When it comes to electronic gadgets, Americans can’t get enough. We want – no, need – to be connected at all times. We must have the latest and greatest electronics. And who wouldn’t opt for the brand new digital, plasma screen T.V. when it often costs much more to repair that ancient hunk-of-junk in the garage than it does to buy a brand new one? But what happens to that analog boob-tube when you have decided you would rather surf atop the digital wave? It is quite likely that the electronic devices you deem unworthy will end up in landfills. Your “old” video equipment, televisions, computers, cell phones and other hand-held devices, audio equipment, and video games make up more than 2% of the municipal solid waste stream. I know what you’re thinking: “That doesn’t seem like very much”. Well, electronic waste – more commonly known as e-waste – is the fastest growing waste stream in America. And that modest 2% of the waste stream accounts for 70% of toxic waste according to www.earth911.com. In the year 2000 more than 4.6 million tons of e-waste entered the landfill from America alone, and by 2007 the number almost doubled (2). Even those who believe they are doing the earth a favor by recycling their e-waste could be doing even more harm to the environment. Many companies who claim to recycle post-consumer electronics simply ship the e-waste off to developing countries with loosely-regulated recycling facilities unable to handle the toxic chemicals properly. We have a constant and insatiable appetite for new electronics, forcing countries like China, India and Pakistan to swallow our poisonous leftovers. To read more about global e-waste problems visit http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/01/57151 or http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/30/MNGNNOUHQL1.DTL

Fortunately, many computer manufacturers, TV manufacturers, and electronic retailers now offer take-back programs and sponsor legitimate recycling events. Although there are no federal laws in place regarding the management of e-waste, 19 states and New York City have passed some type of legislation to manage end-of-life electronics in a safer and more environmental way. You can view more information on state laws at www.ecyclingresource.org.

Top Tips

· Reduce – Do you really need that new cell phone, stereo, computer or TV? Although electronics are made to last years, many feel the need to buy new products as soon as they are available. And it seems as though companies are cranking out the next model before you even have a chance to snip your proof-of-purchase for that rebate. Basal Action Network (BAN), which is an organization that pushes for the U.S. to ratify the Basel Convention of international hazardous waste shipment, says at least 1 in 4 homes will trash their still-perfectly-good TV this year following the digital transition. Preventing waste by reducing electronic consumption is preferable to any waste management option.

· Reuse – While you are trying to find a purpose for your unused electronics, they are collecting dust in the garage. No, scratch that…the boxes they are in are collecting dust in the garage. Meanwhile, their useful life is wasting away until the time comes when you decide they need to be thrown away. Just because you had to have the newest Ipod or DTV doesn’t mean someone else won’t appreciate the perfectly good older model. Donating used electronics to schools, non-profit organizations, and low-income families is a great way to lengthen the life of electronic products and keep them out of the waste stream longer.

· Recycle – If a product is no longer in condition to be used, don’t just throw it away! There are precious parts and ingredients in electronic devices that can be recycled. The metal, plastics, batteries and packaging materials in products like cell phones can be used for new products. Metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, copper, tin, lead, brass and zinc can be recovered and used for jewelry, plating, electronics, plumbing, automotive and art foundries.

Other Considerations

· E-waste pollution – It is important to be be careful where and with whom you send your e-waste to be recycled. Electronic equipment contains toxic compounds like lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants that leak into soils and water supplies. Unfortunately, 50%-80% of e-waste is shipped to developing countries like China, India or Pakistan where recycling regulations are extremely loose if they even exist at all. The chemicals in e-waste are extremely harmful to the environment and cause severe health issues for the people living in surrounded areas. When recycling your e-waste, ensure that you are giving to a reputable and legitimate company. See these links for information on recycling e-waste:

· http://earth911.com/electronics/

· http://www.mygreenelectronics.org/

· http://www.eiae.org/

Benefits…

…to you

· Anything that is just sitting in your home unused not only creates clutter, it collects dust, which is bad for your health. The National Safety Council (http://www.nsc.org/) estimates that 75% of all personal computers ever sold are now gathering dust. So, it’s likely that you have a computer adding to the clutter and amount of dust collected in your home. If you absolutely have to have the newest electronics, donating your old products (or recycling if they are no longer useful) will clear your home of clutter and help you and your family breathe cleaner and easier.

…to your wallet

· Curbing your appetite for new electronic gadgets will definitely save you money. By waiting longer to buy a product, you will probably discover that it becomes much cheaper in 6 months, or (and here is the more sustainable and environmental option) you really don’t need the unnecessary expense.

· Some recycling centers will pay you for your used products. The website http://www.pacebutler.com/ claims to pay up to $75 for used cell phones.

· <;/span>Donations to churches, schools, low-income families and non-profit organizations are tax-deductible. So donating your usable electronics will increase the useful life of a product as well as your tax-return.

…to the earth

· Reducing, reusing and recycling electronics limits the amount of e-waste generated and dumped into our landfills. It increases the collection and treatment of products with high precious metal content and prevents the release of hazardous materials into our ecosystems. Practicing safe and sustainable e-waste management conserves the earth’s limited resources by reducing raw material extraction and encouraging more sustainable approaches to manufacturing.

1. International Association of Electronics Recyclers Industry Report, 2006. http://www.iaer.org/communications/indreport.htm

2. “Electronic Waste Management in the United States, Approach 1” Table 3.1 EPA530-R-08-009 US Environmental Protection Agency, July 2008. http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/docs/app-1.pdf

3. “eCycling”. US Environmental Protection Agency, January 2009. http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm

4. Palm, Erik. “DTV transition: Avoiding an e-waste ‘tsunami’”. Green Tech, June 2009. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10260174-54.html

5. Mayfield, Kendra. “E-Waste: Dark Side of Digital Age”. Wired, January 2003. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/01/57151

Fact: One could go down to their local landfill and find everything they need to furnish a new house, if they wanted to. Old computers, ragged couches, lamps, and even ovens are thrown into landfills across the country each year. While properly separated recyclables go to recycling centers, items that are not recycled end up in overcrowded landfills. So why aren’t more people recycling? Could it be they think recycling is not worth it, too expensive, or too much work? The following are five common recycling myths debunked.

Myth 1: Recycling wastes more energy than it saves

Fact: Recycling actually saves more energy than if an item was not

recycled. According to the National Recycling Coalition, reprocessing recycled materials into usable materials, on average, requires 17 times less energy than creating usable materials from raw materials.

• According to the University of Massachusetts’s Office of Waste Management, recycled paper takes 60% less energy, 58% less water, 74% less air pollution, and 35% less water pollution to produce than non-recycled paper
• Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours.
• Every one pound of aluminum recycled saves 4 pounds of bauxite
• Recycling one glass container saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours
• If every plastic bottle was recycled, 2 billion tons of plastic would be saved from entering a landfill
• Recycling one pound of steel saves enough energy to light a 60-watt bulb for a whole day.

Myth 2: Recycling trucks waste energy

Some say that recycling is useless because the trucks that collect recyclables produce more energy and emit more pollution than recycling can save.

Fact: Waste has to be collected one way or another. If waste is going to be collected, it is better for the environment if that waste is separated into recyclable and non-recyclable. The amount of energy and pollution created from recycling trucks is insignificant when compared to the benefits of recycling. Creating usable items from raw materials requires an enormous amount of energy compared to using recycled materials.

Myth 3: Someone separates your trash for you

Fact: Everything thrown away in a trash can becomes part of the neighborhood landfill if not separated into proper recycling bins.  Can you imagine the labor and funds it would take for hired workers to separate every piece of trash into recyclables and non-recyclables?  It is much easier and convenient for each person to separate his or her own trash than for hired labor to separate a whole town’s trash.

Myth 4: Landfill space is plentiful and infinite

Fact: There are those out there who say we will not run out of landfill space; however, there is a finite amount of land in this world. The trash we create has to go somewhere. All the trash that is not recycled continues piling up in landfills. Some landfills even become a part of the community over time. For example, in Virginia Beach, VA, there is a popular park created from an abandoned landfill called Mt.Trashmore Park. Some of us are living atop heaping mounds of trash, but wouldn’t it be better to live atop a natural part of the Earth?

Landfills not only occupy space they also emit greenhouse gases. According to Portland State University, as “organic matter breaks down in a landfill”, it releases methane which is a very strong greenhouse gas. By recycling, such organic matter no longer ends up in landfills, reducing greenhouse gases.

Myth 5: Recycling is too expensive

Fact: If a recycling truck comes and collects your recycling bins for you, recycling costs money, usually a monthly fee that varies by city. However, recycling can be free if you go and drop your recyclables at a local recycling center or by dropping your recyclables off at a school, library, or any public recycling center. There are also companies that will recycle electronics, print cartridges, and other items for free.

Top tips:

• Before you believe the myths that are out there regarding recycling, take the time and research the truths with the help of your local recycling center or the Internet. Not only will you be more knowledgeable in all things recycling, you will be able to recycle with ease.

Benefits…

…to your wallet

Diverting trash out of your curbside recycling bin and following your recycling center’s policies will keep you from receiving a fine. You can earn a little money selling your recyclables as well.

…to the Earth

Remaining alert and dedicated to recycling will significantly reduce landfill waste, the production of new resources, and fuel.

Common Mistake

• Many households simply place their recyclable items into the bin without thinking twice; however, all items must follow various policies. It is vital that you discuss your center’s or drop-off location’s guidelines with a representative. Your local recycling center can be found using SCGH’s database.

For more information…

Sierra Club Green Home Recycling Center

Careful Where You Toss That!

Recycling and Waste Reduction: Environmental Protection Agency

Most of us are not strangers to recycling. We are familiar with the multi-colored bins and the appropriate way to sort our recyclables. Despite our dedication and commitment to recycling, many items are ultimately diverted out of our recycling bins to landfills.

Before depositing any unwanted items into the bin, you should determine if they are accepted by your local recycling center. Most will provide you with a list of items they collect in each designated bin (ex: plastic #2 in the blue bin). Even though some can appear recyclable, they may in fact be sorted and placed into the trash. By acknowledging the following items as non-recyclable you may continue to make appropriate choice by investing in alternatives, reusing the items, or by simply reducing your consumption of them.

Common things which are actually non-recyclable

• Pizza boxes
  Reason:
  Even though pizza boxes are made out of recyclable cardboard, once the paper comes in contact with food oils and animal byproducts it can no longer be recycled. Simply stated: water and oil don’t mix in a paper slushy. A grease stained pizza box can cause a whole recycling bin to be contaminated and ultimately be diverted as trash.

Best alternative:
The most eco-friendly and fun substitute for a hot-and-ready pizza, is to make one yourself. This will allow you to eliminate the unnecessary packing associated with a ready or frozen pizza.

• Styrofoam
  Reason:
  Recycling centers do not collect styrofoam because the chemicals required to breakdown the product are extremely toxic. If processed, it can only be chopped or compressed into other styrofoam products. In addition, styrofoam is not biodegradable, thus when thrown away it can contaminate water ways, soil, and poison wildlife.

Best alternative:
When confronted with styrofoam at a restaurant (take out boxes, cups, plates, etc.), opt for an aluminum or paper container. In packages, styrofoam peanuts can be replaced with old newspapers, plastic bubbles, and even textiles.

• Plastic coat hangers
  Reason:
  It is difficult to determine what type of plastic is used to create hangers, thus recycling centers will not accept them. Even if marked, centers will sort your recycling bin and dispose of your unwanted hangers because the recycling machine can be damaged by wedged hangers.

Best alternative:
When shopping for a substitute, purchase 100% FSC certified wood hangers. Bamboo is a highly recommended wood due to its renewable and sustainable qualities. If you truly want to invest in an eco-friendly way to store your clothes, invest in a standing closet or organic hanging canvas shelves. Or, use a green dry cleaners that recycles the metal hangers for you. Many cleaners do provide re-use of hangers if they are returned in a neat stack.

• Mirrors
  Reason:
  The glass used for mirrors is non-recyclable due to its chemical composition. Since mirrors are made out of various components, there is not easy way to disassemble them for recycling. In addition, mirrors may contain various levels of lead, which if recycled and leached can pose a threat to the environment.

Best alternative:
If you are looking to purchase a new mirror, invest in one that is distinguishably marked lead-free. The best alternative would be to buy a vintage/antique mirror or to relocate an old mirror to remodel the room.

• Juice boxes
  Reason:
  According to the University of Michigan, Americans consume 4 billion juice boxes a year, all of which end up in landfills. Juice boxes which contain bright graphics and metallic insulation are non-recyclable because the bonded material are inseparable, thus preventing the recycling process to take place.

Best alternative:
When purchasing juice, get the kind which is sold in a recyclable plastic container. Avoid buying small individual bottles, packs, or boxes, instead purchase a large gallon of juice to refill your glasses or reusable bottles.

__________________________________________________________

Learn More:

Eco Water Bottles

Recycling by Force

Raising Healthy Children

Water Conservation Overview

Common trash that’s actually recyclable

Every day, landfills receive literally tons of trash, including numerous recyclable items. Even if you follow your center’s requirements to the ‘T’, you may still be throwing away items that can be recycled elsewhere. To significantly reduce your waste output, better the environment, and aid your community by learning to recycle, here are recycling tips you should know:

• Textiles

Most textiles are leftover scraps, discarded clothes, or worn furniture fabric. Once textiles are collected via donation sites or factory leftovers, they are ground up into fabric pulp, which can later be weaved or knitted into items. In addition, fabrics like jean materials can be re-manufactured as insulation.

Drop-off:

Before throwing away the old clothes a thrift or donation location did not take, do your research on possible textiles drop off sites (SCGH Recycling Center). Numerous recycling centers actually pick up textiles on residential curbsides. If you are willing to recycle a used item made by a popular brand, you can contact the company and request information about their recollection policies. For example, Patagonia allows customers to ship back their used clothes for recycling.

• Eyeglasses

Most used prescription eyeglasses usually get put into the abyss of a drawer or are simply tossed in the trash. However, eyeglasses can be recycled. When glasses are collected, prescription lens are removed to either be smelted or reinstalled for new patients (depending on Rx). The eyeglasses frames are inspected, polished, tightened, and are prepared for reuse.

Drop-off:

You can call 1.800.CLEANUP or visit our Recycling Search Center to get a list of eyeglass recycling locations near you. Such centers are affiliated with a program called Give the Gift of Sight.

• Electronics

In the year 2000, more than 4.6 million tons of e-waste entered the landfill from America alone, and by 2007 the number almost doubled. If you are no longer using your old cell phone, computer or any other electronic, don’t just throw it away. Numerous manufacturers offer take-back programs or you can take your e-waste to a drop-off site at a box store to get e-cycled. When collected, electronics are separated by metals (gold, silver, aluminum, etc.), plastics, and batteries. The collected resources can be smelted or reinstalled.

Drop-off:

To locate a drop-off site for a specific brand contact a representative, so a take-back package can be mailed to you with further instructions. If you are interested in dropping off your item, find a location by zip code at our Recycling Center.

• Tires

Many of us have seen tires that have been dumped on the side of a road or in a middle of a field, but they are in fact easy to recycle. So instead of sending a tire to the grave, drop them off at a manufacturer or pick-up site. Tires can be shredded and recycled into basketball floors, shoe soles, or modified into new rubber products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2003 approximately 230 million tires were recycled, with numbers continuously growing.

Drop-off:

Recommended drop-off sites are available on our site or can be found on specific manufacturers’ websites. Locally, recycling programs are available at various tire dealership or mechanic shops.

• Light bulbs

In various states it is illegal to dispose of light bulbs in general waste baskets, especially fluorescents. Light bulbs contain mercury and other elements that may be toxic to ecosystems. The recycling process primarily focuses on reclaiming mercury and precious metals from discarded light bulbs, this prevents toxic leaching into landfills and allows companies to reuse various content.

Drop-off:

Visit your local Home Depot store which runs a take-back program. In 2008, Home Depot announced a national recycling program, in all of its 1,973 stores. Drop-offs may also be done via FedEx with www.lightbulbrecycling.com.

Top tip:

“Cash for Clunkers” act two might be called “Funds for Fridges.” The continuation to America’s ever-popular “Cash for Clunkers” program (which yielded 690,114 cars) will soon jump start a new “Cash for Appliances” program that’s coming to a utility near you.

Even though “Cash for Clunkers” is over for cars, over 60 utilities across the U.S. will be offering money for recycled appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and more. The federal government will be offering rebates from $50 to $200 in support of consumers purchasing more energy-efficient appliances. The goal is simple: Take energy-sucking appliances out of homes and off of energy grids, in favor of newer, more energy-efficient ones, that will save consumers money, and conserve energy.

Supported as part of President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan, the Department of Energy will provide states with $300 million which will include these rebates in an effort to boost the economy, and also persuade and help citizens make a transition into a better green, energy-conserving lifestyle.

From a related article in wishtv.com, hhgregg sales manager, Nick Allison says, “What we’re hoping to see is if these rebates come through, consumers can use them with the manufacturer’s rebates and offer them additional savings.”

Let’s All Join In

NV Energy of Nevada has collected over 50,000 refrigerators, freezers, and related appliances over the past five years, giving customers $30 per turn-in. John Hargrove of NV Energy says the goal is to produce the state-ordered 25% of electricity through renewable or energy-efficient sources by 2025.

Regina Stepanov, Vice President of the UNLV Sierra Student Coalition, says, “The average American household spends roughly $2,000 a year on energy bills. Taking the simple initiative to purchase Energy Star appliances will prove to be a true investment, as homeowners will begin to significantly save money and better the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Star appliances use 15% less energy than typical appliances. If each household switches to at least one sustainable appliance, even a toaster oven, the energy savings would be immense nationwide. “

Companies like NV Energy, Jaco Environmental and Nebraska Public Power District collected old appliances for recycling for over 25 years. Jaco recycles almost 95% of its appliances, which are destroyed at a waste-to-energy incinerator. The steel is recycled and used for rebar to reinforce roadways, the plastic goes to anything from laptops to compact disc casings, even the chlorofluorocarbons are recycled.

Why not make a little money for your old appliances, along with purchasing an energy-efficient new one in its place? “Cash for Appliances” would seem to be a win/win for both consumers and retailers. You can save hundreds of dollars per year on energy bills, while helping to protect the planet in the process.

Other Reading and Resources

Cash for Appliances Program on the Way by wishtv.com

Appliances Get Their Own Recycled Clunkers Program

President Obama’s Plan

Cash For Clunkers

On June 23rd 2009, the Board of Supervisors for the City of San Francisco passed an ordinance which will be the most sweeping recycling law in the country. The mandatory recycling ordinance, proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom states that residents of the city must recycle and separate their compostable waste into three different trash bins: green for compost, black for trash, and blue for recycling. Failure to abide by this ordinance could also result in fines reaching as much as $500.

Section 1803 of San Francisco’s “Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance” states:

All persons in San Francisco must source separate their refuse into recyclables, compostables and trash, and place each type of refuse in a separate container designated for disposal of that type of refuse. No person may mix recyclables, compostables or trash, or deposit refuse of one type in a collection container designated for another type of refuse, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

Mayor Gavin Newsom’s goal is for San Francisco to have a 75 percent recycling rate in 2010, with zero waste by 2020. San Francisco already isolates 72 percent of the 2.1 million tons of waste that its resident’s produce each year away from landfills and into recycling programs, but it’s the mandatory composting that has the city’s officials most exited.

“When the nation is looking at complex solutions for climate-change reduction, we should not overlook the importance of simple things like increasing the recycling rate and composting.” says Jared Blumenfeld, who is the director of the city’s Department of Environment.

The city already composts 400 tons of food scraps a day, 90 percent of which goes towards enriching the soil of vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties. If the rest of the country were to catch up with San Francisco’s goals, we could divert more than 190 million tons annually. That’s the equivalent of 1,900 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers! Set end to end, they would stretch over 374 miles – that would almost stretch from Boston to Washington DC.

“People will embrace composting just like they embraced recycling,” says Nathan Ballard, the spokesperson for Mayor Newsom, who himself began composting kitchen scraps six months ago. “Here in San Francisco people are crazy about recycling. Composting is the next frontier.“

Although mandatory composting and recycling being enforced seems to be a good idea that will boost the city’s recycling rate tremendously, there are still others who are opposed to this ordinance.

Comments from the “blogging” city residents range from “outrage” to “their civil rights being contested”. One blogger wrote: “Welcome to the world of Big Brother, San Francisco! You don’t get to decide whether or not to recycle, and if you don’t the trash police will get you…”

With the newly-enacted mandatory recycling and composting law, San Franciscans everywhere need to think twice before throwing away a soda bottle in the trash, and not a recycling bin. Failing to place the bottle in its appropriate blue recycling bin could result in a $100 fine. The new law punishes those careless or perhaps forgetful San Franciscans who disobey the recycling law by collecting fines ranging from $80-$100 for the first offense.

What happens if one careless San Franciscan becomes a repeat offender? Well, for the second offense, he is fined between $150-$200. If they continue to throw away left-overs in the trash and the appropriate green composting bin, they will be fined $250-$500 for each additional offense. An alternative to this punishment hierarchy is an administrative fine of $250 for each violation; however, the government of San Francisco plans to just fine $100 for each violation as a way to make this law more accepted by the residents.

The mandatory recycling and composting law, not only punishes those San Franciscans who throw everything away in one trash can, the SF government will also fine businesses $500 for failing to provide appropriate receptacles for recyclables, compost, and trash. Businesses that provide food or beverages must have appropriate bins that are easily accessible and placed next together outside at all exits for their customers to separate their trash. These businesses also must place ashtrays or other receptacles for employees or customers who smoke. All receptacles must be emptied when they are full with their designated materials and at the end of the day where the separated items need to be cleanly placed in a storage area or collection site. All San Francisco residents and businesses are responsible for separating and maintaining trash and having collection services pick up their separated trash.

There are exceptions to the law for property owners and managers, however. In section 1910, these exceptions are defined. Any property owner or manager who does not have enough space to house the blue, green, and black receptacles must fill out a form detailing the lack of storage space. If an on-site examiner concludes that the property lacks enough storage space, sharing of receptacles with other property owners is an option. Another option is for the property owner to drop-off compost and recyclables at a San Francisco transfer station that has been collected from a public trash bin.

Cities with mandatory recycling laws – Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle – are not as stringent as San Francisco, but others such as Honolulu mandate certain materials be recycled, but don’t have overarching laws. In 1994 South Korea initiated a policy similar to what San Francisco has just enacted. They experienced a 175 percent increase in recycling in 10 years of implementation. They make citizens pay for bags that contain non-recyclable material, that way there is a direct economic incentive for people to use recyclable materials.

Is this a wasted effort?

Maybe it’s time we all get on board with Mayor Newsom. Mandatory composting and/or recycling has been around before San Francisco’s new law, but many states and countries are still awaiting on a green epiphany.

http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/09/should-recycling-be-mandatory/

http://www.vexen.co.uk/countries/best.html

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/waste_management/l28168_en.htm

http://ecoworldly.com/2008/04/09/should-recycling-be-mandatory/

http://www.vexen.co.uk/countries/best.html

]]> http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/homepage-subarticles/recycling-by-force/feed/ 1 http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/green-news/hippies-vstree-huggers-the-battle-for-america%e2%80%99s-greenest-city/ http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/green-news/hippies-vstree-huggers-the-battle-for-america%e2%80%99s-greenest-city/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:12:33 +0000 SCGHLLC http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/?p=5956 The Battle of the Bio-Titans

On July 6^th, Seattle residents had their voices heard as the city council voted on Mayor Greg Nickel’s proposal to ban foam containers and impose a fee on plastic and paper bags at supermarkets. Starting immediately, all foam products will be banned, but grocery stores would be allowed to make a change to plastic products if they have not found a biodegradable replacement, according to The Seattle Times. Then in January of 2010, all plastic products will be banned, leaving only biodegradable choices. Consumers who choose not to use environmentally friendly bags or containers will be charged a 20 cent per bag fee at the checkout counter. Not surprisingly, retailers are complaining, as are some residents who say they already recycle their bags and reuse them for trash and doggy poop.

Regardless, Seattle is one of the most active cities in America in protecting the environment. Policies that encourage hybrid transportation, green fuels, and energy conservation technology have demonstrated Seattle’s dedication to green living. But with Tuesday’s vote, the city has shown it will continue to be on the cutting edge when it comes to future green issues.

Regardless, Seattle is one of the most active cities in America in protecting the environment. Policies that encourage hybrid transportation, green fuels, and energy conservation technology have demonstrated Seattle’s dedication to green living. But with Tuesday’s vote, the city has shown it will continue to be on the cutting edge when it comes to future green issues.

The San Francisco Treat

The board of supervisors in San Francisco on June 9^thvoted 9-2 approving Mayor Gavin Newsom’s proposal for the toughest, mandatory composting and recycling law in the country. It’s an aggressive push to cut greenhouse gas emissions and have the city sending nothing to landfills or incinerators by 2020, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“San Francisco has the best recycling and composting program in the nation,” Newsom declared while praising the board’s vote. “We can build on our success.”

The legislation called for every residence and business in the city to have three separate color-coded bins for waste: blue for recycling, green for compost and black for trash. Failing to properly sort your refuse could result in a fine after several warnings, but Newsom and other officials say that fines will only be levied in the most egregious cases. There is a moratorium on fines until at least July 2011 for tenants and owners of multifamily buildings or multi-tenant commercial properties to help get people used to composting. Buildings where recycling carts won’t fit inside can get a waiver.

“ In any scenario, there will be repeated notices and phone calls before we even start talking about fines,” say Jared Blumenfeld, the head of the city’s Department of the Environment. “We don’t want to fine people.”

The proposal is thought to be an effective way to cut about two-thirds of the 618,000 tons of waste that the city sent to landfill in 2007. But this new proposal drew resistance from some apartment building owners when the news of Mayor Newsom’s proposal emerged about a year ago. And some residents were upset over the possibility of inspectors checking their garbage.

About 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfill is compostable, and another 31 percent is recyclable. By the city’s count, it currently diverts 72 percent of its waste which is the best in the nation. If recyclables and compostables that make their way to landfills were diverted, the city’s recycling rate would jump to 90 percent, Blumenfeld said.

So who’s greener?

Seattle and San Francisco are both extremely progressive cities in the U.S. as it pertains to green living. Both cities are hosts to numerous green living festivals, conventions, and continue to pass legislation that will help protect the environment for years to come. dbusinessnews.com ranked Seattle as America’s number one green city with San Francisco coming in at number two. Other publications including Popular Science magazine, have San Francisco rated above Seattle. Whichever city is “greener”, both cities have proven to be great examples of the progression that green living has had on not only America, but around the world.

Other Readings

America’s 50 Greenest Cities  

Recycling By Force

Green festivals

San Francisco: Composting

Home Composting

As you wait patiently for your groceries to approach the cashier’s scanner, you are expecting the bagger to ask, “Paper or Plastic?”  Perhaps, without thinking twice, you blurt out your preference for the copious bags that will soon pile at the bottom of your pantry or in the trashcan.   A few shoppers may actually consider plastic because of easy storage and small, light size, for eco-friendliness you’d think paper is the slam dunk best choice.  The right answer and the facts surrounding the claim may surprise you.

Say ‘goodbye’ to millions of trees

Bagging your red peppers and carrots in a paper bag is not the answer to ‘greening up’ your trip to the grocery store.  In fact, paper bags are no better than plastic bags.  Many believe that because they are tree based products they are more eco-friendly.  In order to produce the desired amounts of paper bags, many trees have to be logged and processed. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999, 14 million trees were cut down to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used in the United States that year alone.  It is reasonable to say that the numbers have increased since then to accommodate the rising population.

The production of paper for grocery bags worldwide is a process which heavily relies on the presence of various chemicals.  The pungent smell of paper mills is not the only thing that can irritate the surrounding ecosystem.  The use of toxic chemicals contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain, and water pollution.  In 1988, the Federal Office of the Environment published that in fact the production of paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.

Since people associate paper bags with other unwanted paper products like newspapers or advertisements, paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic.  Unfortunately, despite the great effort of recyclers worldwide, paper recycling can cost a lot of energy.  The Society of the Plastic Industry’s (SPI) research states that it takes 1444 BTUs or 1362 kJ to recycle one paper bag.  This is almost half of the energy is taken to create the bag originally; thus, some energy is conserved.  But, is expelling additional energy to remanufacture the product a good choice?

Plastic isn’t that fantastic

Plastic bags are often seen blowing in tree branches, clogging street drains, floating in our oceans, and flooding our storage cabinets.  It is estimated by scientists that, worldwide, more than a million plastic bags are consumed and discarded per minute. That is approximately 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags annually.  Many are striving to decrease the outrageous number of plastic bags that reach the landfill by recycling used bags.  According to the Wall Street Journal, only 1% to 3% of plastic bags are being recycled,  Eleven barrels of oil are saved when one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What happens to the plastic bags which do not get recycled?  The most obvious answer – they reach the landfill where they do not biodegrade due to their chemical composition.  Even the SPI determined that plastic bags do not break down completely into organic materials.  While the bags make your local landfill their home, they go through a process called photodegradation.  This means that the plastic is broken down into smaller pieces which can gain mobility and relocation via water, wind, or wildlife.  According to the EPA and The Ocean Conservancy, wildlife is significantly threatened by various plastics, including discarded bags.  Marine life constantly mistake plastic bags for prey like jellyfish, and consuming plastic bags can cause blockage to the digestive tract which leads to starvation and death. In 2002, a whale that washed up on the coast of Normandy had 800 grams of plastic elements, including plastic bags, in its stomach.

Unlike biodegradable paper bags, plastic bags have become common in even the most remote places like Antarctica.  According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags were a rarity in the late 1980s, yet since the early 1990s they have significantly contributed to pollution.

Thankfully, news like this travels faster than migrating plastic bags and has motivated worldwide communities to take action.  In 2002, the Irish government imposed a plastic bag consumption tax (called a PlasTax); consumers pay an obligatory fee of $0.15 per bag at check out.  This has reduced consumption of plastic bags by 90% and has saved the country 18 million liters of oil, and counting. China has also banned the distribution of free plastic bags, in efforts to encourage reusable alternatives.  Closer to home, San Francisco has become the first U.S. city to ban petroleum-based plastic grocery bags in 2007.

The answer you’re looking for – BYOB

Bring your own bags!  The alternative to plastic and paper bags is reusable bags because they are designed for more than a one-time use.  Reusable bags come in many different colors, sizes, and are made out of various materials. Reusable shopping bags are available to accommodate produce, heavy items, and little storage space.  Substituting reusable bags for disposable ones will help save millions of dollars on oil extraction used for plastic bag production, land clean ups, future disposable bag purchases by stores, and the remanufacturing costs incurred by recycling centers to process disposable bags.

By bringing your own bags to your shopping experience, you will help eliminate the addition of plastic and/or paper bags into our landfills and ecosystems.  Consequently, you are preventing the pollution of our oceans.  One reusable bag can replace thousands of plastic bags which could have negatively impacted our planet.   You are also saving terrestrial and marine wildlife by decreasing their interaction with disposed garbage and possible paper mill emissions.

The answer to our shopping woes almost seems too obvious, but most Americans continue to use plastic and/or paper bags.  Take a stand against plastic and paper bags, and damaging consequences associated with them.  Start by recycling your current paper bags, along with your other paper products. Then take a trip to the local grocery store to dispose of your plastic bags, by dropping them into the designated plastic bag recycling bin that most grocery stores are taking the initiative to install.  The last and most exciting part of this eco-friendly approach to shopping is the investment in reusable bags.  Browse the collection of reusable bags at your local grocery store or online.

Eco-friendly pet waste baggies (no more petroleum based plastic)

Reusablebags.com

Earthwise Bags

GoGreen-Bags

Wedge World

Content contributed by Earth911.com, the leading resource for local recycling solutions.

If you religiously recycle your old newspapers and junk mail, you’re not alone. In 2007, 56 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered—an average of 360 pounds of paper per person. But have you been recycling your dead light bulbs, flat tires, and leftover paint? You may not be able to put such items on the curb, but many companies and communities are providing ways to recycle them. In fact the EPA says that about 75% of what Americans throw away these days could be recycled.

Read the tips below to boost the statistics for your household—and maybe even benefit your whole community. Recycling not only saves energy and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. It can also prevent hazardous materials and chemicals from contaminating soil and leaching into local drinking water.

Top Tips

At home

• Know your trash. Check with your local government or recycling company to get a list of what materials you can and cannot put in your curbside bin.
• Go beyond the big five. Most curbside recycling programs accept the “big five”: paper, plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum. For everything that can’t be put on your curb, check Earth911’s recycling database for drop-off locations near you. This includes items like paint, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and pesticides. You can access through the database using the widget at the top of this page.  In addition, use mail-back and store drop-off programs. Most auto parts stores and mechanics will take used motor oil and old tires. For electronics, look into drop-off programs such as Best Buy’s and the EPA’s eCycling Program. Products such as cell phones can be mailed to manufacturers or traded in for money.
• Spread the word. Encourage your family and friends to recycle, both when they visit you and at their own homes.

While shopping

• Shop for better trash. Choose products with minimal packaging or packaging made from recyclable materials. Better yet, buy in bulk and bring your own reusable containers to the store to hold items you might otherwise put in a disposable container. Tell the checkout clerk the weight of the container when it’s empty, so it can be subtracted from the price of items bought by the pound.
• Know your plastics. If you need to buy something in a disposable plastic container, use one made from one of the most readily recyclable forms of plastic: #1 and #2, which will be marked in a recycling symbol on the bottom of the product. Check Earth911’s recycling database for ideas about how to recycle products made from other kinds of plastic, such as plastic bags and Styrofoam. To motivate yourself, remember this: It takes plastic bottles 700 years to begin to decompose in a landfill.
• Make a deal. Consider trade-in programs when purchasing computers and other new equipment. By planning ahead, you’ll save time and money on proper disposal.
• Close the loop. Buy products that contain recycled materials. When buying recycled content paper, remember to look for the highest percentage of post-consumer waste content.
• Buy less. It’s good to recycle. But it’s even better not to create any waste in the first place. Before you buy, ask yourself: Do you really need another (fill in the blank)?

Other Considerations

Some recycling lingo is confusing. What, for instance, is the difference between recycled-content products and recyclable products? What’s post-consumer content?

• Recycled-content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded. That means these products are made totally or partly from recycled material such as aluminum soda cans or newspaper. Recycled-content products also can be rebuilt or re-manufactured from used products such as toner cartridges or computers. More than 4,500 recycled-content products are available, and this number continues to grow. In fact, many of the products people regularly purchase contain some recycled content.
• Recyclable products can be collected and remanufactured into new products after they’ve been used. These products do not necessarily contain recycled materials and only benefit the environment if people recycle them.
• Post-consumer content is material that has served its intended use and is being reused in a different product. If a product is labeled “recycled content” and not “post-consumer content” it may be made from manufacturing waste—not material collected through a recycling program.

Feel as if you need to be a chemist to figure out what kind of plastic you are trying to recycle? This list will help:

#1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)*: soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays, and water bottles
#2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene)*: milk bottles, detergent bottles, and grocery/trash/retail bags
#3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders, and plastic pipes
#4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags, and squeezable bottles
#5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws, and food containers (such as yogurt, ketchup bottles and sour cream/butter/hummus tubs)
#6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts, and plastic tableware
#7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers, and Tupperware

Benefits

…to your health
Keeping hazardous wastes out of the waste stream will keep local water and air cleaner.

…to your wallet
Recycling programs can bring new jobs into your community. Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs. Recycling can also put money in your pocket. Some cities pay for recyclables you bring to their centers and/or reward good recyclers with lower rates for their trash pickup or other incentives. Shopping to minimize waste saves money, too.
…to the Earth

• According to the U.S. EPA, recycling (including composting your yard wastes and table scraps) diverted 68 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2001, up from 34 million tons in 1990.
• America’s current level of recycling saves the equivalent of more than 5 billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels.
• Substituting recycled for virgin material reduces climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. Producing new plastic products from recycled materials uses two-thirds less energy than is required to make products from virgin materials.

Common Mistakes

Getting All Mixed Up. Throwing the wrong thing into the recycling bin increases the cost of your community’s recycling effort. Some estimates put the industry-wide costs of contamination at about $700 million a year.

Getting Started

Here are few of the key elements to starting a recycling program, whether it’s for a business, a school, an organization, or just in your home.

• Decide what to recycle. Evaluate how much space you have to sort and store materials and what items you tend to go through on a regular basis, such as plastic bottles.
• Find a vendor. Check with your local recycling center, municipality, or waste hauler to find out what kind of materials are accepted in your area. The green Earth911 recycling locator at the top of the page can help.
• Decide on storage. Washable plastic bins or trash cans are the best to use to store your recycling. Be sure to rinse out the containers that held food to avoid critters.
• Educate participants. If items are put in the wrong containers, it means more work for you and could mean materials are not recycled.
• Label bins. Print up a sheet of special instructions, such as: remove caps, stomp on containers, break down cardboard boxes, bundle newspapers, and so forth.
• Maintain and monitor. Keep the storage bins clean and dry and make sure materials don’t pile up. A clean recycling area encourages other to keep it clean and uncluttered as well.
• Reward good behavior. Praise your participants and share any monetary rewards from dropping off materials.

Related Products and Services

• Home Composting
• The 3 Rs and Beyond