Green Blog

When it comes to helping our planet and the environment, most of us know that recycling is one of the best things we can do. But will the remedy for our waste problems in America come about through recycling alone? The answer is a simple “no”. There are many reasons why recycling alone will not be able to resolve all our waste problems. Producers and manufacturers have an obligation to their customers and the world to absolutely ensure their products are being recycled by doing things such as partnering and working in concert with waste management institutions. This is the only way real change will take effect to the degree that our planet’s environmental waste crisis demands it. We have to tackle waste problems at their source and so it is the corporations that produce the products that must play the biggest role in reducing the waste problems in our country and our world.

The Texas Campaign For The Environment (TCE), a non-profit, has recently brought this issue to center stage. Corporations must take full responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products according to TCE. TCE believes we must eliminate waste beginning with the source (the producer), and that this requires a complete renovation of the current system of “produce it, consume it, toss it out”. This is completely logical if you really think about it. The current system, for the most part, leaves the responsibility for recycling in the hands of consumers and basically gives manufacturers a free pass. Of course, since producers can’t force their customers to recycle, you would think consumers would always be ultimately responsible. But with the recent momentum of “producer take-back” programs that are mandated by environmental laws and pushed by “Zero Waste” proponents, things are really changing. “Producer take-back” laws already exist in some areas and with certain industries and products, and they require producers to work with waste management companies and government agencies to ensure products are recycled after consumption. This approach may make the most sense when it comes to ensuring long-term remedies for reducing the harmful effects of landfills on the environment.

TCE is also not waiting for “producer take-back laws” to become more widespread. They are doing everything they can right now to be a great asset for consumers irrespective of what manufacturers are doing. No matter what you’re trying to recycle, TCE funded TexasTakeBack.org is an outstanding resource for information on recycling all kinds of products from paper to household chemicals to batteries. It is always refreshing to see a non-profit group like TCE working so courageously to solve our country’s waste management problems, and it really shines the light on “for profit” corporations and helps to encourage them to finally go green.

What is your organization doing to step up to the plate when it comes to the recycling of the products you manufacture? As Bob Dylan said “Oh the times they are changing”, and now is more important than ever for your organization to be a leader in the Green Revolution, especially from a public relations point of view. As BP learned (the hard way), you cannot wait until you’re right in the middle of an environmental crisis to start on your journey as a green company. It just doesn’t’ work that way. There is no retreating from this issue. Taking action and going green in all phases of your company and doing everything in your power to protect the environment must begin right now.

Your brand name is at stake in this era of environmental disasters, the public will grow increasingly impatient with companies that are not doing everything they can to help heal this planet. The question of “how” and “where” your products can be recycled is something that should be easily answered by your customers as a result of the resources and tools your provide for them. Ask for feedback from your customers, blog about it and show the world you are actively working towards a solution to making sure all your products are recycled.

You can even go beyond your own products and remember to consider eco friendly supplies like sustainable pens and lanyards and eco promotional items like custom promotional bags for trade shows and job fairs or eco friendly shopping bags for your retail customers. This soft marketing tactic will definitely help show the world your commitment to go green. These kinds of products are truly eco friendly and will not harm the eco system if wasted. Center your community service events around the idea of doing things to help the environment like planting trees or picking up trash in the community on a reoccurring basis.

To help ensure the health of our planet for future generations, these types of efforts by companies and organizations are necessary and should be embraced. Consumer eco consciousness is at an all-time high due to so many recent environmental disasters, which means you can’t afford complacency. Take a lesson from TCE by going green now, and exemplify true leadership in your industry, no matter the state of the economy.

Albert Jefferson is a highly experienced author conversing about green and sustainability dilemmas and spreading the idea to companies to give out eco reusable shopping bags to promote both their trade name and support for the environment.

Many people have become concerned with the quality of drinking water and for good reason. Even with city water filtration centers, the trace contaminants contained in tap water can be significant. For those who get their home water supply from a well, they need to be concerned with the contaminants that make their way into the ground water system as well as into the well itself.

Water is the essence of life but contaminated water can result in any number of health issues and complications. The quality of the water that you consume, cook with, use to wash clothing, and bathe in is important to your overall well-being. Directly consuming contaminated water is, of course, the strongest concern. Bathing with and washing clothing in contaminated water can also have consequences for your health.

While bottled water can allow you to have clean drinking water that is free from most of the contaminants and chemicals that are found in tap water, it doesn’t allow you to have the same quality of clean water available for other essential tasks like cleaning your home, washing your clothes and dishes, cooking, and bathing. Filtering your home water does make it possible to accomplish all of these things without concern for the quality of the water you use.

Many of those who have concerns about the quality of their drinking water are also concerned with the environment in general. For these individuals, bottled water is a poor choice. Bottled water certainly has its place. It makes it possible for you to have a healthy alternative to purchase from machines while out and about. It also makes it easy to carry water with you but there are other ways to have fresh water available when not at home. You can carry your own water bottle with you and fill that bottle with filtered water from your own home.

For those who are truly concerned with the environment, bottled water is actually among the common contributors to the problems we all face. Many of the companies that produce bottled water actually use chemically-treated water from city water plants as their source water. This process does not remove the potential that you are consuming the same chemicals that are contained in your own home tap water.

Additionally, you have to think of the environmental impact of the bottling process. Bottled water companies have large plants that use extensive energy. They are a drain on the world’s natural resources. Not only do these plants use a lot of electricity, natural gas and other resources but it also takes almost three times as much source water to produce a single bottle of water. Using a home filtration system is a more efficient process. It allows you to have clean water with the least amount of negative impact on the environment.

You should also keep in mind that bottled water requires the use of plastic in the bottling process. Millions of bottles are produced for bottled water every day in the United States. Some of these bottles are recycled. Still more are among the contents of landfills across the country. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade, leaving landfills full of materials that will contaminate the Earth for generations.

The negative impact of bottled water doesn’t end in the production process or in the discarding of empty bottles. The transportation required in the bottled water industry also contributes to the negatives associated with bottled water. Water is transported in vehicles that use fuel and produce harmful effects for the environment.

There’s no doubt that filtering your own home water is a more environmentally sound option than purchasing bottled water. Clean drinking water is better obtained through the use of a home filtration system. Not only do the producers of bottled water use chemically treated water to create bottled water but you should also realize that pure drinking water can’t be obtained from a bottle. The bottle itself leaves trace chemicals in the water, especially when you consider that the bottles are often stored for months at a time. The bottles go through various temperatures before the water is sold and consumed which only increases the process of chemical contamination.

Bottled water can also be expensive. Purchasing enough water for drinking alone can be a financial drain for a family. Having clean, pure water for all your other needs is financially infeasible through the purchase of bottled water. The use of in-home water filtration makes it possible to have clean water for all your needs for a reasonable amount of money.

Water Filters Fast carries a stunning array of water filters and refrigerator water filters for all of your home and business water filtration needs.

I have always loved to get together with friends, relax, and play some fun games. Recently, I had a couple roommates who are really big fans of the game of beer pong. I was totally happy to hear this because I have actually been a fan of the game for a very long time. They go through hundreds of beers and beer cans per week, usually hosting at least 3 “king of the table” nights per week. The game of beer pong is very simple. All you have to do is throw a ping pong from your side of a ping-pong table into one of the cups filled with beer on the opposite side. When your opponent drains a ball into a cup on your side of the table, you have to drink the beer in that cup and remove the cup from the table. The team who makes a ball in all of their opponent’s cups first is the winner. This great game is fun and challenging, and you also go through SO MUCH beer.

Probably due to the hassle and the upfront money necessary for kegs, most people who play beer pong get beer by the cans, typically in packs of 30. There is obviously a lot of “aluminum can consumption” involved with beer pong, which for a long time is something I had not considered enough. Since I was a kid, I was the family “can cruncher”, it was one of my daily chores, and so I’ve always “tried” to recycle aluminum cans, but definitely missed out on some opportunities to do so.

And so, it was refreshing and inspiring when I first saw my roommate’s Chris and John working so diligently on a daily and weekly basis to make sure that every single can used at our house is recycled. How many people do you know that go through hundreds of aluminum cans per week and recycle all of them? Let alone, how many people do you know that will take responsibility to recycle on behalf of everyone else’s usage? But recycling at this volume and rate is not necessarily easy or convenient. As time goes on, a massive pile of cans can accumulate quickly. And when it comes time for clean up, there is a lot of can crunching involved, which can really be pretty fun if you have a crew and some good music. The thing that really inspires me about my roommates is that they just don’t stop with cans. They honestly look to recycle everything they can possibly recycle in the house. Whether it be using rechargeable batteries or recycling glass and paper, they will find the most “green” way of doing something. They do this in a community that really doesn’t offer much in terms recycling options and encouraging people to go green, or making it easy to recycle.

Chris and John are a wonderful example of the kind of attitude, effort, and perseverance it requires to really LIVE GREEN. And the best part about it is how people (like me) are really influenced and inspired by their efforts to do the right thing. The actuality is, it takes substantial efforts to be a green ambassador. It’s not a spectator sport; you can’t expect to make a difference by just “supporting” the green movement. As an example, there’s the obstacle of moving the aluminum cans to the recycling center. And are we going to turn around and drive a fuel-inefficient vehicle there? Another thing to think about is the containers we use to transport the aluminum cans. If plastic bags or grocery bags are used in the process, we need to make sure we recycle these as well or else we might be negating our eco friendly progress. Fuel Efficient Vehicles, reusable green bags and reusable stainless steel water bottles are a couple solutions that can improve our chances of truly making a positive impact.

When it comes to the success of the green movement, there is no other way it will prosper than consistent daily action of genuine people like me and you. Chris and John’s courage to do the right thing is a perfect example of the consistent and habitual actions required to motivate others and make positive changes in our lives and the world. And with Beer Pong, which has become something of a “phenomena” among the world’s youth, think of all the cans that can be saved by good samaritans like Chris and John. If recycling is the “cool” thing to do among the youth, everyone, including the older and very young future generations will take notice. In the world of beer pong, we love to play, we love to watch, and now if we can all just remember to recycle every can, the difference we can make is astonishing. Take the lead among your friends and make a difference today!

Albert Jefferson is a highly experienced author conversing about green and sustainability dilemmas in addition to dispersing the knowledge to businesses to employ biodegradable bags to market their trademark and increase awareness for the environmental issues our world is facing.

For a long time, money used for good will was called charity, while money used to make more money was called investing. No more.

Today, the two concepts are forming into a financial arena called socially responsible investing. Both investors and mutual fund companies are implementing this new idea and discovering that they can be profitable and at the same time do some good for the environment and society.

Bob Guthrie, an investment broker with A.G. Edwards in Burlington, Vt. says, “Socially responsible investing means you don’t have to compromise your own personal beliefs to make money on Wall Street - whatever those beliefs are.”

The idea of selectively choosing stocks for social reasons dates back to the early 1900s, Guthrie said, when church members banded together and refused to invest in tobacco or alcohol companies. The trend continued with investors dodging corporations involved in the Vietnam War, he added, and most recently revolved around companies investing in South Africa.

But growth in this form of selective investing has skyrocketed during the past couple of years as more and more individuals and corporations have moved social and environmental consciousness into the mainstream of their investments. And this impact is being felt worldwide.

With help from stockholders, says Rob Kruger, vice president of portfolio management at Progressive Asset Management, business practices concerning the environment are beginning to change, While the issues may differ, he said companies are realizing they will suffer the consequences if they aren’t viewed as being socially responsible.

“As this investing community continues to grow, a lot of proposals are being put forth by investors at annual shareholder meetings,” Kruger said. “A whole range of issues and activities is now being addressed.”

As part of its operational procedures, Progressive Asset Management conducts research for eco-friendly and socially responsible mutual funds. The firm filters out companies for environmental problems or nuclear involvement or whatever issues their clients are concerned about.

“As time flies, companies are becoming more and more cooperative with us,” Kruger said. “Many of them are now very eager to talk about these social and environmental issues.”

Guthrie agrees that American corporations and business practices are aware of stockholders who are very concerned with social and environmental responsibility.

“Make sure your hard-earned capital is not invested in companies with little concern for the environment,” he advises. “Be sure to keep these things in mind when you invest and companies will too.

Earth News Media is proud to sponsor emission reduction credits as well as help sustainable communities with their recycling programs, waste management, water conservation and other environmental topics.

If you want to save money on your electricity bills then you may be looking for alternative energy solutions. Fluctuating energy prices and a difficult economic climate are leading many people to look for savings on their household costs. There are several ways to change your energy supply and save money.

Besides saving on energy costs, another concern for many people is environmental damage and climate change. If you are looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint then there are two main areas to look at with regard to your house. Energy conservation is important. This can be achieved by using wind power or having quality insulation so that you can turn your boiler down. The other consideration is installation of a green energy technology.

There is no reliable average figure for energy savings as there are too many variables for each case. However you can get a good idea of the possible savings you could make by using an energy calculator. There are many websites which have them and you just need to fill in the information about your house and electricity consumption. It will use this information to work out how much money you can save by using different technologies. This may help you decide which type of sustainable technology to install and how much money it is worth investing.

The two most popular forms of sustainable home energy are wind and solar power. There are advantages to both but the location of your house will probably be the deciding factor because the weather is so important. For example, to make use of solar power you really need many hours of sunlight each day.

Solar panels are made from a series of photovoltaic cells these are what change the sunlight into electricity. They have to be placed in the best place to capture sunlight which is usually on the roof of your house. Many people are avoiding solar power because they have heard that it is very expensive to install. This used to be true but competition among green power companies and the changes in technology which have taken place have lowered prices significantly.

You may have decided to install a wind turbine on your property. These are a clean and reliable source of power as long as you live in a place with sufficient wind. The installation costs for these have reduced dramatically in the last thirty years. Advances in the technology have also made the machinery more efficient so that it is getting more power from the same amount of wind.

It is now becoming popular to install these technologies yourself. There are do it yourself kits available with everything you need. These are a lot cheaper than having a company carry out the installation. You can do it for even less money by building the solar panels or turbine from scratch. Most of the necessary parts can be purchased from hardware stores or on the internet. There are also many websites with information on the construction process and how to calculate the sizes of panels and turbines you will need.

The internet has many websites with advice on choosing a technology. Investigating alternative energy solutions has never been easier.

Since 1970, the top retailer for solar power toys offers a wide variety of resources to aspiring scientists. Learn about alternative energy solutions, among other scientific knowledge, with these high-quality science lab equipment.

Computers are made up of a number of small and large components. Most of these components are made of materials that can pollute the environment. It is not possible to build computers without these materials, as they are the heart and soul of a computer, defining its performance and efficiency. These materials are safely contained within a computer and hence, as long as the computers are being used in homes and other places, they pose no problem. However, when they are thrown away with the other waste, they may prove toxic and poisonous, affecting the environment at different levels. Computer recycling is therefore necessary to avoid such harmful effects on the environment.

When computers are thrown away, the chemicals and metals present in them can end up significantly polluting the environment. Worse, they can affect us more directly as these chemicals can find their way into our food chains. Lead, mercury, cadmium and other harmful substances are released during a computer disposal. They can cause many diseases and even deformities over the long run. Wastes that end up in the landfills can be washed away and reach the water bodies. Moreover, the chemicals can themselves penetrate through the land and reach the ground water. Such lands will ultimately end up barren as they can no longer be fit for growing crops.

If old computers are simply thrown away in the trash, they will be taken along with all the other garbage to the landfills where they will simply be dumped. As these chemicals don’t really degrade, they will slowly enter into the environment. The first damage they do is to the land - these toxic chemicals seep into the land, rendering it useless to grow crops. However, this is just the beginning. These can be washed down to other areas through rain water and can easily seep into the ground, contaminating ground water. There are hundreds of toxins out there in your computer, so you can imagine the level of pollution they can cause. Once water and land are contaminated, these chemicals easily find their way into our food chains. Thus computer recycling is necessary in order to avoid such a catastrophic scenario.

Apart from direct pollution, there is also the issue of sustainability. A lot of energy goes into the manufacture of these components, right from extracting the materials from the earth’s crust. All this work can be saved if we recycle e-waste. Thus by simple computer recycling, you can actually save tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere and reduce your carbon footprint. The materials that are present in old computers are quite similar to the ones used in modern day computers. In addition, the old computers usually have higher quantities of these, and thus a great source of usable materials. This is also beneficial for the companies since they can spend less on the components, thus improving their bottom lines.

Computer recycling is the only way in which the problem can be tackled. As newer and improved computers enter the market, the problem of e-waste is going to be really huge. People need to get rid of their computers and buy newer ones. However, do not forget to be environmentally responsible in the process. Only through a collective effort can the catastrophic effects of toxins on our health be averted.

Rodd H. Glover is an avid outdoors-man who cares about the future of our generations. Computer recycling should be mandatory on all PC’s as well as electronics recycling for everything with precious metals.

Over the past fifty years we have steadily increased our perception of the impact that our actions are having on the environment. Unfortunately for us and our children the world we live in is gradually starting to diminish as the Earth has not got an unlimited amount of natural supplies that we can keep tapping into.

We have finally come to learn that we need to preserve what we have and conserve our supplies. Many organizations have been formed with the task of spreading the word to the rest of the world that we need to do something to protect the environment that we live in before it is too late.

Such was the demand for timber that we were cutting trees down unrelentingly just to try to keep up with this demand. There are now a lot fewer trees cut than there was maybe ten years ago.

There has been a steady decline in demand for wood due to all the ecological and environmental policies that now exist in the world.

Many people have chosen to opt for alternative solutions to using timber for flooring, construction and more importantly furniture making. The most popular alternative seems to be recycled timber for these purposes.

There is not any real alternative solution that can compare to a natural wood floor no matter how hard we look for one. But if we use the recycled timber then we still get the same effect as it is still wood. We also get the added benefit of knowing that this wood was not chopped down recently so it will not impact on the environment.

There are now quite a few dealers around the world that trade in recycled timber materials. The timber is actually graded as to price and condition of the timber.

This is excellent news for the lovers of timber products as well as for the environment and obviously it costs less than freshly cut timber would cost normally so everyone is a winner.

See additional educational articles penned by this same author regarding areas such as acrylic plastic sheet and copper wall mount mailbox.

Sure, any box can be a moving box, but are your boxes reliable? Believe it or not, having the right kind of box is going to be the difference between a smooth move and a hectic one. Not having the right box can result in boxes giving out and breaking your belongings. Not having the right box can also mean that you’re not packing everything you could inside of one box. That can actually increase your moving costs if you’re using a moving service that charges by the hour, by the day, or by the truckload. More boxes mean more time and more space, so you want to make sure you plan this out right.

The supermarket box

Many individuals call their local supermarket and ask them if they can put boxes aside for them because they are moving. What happens is the mover finds that there are more little boxes than big boxes when they pick them up. Another thing to consider is the fact that all of these boxes have been used to ship items before and have now been broken down. This means you have to tape them back together over top of the old tape that was cut through when the employees were breaking them down. This can actually interfere with how well the bottom of the box comes together when you are taping it back together.

Supermarket boxes also consist of cardboard durability that can vary. It can be somewhat hard to determine how much weight a box can actually hold and, with all of the small boxes, you’re risking having to make more trips while you move.

The moving box

Moving supply stores sell moving boxes that are meant just for moving. They are durable so that your belongings are protected and they come in the sizes you need. You do have the option to choose from new boxes or used moving boxes. Used boxes are going to be cheaper, of course. However, you have to ask yourself if you want boxes someone else has used before. If you don’t have a problem with that, then you can go for the used box.

Here are three things you want to look for in a moving box:

The size: You may need different sizes for different things. If you have fragile items, you don’t want to stack too many of them on top of each other. However, books and other unbreakable items can be stacked until a comfortable weight is reached within the box.

Weight: It is important that you evaluate the weight that the box is capable of holding. This is something a supermarket box won’t tell you. You are safer knowing the weight because you then know how much you can put inside the box.

Type: There are different types of boxes such as dish boxes and wardrobe boxes. These boxes are specially designed to better protect your belongings. By moving items in boxes that are especially made for those items, you are reducing the chances of damage.

What to do?

It is up to you as to what boxes you want to use, but know that the moving box is going to give you the security you need when looking for moving boxes and moving supplies. Sometimes it’s not worth taking the risk and hoping that a box won’t break. Sometimes hoping that a box that is destined to break won’t break isn’t going to do much good. But having a box that is designed for what you’re using it for and even comes with usage instructions to ensure the utmost safety of your items is worth the cost.

EcoBox is a moving box, shipping and packing supply store that includes used and recycled moving boxes. Our excellent customer service aims to provide your moving and shipping needs while helping to save the environment through recycling. Visit our new location in San Antonio: EcoBox 18130 US Hwy 281 North #100 San Antonio, TX 78232 (210) 267-1614‎

A huge part on how the expenses on office supplies come from the employees’ lack of effort to find the cheapest and most reliable office supplies. Unfortunately, they are the ones who order and consume these materials. In essence, the business owner is actually at the mercy of their employees when it comes to cutting down or raising the expenses on offices supplies. Below are some tips you can follow in order to find the most reliable office supplies while you cut down your cost.

Know What You Don’t Need
Ask your employees to list down all the materials they are requesting regardless. They have to include the details such as quantity and how often they order it. From this, you will be able to come up with a list of the things you will not really need because it will be redundant. A clear example is a fax machine. Many computer have built in capacity to fax, why would you then need more than one fax machine when they could use their computers half the time.

Maximize the Supplies
If you employees use a bond paper, make sure they print on both sides. That is a very easy thing to do but many people don’t do it because they think it is disrespectful to give someone a document that has something on the other side. The only time it is disrespectful is when the item printed on one side is confidential on any level. Otherwise, printing on both sides is perfectly acceptable.

Another thing you can do is encourage your employees to do as much as they can to use the supplies to the fullest. For example, if they are to sharpen a pencil, they have to make sure they will use that pencil till they can’t hold it anymore. Pencil is one of the things that really consume a lot of trees, the least they can do is use it to its fullest. You can even reward people who will submit a consumed pencil. As for bond papers, ask them to print on both sides and use the sides as scratch papers.

There are many reliable offices supplies around nowadays, reliable, cheap and eco-friendly. You just have to consciously ask the suppliers for it and know how to use it to maximize it.

Abel Alexander has been internet marketing for nearly 8 years. He recently launched a new site at http://www.reliable-office-supplies.net. Find out where you can find Reliable Office Supplies today.

Recycling paper is not difficult to do and provides various benefits, however, most of us still do not do it often enough - if at all. What follows is a review of some of the benefits on offer. After reading through them, hopefully you will be more aware of the importance of recycling at least some of the paper that you use.

- Forests, and the wildlife that live within them, are destroyed as a result of our excessive use of paper. Put simply, the less paper we recycle, the less trees we need to cut down. As well as the effect on wildlife and plant-life, excessive deforestation also creates visual scars on our beautiful planet. Once a forest has been cut down, there is little to no chance of that land ever being home to an ecosystem again.

- There are many useful everyday items that can be made from recycled paper. These are some examples - newspapers, phonebooks, cardboard boxes, envelopes, egg cartons, paper towels, toilet paper and notebooks. If items such as these are not made from recycled paper then more trees have to be cut down to produce them, which really is a waste, as these items are equally good made when they are made from recycled paper.

- Recycled paper has cost benefits as it is made from materials that would otherwise constitute the solid waste that is polluting our environment. By infusing this material into the paper manufacturing process, and getting rid of the costs associated with ‘virgin’ pulp and whitening agents, companies can achieve cost savings by both producing and consuming recycled materials

- Pollution is reduced by recycling paper. Paper manufacturing plants are responsible for pumping huge amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere, and that needs to be reduced where possible. As it is easier to create paper products from waste paper than raw materials, less pollution is created when we focus on the former. The paper that we unnecessarily throw away also ends up polluting the environment. Most of it ends up it landfill sites or being incinerated.

- Recycling paper means water consumption is reduced (1 ton of recycled paper can save over 6500 gallons of water) and less electricity is used (more than 400 kilowatt hours are saved by recycling 1 ton of paper). It also helps reduces our dependence on oil. Saving 2 barrels per ton of recycled paper really makes a difference in the long term.

If you liked this, try : Cardboard Boxes