Recycling & Waste

First appliance recycling center opens in Hatfield, Penn.

From Green Right Now Reports

PECO, FirstEnergy and PPL Utilities are working together on an environmental project that will help Pennsylvania residents lower their energy usage — and get rid of clunker appliances.

The energy and utility companies announced today that they have set up an appliance recycling center at JACO Environmental Inc. in Hatfield where they will turn in old, energy-gobbling refrigerators or freezers or inefficient, but working window air conditioning units.

The companies will collect the outdated appliances from customers, who will get paid — $35 for a junker refrigerator, and $25 for an old AC unit — and haul it away for free. About 80 percent of Pennsylvania’s residents are served by these utilities and will qualify to participate.

More >>>

A North Carolina McDonald’s goes McGreen

LED lighting at Cary McDonalds

When Ric Richards recently acquired an aging McDonalds in Cary, N.C., he knew the place needed an overhaul.  The 25-year-old store was fraying at the edges.

Richards decided to give these particular golden arches a green touch.

Once he’d decided that the building needed replacing, the decision to go eco-friendly was not difficult. Richards knew it made sense from a business standpoint – it would cut energy costs dramatically – and he figured it would resonate with the educated customers living in the Research Triangle region, especially those interested in lower-carbon living.

“I felt it was the right thing to do,’’ said the owner-operator whose green restaurant celebrated its grand opening this winter. “We all need to be more geared for sustainability as we move into the future. We need to build buildings or live at home using fewer resources.”

More >>>

MIT program will help companies develop sustainable supply chains

From Green Right Now Reports

MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics will launch the Global LEAP (Leaders in Environmental Assessment and Performance) research consortium at its annual Crossroads Conference on March 25, in Cambridge, Mass.

Chiquita Brands and Lockheed Martin are the first commercial organizations to sign up for this new project to design supply chains that meet the sustainability goals that are redefining the way companies operate. Inaugural members have pledged comprehensive support for the new consortium including a financial commitment, in-kind resources, thought leadership, and active participation.

More >>>

UL Environment will develop sustainability standards for plastic

From Green Right Now Reports

UL Environment, which provides environmental evaluation and certification, will develop sustainability standards for plastic materials used in consumer and manufactured goods. The standards will establish environmental requirements for common plastics based on scientific assessment and broad stakeholder collaboration.

This year, more than 300 million tons of plastic will be produced and 10 percent of all generated waste will be plastic—much of which ends up existing in landfills for centuries. Evidence is mounting that some chemicals in plastic pose health risks when absorbed by humans through food, water, air, dust and contact with consumer products. Environmentally preferable plastics can lead to fewer harmful chemical emissions being released in our environment.

More >>>

Alternative ways to use everyday items

Using everyday items in alternative ways helps the environment and saves you money:

More >>>

Motorola establishes recycling program for enterprise mobility solutions customers

From Green Right Now Reports

Motorola, Inc. said today that it has established a take-back recycling program for its US Enterprise Mobility Solutions customers to help them responsibly dispose of used equipment. The products covered in the program include all Motorola-branded enterprise mobility equipment, such as mobile and portable two-way radios; handheld mobile computers; barcode scanners; imagers; in-vehicle mobile workstations; accessories; network infrastructure equipment; and computers, laptops and monitors.

Batteries are also included but must be removed from the equipment before they are shipped for recycling. There is generally no cost incurred by the customer; however, freight charges may be applied in some cases.

More >>>

America Recycles Day is this Sunday

By Ashley Phillips

This Sunday, Nov. 15, is America Recycles Day, a nationwide initiative by Keep America Beautiful and the National Recycling Coalition. In its 12^th year, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to not only recycle, but buy recyclable products. There is more garbage going into landfills now than ever before. Recycling can not only slow climate change, but preserve and protect the environment around us. Everyone has the ability to do their part.

“The purpose of America Recycles Day is to continue to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment,” states their website.

More >>>

Give your shoes a new life

Photo: Nike

By Ashley Phillips

In just one year, 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away. These shoes end up in landfills across the US. Not only do these shoes not easily break down, the glue that holds a shoe together is toxic. So instead of adding to the growing trash problem, give your shoes a new life. What’s old to you, could be a playground for someone else thanks to Nike.

More >>>

Kimberly-Clark Professional begins global campaign to cut consumption

Kimberly-Clark Professional, a division of the paper products company serving commercial and institutional facilities, said today it is launching an awareness campaign that encourages industry professionals to go beyond recycling and think about reducing what they use in the first place.

The company said the campaign called “Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow” will be its first environmentally focused, global communications effort.

More >>>

Congressional Record now printed on 100 percent recycled paper

In a nod to greener times, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the Congressional Record is now being printed on 100 percent recycled paper. The Speaker received her first environmentally friendly copy of the Congressional Record Friday from the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Each day the federal government’s General Printing Office produces 4,130 copies of the Congressional Record — despite the document’s availability online. But that number is down more than 75 percent from 1995 because of the Internet.

More >>>