ecoATM Recycling Kiosks for Small Electronics

ecoATM has a kiosk system that can evaluate the quality of old unwanted electronics – like cell phones – and offer cash and safe recycling.

Using screen prompts and a plug in wire to analyze a device the kiosk can determine the value and offer cash or to give the money to charity.  If cash is chosen the kiosk prints a slip that a partnering store can trade for cash.  In any case the devise is then reconditioned or safely (for the environment – no e-waste) recycled.

The kiosk “ … patented, advanced machine vision, electronic diagnostics, and artificial intelligence to evaluate and buy-back used electronics directly from consumers for cash or store credit. …”

Watch this video to see how easy the process is for the user …

Currently (Sept 2011) there is a cluster of ecoATM locations on the west coast stretching from just north of Los Angeles to just south of San Diego and two others – one in Kansas City, Kansas and one in Redmond, Washington.

 

Via:  ecoATM  LINK

Valvoline NextGen Oil - Recycled Motor Oil

Recycling motor oil is good for the environment … and is a good “raw material” for new oil.

Further recycling motor oil can reduce dependence on imported oil and protect the environment – especially the water supply. 

Did you know that “ … just one gallon of used oil can contaminate up to one million gallons of water ….”

“ … motor oil doesn't really wear out … it's the additives that wear out …”

Check out this video to learn about the engine oil life cycle as oil is reprocessed “from oil pan to oil can”.

 

 

 

 

Via:  Valvoline  LINK

Use EcoSquid to find a new home for your old electronics. 

“EcoSquid: Be awesome. Feel Good. Get Paid. Sell and Recycle your old electronics “

On their website you can quickly either find where to safely recycle your e-stuff or see if it can be sold for a few bucks.











Via:  EcoSquid  LINK

Rubbermaid Green Strategy / Products

 Rubbermaid is making products with a green slant.  In this case it is wire shelving made from 100 % recycled steel and is itself recyclable.

They are also working with the Greenguard Environmental Institute to certify products do not contain volatile contaminates / VOCs.  Check out this Rubbermaid video for more details ...




Via: Rubbermaid  LINK

Sprint Recycling Program – Reducing e-Waste

Did you know that MASSIVE amounts of cell phones are tossed in the trash EVERY HOUR ?

16,000 cell phones are thrown away each hour !!   Sprint wants to keeps these out of landfills and has programs that make it easy for everyone to recycle (and not contribute to to e-waste) your cell phone and related accessories.

Check out these 2 videos for more information on Sprint’s recycling programs …

Via:  Sprint and You Tube

Naked Juice’s 100% Post Consumer Recycled PET (rPET)

Check out this You Tube video from Naked Juice talking about their reNEWabottle – made from 100% post consumer recycled PET (rPET).

Made with recycled plastic and fully recyclable … helping to reduce energy and reduce landfill waste.

 

   

Via:  Naked Juice LINK

Motorola Takes Back / Recycles Cell Phones (even if not from Motorola)

As part of their corporate responsibility program Motorola has a program that will take back / recycle any mobile phone – even if not a Motorola product.

Some are repurposed (after refurbishing) to developing countries … others are just recycled.

Since consumer participation is a key drive Motorola tries to get more people involved in recycling mobile phones by among other things “enclosing …prepaid return envelopes with new products … Providing prepaid postage labels on our website ….” and participating in programs like “ … Mobile Muster in Australia, Green Box in China, Plug in to eCycling in the U.S. and Recycle My Cell in Canada “

Via: Motorola LINK

Waste to Energy -- Sustainable Waste Solutions

I saw a trailer in a parking lot with the Sustainable Waste Solutions and knew there would be a blog post there.  SWS is a local company with a Souderton, Pa  address that turns waste to energy (W2E).

" ... a landfill-free alternative for recycling, waste transportation, and disposal to companies ... throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley and Delaware. ... we generate enough electricity from waste to power tens of thousands of homes per day ..."

W2E burns waste material to generate electric and results in waste that is only 10% by volume compared to the starting amount.

Until we run out of trash (not too likely in the near term) this is a renewable energy solution!



Via:  Sustainable Waste Solutions  LINK

Textile Sustainability with bluesign®

bluesign® is an independent standard for the textile inducstry.  It looks at the entire supply chain and seeks to exclude harmful materials at the start of the process … resulting in a safer product for consumers and the environment.,

Many outdoor clothing manufactures are supporting this standard including North Face and REI. 

Check out this YouTube Video for more info …

 

Via:  bluesign  LINK

Kristianstad Sweden Uses Biofuels Not Fossil Fuels for Heat and Electricity

Kristianstad Sweden uses no fossil fuels for heating.  Instead they uses biomass from farming leftovers.  80,000 homes heated by biomass and not fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas!  And this is an area of the world where it gets VERY COLD !

Since solar and wind would not be effective in Kristianstad they worked with biomass.  " ... remains from farming ... manure, potato peels, pig intestines, and even cookies, .... to create biogas  ... a certain type of  methane, ... heat of the entire city, and to provide electricity for the city as well."

The driving force for the move away from fossil fuels was to protect their environment and they did not want to import fossil fuels from abroad.

   

Via:  Metrolic  LINK

EcoBatt Natural Insulation - Sustainable and Green

What's a quick easy way to save money .... year after year?
Insulate !!


EcoBatt insulation is made from "bio-based" binders - not petroleum derived raw materials and is certified to GREENGUARD standards so it is safe for children and use in schools.

" ... reduces binder embodied energy by up to 70%, and does not contain phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics or artificial colors used to make traditional fiberglass insulation."

" .... combines sand ... renewable resources, post-consumer recycled bottle glass ... to create ... sustainable insulation…"



Via: EcoBatt  LINK



Via: xxx.yyy LINK

Waste to Eengy Systems from IST Energy

Waste to Energy (W2E) systems can be used to reduce waste sent to landfills and recover energy from a waste stream.  A "turn-key" W2E systems can be just the thing you need ... 

IST Energy makes systems that turn trash to energy (electricity and heat).  These systems turn  " ... paper, wood, plastic, agriculture waste, and food into electricity and heat."

" ... transformation ... within a self-contained, modular environment designed for ease of operation and maintenance."

Via:  IST Energy  LINK

Poland Springs Eco-Shape® Bottle

Poland Spring

Poland Spring has been actively reducing the amount of plastic in its water bottles.  Less plastic means less energy to make, less energy to ship and less impact overall.  Of course recycling the bottles completes the loop.

" ... Eco-Shape® bottle ... made with an average of 30% less plastic ... a label approximately one-third smaller ... more flexible so it's easier to crush for recycling. ..."

The label notes that the cap is also smaller ... resulting in less plastic !



Via:  Poland Spring LINK

What do you do with your old cookware when you upgrade?  One option is Freecycling it.  But ... if you buy from Calphalon you can have your old cookware recycled for free.

The process is simple:  Pack the old cookware in the box from the new cookware (reuse) and they will provide a UPS shipping label to cover the shipping.  Shortly after you should receive two 100% recycled cotton shopping bags (reduce and reuse).

Here is an interesting bit of information from their web site ...
"Fact: Over 80 percent of items in landfills can be recycled, but they're not."

What can you recycle that you are currently tossing in the trash ... ?



Via:  Calphalon LINK

Green Activities at the University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco has a Green Team that focuses on sustainability.  One interesting outcome was to modify water fountains so they more easily fill water bottles - helping to foster using a reusable bottle.

" ... reduce the ... use of plastic water bottles by using refillable bottles and drinking tap water. ... switching to compostable flatware to assist the composting program ... starting composting in the residence halls ..."


Via:  University of San Francisco  LINK

Levi® Jeans - Green Care Label Instructions

Levi Strauss has taken a number of steps to make their jeans "greener" including minimizing the number of labels and the wording on the label.

This can help you - the consumer - save money and the environment by making less of an impact.
The care label suggests washing in cold water, line drying and giving to Goodwill so they can have another useful life.

" ... 58% of the energy and 45% of the water used during the lifetime of a pair of Levi’s ® jeans occurs during the consumer use phase ..."

 

" ... launched A Care Tag for our Planet ... care tags encourage ... “Machine wash cold; line dry when possible; donate to Goodwill.”"

 

 

Via:  Levi Strauss LINK

Recycling Tips for Plastics

This all started when I was looking for a "green" way to dispose of an microwave ... that was broken.  My local trash hauler / recycler suggested earth911 ... so I looked there for an idea ... none was found ... BUT ... I found some neat suggestions on recycling plastics.

I am currently recycling #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 and some #7 plastics that are marked as recyclable but you never know when you might find something new.

Most communities now pick up #2 and $ 4 plastic bottles and most grocery stores take #2 and #4 plastic bags.  But what about the reset ... those #5 yogurt cups and # 6 food containers?

Check out these links from earth911 ... "Earth911 partners with many industries, manufacturers and organizations to support its Recycling Directory, the largest in the nation, which is provided to consumers at no cost. The American Chemistry Council is one of these partners"
PP #5
PS # 6Expanded foam # 6

#2 and #4 bags



Via:  Earth911 LINK

Timberrland is well known for its green activities including putting a label on most shoes boxes that details the carbon impact of each product.

Their Earthkeeper line features products made to have a smaller environmental footprint ... usually from the user of recycled materials.

" ... Earthkeepers™ collection ... footwear with a small environmental footprint. ...rubber lug outsole made with 42% recycled Green Rubber™ material"
 To learn more about green and the outdoors ... check out Timberland's Earthkeeper Blog



Via:  Timberland  LINK


Via: xxx.yyy LINK

Best Buy's e-cycle Program

 I have been going through the basement and found a few older computer monitors that are no longer needed ... nor worth using.

So ... how to best get rid of them and ** NOT ** harm the environment? Best But to the rescue (or e-cycle) !

"Regardless of where you bought it, what brand it is, or how old it is ... We'll make sure it's properly and safely recycled. ..."

" ... just about anything electronic, ... Most things are recycled absolutely free, ..."

Via: Best Buy  LINK

Dell Uses Compostable Bamboo Packing Materials

Dell is using new bamboo packaging materials that are compostable making them easier to dispose of in places other than a dumpster (read landfill).  The result is a more sustainable packaging solution.


" ... mechanically pulped bamboo ... will compost and biodegrade ... comparable to known compostable materials ..."


" ... building on its commitment to make ‘being green’ easy and cost-effective for customers. "

So why bamboo ?  Bamboo is a natural as it is fast growing, strong and " ... doesn't require replanting after harvest".


Via:  Dell  LINK