Archive for the ‘Go Green’ Category
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Here are some commonly asked questions about using rubber mulch in landscaping. The best part of using rubber mulch is it’s clean, not dirty like bark or soil. Some have tried to discredit rubber mulch as a good choice to use in your yard.
Rubber Mulch protects soil by insulating it all year round. It’s ideal now before the ground freezes to protect tree roots and plants.
In growing season, rubber mulch keeps weeds out. Weeds can germinate in wood mulch but cannot grow in rubber. This makes your job easier.
Rubber Mulch is made of 100% tire rubber, and will never decompose or crumble.
How about cost compared to other landscaping material? In the long run, Rubber Mulch will save you money. After an initial investment that may be more costly than wood mulch, Rubber Mulch will never need to be replaced for a lifetime.
Rubber mulch is ideal for landscaping.
Tags: landscaping, Mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch
Posted in Go Green, landscape mulch, rubber mulch | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
If you’re like me it’s troubling that there are a lot of political signs on lawns that seem like a big waste. Especially now that the elections are over. I’ve thought about ways that the signs could be reused. Maybe cities can collect signs, paint them over and store them. Politicians could rent them out.
In some cities in Oregon, you can recycle most plastic political yard signs by taking them apart. You can recycle the plastic part that is the rigid, corrugated plastic.
The other type of political sign is made of a thin plastic film. According to an article about the topic you can recycle these type of signs with recyclable grocery bags. You can find recycling dropoffs at some grocery or other stores (I think I’ve seen them at Costco).
Recycling signs can make a difference. “While its true plastic can biodegrade, most plastic items take between 500 and 1000 years to decompose, taking up space for several generations. According to Roseburg Disposal, recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.”
We’re fans of reusing materials whenever possible. Like Plastic Barrels Recycled Into Playground Swings, Recycled Rubber Sinks, or recycled tires that get turned into rubber for curbs or playground surfaces.
See the article for more ideas: http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Most-political-signs-can-be-recycled-avoid-the/OgiJZUUZek-6Ot1vo0KPJg.cspx?rss=191
Tags: Oregon, Recycling, rubber mulch, Waste Management
Posted in Go Green, Recycle, Reuse, rubber mulch | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Delaware is phasing in a new curbside recycling mandate that will begin next year. The measure was signed Tuesday by Gov. Jack Markell. Under the new law, which will be phased in requires all waste haulers to offer curbside recycling pickups. They have to comply by Sept. 15, 2011. The service will be offered to single family homes, restaurants and bars. Later it will go to multi-family dwellings by January 1, 2013, and remaining businesses by Jan. 1, 2014. Recycling will not be required for residents – just waste collectors to offer the service.
Another part of the law is ending the bottle bill that charged a 5-cent deposit. Instead the state will charge 4-cents a bottle, in a fee that will be non-refundable. This starts on Dec. 1, but will expire in 2014. Proceeds will go to support initial recycling work. Republicans have alleged that the new fee is a camouflaged tax that could face a court challenge.
Tags: curbside recycling, Delaware, Recycling
Posted in Go Green, Recycle | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Did you the recent USAToday story about how airlines are going green? First, this shocking stat from the story: “the 30 largest airports in the country create “enough waste to equal the trash produced by cities the size of Miami or Minneapolis.”
Airports and airlines are doing more today – not only to save the earth – but to save money.
Best Green Airports
Portland International and Seattle-Tacoma International airports are strong with recycling. You know how you cannot take liquids past security? They have pouring stations so you can pour out your drink, then refill it on the other side rather than buying new.
The Seattle airport gives food that isn’t sold to local food banks. They also compost. They also encourage airlines to recycle with bins and systems to make it easy. Then they reward those who use them.
Another way they have been responsible? In 2008, Vancouver International Airport recycled or re-used 99% of it construction waste. Detroit Metropolitan Airport collects spent aircraft de-icing fluid – up to a million gallons a year. They reuse a substance in the fluid. We talked last week about how Delta recycled their seat covers.
Another trend is rather than tossing donate seating or outdated equipment they donate them to local schools or nonprofits who can use them.
There’s so much to recycle – and so much innovation you’ll be inspired – and hopefully your airport is doing their part. Sometimes all that’s needed is to ask.
Tags: airline recycling, airport recycling, Environment, Recycle
Posted in Go Green, Recycle | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
“The 30 largest airports in the country create “enough waste to equal the trash produced by cities the size of Miami or Minneapolis.” – USAToday article
Matt Mahler of Tierra Ideas recently wrote about how his company is helping airlines go green. He got the idea to recycle rubber and material from airplane seat covers and curtains into hip products. Delta Airlines and the company are teaming up to save worn out airline seat covers from landfills. They turn them into bags.
“Tierra Ideas’ aim is to help companies re-think how they dispose of their unwanted materials by creating the most unique recycled products anywhere.”
Tierra Ideas also recycles bicycle tires into products like a business card holder or bike bag. They clean the tires and sew them into sheets. Then the recycled rubber sheets are then made into other products.
What is also impressive about the company is that they give back to society in other ways. The Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind (RLCB) is where they employ visually-impaired and blind people to make the products.
Delta has donated almost 6,000 pounds of fabric from an estimated 20,000 seat covers. Airlines have come a long way. Hotels have also gone green. Next up I’ll talk about other ways airports and airlines are stepping up their recycling efforts.
Please tell us about your efforts to go green in the comments.
Tags: airlines, Delta, hotel recyling, Recycling
Posted in Go Green, Recycle | No Comments »
Monday, May 10th, 2010
It’s about that time of year for graduation and some students and schools are going green for the special event. Some colleges use recycled paper but still others take it another step further to recycling graduation gowns.
Students are recycling their graduation gowns and even their graduation hats. New products are easier on the earth. They’re not made from polyester that is made from petroleum. Some are even made from recycled plastic.
Still, about 100 schools out of 1,500 ordered the green option. Some even get the gowns washed (with biodegradeable detergent of course) and use them for another graduate.
The company Jostens offers biodegradable gowns in 6 colors. Gowns made of plastic bottles are available only in black for now. The price? Just a few dollars more than the traditional gown.
Go to the University of Vermont bookstore, and you’ll see a gown on display that shows 23 plastic bottles. That’s how many it takes to make it.
Read more at:
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20100507/LIFESTYLE/5070311/1024/RSS04
We recycle tires into rubber mulch for many purposes from playgrounds to horse arenas. Not only is it safer but it’s better for the environment.
Is your college going green for graduation? If not, let them know you’d like the option! Please tell us about the efforts your school goes to when it comes to recycling.
Tags: Go Green, graduation, Recycle, rubber mulch
Posted in Go Green, Recycle, Reuse | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Here’s a great idea from Nevada City, California – recycle bikes, teach kids new skills and help people in need. The project is being funded by a $1.4 million anonymous donation. It includes a new building that is a being made to house a bike workshop at a local middle school. People really got into it too (wish there were pictures). At the groundbreaking ceremony, there were bicycle helmets mixed with hard hats.
The workshop will teach students how to fix old bikes for school credit. Then they’ll donate the bikes to people who need one. I hope they’ll also consider letting people borrow the bikes to ride around town. I’m sure lots of useable bikes go into landfills and this is a positive program because it gets them back into workable condition.
This city was started during the California gold rush in the 1800s and has lots of bicycle paths and a yearly bicycle race. Hopefully this idea catches on in other cities too. Emissions can be reduced by 2 % to 4% by just a 1% switch from car to bike trips. So it really helps our environment when we choose bikes over cars.
See more at http://www.theunion.com/article/20100503/BREAKINGNEWS/100509956/1053/rss
Rubberecycle recycles old tires and makes them into rubber mulch and other products.
Tags: bicycle, Recycling, rubberecycle
Posted in Go Green, Recycle, Reuse | No Comments »
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
The weak economy may have one upside: Less trash going into a landfill. Sedgwick County in Kansas says that people are throwing away 11% less trash. That’s compared to 3 years ago, just about the time when the economy tanked.
People are not recycling more, they are buying less to begin with. That means less trash to throw away in packaging. Back then people threw away about 5.4 pounds of trash per person a day and now that is down to 4.76 pounds of trash. That’s still pretty high!
What do people throw away most? Businesses throw away cardboard; residents throw away grass clippings (which are easy to recycle – hopefully your city has a green recycling plan for yard waste).
Anatomy of trash
Here’s what people throw away most
- paper 29.2 percent,
- yard waste 17.1 percent,
- plastic 14.3 percent,
- food waste 9.8 percent,
- construction and demolition materials 8 percent,
- textiles/rubber/leather, 6 percent;
- metal 3.4 percent,
- glass 2.7 percent,
- other, 9.5 percent
What struck me about this list is how much is unnecessary. Not only can we easily compost, recycle and reduce but we can do much more recycling. Rubber mulch and other products made from recycled material keeps trash out of the landfill. Not only that, but when you buy recycled products, it’s investing in our future.
Tags: Environment, Landfill, Mulch, Waste, Waste Management
Posted in Go Green, Recycle | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
We want to remind you that April 30th is Arbor Day. What is Arbor Day about? It’s about the trees! Many communities are planting trees, helping people care for trees and educating people about the value of trees. There’s good reason too.
Here are some of the many environmental benefits of trees
- Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for cleaner air.
- In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.
- Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by $2.1 billion.
- Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
- The average tree in metropolitan area survives only about 8 years! That means we must replant and replenish.
- A tree does not reach its most productive stage of carbon storage for about 10 years.
- Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
- Tree roots stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
- Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
- The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere.
- The amount of oxygen produced by an acre of trees per year equals the amount consumed by 18 people annually. One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year.
- One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
- Shade trees can make buildings up to 20 degrees cooler in the summer.
- Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
We advocate using recycled rubber mulch rather than sacrificing trees for wood chips on our playgrounds and in landscaping. We hope you’ll respect, care for and plant trees in your community this Arbor Day.
Tags: Arbor Day, Environment, rubber mulch, trees, wood chips
Posted in Go Green, rubber mulch | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Has anyone thought of an idea to recycle the old rubber tires to prepare these mulches that are multi-faceted in usage? Thanks to innovative ideas and technology. It is now possible to recycle the tires without having to burn or throw them. This idea prevents environmental pollution and saves the Mother Nature. There are lots of benefits by applying this process. Play ground administrators prefer using rubber mulches as a widespread cover for the surface. It protects the nutrients of the soil particles from washing away and do not allow rain water to get stagnated. They have a greater durability. The impurities of the old tires are removed during the recycling process.
Rubber mulches prevent the growth of weeds that will protect the plants. This also controls the pests in the play grounds. There is a plethora of color combination available that will add charm to the play ground. Children will like to associate themselves on seeing the various colors. They will not sustain any serious injuries due to a fall. The parents can be happy and remain cool allowing their children completely to enjoy. The Rubber Mulch is highly resistance to natural forces like rain, water, wind and even heat. The surface provides a solid grip having a greater durability. They are highly inexpensive and are available in massive quantity. It also prevents environmental hazards from happening. The old tires need not be dumped and burnt any more. This seems to be a safer way to dispose them.
Posted in Go Green, landscape mulch, Playground Kid Safety, playground mulch, playground safety, rubber mulch | No Comments »
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