DC Recycler

Don't Underestimate the Power of the People

2012-02-12T17:29:00.001-05:00

It's easy enough to fall into the trap of thinking that you as an individual have no power to change the world for the better. But, in fact, in the last six months, we've seen some clear examples that prove just the contrary. Bank of America reneged on its banking fees. The Susan B. Komen Foundation learned that people felt strongly that they should support Planned Parenthood and JC Penny decided to continue to keep Ellen DeGeneres as a spokesperson – despite her sexuality. Now, it’s your turn. Do you know where your toilet paper comes from? Buy toilet paper that is made from recycled and/or sustainably sourced content. Below is a video showing which brands (like Paseo) to avoid as well as a list of major US companies that have stopped sourcing Paseo – and other companies have done nothing. Call these supermarkets and let them know that you’re watching what they do. One person can make a difference!

Cork It!

2012-02-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

CORKWATCH is an app from ReCork that lets you know which wines use REAL corks(good!) versus those ugly plastic corks(bad!). It also allows YOU to add new wines to the list. The site is compatible with all mobiledevices and super intuitive.CORKWATCH also has a searchable database and map that allows you to find a drop off location for corks in your area. Most Whole Foods will also accept real corks...as will Firefly restaurant in DC (and you can just drop them off there..you don't have to stay for a meal - though you should as the food is sustainably sourced and fab!) For more information as to why you should opt for wines with cork stoppers, check out the WWF Report, "Cork Screwed?"

The 1,2,3s….and 4,5,6 and 7s of Plastics and Recycling in DC

2012-01-26T20:21:00.001-05:00

Everyone’s seen those numbers on plastic packaging, but until recently, Ireally didn’t know what they meant. Here’sthe 411 in a nutshell.

The numbers you’ll see range from 1 to 7 and refers to the type of plastic that’s been used to make that product. For you,it’s also a shorthand for potential health risk and the recycle-ability of theproduct. Fortunately, in DC, plastics of all numbers EXCEPT PLASTIC#6 (Styrofoam) are recyclable. Plastics#6 (Styrofoam) and plastics of any number that are made into food(saran) wrap, “clamshells”, motor oil or pesticide containers aren’t recyclablein DC.

A few more details on each of the plastics are provided below:

Plastic #1, polyethylene terephtalate, is also known as PETEor PET. Think soda bottles. It’s considered safe but porous, so it'sbest not to reuse these containers. Plastic#1is recyclable in DC.
Plastic #2 is high density polyethylene, orHDPE. Think milk jugs. It’s considered safe and is recyclable in DC.
Plastic #3 is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Goods include food wrap, cooking oil bottles, and plumbing pipes. It’s not considered safe to cook food in or nearit. DC recycles Plastic #3.
Plastic #4 is low density polyethylene (LDPE). Think grocerybags, ziplocks, some food wraps, squeezable bottles, and bread bags. It’sconsidered safe. Plastic#4 is recyclablein DC.
Plastic #5 is polypropylene and used for yogurt cups other wide-neckedcontainers as well as medicine, ketchup, and syrup bottles, and straws. Plastic#5 is safe and is recyclable in DC.
Plastic #6 is polystyrene, or Styrofoam. There’s some evidencethat Plastic#6 leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated. Plastic#6 is not recyclable in DC.
Plastic #7 is essentially “what's not plastic 1-6” includingpolycarbonate plastics and BPA. Common products include iPods, computer casesas well as some baby bottles and food storage containers. Plastic#7 is also used for milk/soda crates,plastic buckets with metal handles, plastic laundry baskets, plastic lawnfurniture, plastic totes, plastic drums, plastic coolers, plastic flower pots,plastic drinking cups/glasses, plastic 5-gallon water bottles, plastic pallets,and plastic toys and all of these are recyclable in DC.

I used this article to write this post. It's a great resource for the health benefits of the various plastics.

DC Government Posts Hazardous Waste Disposal 2012 Calendar!

2012-01-15T17:46:00.001-05:00

Hey Folks, the DC Government has posted Hazardous Waste/E-cycling disposal dates for 2012 at the Ft. Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE. You’ll (very likely) need a DC Driver’s License that does not have an apartment address to get into the facility. Below, you’ll find a list of acceptable items and a calendar can be found below that. Send an email out to friends and neighbors and take turns going up to the facility every month or so. There’s usually not a long line and you’ll be in and out before you know it! More information on the program can be found at: http://dc.gov/DC/DPW/Services+on+Your+Block/Recycling/Household+Hazardous+Waste+-+E-cycling-+Document+Shredding

Acceptable Hazardous Waste	Acceptable E-Cycling
Acids Aerosols Antifreeze Asbestos tile Batteries Cleaning chemicals Drain openers Fluorescent light bulbs Furniture stripper Stains Varnish Fertilizer Lighter fluid Mercury thermometers and mercury containing devices Moth balls Motor oil Paint Pesticides Poisons Roofing tar Solvents/thinners Transmission fluids Windshield wiper and Brake fluids Wood preservatives	Audio/visual equipment Audio cassettes Camcorders CD Rom drives CDs/DVDs Cell Phones Computers and monitors Connectors / Cords / Wire Copy machines Fax machines Floppy drives Hard drives Memory chips Network / Video / Sound cards Pagers Power supplies Printers Scrap computer plastic Scrap computer metal Tape drives TVs VCRs VCR tapes Video games & Software

2012 DC Hazardous Waste/E-Cycling Dates
Thursdays(1pm-7pm) · January 5 · February 2 · March 1 · April 5 · May 3 · May 31 · July 5 · August 2 · August 31 · October 4 · November 1 · November 30 · January 3, 2013	Saturdays (8am-3pm) · January 7 · February 4 · March 3 · April 7 · May 5 · June 2 · July 7 · August 4 · September 1 · October 6 · November 3 · December 1 · January 5, 2013

What to do with all that holiday stuff?

2012-01-02T12:18:00.000-05:00

The DC Government seems to still be hanging on to 2011 as there's not much information about Christmas tree or hazardous waste disposal for 2012 out there yet. It seems that in DC, free curbside pick-up of Christmas trees will run January 3-14, 2012. After January 14, trees are not recycled but can be picked up with trash on regular delivery days as space in the trucks allows. Find details at http://dpw.dc.gov/dc/dpw. This website has info on Christmas tree recycling in MD and VA.

As for wreathes, why not throw them on your yard and let them decompose over the next month or so? You can also take them off the wire, and throw the branches into the Christmas tree pile...or better yet, into your fireplace.

Meanwhile, St. Jude's Ranch for Children has a greeting card recycling program. They operate year round, so consider starting a card recycling program at work and/or with your

friends. A couple of specifics:

They accept all types of greeting cards, including Christmas cards.
You need only send the card front (please ensure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.).
No Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards, please.
5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred.

You can also BUY cards for all occasions from these same folks!

Mail donations to :

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

Tis the Season - to Freecycle

2011-12-30T15:13:00.001-05:00

T'is the Season to Freecycle!

With the holidays nearing their end ...and the new year coming on, it's a great time to purge and Freecycle! Freecycle DC is a great place to find or advertise goods you want or want to get rid of. You can opt out of the emails - or just get the daily journal if you want to minimize traffic. Craig's List DC also has a FreeSection. But, even a walk around your neighborhood might render some great gems! My dog and I found this grill on a morning walk. One of the 5(!) burners was broken, so it was being thrown out!

Give Locally!

2011-12-19T13:29:00.002-05:00

Day 12

So during this time of giving, don’t forget a gift – or your time to your favorite local charity. With the economic downturn, contributions to most charities are down, and the smaller non-profits operating on shoe string budgets really feel the pinch. DC has a wealth of charitable organizations that address a wide variety of causes: Food&Friends provides and delivers cooked meals to people with life threatening diseases, Martha’s Table provides food, clothing and educational opportunities to at risk folks, Street Sense helps get homeless folks back on their feet; and the Washington Animal Rescue League and the Washington Humane Society find homes for rescued pets. There are many more! Help make DC a better place for all of us!

Ditch (even more) Plastic!

2011-12-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

Day 11

Plastic containers are petroleum based, and some contain Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and Bisphenol A (BPA) which are now being questioned for their impact both on the environment and human health. Glass and stainless steel storage bowls are a great green storage option – and are great containers for taking lunch to work. I’m amazed how many people still microwave in a plastic container. Glass is microwavable and it’s a much better option than microwaving plastic. Take one of these along with you on your next dine out, and forego the Styrofoam doggie bag.

Occupy DC businesses…buy it LOCALLY!!

2011-12-17T18:26:00.001-05:00

DAY 10

Whatever you buy this holiday season, buy it locally and support DC owned businesses. The City Paper has a great DC local shopping guide and the search engine Milo.com will help you buy things locally…though most of their businesses seem to be major retailers. Pay in cash, and the proprietors will appreciate you even more - as they'll avoid the credit card fee they have to pay on every transaction.

Make your own sparkling water!

2011-12-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

DAY 9

Get some plastic bottles out of your…or someone else’s life by getting them a machine that makes fizzy water. There are lots of brands out there these days..Soda Stream seems to be the most popular brand. Buy one locally instead of on line! Hill's Kitchen is just one of many local stores that carries these!

COMPOST IT!

2011-12-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

Day 8

I’m on my soapbox again, but composting has cut my trash by more than ½. I now only have trash to put out only once a month, and that’s not enough to fill a garbage bag. A kitchen composter with a charcoal filter makes a great gift. If you can’t have a compost bin outside, consider buying a gift certificate to Compost Cab or FatWorm Compost who will pick up your goods weekly or more ( see far right side board of this blog for more compost options)!

iPad/iPhone covers - Cork it!

2011-12-12T22:50:00.000-05:00

Day 7

So, you know that buying wine with REAL corks is the right thing to do…and you’ve been recycling your (real) wine corks 4eeeever…so what comes of it? Walk the upcycle talk and buy one of these cork iPad/iPhone cork covers. Uncommon Goods has a plethora ….no, better said – a cornucopia of great upcycled products!

E-Tip Gloves

2011-12-11T11:23:00.000-05:00

Day 6

Keep your hands warm AND use your touch screen! E-tip gloves will allow you to use any touch screen - iPhone, iPad and Kindle. Most models have an e-tip enabled thumb and index finger. They're available from a wide variety of retailers including REI. Search for "A-gloves" and "E-tips". Sweeeeet!

A Pressure Cooker

2011-12-10T19:28:00.000-05:00

Day 5

While not the most romantic of gifts, if you’re looking for an energy saving and practical gift for someone who likes to cook, you can’t go wrong with a pressure cooker. See my November 26^th posting touting the wonders of these devices: soaked beans cook in 7 minutes, artichokes in 10 and carrots in 2. It’s a great fast way to make winter soups or your own baby food. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days. And, it might even be a great conversation starter for you and your (future) mother-in-law!

Flannel Sheets !!

2011-12-09T13:49:00.001-05:00

Day 4

They come in a wide variety of colors…and they’ll keep you toasty warm while allowing you to turn the thermostat waaaaaaaaaaaay down at night, saving you lots of $$$$...and cutting down on your carbon footprint. Program your thermostat to warm up the house 15 minutes before you wake up..and you’ll never even notice the difference!

GIVE YOUR TIME!

2011-12-07T20:20:00.000-05:00

DAY 3

Give some of your time. Homemade gift certificates for child or pet sitting, dog walks (hint, hint), housecleaning, cooking lessons, closet reorganizing, coffee dates, car washing, snow shoveling, language lessons, dinner, massages, a lift to the airport, bike maintenance, a trip to Value Village…you get the idea .. make great gifts.

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

2011-12-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

DAY 2

Rechargeable batteries have evolved considerably (and gone down in price). Available in AA and AAA sizes, they're a great stocking stuffer. Rechargeable Hybrid Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries come fully charged and can hold a charge over many months. A quick and unscientific web survey of best rechargeable batteries around found the Sanyo Eneloop to be a fave. HYBRID is a word you should look for as these batteries can hold their charge over time (for low drain items like remotes and flashlights) but can take frequent use of high-drain devices like digital cameras. This article provides a great overview of the best rechargeable batteries and chargers.

Announcing - 12 days of Green Gifting Ideas

2011-12-05T21:56:00.001-05:00

The DCR is attempting a 12 days of Christmas, Hanukkah a/o Kwanzaa – a list of green and environmentally friendly gift options. The 12 days may not be consecutive, but I hope to get in at least 12 options before the 25^th. And the 1^st Day option…..drumroll, please…………………

Day 1

GIVE!

Give to those in need. Most of us have far too much stuff and our true needs are few. Yet there are plenty out there in the US and around the world that are truly living from one day to the next. Oxfam America, World Neighbors and Heifer International ..among others ..provide great and creative options that allow you to give anything from art supplies for a school, a share of a water buffalo, a hive of honey bees, alternative pesticide or HIV education to folks around the world. If you get your order in early enough, each organization will send you a card representing your gift. Do it!

Resurrecting the Pressure Cooker

2011-11-26T19:55:00.000-05:00

If you grew up at a high altitude, you probably know all about pressure cookers. For the rest of us, they may be something you heard your Grandma talk about. Pressure cookers are sealed vessels that won’t allow air or liquids to escape below a preset pressure. Because the boiling point of water increases as pressure increases, pressure cookers bring the liquid in the pot to rise to a higher temperature before boiling – and cook food …especially beans and grains that take a long time to cook a LOT faster. Soaked kidney beans will cook in less than 10 minutes in a pressure cooker. Brown rice will cook in 12-15 minutes and artichokes in 10. You can even cook meat and chicken in them. Think of all the energy..and time you’re saving by cutting down on the cooking time!

Using a pressure cooker is not rocket science, but there are some things you need to know to avoid a mess or even getting hurt. This YouTube video gives a great overview, (even if the woman might be one of the Stepford wives). I also found this very comprehensive timetable for the length of time to cook various foods. I found my pressure cooker (one of the old ones with a manual pressure release valve) at a garage sale. I’ve seen them for sale at Value Village and several thrift stores. There are new and improved models on the market these days that are more straightforward to use..but don’t shy away from learning how to use one of the old models. It’s not that complicated, and your friends will think you’re a really sophisticated cook!

Rethinking the water filter

2011-11-12T21:00:00.000-05:00

For the last few years, I've dutifully filtered all the water we drink in the house. Recently, I noticed green algae in the bottom of my plastic filtered water pitcher. Ewww. While, I realized I could stop this by keeping the pitcher in my frig, it got me wondering if I really need to filter my water. I'm antiplastic, and here I am filtering my water through a plastic filter and storing my drinking water in a plastic pitcher. While some Whole Foods will recycle used Brita filters, not all stores do. Preserve will also recycle them, but I have to go to the Post Office to mail them in. These filters are only good for 3 months and they generate a lot of plastic over time. Alas, was I on an off-ramp on my road to a plastic free - or at least plastic-less life??

The Brita vs. Kishu Experiment

About the same time, I started hearing about binchotan- a white charcoal made of oak trees found in Japan that is used to filter water. So, I bought a water sampling kit, a stick of Kishu and put it to the test against my Brita. The results: there was no detectable difference in the water quality. Hmmmm.
Living in a house that was built in the 1880's, I'm most concerned about lead in my water. As I know charcoal filters only have limited ability to filter out lead, I bought a lead test kit, and found that the water that was coming RIGHT OUT OF MY TAP was below the EPA action level of 15ppm. Yay!

Then, I interviewed my neighbor Carl, who works on water quality at EPA about his drinking water consumption.

You work at EPA on water quality issues, right? YUP,specifically drinking water quality issues and overseeing regulation of drinking water systems and Underground Injection Control (UIC) wells.
Do you filter the DC water that comes out of the faucets at your house? NOPE, no filter on faucets.
Why or why not? I believe what bad stuff is likely to pass thru the DC treatment thru the distribution system to the house will not make me immediately sick (i.e, no acute effects), the closest contaminant of most concern to me is lead and I flush the sitting water out of the faucet before using, and the pathogens and other chronic contaminants that were in the source water have been removed before reaching my faucet. I'd be more cautious if young kids or old folks lived in the house.

So, I'm not sure whether I need a water filter at all. I am convinced that I don't need to buy Brita filters anymore, so I'm putting my pitchers up on Freecycle DC. I'm not sure if I'll keep buying the Kishu or not (it's got quite the carbon footprint if it's shipped here from Japan)...but for now it looks cool in the bottom of my glass water pitchers and in a few months, I'll just throw it in the compost bin.

One of the 99%. How I Broke Up with My Mega Bank

2011-11-06T20:48:00.001-05:00

So, I'm still on this theme...and I'm proud of myself as I really have broken up with my mega bank. Here are the steps I followed:

1) I found a Credit Union I could join. (See my previous post...or check out this credit union locator). Community Banks are another option, and this locator tool is great for identifying local banks...that really are local and invest in your neighborhood. I joined and established a new account.
2) I ordered new checks and an ATM card IMMEDIATELY as I knew having these would help me move any automatic deposits from your old account to my new one.
3) I moved SOME of the money over from my old account ...but not all as I wanted to make sure that there were funds available for any automatic withdrawals that might hit before I'd had a chance to move all my accounts over. Even after making the change in accounts, it can take a few days or even a week before the changes take effect.
4) Then, I made a list of all the automatic withdrawals that come out of my old bank account. I did an initial list and then put it on the back burner for a day or two to make sure I had all accounts covered. (Think mortgage, water, gas, electric, cable, phone...credit card...charible contributions...you may have more than you think. In a worse case scenario, missing one payment won't mess up your credit rating...but if you get e-statements, pay attention and make sure no payments are being missed.)
5) I started moving accounts over. This can be a tedious process that requires yoga breaths and intermittent sojourns to the outdoors. "You are doing the right thing" became my mantra. You can transfer many accounts on line..but some - like Washington Gas...still require the old voided check...and it took a while to get new checks for my new account.
6) I monitored automatic withdrawals from my new account. When I saw that all major utilities and my mortgage were being deducted, I proudly walked into a local branch of my mega bank and announced that I wanted to close my account. The bank employees (who I really like) asked why...and I told them that I didn't want to pay their fees. Check out: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/citigroup_inc/index.html
7) I cut up my old card and sent it back to the mega bank headquarters explaining that I was closing my account and why.

Green America has a great toolkit for breaking up with your mega bank. Do it!

Credit Unions and Community Banks for DC Residents

2011-10-16T13:40:00.001-04:00

Ahhh! That's better!

With mega banks increasing fees, joining a credit union or community bank is all the rage. If you’re a member of the military or a government or university employee, you probably know all about credit unions. For the rest of us, it’s not so clear. When I received a letter from my mega bank saying fees were going up, I started looking for other options. Here are some ideas:

Credit Unions are owned and controlled by members and operated to promote thrift and provide credit and other financial services at competitive rates. You can find one through an online credit union locator. Alumni associations often have credit unions, but their ATMs may not be conveniently located. In DC, Andrews FCU is open to non military folk. Anyone can join MCT credit union by donating $35 to the Montgomery County Humane Society. If you live in DC, you can join Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union. You can also join Pentagon Federal Credit Union with a $20 donation to the National Military Families Association. They have branches around DC, but most are located in buildings requiring a security clearance – though ATMs are accessible to the rest of us. They have great phone customer service, and you can talk to a real person from 7am-1am!

Another option are community banks which are locally owned and operated banking institutions. A quick search on Community Bank Locator identified 6 or so community banks in DC including National Capitol Bank on Capitol Hill which was rated as one of the top 200 community banks (ranking 192) in the US in a study conducted by SNL Financial LC in 2009. They have a walk up window with a real person on Saturdays from 10-1pm on Saturdays, and they let you bring your (well mannered) pet in the lobby.

But opening your account is only half of the job. You still have to transfer all your automatic withdrawals over to your new bank. Fortunately, this process has evolved over the years, and you can change your account information with most utilities/mortagages online without the laborious process of mailing in voided checks (Washington Gas unfortunately being the exception). To be prudent, wait a month before closing out your mega-bank account. Then, cut up your ATM card and send it back to them so they know what you think of those increased fees! Green America also posted 6 Ways to Break Up with Your Bank.

Why You Need a DC Library Card: the digitalbookmobile.com

2011-10-07T20:27:00.000-04:00

Who knew that DC Public Libraries were so online! If you have a card, you can go to the digitalbookmobile and download a wide variety of books, audio books, and music in formats compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android and Nook among others. Last weekend, I downloaded a movie, and I'm currently on the waiting list for a bestseller novel. I'll get an email when the book is ready for download, and it will automatically check it back in on the due date. Sweet! You do have to download some software, but even I was able to figure out how to do it, and I'm no hipster or techie. The on-line collection is growing all the time, and while Netflix and others are increasing their fees, this service is blissfully free! If you don't have a card, you can apply for one on line or at any DC Public Library. And, you don't have to be a DC resident to get a card. Residents of the greater DC area are eligible, too.

Must Haves for Fall Bicycle Commuting

2011-09-29T21:43:00.004-04:00

Not a fashion statement!

Fall is a GREAT time to commute to/from work by bike in DC - low humidity, crisp, blue skies, and a lot less sweat. BUT, fall cycling requires some prep work. With just a few accoutrements - you can enjoy a safe and comfortable commute as we go into the season...and beyond.

1) A helmet! With shorter days and the way DC drivers drive, you've got to protect yourself. Even if you're on a Capital BikeShare bike, PLEASE use a helmet!   (Yes, your Mom asked me to write that, but she's right!)

2) Illuminate and reflect: Just because DC streets are well lit and you don't need lights to see where you're going, once the sun even begins to set, your visibility as a cyclist - to cars, other cyclists, and pedestrians - catapults into near oblivion.  Help us ALL out and invest in lights whether you cycle on trails or roads, and put them on the front and back of your bike.  Battery powered front (white) bike lights don't last that long..and go through too many batteries.   A NiteRider rechargeable front light costs a bit, but after 5 years and daily use for 6 mos of the year, mine is still as bright as a car headlight when charged - which I do daily for about an hour. I use red, flashing battery powered lights on the back of my bike and on my backpack. I've got stick-on reflectors on my bike, helmet, and backpack ...and I just invested in some bike string lighting that outlines the frame of my bike. Buy a bike vest! Be seen!!

3) Gloves: You'll need a good pair soon. The way your hands wrap around the brakes really exposes your fingers and can make them immovable ..so you can't brake ..if they aren't protected.  Insulated gloves are best..and as the weather gets colder...put on a thin glove and put a heavier pair over those. Gloves don't have to be expensive...they just need to be insulated. They can't be too bulky - or you won't be able to brake. In winter, slip in some charcoal hand warmers. Tooooooasty!

4) A medium sized plastic bag or plastic shower cap - just the thing for covering your bike seat when you stop for that warm cup of coffee when it starts to rain.

5) A woolish type scarf: The wind can really cut through to your neck on a ride. A neck warmer/scarf allows you to turtle in and keep at least part of your face and neck warmer.

6) A thin skull cap or head band will protect your ears from the cold and still allow you to wear your helmet.

7) Layering: An old pair of tights (or two) or longjohns under whatever pants/skirts you bike in will help keep your legs warm - even bike pants. In winter, ski pants and tights are great.

8) Shoe covers: somehow the top of the foot where it meets ankle gets miserably cold on morning commutes. As the mornings get colder, shoe covers really help. Be sure to get a size that will fit over the type of shoe you wear as many are designed to fit over clip in bike shoes.

REI and Bike Nashbar are good on-line sources for bike gear...and there are many more. DC is blessed with lots of locally owned bike shops as well: Capitol Hill Bikes, District Hardware, Revolution Cycles, just to name a few. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the season!

Dark Brown is my River - the poop on DC's rivers

2011-09-19T12:03:00.000-04:00

I recently participated in the Nation's Triathlon....that turned into the Nation's Duathlon this year as e-Coli levels were so high in the Potomac after all the recent rain that the water was unsafe to swim in. I've heard about this issue for years and I decided to do a bit more research on it. Here's what I've found out.

According to DC Water, like many older communities, DC has a combined sewer system that serves about 1/3rd of the city - mostly downtown and the older sections. In dry weather, the system sends wastewater to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant. When it rains, runoff water also enters the system, and if the conveyance capacity is exceeded, the excess flow - rain and raw sewage - spills into waterways - namely Rock Creek, the Anacostia and the Potomac. This discharge is called Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). There are 53 permitted CSO outfalls in the District.

Yuk.

DC Water is currently engaged in implementing the Clean Rivers Project - for DC CSOs. The good news is that once fully operational, CSOs will be reduced by a projected 96 percent (98 percent on the Anacostia River). The bad news is that the project isn’t scheduled for completion until 2025.

So, until that new system is functioning, there will still be raw sewage coming into DC waterways when we have heavy rains. The tidal nature of the rivers allows the sewage to travel further upstream. And it’s not just sewage that we have to worry about. A lot of pollutants enter the rivers from runoff upstream in the watershed...such as fertilizers from farmland and manure from pig, chicken, and dairy operations. WAMU just did a great...if verbally graphic story on DC's sewer system that's worth listening to.

So, what can any one person do? Don't flush anything other than toilet paper down your toilet. Toilet paper decomposes fairly easily, but other things don't and risk making their way into the river. Reducing runoff will reduce the amount of water that gets thrown into the rivers. While only a drop in the bucket, harvesting the water that comes off your house helps...and it will reduce your watering bill. Having permeable yards and patio surfaces will also help (bricks or stone vs concrete or asphalt). Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers will also help. There are some great organizations that are working on the Anacostia, the Potomac and the Bay in general…and they always have some great outdoor activities planned. Check out: The Alice Ferguson Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Potomac Conservancy, and the Potomac Riverkeeper, just to name a few.

How Green is My University???

2011-09-12T14:53:00.004-04:00

Well, thanks to the Sierra Club, you can now get some idea of how DC Area universities stack up against the others across the nation. In their 5^th annual survey, the Sierra Club sent out a 12-page questionnaire to 940 universities across the US with queries on purchasing practices, waste disposal, transport, energy etc. Unfortunately, only 118 schools responded to the questionnaire. Universities in DC scored fairly high – with American University ranking 26^th and GW ranking 30ieth. Maryland came in at 20ieth. It seems Howard, Georgetown and George Mason were among the non responders. For a full listing of all schools that responded and the methodology used to rank them, check out the details on the online version of the Sierra Club Magazine.

Low Carbon Child-Raising..and taking green living to the next level

2011-09-02T18:41:00.000-04:00

While I'm an avid recycler and freecycler, I'm always humbled by my friend Keya...who REALLY walks the talk...and is raising a baby while doing it. On her blog she's documenting the experience of raising a child on a low carbon diet...and has all sorts of advice on diapers, breast pumping tips for working moms, and other green living gems. http://keyachatterjee.com/

Christmas in August...or at least prepping for it

2011-08-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Penzey's is probably trembling!

My herb garden has been a huge success this year, and even I can't consume all those wonderful leaves...not even all the basil. I know the bleak winter months are just around the corner...and I know how expensive herbs are when you buy them at the store...so I'm thinking..how hard can it be to dry my own? Turns out, it's really very easy. All you need is string, herbs, a dry spot, and time..and you're set. I've got basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme drying in my laundry closet (it's dry there and the herbs won't absorb kitchen/cooking odors as they dry....and my laundry might absorb some of those great smells). It will take the leaves of each about 4 weeks to dry thoroughly..and then they'll be ready to be stored in jars. I've been asking folks for baby food jars at work..and they're a great size for such things. I know these herbs are organic...and I think they'll make great gifts.

Some Good News! More Cork Recycling, Free Compost, and Additional Hours for Recycling Hazardous Waste

2011-08-06T18:29:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but after all the talk about the debt ceiling, the S&P downgrading, and other news of doom and gloom, I'm ready for some good news. Here are a couple of positive ...albeit small things that I'm happy about:

Schneider's of Capitol Hill has started recycling (real) corks through ReCork!!! The previoius DCR lobbied Schneider's to do this for a long time...and her efforts have paid off! See if you can get your local liquor/grocery store to join this effort. There's a list of other groups that recycle cork on the right hand column of this blog. (and yes, buying wines with real cork is a good thing. Cork is a renewable resource and employs many folks!).
The DC Government is offering free compost at the Fort Totten Transfer Station every Saturday between 8am-3pm.
DC is also expanding its hazardous waste collection hours. In addition to their first Saturday of the month hours (from 8am-3pm), you can now dispose of hazardous waste and e-cycling at Fort Totten on every first Thursday of the month between 1-7pm. A list of what they'll take..and not is here!
Capital Bikeshare is piloting a project with DDOT to provide bike helmets to tourists who use the program while visiting the city. DDOT is also giving out 500 helmets to frequent (daily) Bikeshare users in an effort to encourage helmet use.

Another Great Blog.....

2011-08-04T08:52:00.000-04:00

My Plastic-Free Life

There are a lot of folks out there promoting eco-living. A friend pointed me to one that has a lot of great information - My Plastic-Free Life. There are all sorts of reasons to not use plastic _ plastic can impact our own health, and it doesn't breakdown easily contributing to trash on land and in the ocean. That said, if you've ever tried to minimize the amount of plastic you consume, you'll find it's very challenging. This blog gives some practical solutions...and gives road test reports on plastic-free products!

Follow the 30 Day Eco Tune-Up

2011-07-30T15:53:00.000-04:00

Hey folks, while the DC Recylcer has been a very lame blame blogger of late (my job keeps getting in the way!), one of my pals has started up a 30 Day Eco Tune-Up - an environmental impact diet whereby she promises to make one change everyday over 30 days ...and document it....to reduce her environmental impact on the world. Check it out at http://30dayecotuneup.wordpress.com/. The DC Recycler promises to be back soon with more ideas for greening and recycling in DC!

And what to do with tubes and tires that really can’t be reused.

2011-07-08T09:29:00.000-04:00

Yvette from Bikes for the World was kind enough to provide some ideas about how to use tires and tubes that really aren’t reusable. Here are some of her ideas as well as other uses I've found for old tubes:

Photo courtesy Y.Hass

as a huge bungee cord (great for attaching canoes and kayaks to a car roof);
as big rubber bands;
on a bike rack on a car to hold the back wheel in place;
as padding between the car and bike to make keep the paint from getting scratched;
to hang banners and pictures at events; and
inside a tire to protect a new tube (that way if there is a slit in the tire glass will have to penetrate two layers of tube before hitting the new tube).

Jewelry can be made out of spokes, cogs and chains that can’t be used again. Yvettes sometimes sells these at Bikes for the World (BFW) events to defer costs for shipping the bikes.

As for tires…as long as it still has some tread on it and the side walls aren’t blown out BfW can take them(see listing in right hand column of this blog) . According to Yvette, a tire can wear out quickly when a bike is stored outdoors. If you get a slit in a tire, you can place a dollar bill – or a piece of old tube to provide an extra barrier to stop the debris from damaging a tube.

Sometimes it’s just better to get a new tire or tube. Unless the tire is in shreds or the tube valve is busted, drop it off at one of the bike shops that donates to BfW (again, see listing in right hand column of this blog). The quality of the tires and tubes that we have in the US …even with a patch or four …..are often better what what’s available in developing countries. Check the BfW website for a list of upcoming dates and drop off sites for your bikes and accessories.

I < 3 Capital Bikeshare

2011-06-04T14:09:00.001-04:00

As someone who has 3 bikes (none with a motor) I’m not an obvious target audience for the Capital Bikeshare program. Nevertheless, I’m a huge fan. Here’s why…and why you might consider joining the program.

There are currently 110 bikeshare stations around DC and Arlington...and more are on the way! Here's a map!
The bikes are great to ride when you need to need to look good at your end destination. The chains are covered, so you’re not going to get grease on your slacks cuff. The seats are up right…and there’s no crossbar, so skirts and dresses don’t hike up as easily. The pedals are flat…so they’re easy to ride – even in heels.
I usually ride a bike to work, but when I go out afterwards with coworkers, I want to walk with them. On those days, it’s great to hop a bikeshare bike to work, go out with my friends after work, and then hop a bikeshare home from where ever we end up.
I don’t have to lug around a lock. (I do lug around my helmet). :)
There's a cool app that you can easily download to your smartphone that will tell you where stations are located. This is great as there are new ones popping up all the time.
The website has a great Capital Bikeshare 101 video.....even in Español, pues!
If there’s not a bike when you want to pick up a bike, you can hit the “options” button at the kiosk to find where the nearest stations are…along with a real time status of how many bikes and free docks are available.
It’s great when visitors come to town and you need that extra bike…but just for a couple of days. There are all sorts of memberships – ranging from 24 hours, to 5 days, to 30 days to a year...and the first 30 minutes are free! You don't have to have a membership key for a 24 hour or 5 day membership. Just walk up to any kiosk with your credit card handy and you can be biking in 2 minutes!
The bikes are easily adjustable…and the seat stem is designed to adapt to a wide range of heights.
The bikes are retro and HEAVY in that hippsta kinda way. They aren’t designed for any speedster! AND, they have that nifty bag holder right on the front of the bike!
There’s a light built in to the bike..and your pedaling generates power for the light. This is great for those late night rides home.
If there’s free docking station at your preferred kiosk, just put in your key or credit card at the kiosk, and you’ll be given an extra 15 minutes and a real time update of nearby stations and the number of bikes and docking stations available.
There’s now a nifty dashboard that will provide all of us biker geeks with all sorts of stats on ridership.
Finally, consider joining just to support this great asset to our city! Go bikes...and ride safely!

RE......

2011-05-22T21:36:00.004-04:00

Hopefully, you've been able to take advantage of some of the great cycling events here in the city over the last couple of days. The weather was perfect for Friday's Bike to Work day and Sunday's Bike DC...which was more like Bike Very Northern Virginia...was a great success as well. But...how do you recycle the cycle...and all those accessories when the time comes to do so? As an avid cyclist, I've finally found some good local outlets...that all contribute to the same great cause. City Bikes in Adams Morgan, Bike Rack @ Q & 14th NW, and Bicycle Space at Eye and 4th NW will take your old bikes and donate them to Bikes for the World (BfW) located out in Arlington. All of these shops as well as Capitol Hill Bikes and City Bikes Cap Hill- both on 8th St. SE will take your reusable tubes (eg, no busted valves) tires, tools, seats, wheels, parts and donate them to BfW. (Apparently, even our spent tires, tubes and parts are better quality that what a lot of folks can buy in developing countries). There are a couple of bike shops out in NoVa that contribute to this great cause....and there must be some shops in Maryland that do the same. Apparently, Montgomery County's Shady Grove Transfer Station has a dedicated BfW space that's fenced off..and in 2010 some 1400 bikes and parts were culled from regular trash, pulled out of the waste stream and sent off to developing countries to be reused. Hmmm..could Fort Totten do the same???

New DC Policy for Recycling Bins!

2011-04-26T21:03:00.002-04:00

Treat me nicely!
I'm a precious commodity!

Citing budget cuts and a high demand for recycling bins, trash cans and super cans, the DC government announced that as of April 25, 2011, they'll begin charging residents for replacement bins. The 32 gallon bins will cost $45 while the Supercans used in areas where trash is picked up only once a week will cost $62.50. Senior citizens will have to pay the same price as all other residents. Supercans are still being repaired by DPW free of charge. You can call 311 or 737-4404 to have your recycling or trash bin or Supercan disposed of or repaired . Further details, including a link to a website that will tell you the day of the week the recycle bins on your street or alley are picked up can be found here!

In Praise of the Humble Clothes Line

2011-04-19T23:14:00.000-04:00

Now that Spring is finally here to stay, it’s great to open up the house and let all that fresh air in. It’s also a great time to come home to a good old fashion clothes line for your laundry. There are many advantages to using a clothes line: getting rid of all that hot air that a dryer generates in your house; reducing costs (estimates say that the average US household spends $150 or more a year just on drying clothes in a dryer); reducing your energy usage (Project Laundry List estimates that US households can attribute anywhere between 10-25% of their electric bill to an electric clothes dryer), and the fact that clothes will last longer (and your jeans won’t be as tight) when they’re line dried. And they smell good. If the towels and jeans feel too scratchy, just throw them dry in the dryer for about 2 minutes (vs 60!) and…..voila!

Fortunately, Congress has yet to regulate DC’s use of clothes lines, and they come in all sorts of styles. I have a collapsible drying rack with lots of bars that I use inside and outside, weather depending. You can buy a couple of pulleys, hooks and some rope at your local hardware store and easily rig your own clothes line up in no time. And those retro retractable models are still out there which are perfect for our small yards that need to adapt to multiple uses (my local hardware store on the Hill carries them). I have one of those clothes lines that you find in hotels rigged up above my bathtub which is great for year round laundry. Give the dryer a break and put the sun to work!

Just in Time for Earth Day....

2011-04-12T21:43:00.001-04:00

In celebration of Earth Day 2011, Washington Gas Energy Services offers DC Residents an opportunity to go green for free....or at least for a discount! Through April 30, if you buy 100% carbon offsets for your natural gas, they'll give you one month free! Similarly, when you opt for 50% wind energy, WGES will provide you with an additional 50% for free. You won't even have to install turbines on your roof...it just means that the portion of electricity that you use for your home will come into DC off the wind grid vs off of fossil fuel (coal) grid. Through deregulation of the gas and electric industry, DC residents can now select to receive their utilities from several providers. So, for example, if you opt to purchase wind energy through WGES, you'll still receive one monthly utility bill from PEPCO that includes the cost of your WGES wind energy..and a (small) amount that goes to PEPCO for maintaining/reading your meter and power lines. It's worth checking out!

A Drop - or two in the Bucket: DC's Rain Barrel Rebate Program

2011-04-05T20:24:00.001-04:00

"Abe", my rain barrel

OK, back to my gardening theme. DC Greenworks is a non profit organization that provides training, tools, and technologies that utilize, advance, and protect the environment. They provide several environmental services..and incentives for taking environmental measures such as purchasing and installing RAIN BARRELS, increasing the permeable area in your yard and providing green collar job training.

Their rain barrel program is great! There are several "approved" models that you can chose from. Once you purchase the barrel and install it (Aquabarrel delivered it to my house!), you can apply for a rebate. I live in a rowhouse, and my slightly sloping roof drains off the back of my house. All of this water did drain directly into a storm drain. Now, with my 80 gallon "Abe" (I bought one made out of recycled plastic), I'm harvesting most of that water to use in my garden. I was really surprised to just how much water comes off my relatively small roof. Once Abe is full, the barrel is designed so that any overflow goes into the storm drain like it used to do. In the winter, I'll need to empty the barrel and block off the flow of water into it (by turning a knob), so that the water doesn't freeze inside the barrel and damage it. Right now I've got my hose hooked up to it and I'm watering away! I could even wash my car with this. My dog is eyeing me as I write, hoping I don't get any bright ideas about making her a grey water mascot for those summer baths. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

DC Greenworks reimbursed me for 1/2 of the price of the rain barrel. I didn't want to wait for them to come by and install it (for a very reasonable $30), so I had some contractors do it. That wasn't a good idea. They'd never installed one before, and it took them a long time and cost me quite a bit of money. The barrels aren't that difficult to install, but it does take some noodling. Some local vendors like Aquabarrel also do installation, though I'm not sure how much they charge.

Working with the DC Greenworks folks was great, and I love the idea of saving money on my watering bill and reducing (a tiny bit) of that runoff into the Anacostia.

The Power of a Nickel - DC's Bag Tax

2011-04-02T17:28:00.003-04:00

ReUse those plastic bags you
do have. Here, an IKEA bag
dispenser is attached to a
light post w/ long zipties.
"Biodegradable" dog poop bags
don't decompose in landfills
and they're expensive!

WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show had a segment on DC's 5cent bag tax on Monday, March 28, 2011. DC Councilmember Tommy Wells sponsored the 5 cent bag tax that's levied on paper and plastic bags taken by a consumer at check-out. While initial estimates indicated that DC would generate some $4Million annually in revenue from the bag tax that would go to Anacostia Clean-up, the actual amount has been much lower as people have changed their behavior and reduced their use of plastic bags. The impact of the bag tax was immediate. In December 2009 before the tax was levied, DC Residents were using some 22.5 million bags per month. In January 2010, with the tax in place, only some 3 million bags were used. Tax revenue from the bag tax has been averaging about $200,000 per month.

A report on the website plasticbaglaws.org notes that in DC, there was a drop in bag use from 270 million bags in 2009 to 55 million in 2010 resulting in an 80% reduction in bag use translating to less trash and litter. In 2010, The Alice Ferguson Foundation (AFF), a non-profit that focuses on the Potomac River watershed, commissioned a survey of 600 D.C. residents and 51 business owners and found that since the fee was enacted, 75% of customers are using fewer bags while 78% of business owners are experiencing either zero or positive effect on their business. Other positive results included less noticeable litter around stores and costs savings from not having to purchase as many bags. Meanwhile, a Washington Examiner article in an interview with AFF staff noting that during their annual Potomac River Clean-Up last April, AFF picked up some 21,600 plastic bags a 50% reduction from 2009. Sweet!

AFF's next Potomac River Clean-Up is on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at a wide variety of locations! Check it out! It's really a lot of fun!

Prepping for a Trip to DC Residential Hazardous Waste Drop-Off – what you can take and what you need to get inside

2011-03-27T18:55:00.002-04:00

Sample of goods you can
dispose of at Fort Totten
every 1st Saturday.

Next Saturday, April 2, 2011, is the first Saturday of the month, so it’s a good time to start rounding up goods for a trip to DC’s Fort Totten Transfer Station for their monthly Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. There’s a fair amount of incorrect information floating out there ..so I thought I’d take a stab a setting the record straight.

Where to go? The monthly event is held at the Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE, between 8 am and 3 pm. I’ve never had to wait in line to get in more than 10 minutes…but I’ve heard stories of hour long waits. Best to go early, I reckon. There’s still information floating around out there that you can also go to the Benning Road Transfer Station..and that you can go every Saturday. That information is incorrect.

Who can go? This gets dicey. According to the person I spoke with, you need to have two forms of ID with your DC address on them – like a DC Drivers License and a utility bill. You can only drop off goods at Fort Totten if you live in a residence has DC serviced garbage collection. That means if you live in an apartment that has a contracted service for waste disposal, you can’t drop off goods at Fort Totten. "But what if your address is an apartment, but it’s serviced by DC? How could you prove that?" I couldn’t get a clear answer.

What about your car? Apparently, you need to have your car registration with you as well. I asked, "But what if I don't have a car , and I borrow my friend’s car who lives in Maryland, but I show you my DC IDs. Can I get in?" The answer wasn’t clear.

What you can take? Once you get in, you drive to a series of stops depending on what you’re getting rid of. They take all sorts of electronics, paper to be shreded, non latex paint, poisons, pesticides, batteries, etc, etc. There’s a list of what they will and won’t take as you scroll down on this link. The website says that they provide free compost to DC residents. If anyone can report back on this, I'd be grateful!

Other ideas: When I know I’m heading up to Fort Totten, I send out an email to my neighbors early in the week and offer to take their disposables along as well. And, why not make an event out of it and explore another part of DC while you’re at it? Googling “coffee shops near Fort Totten, Washington, DC” gave me a long list of places. Qualia looked very interesting.

So, good luck on your Fort Totten outing next weekend! I hope the stars align, and the ID and car registration gods smile favorably upon you! Send a note about your adventure to dcrecyclerdc@gmail.com.

SO, what is a CSA and why should you care…and join one?

2011-03-23T21:35:00.001-04:00

Wikepedia defines Community-supported agriculture (CSA), as "a community of individuals who pledge support to (a most often local) farming operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production (eg, too much/little rain, bug infestations, etc). CSAs usually consist of a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables and fruit..and.. sometimes include dairy products and meat” (and even flowers and bread). This bundle of goods is called a “share”. There are some 3000-4000 CSAs in the US today. Here is an interesting video showing how the CSA movement has grown and spread across the US from 1984-2010.

Back in 2009, the Washington Post did a story on CSAs. The article includes a very comprehensive list of CSAs around DC, along with pricing and delivery options in/around town. While I’m sure things have changed a bit since the story, it’s still a great reference point for finding a CSA in DC.

CSAs usually involve a several month contract with a farm. Many CSAs offer various share size options. If you’re going to be out of town for a week or so during your contract period, send out an email to friends/colleagues offering it for $X …and it’ll likely be snatched right up. You can also do your own bit of CSA exchanging once you get to know the community of shareholders. I’m not a big fan of celery…but I’ll take all the fresh basil I can get. I can usually find someone to swap with me. Some farms offer a variety of delivery locations. On the Hill, there’s a CSA pick up spot on someone’s front porch, and there’s a stream of people stopping by to pick up bags of fresh veggies on Thursday afternoons on their way home from work.

I’m a fan of CSAs as they provide me with fresh, local, and organic agriculture for five months of the year. I’ve learned a lot by participating in one over the years…like that those really tasty local tomatoes aren’t going to be in my June share…but I’ll get tons later in the summer..and beet greens can be pretty tasty. CSAs aren’t for everyone. Buying local and organic can be pricey…and you get what’s ripe …when it’s ripe, and in June you're going to get mostly greens. You’re never going to get an avocado in a local DC area CSA…and you’ll probably want to suplement your weekly share with other vegetables. If you get too many tomatoes or basil, pass them along to me!

...and on to Composting...and what if you can't have a composter.

2011-03-18T11:33:00.000-04:00

My Countertop Compost bin

My recent post on community gardening got me thinking about composting. I <3 composting as it's reduced my contribution to the landfill significantly over the past few years. It's still a mystery to me how all that organic matter can break down into such a small amount of stuff. I have a 5 gallon composting container on my counter. It has a charcoal filter that absorbs smells. (You can store scraps in any kind of container, the advantage of a bin is the charcoal filter). Once that's full, I empty it into my compost barrel that I keep out in the alley. It's been there for years. It's a closed container, and no, I've never seen a rodent around it (there's too much other low hanging fruit out there). My neighbors occasionally contribute to it. I don't put any meat products in there...but paper towels, yard waste, banana peels, coffee filters all get thrown in. Every couple of weeks or so, I'll pick up a bag of coffee grounds from the local coffee shop and throw that in along with a bucket of water. The acid from the coffee seems to help break down the goods faster. In the summer, I add more water. I stir my compost every couple of weeks (and am awed by the diversity of organisms I find breaking down my stuff), and in the spring and fall, I take out that rich, dark compost and throw it on my yard. If I didn't use it on my own yard, I'm sure if I posted it on FreeCycle DC, someone would want it.

But I know that a lot of folks live in apartments. What to do? There are a couple of interesting options I've found. COMPOST CAB says for $8 per week, they will supply you with a bin, pick it up and replace it with a new clean one. They'll even bring compost back to you if you want it. Fat Worm Compost seems to provide a similar service. You might stop by your community garden and see if you can drop off your scraps in their compost bin. My workplace has contracted a company to compost our (many) coffee grounds and tea bags. It's great to get this organic material out of our landfills and back into our soil.

Community gardening is in the air!

2011-03-15T12:56:00.001-04:00

Map of Community Gardens in DC

It's amazing how a switch to daylight savings time changes things my routine. While I now have to drag myself out of bed in the dark in the morning (again - but only for a little while) it's great to have natural light later in the day. Tonight's dog walk got me thinking about community gardening in DC...so I found a couple of resources I thought I'd share from DC's Field to Fork network. The site includes this map (from 2009) and what seems to be a fairly complete listing of DC community gardens by neighborhood (from 2010) along with contact information to get a plot. Emailing your community list serv is another good way to learn of other community gardens in your neighborhood. Community gardening is a great way to get to know your neighbors and to get rid of all that compost that you've got stirred up! And there's nothing like the taste of those home grown tomatoes in July!!!

A Big Thanks!!

2011-03-06T11:51:00.006-05:00

...to Johanna for creating this blog. I look forward to taking it on and sharing creative ways to recycle in Washington, DC!

Cathy

Opt out of Receiving the Yellow Pages

2011-02-09T18:13:00.003-05:00

Finally! You can opt out of receiving a paper copy of the yellow pages: YellowPagesOptOut. How exciting!!

From Recycling Pal Cathy

2011-01-27T13:16:00.000-05:00

Dear DC Recycler,

I love your blog, and I appreciate the list of places you mention that will recycle certain products. I hope that your blog will encourage readers to think outside the box a bit when it comes to recycling. For example, I've found that almost ANY UPS/Mailbox store will accept "used" styro peanuts AND those plastic inflated bags that now seem to be the mode as well as that "foamy like" paper stuff that's used. I recently swapped out my old wire coat hangers for nicer ones, so I dropped off my old ones at a local dry cleaner. THEN, I needed some extra coat hangers for a winter party, so I went back to a drycleaner and picked up some used wire hangers..and then dropped them back off after the party. I bought myself some lovely gerber daisies the other day..and after they lost their bloom, I dropped off the plastic stem sticks at a local florist. They were thrilled. Once I finish with my magazines, I take them to work and put them in the kitchen where they're gone in a minute. I'd love to hear other creative ideas for recycling from your readers!

Cathy

Basic Battery Recycling

2011-01-15T16:39:00.004-05:00

We need an update on battery recycling in DC.

1) Choose rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries have improved a lot, retain their charge much longer, and, according to Tree Hugger, are much less damaging than disposable batteries to the environment over the entire life of the battery. They are also a good price. It is essential that one gets the right batteries (most recommended: hybrid Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) cells) and a good charger.

According to Metaefficient, here are the best rechargeable batteries:

Here are the best chargers:

Remember that rechargeable batteries must be recycled, rather than dumped. Luckily, DC has many options for this: Radio Shack at Eastern Market and other locations found at Call2Recycle.

2) DC Government does collect batteries. One day each month (used to be weekly), you can bring your batteries and other items to Fort Totten transfer station for household hazardous waste/e-cycling/document shredding services. As I understand it, the city isn't actually recycling them, but rather they are keeping the batteries out of the landfills and the Fairfax incinerator. So, it is still better to use rechargeable batteries.

3) Car batteries can be recycled at most retailers of car batteries. AutoZone on H St NE should recycle car batteries and motor oil for free.

4) Other places collect batteries: the House office buildings, Best Buy. Or you can send them by mail (fee involved): Battery Solutions, Battery Mart, Big Green Box.

Greater Goods store

2011-01-08T21:41:00.002-05:00

I was just up at Greater Goods store on U St. The owner is such a great resource. After thinking about ways to get rid of plastics, I decided to buy some corn garbage bags that fit my garbage can, which he sells too. He sells 50 bags for $5, which was a lot less than I was expecting to pay. If the bags end up in the landfill, they might decompose. If the bags end up in the Fairfax incinerator, they won't cause more air pollution. Greater Goods also has some great reusable sandwich bags (LunchSkins invented by some women in Bethesda and made in PA), water bottles (a big Kleen Kanteen shipment is coming in next week), natural cleaning sponges, water filtering systems, and a bunch of other great items. Thanks, Greater Goods!

Corks, Recycling, and You (Continued)

2011-01-07T18:06:00.004-05:00

So, I've been collecting corks from Hayden's, friends, and neighbors (they suddenly appear on my doorstep!) for my journey by Metro to Whole Foods. I sorted through all the corks and removed the plastic ones, which you can see in the above picture. These plastic corks will all go in the garbage and to the landfill now. So, please don't buy wine with plastic corks. I've bought $3 and $4 wine with natural corks, so it isn't a matter of cost. It is a matter of saving the 100,000 jobs in the Mediterranean and the acres and acres of cork trees.

Below are the two very large shopping bags that I am bringing on the Metro to Whole Foods to their collection station, which is one floor down from the main floor right in front of the elevators. It would be sooooooo great if Schneider's and other wine stores would collect corks! There are great organizations to work with, such as:

Cork ReHarvest (works with Whole Foods)
Recork (works with Cork and Fork)
Yemm & Hart

Let your local wine store know about these organizations. Maybe you can interest them in collecting corks too. Let me know if you find other businesses collecting corks, Brita water filters, etc. Thanks!

Corks, Recycling, and You

2011-01-06T21:20:00.002-05:00

Can you help the DC Recycler? Schneider's on the Hill is all set to collect corks, but they haven't put out their collection box yet. They have a collection box and a recycling company to work with. They just need to find a spot in the store to place the box. In the meantime, I collect corks and take them over to Whole Foods by Metro (I don't have a car and actually don't shop at Whole Foods). It would be so great if Schneider's collected corks since I and many other Hillies are customers there!

Can you contact Schneider's either by phone (202.543.9300), email (customerservice@cellar.com), or in person and say something like, "I hear that you'll be collecting corks for recycling soon. When will this be? Thank you for doing this!" We love Schneider's, and cork collection there would make it even greater. Also, this would really help the DC Recycler out a lot. Thank you!

P.S. Remember that plastic corks are not recyclable and not sustainable environmentally or socially (natural corks maintain a regional economy in the Mediterranean for something like 100,000 workers), so choose wine with natural corks (or twist tops but they aren't recyclable). World Wildlife Fund recommends natural corks. Save the cork forests! Save jobs!

A great way to recycle your computer (and peripherals)

2011-01-06T08:15:00.006-05:00

Project Reboot accepts computers, cleans/fixes them, and then sells them to non-profits for $10. What a great idea! They accept working or non-working computers, so long as they contain a Pentium III class processor or better. Here is a list of other items they accept. They are located in Rockville. Project Reboot is organized by the Capitol PC Users Group (CPCUG), a non-profit educational organization established in 1982, which provides a forum for sharing information, experience, and resources among computer users, from novice to advanced. They have great educational events! Get the word out about Project Reboot!

Stop using plastics today

2011-01-05T18:17:00.013-05:00

“It’s safe to say that plastics with the resin code 3-7 are not recyclable and should be avoided by consumers,” says Mark Murray of Californians Against Waste.

#1 and #2 plastics can be downcycled into such things as picnic tables and decks. Preserve turns #5 yogurt cups into toothbrushes and razors. Basically, there is no domestic market for #3-#7 plastics or for plastic wrap. Equally important: DC and VA are burning garbage to create energy, which means that plastics (and batteries) are being burned and are polluting. Here are ten things one could do to stop using plastics, end the plastics market, and create new sustainable markets:

1) Avoid using plastic wrap.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in bowls covered with a saucer or plate. Alternatively, use Pyrex glass storage containers, which are very sturdy and union made. For sandwiches, you can even make your own reusable sandwich bags.

2) Avoid plastic silverware, plates, and salad containers at lunch.
I'm the worst offender on this front. I have been trying for months to get around to doing this. My goal this semester is to bring some silverware (or bamboo To-Go Ware) to work. Also, I should just bring my lunch, since there are no bring-your-own plate options where I work (wish there were!). The House of Representatives' office buildings have corn silverware, which they have composted. You have to commercially compost corn silverware and other compostable products.

3) Avoid plastic yogurt containers.
See previous post on 12/31 on making your own yogurt (in a glass container). It's super easy.

4) Avoid plastic water bottles.
Yes, it is good to reuse plastic water bottles. However, it seems even better to get a stainless steel water bottle (such as Kleen Kanteen) or glass water bottle (such as Lifefactory discussed on another website).

5) Bring your own mug to the cafe.
Of course, great cafes have ceramic mugs. If your great cafe doesn't, you can avoid the plastic "adult sippy cup" lid by bringing your own mug. A few years back, I bought myself a ceramic travel mug with a lid.

6) Bring your own vegetable bags to the grocery store.
You can bring your previously used bags or purchase some reusable bags.

7) Buy in bulk.
Many coops (like Takoma Park-Silver Spring Coop) and other grocery stores (Yes! Market) have bulk bins with grains, dried fruit, spices, etc. Maybe you can bring in pre-weighed glass jars and containers, rather than using plastic bags?

8) Buy milk in glass bottles.
South Mountain Creamery delivers milk in glass bottles to your door in the District. P&C Market at Lincoln Park on the Hill sells delicious milk in returnable glass bottles, though it might be seen as expensive. Here's a list of dairies that use glass bottles.

9) Say goodbye to straws.
I know that many have revolted by this point... No, you can get a glass straw!

10) Say goodbye to plastic garbage bags?
Well, I made the brilliant decision to get a garbage can that uses plastic grocery bags right before DC implemented the 5 cent bag tax. I still use the various plastic grocery bags I come across. One could use bioplastic bags, such as BioBag or Bag-to-Nature bags. However, since a lot of us are noticing that we have very little garbage because there is so much that DC government recycles, we could just roll up our garbage in some newspaper and say goodbye to plastic garbage bags altogether.

After writing this, I found this great blog, Life Less Plastic, which has even more ideas. Do you have some other ideas about how to reduce our plastic footprint?

Shout out for Freecycle

2011-01-03T08:19:00.002-05:00

Dear DC Recycler, I'm just writing to tout my great appreciation for the freecycle network and FreecycleDC. This site is amazing as it's allowed me to recycle things that I knew were still of use...but just needed that "special someone" to find it. In the last year, I've freecycled foamed rubber stuffing from a pillow that my dog chewed up, moving boxes, a lamp, plates, a (large and heavy) futon and frame, a small file cabinet, very cool art work I found in a trash can, old light fixtures, and a security gate for a back door. Sometimes I meet the people who pick up the goodies, but often I just leave the stuff on my front stoop. When I have met the folks, I've found them to be great people who are just interested in moving things along in the world. I hope you'll encourage folks to use this great service!

Recycler 123

P.S. When I joined the Yahoo Group for Freecycle DC I opted out of their emails and even their daily blog...so you can opt in...or out of the large amount of traffic on the site.

Create Markets: Choose to Buy Recycled Products

2011-01-02T11:52:00.005-05:00

Some have said: If you’re not buying recycled, you’re not really recycling. Buying items made with recycled materials helps close the loop and create new markets for these goods. Here are some easy ways to do this:

1) Recycled Paper
Kinko's at Eastern Market sells 30% post-consumer waste (PCW) printer/copy paper. Greenline Paper sells 100% recycled/100% PCW wire-bound notebooks, copy paper, envelopes, file folders, and a wide variety of school supplies, including Eco-Writer pencils made from 100% recycled newsprint.

2) Recycled Plastic
Preserve toothbrushes, razors, plates, etc. made from recycled #5 plastics.

3) Recycled Cork: natural cork is an organically sustainable practice that provide 100,000 jobs in the Mediterranean; synthetic/plastic and screw caps are not.

SOLE shoes organized by ReCork.
Wine cork tiles from Yemm & Hart.
Cork cheese boards from Corkologie.
Cork flooring, furniture, and many other things at Jelinek Cork Group. I'm not sure how much of their stuff is actually recycled.

4) Recycled Glass
Uncommon Goods has glasses made from wine bottles.

5) Sustainable, non-petroleum materials

Bamboo computer mouse and keyboard: bamboo instead of plastic.
To-Go Ware: bamboo silverware.
Burt's Bees: Lip balm and other items made from vegetable oils and beeswax, rather than petroleum, which is not a renewable resource and can be toxic.
Jelinek Cork Group: Cork.
Agave fibers (sisal), Coconut fibers (coir), flax, hemp, kapok, tampico used in pillows, bedding, and clothing.

Stop using plastic yogurt containers today

2010-12-31T08:29:00.006-05:00

It is unbelievably easy to make your own yogurt. I made yogurt for the first time last week and now am wondering why I never tried before. There are directions all over the web. It is so easy:

Heat milk to 180-185 degrees (use a candy or meat thermometer).
Rinse a large glass jar (or a couple of jars) with boiling water.
Let milk cool to 110 degrees.
Stir in a couple of tablespoons of yogurt, pour into jar(s), and put on a lid.
Wrap the jar(s) with towels and place in unheated oven. (I actually turned on the oven to 200 degrees very briefly before putting the yogurt in.)
Let it sit for 7 hours (I actually started too late in the day, so I just let it sit until morning: 12 hours. If it went bad, you would quickly smell it.)
If it is thickened, then place it in the refrigerator.

We also use local milk, so it is tasty and has less of a carbon footprint. Very easy, and no more plastic containers.

Recycle your dead or nearly dead computer (and peripherals)

2010-12-29T17:23:00.003-05:00

Dell and Goodwill have partnered to create Reconnect, a residential computer recycling program. You can drop off any brand of used computer equipment in any condition at participating Goodwill donation centers. (From the Hill, the closest one is on South Dakota Ave, but there are many all over town.) From their list, they take: computers, monitors, printers, scanners (even with broken glass), hard drives (erase sensitive data), keyboards, mice, speakers, cords and cables, ink and toner cartridges, software (include license key), Xbox, Zune, and Webcams in any condition. It's free, and you'll get a receipt for tax purposes. Lifehacker has a great list of other groups that recycle old computer stuff. There is no good reason to throw computer stuff in landfills. Someone can use them right now!

Take Recycling to a New Stage (or two)

2010-12-28T16:33:00.007-05:00

Every couple of weeks, I take the plastic bags from my Washington Post newspaper over to my neighbor's house. He uses them when he walks his dog. My other neighbor heard about this and connected with someone a block away, who also wanted plastic bags for dog walking. Another neighbor suggested that we also hang a plastic bag dispenser on one of our light poles, so that others could get free, reused bags. (There was one regularly used on 7th and A St SE for years, which many of us kept clean until it was removed when the pole was painted.). The Yahoo group DC-Dog also seems to share plastic bags.

How can we easily share things with others rather than throwing them away? A few weeks ago (see below in an earlier post), a potter on the Hill asked for boxes and bubble wrap to ship her fragile art pieces. I assume that she has received a big pile of these! Someone else on the Hill asked for pumpkins for her new compost pile. What other items could we share with others and keep out of landfills? One can use neighborhood listservs or websites to connect with others interested in your pile of rubber bands, can of crayons, or stack of moving boxes. The new Hill East is a very busy listserv, but DCist lists others all over town.

You can sell or give things away through Craigslist and Freecycle. It might be even easier to set up a freecycle system at work or in your apartment building. World Wildlife Fund in DC has its Junk Mail system, which is an internal listserv where people can post items they want to give away or acquire. Someone asked for old hairbrushes for her horses. Another person posted a new bottle of nail polish. Employees can opt-in or opt-out of the system. It is run by one employee and monitored by another. Once it is set up, it has a life of its own. World Wildlife Fund employees have also organized regular clothes swaps and book exchanges (just an open shelf; uninteresting books are quickly recycled leaving the interesting ones).

You can also ask a store to collect items that either you or the store would recycle. A wine store might collect and recycle wine corks; a hardware store might collect Brita water filters; a Radio Shack might collect batteries. This is how the DC Recycler started.

Or share your tools, appliances, bikes, and other items with your neighbors through NeighborGoods, ShareSomeSugar, or your own neighborhood database. Join the thousands in the Maker Movement ("On a basic level, the movement is about reusing and repairing objects, rather than discarding them to buy more. On a deeper level, it's also a philosophical idea about what ownership really is.") or open a Share Exchange and create new jobs. These days it's easy to take recycling to a new stage and think about how recycling can be a resource to create a new economy, a sustainable job-creating one, rather than bailing out the current waste-creating, non-job-making one.

Can you help the DC Recycler?

2010-12-24T15:33:00.003-05:00

Schneider's on the Hill is all set to collect corks. They have a collection box and a recycling company to work with. They just need to find a spot in the store to place the box. In the meantime, I collect corks and take them over to Whole Foods by Metro (I don't have a car and actually don't shop at Whole Foods). It would be so great if Schneider's collected corks since I and many other Hillies are customers there! When you go to Schneider's next, can you say something like, "I hear that you'll be collecting corks for recycling soon. When will this be? Thank you for doing this!" This would really help the DC Recycler out a lot. Thank you!

P.S. Remember that plastic corks are not recyclable and not sustainable environmentally or socially (natural corks maintain a regional economy in the Mediterranean for something like 100,000 workers), so choose wine with natural corks (or twist tops but they aren't recyclable). World Wildlife Fund recommends natural corks. Save the cork forests! Save jobs!

How to get a second recycling bin

2010-12-21T18:19:00.004-05:00

We often find that we have so much more recycling than garbage. I got a message about this very issue from Alex up in the Tenleytown area:

Hi.
I'm new to DC.

Our recycling bin seems to always fill up way faster than our
trash bin. It's one of those mini-supercans, or whatever....
much smaller than the trash can.

How do I get a bigger recycling bin /can? Or at least can I
get two of the small ones? Do I have to pay extra?

Thanks,
Alex

The DC Office of Recycling sent me this very helpful response:

The District provides 32 gallon blue carts, and your acquaintance can order a 2nd one, per available stock.

Rest assured our agency appreciates our community's interest in larger recycling receptacles. Both cost and uniformity of service (many homes cannot accommodate larger bins) will be factors in any future changes to the system.

District Residents in city-serviced homes (3 units or less), receiving curbside or alley way collection, can call The Mayor's Citywide Call Center, dialing 311 or 737-4404 (if not phoning from a 202 exchange).

There is no fee to receive an extra recycling bin at this time.

You can find this information on the Department of Public Works website.

Over here on Capitol Hill, we don't have much space for a bigger or second bin, so it might be great someday to have two recycling pick-ups per week and only one trash pick-up. We can always hope, no? Thanks to the DC Office of Recycling for this helpful information!

Update and Corrections on Recycling in DC

2010-12-21T08:38:00.004-05:00

For reasons that are unclear to me, the DC Office of Recycling sent me on a tour of the PG County recycling center, rather than the facility that DC uses. So, now, I have to correct many of the statements I made several weeks ago. I am sorry about the confusion, but now we know the truth. Here's the low-down on recycling various items in DC:

Toilet paper rolls - yes
Ziploc(tm) bags and cellophane are NOT accepted at this time.
Aluminum pie trays, aluminum - yes, if clean.
Gift Boxes - assuming it's paperboard.
Tissue Paper - no, no paper towels, tissues, napkins, or gift wrap tissue.
Pizza boxes - no.

No service in our region processing commingled or single stream recyclables (bottles/cans/paper) currently takes expanded polystyrene (e.g. Styrofoam(r)) or clam shells, (e.g. transparent buffet/salad vessels and/or vacuum-molded, retail plastic display packaging) to my knowledge. Reusable food containers (e.g. Tupperware(r)) would be the ideal.

Garden Hoses - The DC Office of Recycling called to verify this, and two separate representative of Richie's Land Reclamation, LLP, claim they have no knowledge of any related policy. They suggest visiting reuse stores (ReStore, Loading Dock, Community Forklift).

Car Batteries - should go automobile parts retailers for credit.

Hazardous Waste - see the DPW website for restrictions (e.g. munitions go to Metro Police Dept.)

Needles - There is NO municipal collection.  Available options are either returning them via your own health-care provider, or encasing them in a well-sealed, well-labeled, rigid, plastic container before placing them with your solid waste.

In contrast to PG County, DC prefers residents to follow a "when it doubt, leave it out" policy.

Thanks to the DC Office of Recycling for this clarification!

Bamboo Computer Mouse

2010-12-18T14:11:00.003-05:00

About four months ago, the right button on my computer mouse stopped working. I had some idea that I wanted to buy a more environmentally friendly mouse, but I didn't know what that might mean. I wanted to get the cork mouse, since cork is a reusable and sustainable material and the cork mouse doesn't use any electricity or batteries! Yet, it seems unavailable to regular humans. So, I just got a bamboo mouse. Aside from its energy wasting blue light, the bamboo mouse is great, sturdy and smooth. They also sell bamboo keyboards. More products made from sustainable, environmentally friendly materials!

Recycle your bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, boxes!

2010-12-15T08:01:00.002-05:00

From: silvernst@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:52:11 +0000
Subject: [newhilleast] Get rid of your bubble wrap, peanuts and other unwanted packaging

I'm a local potter who needs bubble wrap and other packaging for safely shipping my fragile pieces. If you have bubble wrap, peanuts, foam and/or small to medium-sized (10" to 20")sturdy boxes and would like to see them reused, you can drop them off at 558 14th Street SE. I can be reached at 546-7990.

Thanks!
Caryn

Recycle your Capitol Hill Pumpkins (and bales of hay)

2010-11-29T16:56:00.003-05:00

From: "idfordani" daniedwards1975@yahoo.com
Date: November 12, 2010 5:43:01 PM EST
To: freecycledc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freecycledc] WANTED: Pumpkins - carved or not (Capitol Hill or nearby)

Don't send your halloween pumpkins to the landfill! I will pick up your pumpkins and put them to good use. Carved pumpkins will be composted and uncarved pumpkins will be cooked and the unedible portions composted. I'm trying to repair a badly damaged garden and need lots of organic material. I will also take those decorative bales of hay or almost any other organic matter you plan to toss.

Thanks,
Danielle

Celebrate GREEN Friday at Community Forklift

2010-11-25T08:30:00.003-05:00

On Nov. 26th-28th, Community Forklift invites you to celebrate GREEN Friday instead of Black Friday. At the holidays, shouldn't you be celebrating peace, family, and friends, not wasting money on plastic junk from chain stores? Well, this year is your chance to break the Black Friday habit, and choose community instead of commercialism. At Green Friday, you don't have to spend much to have a great time!

* Enjoy cider and chances to win door prizes.

* Adults & children are invited to make their own holiday gifts, wrapping paper, and cards in Santa's Workshop (11am - 6pm, Fri, Sat, & Sun).

* The Face Paint Lady will be here! (12-3 Saturday, and 1-3 Sunday, $5/face).

* If you can't resist the urge to buy something, stop by on Friday. From 9-6 on Nov. 26, all orange-tag renovation materials and hardware will be 25% off. Also, all white-tag antiques and architectural items in the Salvage Arts department will be 10% off.

Community Forklift also recommends: 1) the Center for a New American Dream website, which has fantastic ideas for simplifying the holidays and 2) their Green Gift Extravaganza! From now through Dec. 24th at Community Forklift, find beautiful presents from crafters, artisans, and woodworkers. These gifts are made from reclaimed materials, are related to home improvement, or are made by local artists or Fair Trade co-ops.

Community Forklift is the DC area's largest thrift store for building materials. Everyone receives a tax deduction for donating renovation leftovers, building and landscaping materials, tools, hardware, and architectural salvage. Then, Community Forklift makes these items available to the public at very low cost - prices are up to 80% below the big box stores. Community Forklift aims to lift up local communities by creating green jobs, reducing waste and energy use, and making repairs more affordable for homeowners, low-income families, historic restoration folks, small businesses, and nonprofits. They are in Edmonston, MD, off of Bladensburg Road and right outside the Northeast DC line. For directions or more info, visit the Community Forklift website.

Join the Soda Club and Get Rid of Plastic Water Bottles

2010-11-23T07:53:00.004-05:00

Join the Soda Club! Yes, you can make your own fizzy water at home and recycle the carbonators at Hill's Kitchen, Bed Bath & Beyond, and other stores. Just put in your zip code into their store locator. As is well known, bottled water is not safer than tap water, is a waste of money, and is bad for the environment. According to the US Recycling Institute, more than 80% of bottles in the US do not get recycled and end up in landfills. Also, millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions are produced in the process of replacing the billions of bottles and cans not recycled. Make certain to ask the store which carbonators they recycle since there are different sizes. Say goodbye to bottled water!

Update: I just check with Leah at Hill's Kitchen. She said, "Yes! We do the exchanges on both sizes of canisters. Best item of the year! I love the machines!" It's so easy to join the Soda Club!

Help Improve Airline Recycling

2010-11-23T07:38:00.002-05:00

The great Green America (formerly known as Coop America) has asked everyone to talk with flight attendants on their flights to find out about each airline's recycling practices, and then tell Green America what they say via our short online survey. It is a really short survey, so it is really easy to do and will help them for their next report on airline recycling. Airlines have widely differing practices, and some flight attendants even take it upon themselves to recycle. So, help everyone figure out what the practices are and how the airlines might improve their recycling.

Tube-Less Toilet Paper

2010-11-18T08:47:00.002-05:00

Recycling Pal Jonathan told me that Scott toilet paper is now selling one version of their product without tubes, which means a potential end to the 17 billion toilet paper tubes produced annually in the USA (accounting for 160 million pounds of trash) and usually thrown away. While you can recycle these tubes, it's even better if they are never made. Jonathan writes, "I think this is great! I'm going to write a couple of different earth-friendly companies to request they do the same. pass it along!" Will do!

2010-11-08T08:46:00.004-05:00

The DC Recycler and Recycling Pal Andrew visited the PG County recycling facility for a tour. The tour definitely exceeded all expectations. It was so interesting and so helpful for understanding the recycling process. We definitely recommend the tour.

Kourtney started us out with an explanation of all the different items that could be recycled. Some interesting things we learned:

1) You can recycle toilet paper rolls, (cellophane) plastic wrap, ziplock bags, foil, aluminum pie trays, gift boxes, tissue paper, etc.

2) You can remove the labels from tin cans and recycle them. Otherwise, the labels are burned.

3) Plastic lids are not generally recyclable, so try to find other kinds of lids, such as metal lids or aluminum foil.

4) Avoid clam shell plastic and styrofoam. Neither can be recycled. Try to find some alternative. At a salad bar, a plate would be better than using those covered containers.

5) If you have doubts about whether an item can be recycled, feel free to recycle it anyway. However, garden hoses should be recycled through Richie's Land Reclamation. Car batteries, needles, and other hazardous waste should go to hazardous waste recycling.

Mike then showed us the recycling machines. The process starts when the recycling trucks dump recycling in a big pile on the "tip floor," which is a covered building open to recycling trucks. A loader picks up the recycling and puts it in a metal box that leads to the conveyor belt that goes inside the center. 50-60 trucks drop off recycling at the center each day. They process 35 tons of recycling per hour; 500-600 tons per day. Interestingly, August and September bring the most recycling.

Now, the sorting process begins. About 95% of the sorting is done by machines. Some of the 55 center employees do sorting at the various conveyor belts during two work shifts. The employees immediately pull large items and plastic bags off the belts to keep them out of the gears and put them in recycling bins. The machines have a series of screens that allow certain items to float up over them (like cardboard or paper) and heavier items (like cans) to drop below. Cardboard wet from the rain can't make it through this process, so it has to be set aside to try and put through again. If your cardboard gets wet, let it dry and then recycle it. At each stage, there are 1-3 employees pulling various items off the belts, such as plastic bags or items that missed the screen. They even use optical scanners to identify plastic bottles and blow bursts of air at them to send them into the correct screen.

The sorted items are then put into balers that create bales of each sorted item: cardboard, paper, aluminum, steel, tin, glass, plastic containers, and plastic film (plastic bags). These items are delivered to the company, which has bought the materials to produce something new. In the end, about 6-7% is waste that can't be recycled. Much less than I had expected.

We learned that the PG County area used to have 75 landfills, but now has 31. They can't build new landfills, so they need to recycle. Also, the PG Country recycling center is business that seeks to make money and seeks to recycle everything it can. It's money for the taxpayers, resources for businesses, and one way to keep trash out of the environment. A great deal for everyone.

Compost at Common Good City Farm

2010-11-07T10:45:00.002-05:00

Common Good City Farm is an urban farm right in the center of DC (on V St. between 2nd and 4th St, NW). Of the many things they do, they collect food scraps for composting. The farm is getting ready to close for the year, but they will still collect food scraps once a week. If you’re interested, please register for food-scrap drop-off on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 by emailing info@commongoodcityfarm.org. Registration is important so they know to expect you in the cold!

What the DC Recycler learned from the Recycling Depot Tour

2010-11-05T09:41:00.005-04:00

The tour of the PG County recycling depot was fascinating. Really! We got to see all the stages of the recycling process. Here are some of the most surprising aspects:

1) You don't have to clean items before recycling them. Yes, the recycling depot has huge machines, which can deal with clean or unclean items. The only reason to clean items is if you feel that the food might attract pests around your recycling bin. Also, cleaning your items helps reduce pests and smells at the recycling depot too, but still the recycling depot does not need the items cleaned beforehand.

2) The recycling depot is a business; they want to recycle and make money. The depot makes money through recycling and thus tries to recycle everything it receives.

3) Please do not recycle garden hoses. They wrap around the machines and cause damage. Garden hoses should be recycled through Richie's Land Reclamation. Also, while we were there, a worker pulled out a car battery from the recycling. Car batteries can't be recycled through regular curb-side recycling, but they can be recycled through DC hazardous waste recycling.

4) Please bag your bags. Plastic bags of all sorts (grocery bags, candy bags, cellophane, etc.) are recyclable, but they have to be pulled off the conveyor belts right at the beginning. Otherwise, they will wrap around the machinery and cause mayhem. So, put all your bags into another bag. Alternatively, you can recycle your bags through the grocery stores. However, aside from bagging your bags, please don't bag your recycling. Of course, the best thing is to avoid plastic bags altogether.

I'll write more about the tour soon.

Leaf Recycling: Rake or Use Paper Bags (not Plastic Bags)

2010-11-05T08:16:00.004-04:00

The DC Department of Public Works is ready to deploy 200 employees Monday, November 8, 2010 to start collecting leaves. Leaf collection season runs through January 15, 2011, and every neighborhood in the District will have its leaves collected. For two and a half months, DPW crews work six days a week, including Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day, across the District.

Just rake your leaves into the tree box outside your place the weekend before your street's collection. To find out when your leaves will be collected, see the leaf collection schedule. If you want to bag your leaves with paper bags like those from Home Depot, DC will recycle them and use them for compost. DC strongly discourages the use of plastic bags. Plastic bags will damage the equipment.

Have any questions for the recycling officials?

2010-11-02T08:44:00.001-04:00

I'll be talking with the DC recycling depot on Thursday. Do you have questions about recycling that you haven't had answered? Let me know!

The DC Recycler soon to visit DC's Recycling Depot!

2010-10-28T07:55:00.002-04:00

Yes, on Nov. 4th, the DC Recycler will visit DC's recycling depot. I'll try to get some more detailed answers about recycling. Let me know if you have any recycling questions that you would like answered.

When does DC collect and compost leaves?

2010-10-25T07:48:00.003-04:00

*Correction*: If you do bag your leaves, please use paper bags. The leaves will still be composted. Plastic bags damage their equipment.

The DC government has set up their leaf collection schedule. For SE Capitol Hill, for example, leaves will be collected starting November 22nd. For NE Capitol Hill, leaves will be collecting starting November 8th. All you do is rake your leaves into the treebox near your place the Sunday before the first pick up. You can also bag your leaves and put them in the treebox or next to your trash; HOWEVER, the DC government website says that bagged leaves will be disposed in the trash. Therefore, I suggest that you just rake your leaves into the treebox, so that they can be composted. Alternatively, you could bag the leaves and then the Sunday before you could put unbag them, placing them in your treebox. It's great to keep leaves out of the landfills and to make them into useful compost.

Our Recycling Pal Cathy's Report on Recycling by Mail

2010-10-25T07:42:00.004-04:00

Hey folks,

I spent a great couple of hours at the DC GreenFest today. For the record, I'm still mad at Ralph Nader, so I did not stop by to say hi. Now that I got that off my chest, one of the great things I learned is that of all things, the US Postal Service is going green! They are currently piloting a program that allows you to send old cell phones, PDAs, Smartphones, MP3s, digital cameras, and ink jet cartridges off to a techno trash center in MI for free. While it's always better to reuse these items, sometimes you can't. There are special plastic pouches that the post office is using to mail these items...and there is no postage necessary. The pouches are currently available at some 11,000 POs nationwide...and they hope to have them in all soon. At the destination, these items are sorted then disposed of properly (buried, I believe) here in the US (vs being shipped off to some developing country).

They have a whole "green" portion of their website now. They're also offering "cradle to cradle certified" packaging. Yours truly will be contacting my forest folk to see how that compares to FSC and will report back. Sadly, they did not have any real tips on reducing junk mail or those annoying flyers that come with no address in our mail every week. You can go to Catalog Choice and sign up to receive only those catalogs you really want to get.

Where can I recycle mattresses, basic housewares, etc.?

2010-10-17T11:23:00.003-04:00

A Wider Circle provides basic need items to families transitioning out of shelters or simply living without life’s necessities. They furnish the homes of more than 1,000 children and adults every single month, all free of charge. They also go into low-income schools and shelters to lead educational workshops on topics ranging from healthy self-esteem and stress management to resume writing and financial planning.

The following items are on their wish list. The wish list also lists further items and items that they don't need.
*Beds (mattresses without rips or stains, box springs, frames)
*Cribs, changing tables, strollers, high chairs, and other baby items
*Dressers
*Kitchen tables and sets of chairs
*Sofas and living room chairs (in very good conditions without rips or stains)
*End tables, coffee tables, and lamps (with shades)
*TVs (with remote if available)
*Kitchen items (sets of dishes, silverware, pots & pans, toasters, microwaves)
*Fans/AC units (clean and in good working order)
*Sheets and towels
*Healthy non-perishable food & new personal care and cleaning supplies
*Grocery gift cards

A Message from our Recycling Pal Cathy

2010-10-14T09:14:00.002-04:00

Hey Folks,

I'm going solar. Between DC and Fed rebates, I should make up the cost of the system in the first year. AND, the installation company gets all the permits I need (even for the Historic District); agrees to remove and reinstall my panels should I need to redo my roof in the next 10 years...and will even move my panels to a new home in the District should I move to a qualifying home in the next 10 years. I never thought I'd be my own power company! There's a solar fair on the Hill on Saturday. Should be interesting. Pass the info along...and hope to see y'all there!

Cathy

Thanks, Cathy, for your message! For more info on solar panels in DC, see the Capitol Hill Energy Coop.

How to recycle old technologies?

2010-10-05T08:30:00.004-04:00

We can always recycle old technologies through the weekly DC E-Cycling Drop-Off. However, it is even better to pass those items off to someone who might still want them. My neighbor Daphne is getting rid of her slide projector and wrote me:

"I have been finding people who want slide sleeves. One great source is coin collectors for they use slide sleeves for their coins. I have given a bunch of mine to a retirement community's coin club for their members."

This innovative thinking is great. If the technology is still usable, you can sell it or give it away on Ebay, Craigslist, Freecycle, or one of the more specialized tech recyclers like Gazelle or BuyMyTronics. Reuse or recycle: it's all good.

Capitol Hill Solar Hour Tour on Oct. 16th

2010-10-04T07:42:00.002-04:00

Capitol Hill Solar & Sustainable Home Fair & Tour (aka The Capitol Hill Solar House Tour) is on Saturday, October 16th. Talk to Hill residents who went solar and tour solar and sustainable homes. Also learn about wind power, geothermal, organic cleaning, weatherization, green roofs, rain gardens; see electric scooter and car. More than 30 vendors on hand to explain the ins and outs of solar panels and discuss green products. Fair--10:00am to 2:00pm at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street, NE, Washington; Tour--Noon to 4:00pm. Tour map and guide are $5 per family. Advanced purchase available through web or at Frager’s Hardware (1101 Pennsylvania Ave SE), Hill’s Kitchen (713 D St SE), Riverby Books (417 E Capitol St SE), or Coldwell-Banker (605 Penn Ave SE). Guides will also be available at Eastern Market October 9-10.

The Green Festival is coming to DC!

2010-09-28T07:46:00.002-04:00

The Green Festival was great last year and promises to be great this year. I learned so much last year. This year it will take place on Oct. 23-24 at the Convention Center.

"Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources. See the most recent developments in renewable energy and green technology; sample Fair Trade chocolate and coffee (yes, they really do taste better); and learn how to invest in your community, green your home and avoid products made in sweatshops."

Stop Using Coffee Filters

2010-09-25T14:08:00.005-04:00

We just bought this great Frieling French press coffee maker so that we didn't have to buy (and throw away) any more filters and because it is 100% plastic-free. It is made completely of stainless steel. So, it won't break like a glass French press might. As an added bonus, the coffee tastes much better, as compared to our regular coffee maker. I highly recommend it.

A Letter from our Recycling Pal Cathy

2010-09-06T08:18:00.002-04:00

Dear DC Recycler,

I'm writing to sing the praises of my latest recycling find in the DC area, Community Forklift. I'm expanding my house that was built in 1883, and I wanted to find flooring and doors that matched the originals. Community Forklift was my answer. I was able to find both red oak and pine flooring that had been removed from another house. They also have a large selection of doors (interior and exterior), sinks, cabinets, tiles, light fixtures, etc, etc. They also have partial slabs of marble, slate and quartz. Community Forklift has successfully completed Co-op America's screening process for socially and environmentally responsible green businesses?. They are now listed in the National Green Pages directory!

Community Forklift doesn't only deal with vintage items. AND, they are a project of Sustainable Community Initiatives (SCI), a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation so you can also donate your surplus goods (and money!) to them and receive a tax deduction for your donation.

Community Forklift offers three types of materials:

Surplus materials are new, sometimes still in the original packaging. Homeowners, contractors, or manufacturers donate them due to changes in project plans, excess materials, ordering mistakes, minor flaws, or discontinued brands.

Salvaged materials have been used, and still have useful life left in them. Most of their salvaged items come from remodeling projects. Many also come from Deconstruction Services, a company that takes buildings apart carefully rather than bulldozing them. Deconstruction is a growing industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources, and it can cost the same or less than traditional demolition. Their inventory changes every day, but they usually have cabinets, radiators, lumber, trim, flooring, plumbing fixtures, paint, glass, doors, windows, lighting, appliances, HVAC, landscaping materials, and more!

New Green Materials are environmentally friendly items. They also carry Nature Neutral products, including recycled cotton insulation, low VOC and low odor paints and sealants, and sustainably harvested lumber. They contain significantly fewer toxins and cause less pollution, so they better for your health and our world.

While I love Community Forklift, you need to know what you want. They don't have the staff to help you plan your project or even really help you figure out how much of an item you may need. Still, it's a great concept and a business worth supporting in the DC area.

Best to you!
Your recycling pal, Cathy

The DC Recycler has returned

2010-09-01T19:36:00.002-04:00

Yes, the DC Recycler was away revising her book (on neoliberalism, economics, and socialism). The book went to the press on Monday. So, now the DC Recycler can return to the world of recycling. On Tuesday, she picked up Brita water filters at Hill's Kitchen and corks at Hayden's Liquor. Remember, it's best not to buy wine with plastic corks. Choose wines that use natural cork or twist tops. Natural corks are supporting an entire sustainable industry in the Mediterranean.

Recycle your old appliances on 7/24

2010-07-17T04:11:00.003-04:00

Pepco is hosting its first-ever D.C. “Appliance Swap” on July 24 at the Home Depot on Rhode Island Ave. Customers can bring in old, inefficient appliances that Pepco will safely recycle or dispose of at no cost to the customer. Pepco will also be handing out applications for and information about available rebates on the purchase of certain ENERGY STAR ® qualified appliances.

During the event, Pepco will announce the winners of its $5,000 D.C. Appliance Rebates Sweepstakes. Each winner will receive a $1,000 Home Depot ® gift card towards the purchase of new, more efficient appliances.

For a limited time, Pepco customers in the District can receive rebates:
· $50 rebates for ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators,
· $25 rebates for ENERGY STAR® qualified room air conditioners, and
· $20 rebates for electric water heaters w/energy factor of 0.93 or greater.
Customers also can also take advantage of instant discounts on high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Customers can save $1.50 on single bulbs and $3 on multipacks when shopping at participating retail locations throughout the District.

Recycle Used Medical Equipment

2010-06-18T02:23:00.002-04:00

Your ReSource is a not for profit that collects used home medical equipment from individuals who no longer need it, refurbishes the equipment and makes it available to people who need it at low cost or no cost. Last year they re-directed over 25 tons of used medical equipment from the landfill to people who need.

Save a tree, buy cork!

2010-05-31T08:47:00.004-04:00

After several days seeing cork trees and cork products around Lisbon, the DC Recycler has become a convert to cork. Cork today can replace leather, plastic, and wood. Portuguese companies, like Pelcor and Artelusa , use cork to make umbrellas, backpacks, fashionable bags, wallets, hats, belts, notebook covers, and so on. Cork can also be used for insulation, and it repels water, sound, and heat/cold. It can be recycled and helps to save jobs and the environment in Portugal and elsewhere. 100,000 jobs in the Mediterranean rely on cork production. Buy wines with natural cork stoppers (no more plastic corks!) and recycle the cork. Save a tree and jobs, buy cork!

DC Recycler Foreign Correspondent to visit Cork Forest

2010-05-25T08:31:00.004-04:00

Yes, the DC Recycler is taking the show on the road, to a cork forest outside Lisbon, Portugal. The DC Recycler will be reporting LIVE from the Alentejo region, which has, as I have been told, the largest cork forests in the world.

Where can I recycle my mixed casette tapes?

2010-05-17T07:01:00.002-04:00

Flying Squirrel Pizza in Seattle is striving to to have the biggest collection of custom made mix tapes on their walls. Totally awesome!

Anthropologists Talk about Recycling of Textiles

2010-05-14T07:20:00.003-04:00

Yes, it is true. There is an entire conference on Recycling Textile Technologies at UCL. It's part of a pretty interesting looking research program called The Waste of the World.

Common Good City Farm is collecting kitchen scraps for compost

2010-05-09T10:06:00.002-04:00

By popular demand, Common Good City Farm, on V Street NW between 2nd and 4th Streets NW, has started its "Common Good Compost Program." The Compost Program allows you to drop off your organic kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy) at Common Good City Farm during Farm Hours. If you want to bring your scraps, there are a few pieces of protocol that need to be followed closely. Whether or not you take part in the compost program, visit the farm. It's a great place!

Let your favorite wine/liquor store know about ReCork

2010-05-09T08:51:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I wrote an email to my favorite wine store, Schneider's here on Capitol Hill, to ask them whether they were considering collecting wine corks for recycling. They said that they hadn't heard about the cork recycling programs and they were going to look into it. Talk with your favorite wine/liquor store about cork recycling. There are great programs. Here's my letter to give you some ideas.

*****
I regularly benefit from your great store. I was wondering whether Schneider's was thinking about collecting corks for recycling. Cork and Fork (with a new NW location) collects corks for recycling: http://www.corkandforkva.com/.

Whole Foods does too. These stores generally work through ReCork: http://recork.org/

ReCork and other organizations are turning cork into shoes, floor tiles, etc. Also, by having people recycle natural cork, they will likely buy wines with natural cork and help support the sustainable cork business in the Mediterranean (supporting 100,000 jobs).

World Wildlife Fund is encouraging us to do this:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/mediterranean/about/forests/cork/what_you_can_do/

It seems relatively easy to be a collection partner with ReCork:
http://recork.org/get-involved/

I just wanted to let you know about this, but you probably already know all about it. Thanks for considering it!

Best,
Johanna
*****

Recycle your Brita water filters at Whole Foods

2010-05-07T08:50:00.002-04:00

Whole Foods stores across the region are recycling Brita water filters and other #5 plastics through the Preserve Gimme 5 program. You can also mail your plastics to Preserve Gimme 5. These plastics are turned into toothbrushes, razors, tongue cleaners, park benches, decks, etc.

The easiest and most effective environmental action: Sign up for wind power

2010-04-30T18:40:00.008-04:00

Yes, the easiest and most effective thing you can do TODAY for the planet is sign up for 100% wind power through your electric company. When you do this, they have to buy wind power, which means that they don't have as much money to buy coal plants. It's really easy. For those in DC, MD, and VA:

1) Go to this form.

2) Fill out the form (with your electric account number on hand).

Totally easy! More info can be found at Clean Currents. Also wind energy rates are LOWER than Pepco and BGE Maryland Residential Rates. I looked at the actual Pepco rate schedules, which are rather confusing, but wind is 10.8 cents/kwh, while the standard rate is definitely above 10 cents/kwh (unclear by how much). In any case, the environmental benefits are huge, so switch now.

Amazing Recycling Factoid

2010-04-27T08:07:00.000-04:00

Did you know that recycling one ton of paper saves 3700 pounds of lumber and 24,000 gallons of water? Please recycle.

NW Cork Recycling Drop-Off Location!

2010-04-24T12:42:00.006-04:00

Heads Up! Cork & Fork stores in MD, VA, and DC (DC address: 1522 14th street NW) are now cork recycling drop-off centers, working in collaboration with ReCork America. It seems that the DC store will open on May 8th. Of course, Whole Foods is also collecting corks. Start collecting natural corks and bring them in! Natural cork is being turned into shoes, floor and wall tile, etc. Be part of the cork recycling movement!

Has recycling gone too far? No

2010-04-22T11:51:00.003-04:00

Today's Examiner has an article that argues that recycling has gone too far and that counties are wasting money on recycling. The article has rather strange views on the goals of recycling. To the author of the article, it seems that people recycle because it makes them feel good, because they want to hit certain recycling targets (like recycling 50% of waste), and because it is politically unpopular to build new landfills. Aside from recycling aluminum and white office paper, it seems that there is no environmental or economical reason to recycle.

This article is so old fashioned and contradicts other ideals of the right-wing, such as its support of the market. It is rather strange that The Examiner would make such an argument against recycling, since recycling is a huge, expanding business. There is a market for these items. Why is there a market? Because recycling provides raw materials for production at a good price. The article makes it seem as if the items were being taken to a recycling center and then stored there in pretty green boxes, when, in fact, the items are sold often on the global market. The real question to ask is whether there is an adequate market for certain recycled items. Many businesses have created new products that use recycled materials because these materials are cheaper than buying new and because many consumers are looking for such items, such as partially or completely recycled printer paper. Municipal and country governments across the country are helping to create these new markets. Thus, new markets for recycled materials are being created all the time. In addition, many communities do not have enough space for new landfills. Maybe they are densely populated? Maybe they would rather have parks or new houses? Would hauling garbage to far-away landfills be better than recycling? Maybe they have been forced to expand recycling because they do not see any other solution?

The right wing is ideologically "pro-business," but does not seem to have much contact with real businesses and their new trends. Stuck in old ways of thinking...

Happy Earth Day!!

2010-04-22T08:01:00.003-04:00

From Writer's Almanac (accompanying a great, surreal poem about the telephone):

Today is Earth Day. And it's also the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day — held on this day in 1970 and widely considered to the birth of the modern environmental movement.

Earth Day's founder was a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson. His goal was to force environmental issues onto the national agenda. Before 1970, stories about the environment were almost never reported. One Earth Day organizer said that back then, "Environment was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news."

In 1969, an oil pipe ruptured just off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, causing 200,000 gallons of crude oil to burst forth and then slowly leak out and spread over an 800-square-mile slick. It took 11 days to plug the hole. The oil poisoned seals and dolphins, whose corpses washed up onto California beaches, and it killed thousands of seabirds as well. Senator Nelson visited the site of the enormous ecological disaster and was outraged that nobody in Washington seemed to be concerned about the great devastation to the natural environment. And then he realized that many people simply didn't really know.

So he proposed a national "teach-in," an event to take place on universities campuses around the nation, one that would educate the public, raise awareness on environmental issues, and make politicians pay attention to these things, so that they would make laws to protect the environment in order to, as he said, "stem the tide of environmental disaster."

He saw how successful the anti-war protestors were at getting media coverage — and therefore, making politicians take notice — and he decided to base his campaign for environmental awareness on their model. He also hoped to infuse the same student anti-war energy into the environmental cause. He proposed setting aside one day a year as a national day of observance about environmental problems. The New York Times picked up the story in late September 1969, a great boon to the grassroots organizers of the campaign, who had no Internet to spread the word.

At first, Senator Nelson called it National Environment Teach-In Day, but his friend, a New York advertising executive suggested "Earth Day," especially catchy since it rhymes with "birthday," and that's what the press began to call it. Historian Adam Rome has called Earth Day the "most famous unknown event in modern American history."

About 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. They gathered at assemblies in high school gyms, at university plazas, in suburban city parks. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Gaylord Nelson had graduated from law school, people met up at 4:45 a.m. for an "Earth Service," where, according to one report, they "greeted the sunrise with a Sanskrit invocation and read together from Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Thoreau, and the Bible." Girl Scouts distributed pamphlets that Wisconsin grad students had written, which gave household tips for helping to preserve the environment. Tens of thousands met up in Philadelphia's Fairmont Park — and stayed there for days — and 100,000 streamed into Fifth Avenue in New York City. People celebrated spring weather and gave impassioned political speeches about environmental issues.

Though unstructured and somewhat incohesive, Earth Day was hugely successful. Environmental issues found a prominent place on the political agenda. Earth Day in April 1970 helped lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of that year (the EPA was created December 2, 1970), as well as to the passage of legislation like the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

What is the most recycled product in the US??

2010-04-20T17:44:00.002-04:00

According to Scientific America (via Treehugger): "It's not aluminum cans--only half are recycled. Or even office paper, at more than 70 percent. It's the lead acid batteries from your car. More than 99 percent of such batteries wind up recycled, keeping toxic lead out of landfills and waterways." More than 99%! Metals are reclaimed from the batteries. However, do we understand where this recycling is done and under what conditions?

Wow! Earth Day Photo

2010-04-20T17:40:00.002-04:00

Wow! In honor of Earth Day on Thursday, the International League of Conservation Photographers has chosen the top 40 nature photos.

Whole Foods is E-Cycling on 4/17

2010-04-14T07:52:00.002-04:00

All the Whole Foods stores in the DC/VA/MD are collecting electronics for recycling on Saturday. The first region-wide Whole Foods Market E-Cycling event in January was able to collect and divert over 169,000 lbs of e-waste from landfills for recycling. This time, the retailer is working to continue this mission and raise awareness that some of the most precious resources on our planet are 100% recyclable and reclaimable. So, bring your electronics (and your natural wine corks) to any Whole Foods on 4/17!

List of acceptable items include:
· Desktop computers, keyboards and mice
· Laptop computers
· Mainframe computer systems
· Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and monitors
· Modems and telephone boards
· Hard drives, floppy drives and CD ROMs
· Phones, fax machines and telecommunications hardware
· Printers
· Computer boards, CPUs and memory chips, circuit boards
· Connecting wires and cables
**Note: TVs and batteries are not accepted
**Any hard drives in computers will be removed, scrubbed, and destroyed by Esquire Environmental after collection.