Our Green Streets Blog

Today we received word from Chris Edwards, sales coordinator at Colorado-based New Wave Enviro Products. I believed my email box contained just one more of the many green promotional pitches I wade through, until I read further, especially the last line.

Here are clips from Mr. Edwards’ letter (emphasis place by me):

“…we manufacture and distribute water products, mainly through Natural Foods Retailers across the Nation. We have been in business for over 15 years and our products offer consumers a way to live litter free and chemical free lives by filtering the water they drink,  they shower and bathe in, and a way to ease the problem with our nation’s landfills.
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Danny Clark, CEO of ENSO Bottles, writes to invite participation in a plastics survey. I encourage your participation.

Glenn,

I hope all has been well.  We are performing some research on how and what consumers think about biodegradable plastics.  The more response from the general public we receive the better the data.

Below is the link to the survey.  If you are interested in posting a link to the survey I can create a collector created just for Green Streets which would redirect the survey takers to a URL of your choosing at the conclusion of the survey as well as customize the Thank You page.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=fktlqEFDW1aNgZgWodfrRA_3d_3d
I would also provide you the survey results data.

Thank you,
Danny Clark
ENSO Bottles, LLC

Meet Planet Blue! source: SavePlanetBlue.com

An interactive online game site, SavePlanetBlue.com has been launched. After one year of development, children around the world are invited to come register and become Planet Blue Savers. Registration is free.

According to the launch announcement, children today are more aware of  environmental issues than at any other time before. Site visitors will encounter an animated 3-D website that provides customizing options. Read more of this >>

Read on from the monthly newsletter of Denver Recycles:

For many of us, spring is a time when we clean out our basements and garages. The act of spring cleaning is a great way to start anew; however it can also leave us perplexed as to what to do with the leftover fertilizers, pesticides, stains, varnishes and CFLs that we no longer need but know are not safe to throw in the trash.  Through its Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program, the City & County of Denver can help you safely dispose of chemicals and other household hazardous waste that you come across during your spring cleaning.

Residents of the City and County of Denver are eligible once per year for a free collection of household hazardous waste.  Residents may schedule a door-to-door collection at their home or in some unique cases, an appointment to drop off materials at the facility. Materials accepted through the program are: aerosols, automotive fluids (degreasers, oils, etc.), batteries, caulk, grout, cleaners and polishes (drain, oven, carpet, etc.), CFLs and fluorescent tubes, expired medications, fertilizer, garden chemicals, gasoline, fuel, kerosene, glue, hobby supplies, insecticides and poisons (bug spray, weed killers, etc.), lubricants, metal polishes, moth balls, paint, photography chemicals, sealants, stains and varnishes, solvents and thinners (turpentine, etc.), pool chemicals and thermometers. Read more of this >>

View of Denver City & County Building from State Capitol. Pictures courtesy of www.aviewoncities.com

The City & County of Denver has partnered with Best Buy and Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX) offering Denver residents an easy way to recycle their electronic items such as old televisions, monitors and computer components. Read more of this >>

Boulder, Colorado is home to the University of Colorado

Students at the University of Colorado are used to reaching environmental milestones. The first student-supported windpower program, first student-built biodiesel refining equipment, and the first student-run recycling program are just a few of CU’s national achievements. CU has just reached an important internal milestone however, by recovering the 500th cell phone from its collection program sponsored by the Wireless Alliance.

As director of CU Recycling, I believe this this is a significant accomplishment. And it represents the beginning of recovering more phones.  College students in particular generate a lot of phones because their coverage plan often changes when they move to Boulder. They also demand the latest technologies. As a result, students need to be the best recyclers in the country.

Numerous reports have been released about the lack of cell phone recycling that is really taking place. Some estimate that only a small percentage of cell phones are recycled in the US. According to CTIA, (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) the largest wireless trade association in North America, there are currently over 270,000,000 active cell phone plans in the United States. Yes, that’s 270 million, and there are currently just over 306 million people living in the United States. Looking at these numbers, it seems that everyone carries a cell phone today.

The University of Colorado Environmental Center has several locations to recycle cell phones: in the Alfred Packer Grill at the University Memorial Center, in the Darley Commons at Williams Village. Cell phones can also be taken to the Environmental Center, room 355 of the UMC.

Read more of this >>

RECEIVED THIS EMAIL TODAY FROM NANCY JUDD, AT RECYCLE RUNWAY:

“Just came across your very kind article on the Change Couture project as well as the video which I had never seen. I love how you ended it with Bruce’s quote “I say to all the artists out there, don’t buy canvas!”

“Anyway, thanks for the plug! I’m assuming you must be on my listserve… I’ll be sending out a newsletter soon with photos and details from the trip.

“Thanks again!”

Nancy Judd
Recycle Runway

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the environment and to sustainable development, Newmont Ghana is, under the supervision of Mohammed Bin Abubakar, the reclamation coordinator for Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo mine, employing a rather unique erosion control system.

Not content with the long-term environmental consequences associated with traditional plastic netting commonly used to control erosion around roads and waterways, Bin Abubakar sought a more responsible solution. What he came up with was a revolutionary project that forgoes plastic netting in favor of locally manufactured, biodegradable netting.   Read more of this >>

The Obamanos Coat

Nancy Judd, New Mexico developer of Recycle Runway and a participant in our video, “Trashy Art,” writes of her new project called the Campaign for Change Couture Collection:  “This new series of garments, made from left over Obama campaign materials, is a documentation of my experience being a volunteer for this historic campaign and is a tribute to the millions of other people (including many of you!) who gave countless hours to assure the election of Barack Obama.”

Judd follows with this missive on important connections: Read more of this >>

I came across this piece last night, published by the Raleigh News & Observer which paints a fairly bleak picture for the price of recycled materials in the near term:  

When the economy slows, consumers cut back on purchases, and in turn manufacturers ship fewer products. The demand for used corrugated cardboard, for example, drops. Corrugated cardboard, which is used to make packaging, brings about $25 per ton, one-fifth of the $125 a ton it brought in April.

Read more of this >>