On behalf of the Enloe EcoChallenge group, here are a few friendly eco-friendly reminders for going green this holiday season:
~collect all cooked grease and oils and dispose of it properly
~use LED lights around the house
~bring your own bags when you go shopping
~fill the dinner table with sustainable agriculture
~use your own gift wrapping paper (printed newspaper)
~make your own greeting card or buy a recycled one
~and much more!
Hope you have a joyous season!
25 December 2008
26 November 2008
Challenge 2!
Hey Everyone!
Thanks for everyone's support for Challenge 1: Land!
Now we're moving on to Challenge 2: Water. We'll be addressing the problem of polluted storm water runoff.
Fun Fact #1:
Did you know that all storm drains go DIRECTLY to the lakes and rivers? So all that dog-poo you leave there gets washed into your drinking water. It all comes back to you.
Fun Fact #2:
Okay, so it's not really a fact, but What do you think is the #1 pollutant in our rivers and streams today?
Got your answer?
*
**
***
****
*****
****
***
**
*
The answer is SEDIMENT! Betcha didn't know that [unless you learned that before]!
Most of the sediment pollution comes from construction sites, which have giant dirt piles that easily get washed away when it rains.
Fun Fact #3:
Did you know that the Neuse River Basin is one of the most endangered rivers in the entire United States? It's so polluted with sediment that nothing really lives in it.
—:—
So we've been bombarding you with crazy depressing [but true] facts, what can you do about it?
1. Clean up a river! Adopt a stream.
2. Tell everyone you know!
3. Don't dump stuff down storm drains. They don't get treated by a water treatment plant like most people think
4. Stay tuned to our blog to stay updated on what you can do and participate in!
—Jaz
Thanks for everyone's support for Challenge 1: Land!
Now we're moving on to Challenge 2: Water. We'll be addressing the problem of polluted storm water runoff.
Fun Fact #1:
Did you know that all storm drains go DIRECTLY to the lakes and rivers? So all that dog-poo you leave there gets washed into your drinking water. It all comes back to you.
Fun Fact #2:
Okay, so it's not really a fact, but What do you think is the #1 pollutant in our rivers and streams today?
Got your answer?
*
**
***
****
*****
****
***
**
*
The answer is SEDIMENT! Betcha didn't know that [unless you learned that before]!
Most of the sediment pollution comes from construction sites, which have giant dirt piles that easily get washed away when it rains.
Fun Fact #3:
Did you know that the Neuse River Basin is one of the most endangered rivers in the entire United States? It's so polluted with sediment that nothing really lives in it.
—:—
So we've been bombarding you with crazy depressing [but true] facts, what can you do about it?
1. Clean up a river! Adopt a stream.
2. Tell everyone you know!
3. Don't dump stuff down storm drains. They don't get treated by a water treatment plant like most people think
4. Stay tuned to our blog to stay updated on what you can do and participate in!
—Jaz
23 October 2008
Last Day
It's the last day before we have to turn in our project.
Overall, I'd like to say that it's been a great experience. Through this first challenge, we raised awareness in our own community about recycling. Not only did we educate our friends, family, and neighbors, we learned a lot about recycling through the process.
Now I know that if I have some leftover paint or used motor oil, I can recycle that!
What I personally learned the most about was composting. It wasn't really something I connected with recycling, and I realized that composting my foodstuffs, I could reduce the amount of trash put in landfills and make my own fertilizer for my garden.
We'll be keeping this blog throughout the whole challenge, so keep on reading for our second, third, and fourth challenges.
Wish us luck!
And keep recycling!
With all our love,
Angela, Jasmin, Madhu, Katherine, Wesley, and Jen
Overall, I'd like to say that it's been a great experience. Through this first challenge, we raised awareness in our own community about recycling. Not only did we educate our friends, family, and neighbors, we learned a lot about recycling through the process.
Now I know that if I have some leftover paint or used motor oil, I can recycle that!
What I personally learned the most about was composting. It wasn't really something I connected with recycling, and I realized that composting my foodstuffs, I could reduce the amount of trash put in landfills and make my own fertilizer for my garden.
We'll be keeping this blog throughout the whole challenge, so keep on reading for our second, third, and fourth challenges.
Wish us luck!
And keep recycling!
With all our love,
Angela, Jasmin, Madhu, Katherine, Wesley, and Jen
13 October 2008
Want to help out but don't know how?
Hey guys!
Did you want to help spread the word about recycling but don't know how? Well, here's a great chance for you to! Just print this flyer and distribute to anyone you can. If you want to help out, print this flyer on 100% recycled paper to promote the cause! (See? The bottom says you did, so do that!) Or, you could click here for a slightly different version if you cannot get a hold of a bunch of recycled paper. Just make sure you don't throw it away!
—Jaz
Did you want to help spread the word about recycling but don't know how? Well, here's a great chance for you to! Just print this flyer and distribute to anyone you can. If you want to help out, print this flyer on 100% recycled paper to promote the cause! (See? The bottom says you did, so do that!) Or, you could click here for a slightly different version if you cannot get a hold of a bunch of recycled paper. Just make sure you don't throw it away!
—Jaz
12 October 2008
Recycling. What's so great about it anyways?—Recycling Paper
Everyone says recycling is good for the environment. So how good for the environment is it, exactly?
Now let's talk about paper.
About one-third of an average household's waste is paper or any kind of paper product. It is reported that a staggering 14% of landfills space is taken up by newspaper alone. Keeping paper out of landfill sites is the most important reason why paper is recycled. Reducing the amount of paper going into landfills therefore slows down the pace that landfill sites are filling. In fact, if you recycled a ton of paper (2,000 lbs.), you'd save 17 TREES from being cut down to be used as paper. Now that's a lot!
So what are the benefits?
Well, other than slowing down the rates landfills fill up, you'll be helping the environment in several different ways. Decomposing paper releases methane, which is twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. You'll be putting a stop to global warming! Also, you'll be saving the environment from problems like chemical pollution, because recycled paper doesn't need to be re-bleached. That way, less chemicals are released into the environment. If recycled paper DOES need to be re-bleached, manufacturers use oxygen instead of chlorine, which still benefits. This reduces the amount of dioxins which are produced as a by-product of the chlorine bleaching processes.
Not only should you recycle paper, but you should buy recycled paper products as well. More and more companies are using recycled paper to replace using virgin raw materials (just harvested from natural resources). Processing virgin raw materials takes between 28%-40% more energy than recycled paper.
Look at all those benefits. How could you not want to recycle?
Even though we know you're super excited about recycling paper, take note that not all types of paper are recyclable. For example, it's a common misconception that construction paper is recyclable. It is not. Neither is handwriting paper, such as filler paper and notebook paper. However, most schools who participate in the Feed the Bin recycling program allow you to recycle handwriting paper. However, most curbside recycling does not allow you to recycle such paper. The Feed the Bin recycling program, however, does not allow construction paper to be recycled. This is because of the makeup of the construction paper makes it almost impossible to reprocess. Also, any paper with food residue or grease on it cannot be recycled, because the machine used to reprocess it could be damaged.
Those are the basics on recycling paper! Go get to it!
—Jaz
—Jaz
10 October 2008
First Challenge!
Hey, this is Angela, Jasmin, Madhu, Wesley, Jen, and Katherine. We're part of the Lexus Eco Challenge!
Our first challenge is Land, and the topic we've picked is landfills, waste management, and recycling. And we've decided to take on the challenge of recycling.
Practically, we can't go around to everyone's houses and approach everyone around us, so that's what the Interweb is for. This way, we can even reach people on the international level.
Recycling is returning a product or material to its usable raw state and making something new out of it.
I know a lot of people around here aren't really sure what to recycle, and it really is kind of hard to tell. A very common misconception is that we can put construction paper in the recycling bin, but it's a big no-no!
We all have a big green recycling bin [if you don't, keep on reading, you can find out how to get one!], but do we know what goes in and what goes out?
Curbside recycling usually accepts aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic, and tin cans. Please remove lids and rinse the containers and flatten plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard drink containers. Corrugated cardboard can be recycled, but be sure to cut them into smaller pieces. Some cities offer curbside pick up of chipboard [cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, macaroni boxes]. Be sure to check out your city to make sure what specifically your city or town recycles.
In Cary, curbside recycling guidelines can be found right here.
If you have old cell phones, computers, printers, TVs, or other electronics, don't just throw them away! Electronics are recyclable. Old electronics in landfills are very dangerous because they contain heavy toxic metals that cause serious health issues. Some cities like Cary offer curbside pick up of old electronics. Old electronics can also be donated.
Is compost the first word that comes to mind when you think recycling? Not for me... But! Compost can greatly decrease the amount of garbage you send to a landfill, and it provides you a great fertilizer for your garden. There's no need to have a bin for a compost, just a pile will work. Two main components of your compost will be green plant debris [grass clippings] and brown debris [dry leaves]. Anything can go into the compost EXCEPT animal waste, meats, oils, and dairy. So start adding your potato peels, leftover salads, and apple cores into your compost!
Motor oil, paint, and batteries are all recyclable. Many things in your garage could be recycled and turned into something new. Most of these things aren't included in curbside recycling, but many locations are set up in the community for the drop off of these items.
In Cary, used motor oil can be picked up for no charge if you call the Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090. Laser printer cartridges can be refilled or recycled.
I hope we've all learned something new about recycling!
If you need a recycling bin, get in touch with your municipality, and they'll surely provide you with one.
Knowledge is power. =]
—Angela
Our first challenge is Land, and the topic we've picked is landfills, waste management, and recycling. And we've decided to take on the challenge of recycling.
Practically, we can't go around to everyone's houses and approach everyone around us, so that's what the Interweb is for. This way, we can even reach people on the international level.
Recycling is returning a product or material to its usable raw state and making something new out of it.
I know a lot of people around here aren't really sure what to recycle, and it really is kind of hard to tell. A very common misconception is that we can put construction paper in the recycling bin, but it's a big no-no!
We all have a big green recycling bin [if you don't, keep on reading, you can find out how to get one!], but do we know what goes in and what goes out?
Curbside recycling usually accepts aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic, and tin cans. Please remove lids and rinse the containers and flatten plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard drink containers. Corrugated cardboard can be recycled, but be sure to cut them into smaller pieces. Some cities offer curbside pick up of chipboard [cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, macaroni boxes]. Be sure to check out your city to make sure what specifically your city or town recycles.
In Cary, curbside recycling guidelines can be found right here.
If you have old cell phones, computers, printers, TVs, or other electronics, don't just throw them away! Electronics are recyclable. Old electronics in landfills are very dangerous because they contain heavy toxic metals that cause serious health issues. Some cities like Cary offer curbside pick up of old electronics. Old electronics can also be donated.
Is compost the first word that comes to mind when you think recycling? Not for me... But! Compost can greatly decrease the amount of garbage you send to a landfill, and it provides you a great fertilizer for your garden. There's no need to have a bin for a compost, just a pile will work. Two main components of your compost will be green plant debris [grass clippings] and brown debris [dry leaves]. Anything can go into the compost EXCEPT animal waste, meats, oils, and dairy. So start adding your potato peels, leftover salads, and apple cores into your compost!
Motor oil, paint, and batteries are all recyclable. Many things in your garage could be recycled and turned into something new. Most of these things aren't included in curbside recycling, but many locations are set up in the community for the drop off of these items.
In Cary, used motor oil can be picked up for no charge if you call the Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090. Laser printer cartridges can be refilled or recycled.
I hope we've all learned something new about recycling!
If you need a recycling bin, get in touch with your municipality, and they'll surely provide you with one.
Knowledge is power. =]
—Angela
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
