Plastic bag recycling increases
By Green Living Tips
Published 03/29/2010
In a world full of environmental doom and gloom, it's always nice to hear stories of headway being made to reduce plastic waste.
According to the latest National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bags and Film Report, an estimated 416,197 short tons of post-consumer film (including plastic bags and wraps) were recycled in the USA in 2008.
This represented a 28 percent increase in plastic bag and film recycling since 2005, driven by increased consumer access to collection programs, as well as by new markets for these recycled materials such as composite lumber.
I guess some of it would be attributable to the many folks taking up plastic bag crafts too - kudos to you all ;).
I think the plastic bag manufacturing industry has also seen the writing on the wall (such as bans on these bags) and as a result is becoming more engaged on the issue. Last year, the Progressive Bag Affiliates (PBA) announced a recycling goal of 40 percent recycled content in all plastic shopping bags made by companies by 2015.
The PBA says the Full Circle Recycling Initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 231,500 tons, conserve enough energy to heat 200,000 homes and reduce plastic bag waste and film by 150,000 tons annually.
Then there's the reduction in petro-chemicals that are derived from crude oil. Nearly 10 percent of U.S. oil consumption, approximately 2 million barrels a day - is used to make plastics.
It's certainly good progress, however according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 13 percent of plastic bags and film are recycled annually - so there's a long way to go.
When it comes to those disposable plastic shopping bags, we really don't need them anyway. As I've mentioned in the past, the state I live in (South Australia) banned disposable shopping bags last year and we all seem to be getting on fine without them. I haven't heard of unemployment increasing as a result, anyone emigrating to other states for want of these bags, nor does the ban appear to have created black market disposable shopping bag crime syndicates.
There has certainly been a noticeable reduction in roadside trash since.
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Green Driver Challenge
- Check tire pressure regularly
- Reduce Idle Time
- Plan Routes in Advance
- Accelerate More Gradually
- Reduce Excess Cargo
These small changes in driving behavior can make a big impact. You too can join the challenge at http://www.wheels-aldautomotive.com/public/EcoWheelsChallenge.aspx
More than one billion people across more than 190 countries are committing to take action for a more sustainable world as part of the 2010 Earth Day celebration. See the impact of your pledge.
Buying Recycled Paper
Buying recycled paper
By Green Living Tips
Tips for buying recycled paper products
As I was researching for my article on how different products are recycled, I was amazed to discover that recycling paper can at times be a rather environmentally damaging affair and the promotion of recycled paper products be somewhat misleading.
This doesn't mean we should stop recycling paper or buying products made with recycled paper - but perhaps just make more informed choices.
First up, there's the issue of recycled content. There's no hard and fast rules in most countries for how much a paper product needs to have in terms of recycled components to make the "recycled" claim - it could be as little as 5%. So when shopping for paper, look past the big "Recycled!" blurbs and look for smaller text on the package that should indicate the % of recycled content. The higher the %, the better.
The more people buy the higher percentage recycled content paper, the quicker those manufacturers offering the lower percentage varieties might lift their game and stop trying to pull a fast one on the consumer.
Then there's a couple of different variations of recycled content
Post-consumer content
This uses material that has previously been consumed as a product, whether it's a newspaper or cardboard box.
Pre-consumer content
This is from waste generated by the manufacturing process. For example, around 20 years ago I used to work as a printer's assistant for a company that printed copies of a local Yellow Pages. The amount of waste we used to generate was horrific - dumpster loads of telephone books that weren't up to scratch were binned each day.
Of the two types, I guess the post-consumer content could be considered the "greener" of the two as it has completed an entire consumption cycle. However, that doesn't mean you should necessarily turn your nose up at pre-consumer content as its better the waste is reused than goes to landfill.
Some brands of recycled paper also may be a mix of post-consumer content and pre-consumer content; the amount of each should also be noted on the package as a percentage.
Recycled paper scams
There have been instances in the past where companies have been touting their paper is 100% recycled and it's simply not the case. This hasn't confined to small operators either.
For example, in Japan in 2008, a major scandal involving Nippon Paper hit the headlines. Nippon Paper admitted copy paper it claimed to be 100 per cent recycled contained only 59 per cent recycled paper. Other Nippon Paper products were also found to have lower than stated recycled content. This had been going on for 15 years according to this news item. Some of the virgin fiber used in these "recycled" products was coming from the forests of Australia!
I do think the Nippon Paper scandal put all the major manufacturers on notice though, so this type of blatant greenwashing shouldn't be a problem these days. Still, it doesn't hurt to do a search around the web on brand names to see what you can uncover.
Recycled vs. recyclable paper
Another trick to watch out for is the term "recyclable". This just means the paper can be recycled and has no bearing on whether it contains recycled content.
Chemicals
As mentioned in my article "How stuff is recycled" sometimes during the process of making recycled paper, nasty chemicals may be used. Try to avoid products that use chlorine in their production - chlorine bleaching creates highly toxic chemicals called dioxins.
As with all things green living related, remember it's not just what you use that makes a difference, but how much - as recycling takes energy and resources too. Pick up some related tips - the paper reduction diet
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .
By Green Living Tips
Tips for buying recycled paper products
As I was researching for my article on how different products are recycled, I was amazed to discover that recycling paper can at times be a rather environmentally damaging affair and the promotion of recycled paper products be somewhat misleading.
This doesn't mean we should stop recycling paper or buying products made with recycled paper - but perhaps just make more informed choices.
First up, there's the issue of recycled content. There's no hard and fast rules in most countries for how much a paper product needs to have in terms of recycled components to make the "recycled" claim - it could be as little as 5%. So when shopping for paper, look past the big "Recycled!" blurbs and look for smaller text on the package that should indicate the % of recycled content. The higher the %, the better.
The more people buy the higher percentage recycled content paper, the quicker those manufacturers offering the lower percentage varieties might lift their game and stop trying to pull a fast one on the consumer.
Then there's a couple of different variations of recycled content
Post-consumer content
This uses material that has previously been consumed as a product, whether it's a newspaper or cardboard box.
Pre-consumer content
This is from waste generated by the manufacturing process. For example, around 20 years ago I used to work as a printer's assistant for a company that printed copies of a local Yellow Pages. The amount of waste we used to generate was horrific - dumpster loads of telephone books that weren't up to scratch were binned each day.
Of the two types, I guess the post-consumer content could be considered the "greener" of the two as it has completed an entire consumption cycle. However, that doesn't mean you should necessarily turn your nose up at pre-consumer content as its better the waste is reused than goes to landfill.
Some brands of recycled paper also may be a mix of post-consumer content and pre-consumer content; the amount of each should also be noted on the package as a percentage.
Recycled paper scams
There have been instances in the past where companies have been touting their paper is 100% recycled and it's simply not the case. This hasn't confined to small operators either.
For example, in Japan in 2008, a major scandal involving Nippon Paper hit the headlines. Nippon Paper admitted copy paper it claimed to be 100 per cent recycled contained only 59 per cent recycled paper. Other Nippon Paper products were also found to have lower than stated recycled content. This had been going on for 15 years according to this news item. Some of the virgin fiber used in these "recycled" products was coming from the forests of Australia!
I do think the Nippon Paper scandal put all the major manufacturers on notice though, so this type of blatant greenwashing shouldn't be a problem these days. Still, it doesn't hurt to do a search around the web on brand names to see what you can uncover.
Recycled vs. recyclable paper
Another trick to watch out for is the term "recyclable". This just means the paper can be recycled and has no bearing on whether it contains recycled content.
Chemicals
As mentioned in my article "How stuff is recycled" sometimes during the process of making recycled paper, nasty chemicals may be used. Try to avoid products that use chlorine in their production - chlorine bleaching creates highly toxic chemicals called dioxins.
As with all things green living related, remember it's not just what you use that makes a difference, but how much - as recycling takes energy and resources too. Pick up some related tips - the paper reduction diet
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Why Going Green is So Important by Kristie Lorette
Why Going Green is So Important by Kristie Lorette
At one time, going green seemed like something a little out of the ordinary: the neighbor who jumped on his exercise bike every time he wanted a smoothie, or the Hollywood starlet “caught” recycling by the tabloids whenever she needed a little positive press. These days, however, being green is a full-blown movement that has become downright trendy. Trends aside, incorporating green techniques into daily life can have an important impact on the environment and your budget.
The Facts
Ultimately, going green is about small steps and simple choices each day. By recycling your aluminum cans, you can help to save energy: in fact, more than 50 million recycled cans reduced U.S. oil usage by 15 million barrels in 2009. Placing recyclable items in the recycling bin instead of throwing them away can limit landfill waste by as much as 75%. Reducing water use can ensure fresh water for the future and also add a little to your budget. A ten-minute shower uses about 40 gallons of water. By cutting the shower time in half – or even just shaving a couple of minutes off – you can limit waste.
Benefits
Going green in small areas can make an impact on your budget. For example, natural cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar are as effective as standard cleaning supplies and considerably cheaper. Starting your own vegetable garden can be cost effective and enable you to eat fresh, seasonal produce. Additionally, buying in bulk is a green option, because it enables you to make fewer trips to the grocery store and to spend less in the long run.
Considerations
In some cases, going green can get a little costly. Adding solar panels to your roof is expensive. Unless you live in a sunny location, the panels can take decades to pay off. But going green is not so much about incorporating all of the available green options as it is about using less and reusing when possible. Using rags instead of paper towels, turning off lights, and taking shorter showers can all add up to going green.
Expert Insight
On average, a family of four in the U.S. emits more than 20 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Taken across the U.S., this amounts to more than 20% of the world population’s carbon dioxide emissions (with only 5% of the world’s population living in the U.S.). Environmental scientists believe that carbon dioxide emissions contribute to rising global temperatures. Melting glaciers can cause the sea levels to rise and result in massive flooding. Plants and animals can become extinct if they are unable to adjust to a change in temperature. Environmentalists note that making even small changes in everyday life – the mantra of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” – can have a big impact on reducing emissions and ensuring the continuity of life.
Time Frame
For those who are new to going green, there is no rush to incorporate all of the changes at once. Instead, consider making one to two changes per week or per month, depending on your lifestyle. This might be as simple as switching to non-toxic cleaning products or as life-changing as riding a bike to work every day. Whatever you do, look at going green as a process instead of an end result.
At one time, going green seemed like something a little out of the ordinary: the neighbor who jumped on his exercise bike every time he wanted a smoothie, or the Hollywood starlet “caught” recycling by the tabloids whenever she needed a little positive press. These days, however, being green is a full-blown movement that has become downright trendy. Trends aside, incorporating green techniques into daily life can have an important impact on the environment and your budget.
The Facts
Ultimately, going green is about small steps and simple choices each day. By recycling your aluminum cans, you can help to save energy: in fact, more than 50 million recycled cans reduced U.S. oil usage by 15 million barrels in 2009. Placing recyclable items in the recycling bin instead of throwing them away can limit landfill waste by as much as 75%. Reducing water use can ensure fresh water for the future and also add a little to your budget. A ten-minute shower uses about 40 gallons of water. By cutting the shower time in half – or even just shaving a couple of minutes off – you can limit waste.
Benefits
Going green in small areas can make an impact on your budget. For example, natural cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar are as effective as standard cleaning supplies and considerably cheaper. Starting your own vegetable garden can be cost effective and enable you to eat fresh, seasonal produce. Additionally, buying in bulk is a green option, because it enables you to make fewer trips to the grocery store and to spend less in the long run.
Considerations
In some cases, going green can get a little costly. Adding solar panels to your roof is expensive. Unless you live in a sunny location, the panels can take decades to pay off. But going green is not so much about incorporating all of the available green options as it is about using less and reusing when possible. Using rags instead of paper towels, turning off lights, and taking shorter showers can all add up to going green.
Expert Insight
On average, a family of four in the U.S. emits more than 20 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Taken across the U.S., this amounts to more than 20% of the world population’s carbon dioxide emissions (with only 5% of the world’s population living in the U.S.). Environmental scientists believe that carbon dioxide emissions contribute to rising global temperatures. Melting glaciers can cause the sea levels to rise and result in massive flooding. Plants and animals can become extinct if they are unable to adjust to a change in temperature. Environmentalists note that making even small changes in everyday life – the mantra of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” – can have a big impact on reducing emissions and ensuring the continuity of life.
Time Frame
For those who are new to going green, there is no rush to incorporate all of the changes at once. Instead, consider making one to two changes per week or per month, depending on your lifestyle. This might be as simple as switching to non-toxic cleaning products or as life-changing as riding a bike to work every day. Whatever you do, look at going green as a process instead of an end result.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Benefits of Recycling | Go Green in 2010...
Interesting Facts and benefits of Recycling
Author: melanie4d00Recycling is the collection of used materials that would otherwise be waste to be broken down and remade into new products. Recycling is becoming very beneficial in all over the world, because by this process we are saving energy and conserving the environment. Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, decreases the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
Recycling is a one of the best ways of saving energy and conserving the environment. Most of recyclable materials are water, energy, paper, metal, aluminum cans, glass, plastic, Styrofoam, steel, junk mail, garbage, tires, food, and miscellaneous items. Some ecological waste food and garden waste is not typically considered recyclable. Approximately 60% of our rubbish thrown away today could be recycled. A survey was done and 9 out of 10 people surveyed said they would recycle more if it was easier. For the recycling materials is either purchased from collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
Recycling plastic bottles not only saves anywhere from 100 to 1000 years in the landfill but also saves the environment from the emissions in producing new bottles as well as the oil used to produce that bottle. For every 1 ton of plastic that is recycled we save the equivalent of 2 people's energy use for 1 year, the amount of water used by 1 person in 2 month's time and almost 2000 pounds of oil.
Some facts of the recycling:
1, The amount of wood and paper North Americans throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.
2, You can make 20 cans out of recycled material with the same amount of energy it takes to make 1 new one.
3, A typical baby uses 10,000 diapers in their early life, using a cloth diaper cost 19 cents less than a disposable diaper. Each year 16 trillion diapers end up in landfills.
4, 10 million hectares of ancient forests are destroyed each year throughout the world, the equivalent of 1 football field every 2 seconds.
Source : B4tea.com
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Interesting Facts and benefits of Recycling
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