Recycling Specifics
Lauren Brois November 2nd, 2009
Check out this video if you are interested in learning more about the specifics of recycling
Green of the Week
Lauren Brois November 2nd, 2009
9 trillion gallons of gasoline is the energy equlivant of what would be saved if all the packaging material thrown away in 2005 were recyled or reused.
-u.s. environmental protection agency
Paper Recycling Woes
Lauren Brois October 26th, 2009
Contamination is everywhere when it comes to recycling. Sometimes people want to recycle as much as possible, and figure that anything tossed in a recycling bin will be recycled in some way.
Contamination is the quickest way that an entire batch of recyclables will end up in a landfill because of a few outsiders. This is especially true when it comes to paper, since you rarely find a paper product that is entirely made of paper.
1. Food Waste
Paper is recycled by mixing shredded fiber with water to make new pulp. Oil and water don’t mix well, so oil stains won’t simply dissolve in the water. Instead, you’ll get new paper that still has oil stains. Common Example: Pizza boxes
2. Hazardous Products
Anything that comes into contact with paint. When you’re painting the walls, you don’t want to get the floor dirty, so often people lay down newspaper. Well, if paint drips on the newsprint, it belongs in the trash.
3. Plastic/Wax Lining
Linings are added to many paper products for a number of reasons like, temperature control, leak control, and strength and durability. Plastic and wax lining is too difficult to separate during the recycling process. Common Example: Paper cups (use reusable mugs!)
4. Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (Stickers)
Anything that you can peel and stick without moisture. They are difficult to filter out and don’t dissolve in water (although the adhesive does), meaning they could be lodged in equipment.Common Example: Sticky notes
5. Wet Paper
You may be wondering why wet paper is a contaminant if the paper will be drenched with water prior to recycling anyway. The answer is that exposure to water shortens paper fibers, making it less valuable. If your curbside program or local recycling center can’t sell the paper to a mill, there’s no point in collecting it for recycling.
this information is from the RecycleBank website
350 Day!
Lauren Brois October 25th, 2009
On 24 October, people in 181 countriescame together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. At over 5,200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis. Here New Paltz celebrates!
Zero Waste
Lauren Brois October 20th, 2009
Find out about ZERO WASTE with a great NY Times article
Check out a great SLIDESHOW about waste minimization in Nantucket.
Commuting
Lauren Brois October 19th, 2009
MetroPool’s mission is to deliver transportation demand management solutions to improve mobility and ease the movement of people, improving workforce effectiveness, economic well being and quality of life.
MetroPool provides free commuter services to employers and commuters with the support of the Connecticut and New York Departments of Transportation.
Services are available to commuters traveling to destinations in Fairfield County, Connecticut; and Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, and Ulster Counties in New York.
MetroPool encourages the use of transportation alternatives such as carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus or train, bicycling, walking, compressed work weeks and telecommuting.
For more info check out The MetroPool Website Home
Climate Action: 350
Lauren Brois October 19th, 2009
350 Climate Action is this Saturday October 24th!
Watch the short video
Or visit the 350 home website
Water Water Everywhere!
Lauren Brois October 8th, 2009
Here are the photos from the water consumption demonstration!
Recycling in the Sojourner Truth Library
Lauren Brois September 30th, 2009
Tomorrow is the last day the recycling info board will be up in the library, if you didn’t get a chance to see it Shayna models it Vanna White style below.
