Living Green

Spring Cleaning Tips

2010-02-25T22:35:00Z

Once again my favorite "green" website inspires this rant about spring cleaning and solutions for making it easier. The Daily Green has four simple, but really good reminders that may make you even welcome this annual ritual.

1) De-clutter: You know you hate it sitting around and it's even worse after it's swiped off the counter into a drawer - so why not stop it before it arrives? I'm talking about junk mail. If you're like me, you've nearly gone totally electronic when it comes to bills and paying them, but I'm still drawn to the mailbox like a moth to flame. My disappointment only grows when I open the box to find mostly unsolicited advertisements and coupons that I'll never use. I'm not alone. The average American household receives 850 pieces of junk mail each year. That adds up in time spent glancing at it as well as a huge pile of trash. So elminate it! Register for the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Assoication website and for $1, your name and address will be removed from prospective mailing lists. It takes about 90 days...so be patient.

2) Clean out the closet: Your options are better for tossing it out these days. Besides the local thrift store, you can sell to re-sale shops or get crazy and open your own shop - so to speak - through Craigslist and eBay.

3) Change your Shopping habits: First - ditch the plastic bags for reuseable cloth bags and remember to carry them with you. The average American uses about 500 plastic shopping bags a year and they end up taking over the cabinet space under your sink or in the pantry.Drink in bulk. Buying bulk does save money and plastic. And, snack on fruit. Again, less wrapping waste and much healthier.

4) Visit the library: It is among my most favorite of "recycling" centers. I love have the latest book, read it and take it back to store on their shelf! The same with magazines!

Calling All Missouri Fifth Graders!

2010-02-03T21:38:00Z

Missouri's Department of Natural Resources wants to hear your green ideas in time for Earth Day! The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is conducting a slogan contest through Feb. 28. The winning slogan will be used during the department's annual Earth Day celebration in Jefferson City. Along with the slogan contest, a new video contest is underway. Entries for both contests must be based on the theme "Earth Rocks!"

The winning slogan will be the theme for Earth Day activities to be held Friday, April 23 on the south lawn of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. The student who submits the winning entry will be honored during the Earth Day celebration and will receive a certificate for a $100 savings bond, donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City.

"Our slogan is an important part of our Earth Day celebration, and sharing stories through video can be a fun way for students to help educate others. Missouri children are smart, creative and eager to learn about and to share ways they can help protect our environment," said Mark N. Templeton, DNR Director. "We look forward to receiving contest entries from every region in our state."

Videos can be instructional, inspirational or testimonial. Videos that call others to action might be funny or serious, entertaining or educational, quirky or enlightening. Television quality videos are not necessary. Use a video camera, cell phone, or create a presentation on a computer and convert it to video and you could win prizes for you and your classroom. Two videos will be chosen as the top to finalists, and five members from each of the finalist's schools will qualify to participate in an on-stage game of Environmental Survivor during the Earth Day celebration in Jefferson City.

Both contests are open to all Missouri fifth-graders. No purchase is necessary. The deadline for entry is Feb. 28, 2010. Winners will be announced in March and their names will be posted on the department's Earth Day Web pages. Winning videos will also appear on the department's YouTube channel and Earth Day Web pages.

Earth Day activities are tailored to fifth-graders, but all ages are welcome. Information booths, educational games and displays about the environment are part of Missouri's celebration. Many other state and federal agencies participate through educational displays and exhibits.

Earth Day turns 40 this year and the department's 16th annual Earth Day celebration will be held Friday, April 23, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the south lawn of the Missouri State Capitol. Click here for more info.

National Green Week Fast Approaching

2010-01-18T18:36:00Z

National Green Week is officially the first week in February. That's when the Green Education Foundation kicks off its campaign involving more than two million students. Don't be suprised if your children come home with plenty of green "to do things". Lots of activities and challenges are planned that sound fun and are designed as hands-on-eco-challenges.

Green Thumb Challenge –Launching during National Green Week 2010, GEF and Lowe’s team up for the largest youth gardening initiative of all time calling on schools and youth groups to plant 10,000 gardens in the spring and summer of 2010. The partnership includes the USDA’s MyPyramid program. GEF links gardening and composting to curriculum across grades and disciplines, and provides straightforward resources to grow gardens of any size, in flower pots or on vegetable plots.

Adopt A Plant - NASA Scientists recommend using one house plant for every 100 square feet to help remove toxins and pollutants indoors. O2 for You will provide coupons for savings on indoor plants at Lowe’s for all participating classrooms. Teachers can register their class at: www.greenthumbchallenge.com.

Waste-Free Snacks - Students nationwide will participate in the largest school based waste-reduction program of all time by simply pledging to carry their drinks and snacks in reusable containers for the week. The goal is to eliminate a ½ million lbs of trash from entering schools and landfills.

Green Energy Challenge - Students will audit their classrooms, schools and homes to find energy leaks and correct them in an effort to reduce energy consumption. Audits and energy lessons for all grades accompany this program.

Recycling Roundup - Students will collect all the recyclables they can and create new and improved recycling programs at their school. Students will learn what items are recyclable in their area, and will be in charge of creating and monitoring a simple recycling system in their schools and/or classrooms.

Trashiest Time of the Year

2009-12-22T19:30:00Z

The holiday season is the time we generate the most waste - between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Waste experts offer advice on trimming your trash. Here is what the Missouri Department of Natural Resources advises to keep your holidays green, you can do a few things differently this year:

· Before you begin your holiday travels be sure to check your tires for proper inflation to maximize your gas mileage and don't forget to carpool. Not only are you spending quality time with friends and family, but you're saving energy too. If you are traveling by plane, use online ticketing to reduce paper use and look for non-stop tickets when possible to help conserve fuel, and use mass transit at your destination instead of renting a car.
· Other gifts are virtually waste-free, such as tickets to a movie or sporting event, or gift cards to the recipient's favorite store. Visit antique stores, flea markets and thrift shops to find a truly "unique" one-of-a-kind gift. For every piece of clothing you purchase or receive, consider donating an article of clothing to a local charitable organization.
· Buy rechargeable batteries to go with new electronic toys. Information on recycling of rechargeable batteries is available on www.rbrc.org. Collection sites for used batteries are often available at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, Target, Sears, Black and Decker, Best Buy, Circuit City and Home Depot. To save gasoline, call your local retailer before you make the trip to determine if the service is available.
· Reuse holiday wrapping from last year or color in the comics in your newspaper for wrapping gifts. Put gifts in decorative tins or boxes instead of throwaway wrapping materials. Use and reuse decorative gift bags year after year to reduce waste.
· Use reusable plates and flatware for large holiday gatherings. Doing the dishes can be another family event that gets done a little bit quicker when more hands are involved.
· Invest in a roasting pan that will last several years rather than an aluminum pan that will be thrown away after each use. Send leftovers home with friends and family or start a composting bin to avoid throwing away table scraps.
· Unplugging holiday lights before going to bed, or setting them on a timer to turn off at a certain time each night will help conserve energy. Purchase LED lights that use less energy. String popcorn around your tree and then place it in your yard afterward for the birds to munch on.
· Create paper snowflakes from paper you would normally discard. Crafts made with cardboard, popsicle sticks, old calendar photos and old holiday cards make fun, inexpensive activities for kids and adults alike.
· Recycle your Christmas tree. The most popular method is chipping the tree to be used for mulch, but it could also be turned into a fish or wildlife habitat. The Department of Natural Resources has a fact sheet available on proper disposal of Christmas trees on its Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub184.pdf. To compensate for the harvest of your Christmas tree, arrange to plant a new tree next spring. Artificial trees are another way to decorate and last for several years.
· If you or your family receive new electronics including computers, printers, TVs, hand-held devices and cell phones and are not sure what to do with the old ones, you may be able to recycle them. For a list of electronics recyclers registered with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, visit the E-cycle Missouri Web site at www.e-cyclemo.org or call 800-361-4827.

Turkey Leftovers - NOT What You Think!

2009-11-25T18:59:00Z

High Point, Mo. - There's a whole new meaning to Turkey Leftovers in High Point. I heard about this from the University of Missouri where farmers are turning a waste problem into profit. Dennis Feezor and nine other famers are using a 50 foot composting drum to turn manure into fertilizer in just a few days. Feezor says he can literally smell the money.

"I tell people if there is no smell to it there is no value in it, if it doesn't smell it doesn't work," said Feezor.

The operation produces 2500 tons of composted poultry manure in a year. MU AG economists say it's all a part of farmers looking to diversify their operations in order to survive the economy.

Laura McCann, MU AG Economist says, "The increase in fertilizer prices has all of sudden made manure more valuable and there are environmental issues that farmers are dealing with and some of them have been able to take advantage of those issues and create a new product a new revenue stream for themselves.”

The company is called early bird. The fertilizer can be used on crops, vegetable gardnes and new lawns. Its being sold to retail outlets and farmers are hoping to expand and create a demand as supply is never a problem.

Scary Halloween Face Paints Laced With Heavy Metals

2009-10-27T18:13:00Z

The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics has a warning for parents considering "face paint" as an alternative to a Halloween face mask. For years, safety experts have convinced parents that make-up is safer than a mask to keep kid's vision clear.

But a new study shows some makeup contains harmful lead, chromium, nickel and cobalt. What's even more scary, parents can't tell which makeup is safe as the products tested would lead you to think they're safe with advertising claims such as "hypo-allergenic" or "FDA compliant".

The CDC recommends parents avoid makeup with lead in it as there are no safe levels of exposure according to the experts.

Here's a link to the report for you to read yourself. Since non of the makeups that tested positive for metals included that information on the labels, experts advise you skip all commercial face paints until safety standards are put in place.

The link also has kitchen recipes using food grade products to make your own face paints, plus a petition to sign toward safe makeup.

The Danger Linked To Cash Register Receipts!

2009-10-08T18:45:00Z

Have you heard the latest unpublished report linking cash register receipts to Bisphenol A? Science News claims sales receipts may be as big a source of exposure to the for the same chemical found in hard plastic bottles. Moreover, the research shows there's likely more exposure to BPA from most coated paper receipts and credit card slips than compared to the exposure from hard plastics which only leaches after being damaged or heated.

Organic Chemist John C. Warner is behind the new warning quoted by Science News. The research is not yet published and other scientists have yet to review his findings, but it is something to watch.

Here is an industry link to the controversial chemical. Here is a link with information about the other side of the Bisphenol A story as told by the Environmental Working Group. You can read and compare.

Homemade Halloween Bats From Egg Cartons

2009-10-07T16:19:00Z

If you're like my family, we're looking for all kinds of ways to cut costs these days. Halloween has always been a fun time for us and we've been tempted by the 50% off sale signs in abundance at lcoal stores for indoor decorating items. Still, at 50% off, those decorations can be pricey.

As a result, I've spent a little time online surfing for super easy ideas that would do the trick.

I found one that's easy and the key supply needed is as close as your refridgerator.

Happy Halloweening!

Halloween Costumes Made From Recycled Stuff

2009-10-01T19:14:00Z

I remember as a kid growing up that Halloween meant an excuse to raid my parent's closet and sneak up to the attic for the really good stuff! Raised on a farm, we seldom went to "town" for shopping and never would have considered spending cash for a plastic or store bought costume. I do recall my mother being enticed to sew a few frightening costumes - but my Halloween childhood days were pretty much left to home-made creations.

To my delight - one of my favorite "green" websites has a slide show of "home-made" costumes using recycled materials. Most are pretty creative. Slide 14 is super creepy, but I just kept wanting to stare and study it. Hint: it's made from old dolls. Numbers 6 and 12 might not be suitable for younger eyes. Take a look and tell us what you think!

OP Family Turns Trash Into Treasure Business

2009-09-22T17:21:00Z

OVERLAND PARK, Ks. – Sometimes the simple process of living leads to unexpected opportunities. For a couple residing in Overland Park that moment happened when they learned how neighbors moving in next door lead to a new business in Texas. A business they thought could do very well in the metro.

The story originated one day in a Dallas suburb as a husband and wife looked out their window and saw the aftermath from the neighbor's moving day.

“They pushed out a 6 foot pile of used boxes on to the curb after they moved in,” said Hix Hardy of Dallas, Texas. “My wife and I joked there had to be a better way to reuse and recycle the boxes.”

Soon Best Price Boxes, Inc. was born. A simple idea, but then some of the most successful businesses are just that. Meegan and John Campbell of Overland Park were in the moving business and learned about Best Price Boxes, Inc. from their friends in Dallas who were also in the moving business.

"We were talking about all the boxes we were asked to take away when moving folks, especially military families," explained John Campbell. "We had the boxes stuffed in storage and would re-sell them, but only if people asked about it. We hadn't thought about buying and selling used boxes as an added revenue stream, but its been great."

Hardy, back in Dallas, agrees saying his business model offers a win-win for buyers, sellers and the environment, but works best if offered by someone already in a related business. The Campbells, with their moving companies, fit that mold.

“Our business model is to sell used boxes for about half the cost of others and then buy the boxes back from our customers,” explained Hardy.

That fit in perfectly with a need that John and Meegan had with their existing moving businesses called Studdard Relocation Services and Studdard Moving and Storage.

The Campbells pay anywhere from .15 to $1.00 per box depending on the size. They sell their used boxes starting at .89 and up. Customers win with competitive pricing for a necessary moving expense. But then something extraordinary began to happen as others joined in the entrepreneurial spirit.

“Kids started driving around in their pickups every week in the summer on trash days to pick up used boxes that residents put out on the curb,” said Hardy. “They would bring them to our location and we paid them money.”

It was another win for the budding business and kids trying to earn some summer cash.

“Their parents loved it because they are working, earning money and taking responsibility,” further explained Hardy. “The kids love it because they are their own boss and are making money. We love it because we are keeping thousands of used boxes out of the trash and landfills.”

It’s estimated that 90 percent of all products shipped in the U.S. travel in cardboard boxes. For every ton of cardboard recycled we save 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water, more than three cubic yards of landfill space and help cut pollution by 95%.

Businesses are catching onto this recycling alternative, too. When the economy slowed earlier this year the price for baled cardboard plummeted. Prices last year of $110 per ton by January had fallen to $25 per ton. And, while the cardboard market is trying to make a comeback as demand increases, Hardy and the Campbells have found a niche market among businesses wanting to sell their boxes instead of paying for trash companies to take the boxes away.

“Companies who were throwing out thousands of used boxes in their dumpsters every month are now contacting us,” said Hardy. “We will not only pick them up from them, but will also pay them for their boxes.”

Best Priced Boxes, Inc. has three locations in the area including Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and Leavenworth. They can also be found in Texas and Colorado and expect to have new locations in other states soon.

Upcycle, Precycle, Freecycle, E-Cycle - Do You Know Your Green Recycles?

2009-09-14T14:39:00Z

Heather Claybrook wrote the article below which defines current recycling nomenclature. It's a fun read.

While most Missourians know what it means to recycle, they may not know of the various ways to do so, such as pre-cycling, free-cycling, up-cycling, down-cycling and e-cycling. Recycling expert Amy Hock says these green cycles can help you save money, make for a healthier environment and be a good teaching tool for children. For instance, the practice of not buying more than you need is called pre-cycling, she says.

"Buy what you need and use what you buy; that is a way of pre-cycling. It's about thinking before you make a purchase. Free-cycling is a term that is used when you give items away instead of throwing them away."

Up-cycling is creating useful items from recycled material; down-cycling is reusing a product for an alternative purpose to keep it out of the landfill; and E-cycling refers to the recycling of electronics. Hock says all you really need to remember are the three R's.

"They just need to keep remembering three words, it's reduce, reuse and recycle, and those three words can go a very long way."

Hock says any of the cycles of recycling can be used at home, school, office or wherever you find yourself to keep material out of landfills.

4 Chemicals That Make Us Fat

2009-08-25T18:19:00Z

Obesogens - that's the scientific umbrella for chemicals we eat that researchers believe mess with our metabolisms contributing to weight gain. On the list are chemicals used in plastic and to make cookware non-stick. Also included are dioxins which rain down on us from the stuff that comes out of smokestacks, tailpipes and fires and ends up on farmer's cropland for us and the animals to eventually eat. And, while on the subject of farming - there are the chemicals used in pesticides which get into the food chain. How do we minimize the impact? Researchers say to avoid plastic use in the microwave and drink your water from glass or stainless steel containers.

The obesogens are just one of several "causes" researchers are linking to obesity. Lack of sleep and stress have also been linked as triggers for gaining weight.

Link here to read the full article and comments from readers - some who don't buy into the latest chemical study.

Multiply Your Cash For Clunkers Savings

2009-07-27T18:32:00Z

The Sierra Club has come up with a calculator that shows us how to "magnify" our savings by going for the most fuel efficient cars and not just settling for the government's minimal standards.

There are fourteen 2009 models out there that get better than 30 miles per gallon combined fuel economy. The fuel economy and cost estimates are based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy for cars driven 15,000 miles a year — 45 percent on the highway and 55 percent in the city — and paying between $3.75 for gasoline and $3.88 for diesel.

Of course there's the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Ultima Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazada Tribute Hybrid, Smart (Car) ForTwo, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Volkswagon Jetta, Volkswagon Sport Jetta, Toyota Yaris, Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper Clubman, Honda Fit, and Honda Insight,

The Sierra Club recommends buyers check out their Cash For Clunkers Calculator, then use the Kelly Blue Book Calculator to check the value of your trade-in and determine if your car is clunkier enough to meet the government's clunker list.

Finally, the Sierra Club says to shop around before you mention you have a gas guzzler to trade-in. Also, that guzzler will be crushed at a metal scrap yard, so ask about applying some of that value to your trade-in.

30 More Chemicals Make A New Danger List

2009-06-17T23:02:00Z

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A study released today in California has far reaching effect and probably all the way into metro homes. The state is known for its strict chemical reporting laws and it’s identified 30 more chemicals that could cause cancer or reproductive and developmental health problems according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Council led a coalition of labor and environmental groups seeking greater protection from suspect chemicals.

The list includes chemicals you might be using this time of year as they can be found in household weed killers and insecticides and gasoline additives. Other chemicals could be found in industrial chemicals used to manufacture plastics, and adhesives.

Read your products carefully using the list below which includes how each chemical is used and the health issue California researchers link to it. Researchers say 12 compounds may harm the male reproductive system and 11 may cause cancer while 8 may interfere with the normal development of fetuses, babies and children. Two of the chemicals may harm the female reproductive system.

Male Reproductive Toxicants

1. n-Butyl glycidyl ether, a chemical used to make epoxy resins with a number of uses in common products

2. Carbaryl, a household pesticide used to kill a range of insects, and sold as Sevin by GardenTech and Bayer (also a developmental toxicant)

3. 2-Chloropropionic acid, a chemical used to make herbicides

4. Dichloroacetic acid, which forms in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection using chlorine

5. Diglycidyl ether, a chemical used to make epoxy resins

6. Ethylene oxide, a chemical mainly used in the manufacturing of chemicals like antifreeze and polyester (also a developmental toxicant)

7. Ethyl-tert-butyl ether, a common gasoline additive

8. Methyl chloride, a chemical used primarily to make silicone polymers, but also used in other processes, including the oil refining

9. Methyl n-butyl ketone, an industrial solvent

10. Phenyl glycidyl ether, an industrial chemical

11. 1,3,5-Triglycidyl-s-triazinetrione, a constituent of some paints

12. 4-Vinyl-cyclohexene, a chemical used in the production of epoxy resins (also a female reproductive toxicant)

Carcinogens

1. Amsacrine, a chemotherapy drug

2. Bleomycins, antibiotics used in chemotherapy treatments

3. Chlorophenoxy herbicides, including 2,4-D, are common weedkillers sold for lawn and garden use

4. Marine diesel fuel

5. Progestins, synthetic hormones found in some birth controls

6. Styrene, an ingredient in many plastic and foam products

7. Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides), a fungus

8. Vinyl acetate, a compound used to make polymers used in plastics, films, lacquers, adhesives, inks, water-based emulsion paints, floor tiling, safety glasses, cosmetics and personal care products and other goods

9. Wood dust

10. Zalcitabine, an HIV drug sold as Hivid

11. Zidovudine (AZT), an HIV drug

Developmental Toxicants

1. Tert-Amyl methyl ether, a common fuel additive

2. Carbaryl, a household pesticide used to kill a range of insects, and sold as Sevin by GardenTech and Bayer (also a male reproductive toxicant)

3. Chloroform, which is used in the manufacturing of other chemicals, and which can form in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection using chlorine

4. N,N-dimethylacetamide, a solvent used in industries ranging from fibers and adhesives to pharmaceuticals and plasticizers

5. Ethylene oxide, a chemical mainly used in the manufacturing of chemicals like antifreeze and polyester (also a male reproductive toxicant)

6. 2-Ethylhexanoic acid, a chemical associated with phthalates and PVC plastics

7. p,p’-Oxybis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), an industrial chemical

8. Phenylphosphine, an industrial chemical

Female Reproductive Toxicants

1. Toluene, a constituent of oil, is found in gasoline and is used to make paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives and rubber

2. 4-Vinyl-cyclohexene, a chemical used in the production of epoxy resins (also a male reproductive toxicant)

Tips To Recycle That Old Analog TV

2009-06-12T17:39:00Z

KANSAS CITY – Today (June 12) is a historic day in television. Today marks the big digital television conversion. An Energy Star digital conversion box is the greenest way to make the conversion from analog.

The next best option is to recycle your old TV set and replace it with an Energy Star television. Recycling is important because television sets include toxic metals and potentially hazardous plastics that could pollute water or air if dumped in a landfill. It is easier to recycle your old set than ever before. Electronics Takeback Coalition issued a report card recently ranking brands on their consumer recycling programs.

Sony and Samsung scored the highest for their retail recycling program. Best Buy and Wal Mart are next for participating in the Samsung program and for taking back their store brands. Click here to see how other brands rank.

The Surplus Exchange in Kansas City is one of the companies and non-profits that have agreed to help finance the creation of the most rigorous social and environmental electronics recycling standard in the United States: the e-Steward Certification Program. In recognition of this outstanding support, the Basil Action Network (BAN), a leading environment watchdog group, has designated the Surplus Exchange as an e-Steward Founder. Make sure to learn their recycling electronic fees before making the trip to Surplus Exchange.

Another reason to check recyclers thoroughly is the growing problem of e-waste being dumped in third-world countries by companies claiming to recycle the toxic trash continues. It’s estimated 20 to 50 million tons of electronics waste is discarded globally every year according to Greenpeace. It all that e-waste was put in containers on a train,it would circle the world once. E-waste is the fastest growing component of municipal solid waste streams.

The Environmental Protection Agency, appears to be taking some steps to improve the situation. It recently filed a complaint against EarthECycle for allegedly illegally exporting used electronics accepted at free e-waste collection events in Pennsylvania to Hong Kong.

To learn more about proper electronics recycling and how to find an E-Steward near you, click here.