at all of the organic options that the store is now advertising. Milk, butter, frozen fruits and vegetables, eggs, yogurt, ketchup, and olive oil are just some of the staples that were mentioned in the magazine. They are also carrying a lot more all natural products (but not necessarily organic) including all natural meats and lunch meats.

Some eco-friendly cleaning products were also advertised in the magazine, as well. 

A quick google of the other two club stores in my area, Sam’s Club and Costco, shows that they, too, are adding organic, natural, eco-friendly and fair trade products to their shelves.

I think I’m going to have to plan a trip to my local BJ’s sometime soon to check out what they are offering and what the prices are. 

Has anyone noticed that earth friendlier products are showing up on their club store’s shelves. How do the prices match up to what you might find in the grocery store? Have you tried any of the products? Were they any good? 

2008
02/26
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
organic food
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Recycling Wine Bottle Corks

Some things are so small that recycling them doesn’t seem like a big deal. Like wine bottle corks. They are very small and biodegradable. Why not just throw them in the trash?

It takes the Cork Oak Tree about 25 years before the cork can be harvested from it. After that cork can be harvested from the tree every 9 years, but only cork from the very first harvest of a tree is suitable for wine corks.

Wine corks are not able to be used again as wine corks because of bacterial concerns, but they can be recycled into many other useful objects such as push pin cork boards, coasters and flooring. Cork flooring is becoming very popular. Over this past weekend, I saw at least three home shows on HGTV that used cork flooring in their designs and each show mentioned how environmentally friendly cork is.

While cork is environmentally friendly and renewable, it takes a long time to renew. It makes sense to recycle what cork products there already are. 

So where can you recycle your wine corks? The US is a behind other countries and there aren’t many programs, yet, but there are a few options.

You can send them (at your own cost) to a program called Korks 4 Kids, a not-for-profit program, organized through Recycle Cork USA, LLC. to raise funds from the recycling of cork for Children’s Charities.

They can also be sent (again, at your own cost) to Yemm & Hart, a green materials company that will recycle them into products.



2008
02/25
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
recycling
reusing
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ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign

If you live in my town, you may have noticed an article in our town’s newspaper about this change a light campaign we’re doing. But, I know not everyone reads it cover to cover, so I thought I’d discuss it a little here.


If you don’t live in my town, you might still be interested in reading, because other communities can become involved in this campaign, too. You may want to mention it to the powers that be.

My town is encouraging 200 residents to pledge to replace at least one old fashioned light bulb in their home with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. This campaign is kicking off on March 1, 2008.

If 200 residents change just one bulb per household, it is estimated that more than 80,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions will be saved over the life of those light bulbs. CFL’s last 6-10 times as long as traditional bulbs and use 75% less energy. They cost more upfront, but save you money, and help save the planet, in the long run.

To sign up for the pledge, go to Energy Star’s website, and click on “Join us, Take the Pledge.” Fill out the form and in the organization box,  scroll down to our town’s name (Borough of…) and pledge to change a light bulb (or 2 or 20). 

I know that a lot of people are leery of CFL’s. They have a reputation of not giving off the same kind of light as traditional bulbs. I found this at first, too, but their quality has greatly improved over the past year and the ones I am buying now are better than the ones I bought a year ago.

Another concern is the fact that CFL’s contain mercury and that the bulb’s pose a hazard if they break. The hazard’s are not that dangerous, and the EPA has a site that recommends what to do if one does break. Click, here, and scroll down the page to “What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks.”

You can also find the closest recycling center for CFL’s, here, and I just found out as I was researching this that you can take CFL’s back to IKEA stores where they have recycling bins.

For more info on CFL’s you can go to Energy Star’s information page on them, here.

Changing out light bulbs is one easy way that we all can become a little greener every day.

2008
02/22
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
my green community
small changes
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What I Saw The Recycle Pick Up Guys Do This Morning

At my last green committee meeting for my community, it was mentioned that glass/plastic/aluminum and paper were going to be picked up by the same truck simultaneously from now on. It was more cost effective and more environmentally friendly because instead of two separate trucks driving around all day, only one truck needed to be used. 


I was wondering, is the truck divided so that paper goes on one side and glass/plastics on the other? How will this work? So today, I watched. The guys took everything I had placed outside to be recycled and threw it all into the back of the truck together. I was surprised.

In our community newspaper there had been an article about the two being picked up together, but I didn’t bother to read it. So I hunted it down and here is what I found out:

There is new technology at the recycling plant that our town uses that allows for all items to be mixed together. That was as technical as the explanation got. I’m going to have to ask at our next green committee meeting how it really works because I’m confused.

Something else that was pointed out in the article is that now all the items to be recycled can be placed into one receptacle – no separation is necessary. Apparently, when this is allowed the percentage of items recycled goes up because people don’t need to take the time and effort to put the things in separate containers.

Seriously? It’s too much effort for people to separate their paper from glass/plastic so they just throw it in the trash can? 

Its good that my community has made this change. If it gets more people to recycle its even better. I just can’t believe that people had trouble separating in the first place.

My next green committee meeting is the first week in March, so I’ll have more to say about all the efforts that are going on to turn our little town green. Until then, if you live in my town – throw caution to the wind and mix those paper with your plastics/glass. Have a ball. 

2008
02/21
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
my green community
recycling
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It’s Not Easy Being Green When You’re Sick

We’re sick around here. My mom who lives over in the next town is sick, too. I’m trying to take care of us all. I realized this morning as I ran to the grocery store that my eco-consciousness went into hiding sometime around yesterday afternoon.


I forgot my reusable bags (yes, even after yesterday’s post!) when I went to the grocery store.

I didn’t have time to go to the grocery store with the good organic choices so I ended up buying regular milk, regular eggs, and sports drinks in individual bottles for the boys at the closest grocery store.

I bought a frozen dinner to heat up for tonight because I know that I’m not going to want to cook.

And you know what, I’m okay with this. Of course, when we’re all feeling better, I’ll go right back to making better choices. But I’ve got a family to nurture, and I’ve got myself to nurture, too. Nurturing the earth is important, but not more important than making sure my family has what they need, including me when they need me. So if for two or three days I make a few choices that are convenient instead of green, they’re the right choices to make. 


2008
02/20
POSTED BY
robin
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
4 comments

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