Oct
26
Categories: Nashville Recycling
Tags: earth savers, earthsavers, going green, green, nashville, recycling
Oct
26
With so many Americans throwing away large amounts of their old clothing each year, which, inevitably, wind up in landfills, the environmental disasters continue to exist. This can be so easily avoided, as well as, economically sound with just using a little creativity. Since textiles are easy to recycle and reuse, instead of trashing the old clothes, try salvaging them using these ideas:
• Hand-Me-Downs
If you have younger children, the most practical use of the hand-me-downs would be, obviously, to hand it down. However, if you do not, there are online services dedicated to trading hand-me-downs, or for just donating clothing to the cause. It is a great way to clean up a child’s closet and save on clothing.
• Donate
This is a good way to ensure reuse. If you have no family members to benefit from your old clothes, there are plenty of charities that would be happy to receive them. Also, if you choose this route, be sure to itemize each piece, or at least take pictures, and get receipts so you can write off the donation on your taxes.
• Sell
If you have the time, energy and patience, have a yard sale. This way you could focus your efforts on your community. Invite some friends and/or neighbors to share in the sale, or include church groups and clubs. Bigger and better organized yard sales usually attract more potential customers, and keeps people from stopping and starting their cars repeatedly.
Sell to the highest bidder. Earn a little cash for yourself by selling your items on consignment in local thrift stores, or on an internet auction site. There are quite a few reputable sites on the internet.
• Turn Old Clothes into New Clothes
With a little ingenuity and cosmetic alterations, an old dress can be transformed into a new one. An embroidered motif, dash of paint, or modified hemline can breathe new life into an otherwise drab piece of clothing. Clothing that is beyond rescue can be made into baby clothes. A man’s pair of jeans can usually provide enough material for a boy’s pair. Turn a skirt into a cute little blouse for a little girl.
• Doll Clothes
Kid’s old clothes are great for making doll clothes. Let the child design and create the clothes. It will help stimulate the child’s creativity and provide productive time spent. Bears make good models for clothing as well.
• Craft Projects
There are so many kinds of craft projects awaiting your creative mind. Cut small pieces of old clothes up to 4” x 4” and sew together to make quilts. Cut smaller pieces for stuffing throw pillows. Make bedding for pets. Laundry bags can be made from old dresses by closing the bottom with Velcro or buttons and storing the laundry through the neck of the dress. Fashion accessories, such as wallets or fashionable bags, can be transformed from old t-shirts and jeans. Children can learn how to sew with the fabric of old clothing. You and your child can make stuffed animals or wall-hanging decorations together.
• Composting
One hundred percent cotton fabric is compost-friendly. Cut up t-shirts, underwear, old jeans (no spandex), and bury them in the pile. Just be sure to remove any elastic waistbands.
• Cleaning Rags
Clothes that are unworthy of any of the above options still have a purpose. Put them in a rag pile. Instead of using tons of paper towels for cleaning, reach for one of your rags.
Recycling is one of the ways we can remain sustainable, particularly in today’s age of high consumption. It not only provides for people, but also reserves our resources for future utilization.
Remember – whenever you have something you would normally throw away – consider this: Instead of asking, “Is this something I can reuse,” the question should be “how can I reuse it?”
Check back for more Nashville recycling tips.
Sep
14
Long before the Green Movement, Americans have been encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycling bins began to make their appearance throughout schools, offices, and homes decades ago. Teacher encouraged young children to separate and recycle their trash as well as color between the lines, but has all this education and encouragement paid off in the long run? Are things better today than they were in years past? Are Americans recycling more? Have all these initiatives and education programs really made a difference?
The answer is most assuredly, yes, but it is a qualified yes. Americans are recycling more than they were in years past. In 1980, only 10% of all municipal garbage was recycled. In 2005, that rate was up to 32% according to the US General Accounting Office. Unfortunately, the amount of municipal garbage has grown by 60%. That is almost 246 million tons of garbage produced every year. While a larger percentage of America’s trash is being recycled, Americans are negating those gains by producing even more trash. This news might be disheartening to some, but it is important to remain positive and look for the silver lining. Imagine the amount of trash that would make it into the landfills if Americans were not recycling at the rate they are. There is certainly cause for good cheer among the pro recycling crowd.
• 63.4% of all paper products in the United States were recycled in 2009. This number includes soiled paper products that cannot be recycled. Subtracting materials that are unable to be recycled would obviously increase the rate.
• 99% of all lead acid batteries are being recovered and recycled. This is outstanding!
• 48.2% of all metal cans were recycled in 2008
• In total over 7 million tons of metal was recycled in 2008. This alone, in terms of carbon monoxide reduction, is the equivalent of removing over 4.5 million cars from the road for a period of one year.
These are just a few encouraging statistics, but now is not the time for Americans to rest on their laurels. There is still much to be done. Two major issues have become apparent in recent years. Changes in consumer habits have created new issues within American’s landfills that did not exist 30 years ago.
Bottled water was virtually unheard of in the 1980s, but now, bottled water has its own section in every grocery and convenience store. The demand for bottled water more than doubled between the years of 1997 and 2007. In 2007, the average American consumed 29.3 gallons of bottled water. The growing demand for bottled water has lead to an increased demand for PET plastics. Plastics have always lagged behind paper in terms of amount recycled. Some studies show that over 41% of the plastics found in landfills come from bottled water. These plastics will outlast virtually every other material found in a landfill. Plastics that are not exposed to direct sunlight can take thousands of years to decompose.
The other area of concern stems from Americans fascination with the latest and greatest technological toy. Electronics are rarely recycled. In 2007, an estimated 2.25 million tons of electronic devices fell into disused. Of those 2.25 million tons, 82 percent found their way into a landfill. Only ten percent of cell phones are ever recycled. Electronic devices when recycled can render many hard to find minerals such as gold, copper, silver, and palladium. It is sad that all these valuable resources are going to waste in a landfill. If Americans insist on continuing this pattern of consumption regarding electronics, they must realize that these items can and should be recycled.
Recycling has made marked gains with the United States over the past thirty years, but there is still the opportunity for growth. Americans can do better. The environmental problems that face America today are primarily those of consumption. The reduce part of the three Rs is just as important as reuse and recycle. Given past history, Americans, once properly educated, will rise to the challenge.
Visit Earthsavers for more information on residential and commercial recycling in Nashville and across Middle Tennessee.
Aug
15
Batteries are commonplace in the modern world, powering toys, watches, cell phones, laptop computers, automobiles, and many other devices. As with other disposable items, however, many people don’t stop to think about what happens to the battery after it’s thrown away. All batteries use chemical reactions to provide electricity, but there are many different formulas that can be used, each of which lends itself best to a different purpose. Some of these formulas contain hazardous chemicals that should not be disposed of in a landfill or incinerator with regular garbage. Improper disposal can result in contamination of the soil, water or air with toxic materials. It doesn’t take long to see why recycling batteries is very important.
While the acidic or alkaline components of batteries may be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks on their hazards, the most serious threat to health and environment after the batteries are discarded comes from the heavy metals that some formulas contain, such as lead, nickel, and cadmium, which can leach into the ground if the batteries are sent to a landfill, resulting in long-term poisoning of the site’s soil with compounds that are seriously detrimental to the health of humans and other life. If incinerated, the batteries may create toxic fumes or ash that are likewise problematic.
Lead, in particular, is currently commonplace in automotive batteries and is, in any amount, harmful to human beings, especially children. Fortunately, lead-acid batteries are also the most commonly recycled type of battery, allowing the lead and other components to be reclaimed for further use and helping to keep poisonous lead out of landfills. Soil contaminated with lead is dangerous to play or work in and can produce contaminated crops if used for farming or gardening, so preventing this material from leaching into the ground is an important long-term concern for future generations. Some batteries may also contain mercury, another well known toxic metal. This is no longer as serious a concern as mercury-based batteries have been banned in many countries and manufacturers have sought alternate formulas to do away with mercury content, but it should be kept in mind since mercury is very dangerous if incinerated or allowed to leach into soil and groundwater.
Nickel and cadmium are often used together in rechargeable batteries; nickel is potentially harmful but cadmium is the more dangerous of the two substances; it is carcinogenic and is especially harmful to the kidneys and respiratory system. Rechargeable batteries are recyclable at the end of their lifespan, but participation in recycling programs for this type of battery still lags far behind lead-acid battery recycling. Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries lack cadmium and are therefore safer but are still potentially toxic due to the nickel and electrolyte they contain.
Modern alkaline batteries that do not have mercury added to them are less dangerous and generally not categorized as hazardous waste, although this has changed in some places. While they do not contain heavy metals such as lead or cadmium, the chemicals inside them can still be harmful if allowed to escape. Unfortunately, there is little reclaimable material for recycling this type of battery; the steel casings are the primary useful product left over in the spent cells. Due to these factors, recycling facilities for alkaline batteries are less prevalent than those for lead-acid and rechargeable ones.
Lead-acid batteries and rechargeable batteries should always be recycled for safer disposal and reclamation of any useful component materials, as these types generally pose a greater threat to health and environment. In some areas, recycling other battery types is also prudent. Recycling hazardous batteries not only allows part of their resources to be reclaimed, it also helps keep toxic chemicals out of landfills where they could poison the soil and groundwater. There is still a ways to go to reduce the amount of toxins let loose in the environment from discarded batteries, but recycling initiatives have been a step in the right direction.
More Information about Dangerous Waste Contaminants in Soil
Other resources about Recycling.
Aug
8
The majority of our products use plastic, but there are several different types of plastic. The recycling codes found on plastic are important when separating plastic for recycling. The recycling codes are used to label plastic by the type of resin made to produce the plastic of these goods and is symbolized by a number surrounded by arrows. The symbols on plastic are numbered 1-7, and each represents a different category of plastic. These numbers can normally be found at the bottom of an item.
The following gives a breakdown of each of the seven different recycling codes:
Number 1 plastics are also referred to as PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics. They are commonly found in single-use bottled beverages, peanut butter containers, sports drinks, beer, jelly, salad dressing containers and food trays for ovens. Number 1 plastics are used most often because they are inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. They are part of most curbside recycling programs. This type of plastic is often recycled into fiber for carpet, tote bags, fleece jackets and comforter fill. It is also used to make containers for different foods and beverages.
Number 2 plastics are HDPE (high density polyethylene). This type of plastic is used for items like milk jugs, household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, motor oil bottles, butter tubs, cereal box liners and some trash and shopping bags. Number 2 plastic is versatile and is often used for packaging. This type of plastic is picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some only allow containers with necks. Some common uses for number 2 recycled plastic are pens, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, outdoor decking, buckets, pipe, floor tile, lumber, picnic tables, and fencing.
Number 3 plastics are also labeled V (Vinyl) or PVC. They are commonly used for household cleaning bottles, clear food packaging, shampoo bottles, medical equipment, windows, carpet backing, piping, and siding. Number 3 plastic is tough and weathers well. PVC contains chlorine and can release toxins if used incorrectly. This type of plastic is rarely recycled, but it is accepted by some plastic lumber makers. It can be recycled into paneling, decks, flooring, electrical boxes, traffic cones, speed bumps, mats, mud flaps and cables.
Number 4 plastics represent LDPE (low density polyethylene). They are most often used for squeezable bottles, shopping bags, container lids, toys, clothing, furniture, carpet and tote bags. Number 4 plastic is flexible and can be used in many applications, but it is not often accepted by most curbside recycling programs. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to stores for recycling. This type of plastic is often recycled into shipping envelopes, lumber, floor tile, trash can liners, compost bins and paneling.
Number 5 plastic is also referred to as PP (polypropylene). It is commonly found in syrup bottles, yogurt containers, caps, medicine bottles, straws and ketchup bottles. This type of plastic has a high melting point, so it is often chosen for containers that hold hot liquid. Some curbside programs accept number 5 plastics. It is typically recycled into brooms, signal lights, brushes, ice scrapers, oil funnels, trays, bicycle racks, pallets and rakes.
Number 6 plastics are also labeled PS (polystyrene). This type of plastic is often used for disposable plates and cups, egg cartons, packing peanuts, coat hangers, toys, medical products, CD cases and carry-out containers. Number 6 plastic can be made into foam products commonly known as Styrofoam. It is accepted by some curbside programs, but it is very difficult to recycle. This type of plastic is often recycled into insulation, egg cartons, rulers, light switch plates, and carry-out containers.
Number 7 plastics represent any plastic resin that doesn’t fit into the other plastic categories. It is commonly found in five-gallon water bottles, sunglasses, DVDs, signs, nylon, and computer cases. It is typically not picked up by most curbside programs. It can be recycled into bottles, plastic lumber and some custom-made products.
For more information about recycling in Nashville, visit http://earthsavers.org
