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Recycling Part III: Recycling Metal, Fun Stuff!

My world has been changed ever since I found out you can drive a truckload of metal directly to the metal recycling plant and get paid for all of it. I'm loving it! It all started when my in-law's neighbor told me he got paid $150 for recycling the aluminum rims from his car.

Being as I live out in the middle of nowhere, former owners of my property thought it would be clever to dump all of their old appliances and metal scrap into the field and let it sit there. Since I heard about recycling metal yourself, I have sold around 4,000 lbs. of steel scrap and netted about $500. I have also set up recycling cans where I work and I sell the cans for about $.80/lb. Most recently, I've sold about 100 lbs of cans for $80. Right now, that's about what it takes to fill up a tank of gas.

Sure, it's not winning the lottery. But recycling is important and so is driving so it works hand in hand. I mentioned this in a past blog entry, but if you've never been to a metal recycling plant I suggest you go just to see the monstrous cranes lifting piles of cars at one time with a huge magnet...20 feet away from you! It's exhilarating just being there and driving out alive.

Going to the recycling plant is kind of like down-hill skiing. There is a tremendous amount of anxiety as you look down the hill of a black diamond trail so steep you can't see the next 50 feet in front of you. Since you can't climb back on the chair lift and you have too much dignity to scream for the nearest ski-patrol member, you just let gravity pull you down, taking each mogul, tree, and ice patch as it comes. (I grew up skiing in Pennsylvania, ice patches are common!) Once you are at the bottom of the hill, you get back on the chair lift and do it again.

This is a picture that I took, while in a panic, from my cell phone.

For some reason, I felt the need to remember this moment. Perhaps because I didn't know if I would get out of there alive, or maybe because I thought nobody would believe the scale of this place. If you look closely on the left, you can see the truck I was cowering behind.

This metal recycling center is in Erie, Pennsylvania. They literally carry piles of cars over your head while you quickly throw all of the metal off of your car/truck/trailer into the mass of other scrap metal.

Recycling metal is fun. In the US right now, the cost of metal is way up. You often hear about home owners having their gutters and pipes stolen right off of their house or construction lot because you can get a lot of money from copper. When I first bought my house, the cost of 250 feet of wire for electricity was around $45. That was seven years ago. Now the same roll is up to $75.

You can recycle ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In layman's terms, this is iron and steel and non-iron-metals, such as aluminum.

Just like #1 plastic, the demand for recycled aluminum is higher than the supply, hence the high cost for returning your cans and aluminum scrap. It is easier and cheaper to make aluminum products out of recycled aluminum. When I took an Environmental Science class one time, we learned that the value of a certain material is measured by the quantity and cost of getting that quantity into the finished material.

So, for aluminum, the most valuable form is the aluminum cans and other scrap that people use every day and which is littering our roads and parks, since it is easier than digging it out of the ground and processing the raw ore. According to the Wikipedia recycling site, recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy it takes to make aluminum from raw ore! That's huge.

I once watched an episode of Judge Judy where she told a 'deadbeat' dad that he should start looking for cans to cash in if he didn't have enough money to pay child support. I think Judge Judy had it right on. Imagine all of the money that is littering the streets!

To recycle your own metal, look up your local metal recycling plant online. I just searched for metal recycling on Yahoo! yellow pages and clicked on "beyond my zip code" to see all of the centers close to me. Call them and ask what type of metals they will take.

When you get to the plant your vehicle will be weighed and you'll give your name to the person who works there. Then you drive into the heart of the operation and unload. Then you'll drive back out to where you get weighed and they'll get your empty weight. Park your car, walk into the office and they'll hand you your check. Now you've done something great for the environment and you got free lunch. Loving it!

Insider's tip: You might feel safer if you wear a helmet!

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Recycling Plastics

I was inspired to investigate the whole plastics recycling issue one week when I got an email from a reader and read about the "Junk Raft" in a news story online. Plastic is in one sense a god send, and in another, the root of all evil. A god-send because I have a one year old daughter and I know how easy it is for stuff to get dirty, and with all of the plastic toys, furniture and utensils, it can all be as clean as new again.

But is the convenience worth the effects plastic has on our environment?

From a reader:

it is very difficult on sight to recognize corn-based plastics vs. petroleum based, and too much of the former will corrupt the recycle batch of the latter. Added, at present, there are very few compost centers in the US that can maintain the 150 degree temperatures for the number of days (5-10) that are required to compost the corn-based product. I, a fool at first, thought I could just toss them in my big (20' x 30') bin. Nope. So that's not so terrific as it sounded when I first learned about it. Don't I wish it were that easy...

Yes, it would be fabulous if we could just throw our plastic containers in a compost bin and they would disintegrate into carbon. Let's hope somebody comes up with a way to do that. In the meantime, I didn't even know there was petroleum and corn based plastic products. And what do all those numbers (1-7) mean on the bottom of plastic containers anyway?

Because plastic is a polymer (a string of molecules strung together) and there are a variety of polymers that make up plastic, each type has a different number. You can't make a #3 plastic into a #6 plastic through recycling. Here is a list of the different numbers and what they mean, conveniently gleaned from The Daily Green. Read their whole story for more details.

#1 Plastics: (PET or PETE) This plastic is commonly used in beverage containers because it is inexpensive and easy to recycle, although the demand is higher than the supply for 'remanufacturers'. So start recycling these more often! I'm sure people throw these in the bottom of their car and then just forget about recycling and throw it away. According to The Daily Green, the recycling rate for this plastic is a paltry 20%. It can be recycled back into "Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers"

#2 Plastics: (HDPE: High Density Polyethylene) This plastic is more sturdy than #1, so it is used for laundry detergent bottles, motor oil bottles and trash bags, among other things. "It is readily recyclable into many goods."

#3 Plastics: (V: Vinyl or PVC) Here's a direct quote from The Daily Green:

PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

The chlorine makes me nervous...is it leaching out from our water pipes? This is my theory, but could the increase in asthma and lung related chronic illness be related to the increase of chlorine in our water supplies? I know that exposure to large amounts of chlorine does contribute to asthma. This reminds me of a guy I met, and this is digressing, but he was my taxi driver when I visited Montana. He lived near a railroad truss and one day a train car carrying a load of chlorine derailed close to his house. He received a $2000 settlement to take care of the lung damage, and subsequent chronic asthma, he received, a rip off in my opinion. I asked him what he did with the money and he told me he got huge speakers that filled up the living room of his trailer!

I digress.

#4 Plastics: (LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene) This plastic is literally a flexible plastic used in squeezable bottles, bread bags, and the bags they put over your dry-cleaning. There are not many places that will accept this plastic for recycling.

#5 Plastics: (PP: Polypropylene) This plastic is used in food containers, medicine bottles, etc. It can withstand high temperatures so it is often used in containers that accept hot liquids. It is becoming more recyclable.

#6 Plastics: (PS: Polystyrene) The dreaded Styrofoam!!! 'Evidence' suggests that dangerous chemicals can leach out of these containers into your food. It can be recycled but not many places offer programs for this. I would like to share a little story with you to scare you to never eat at a certain 24 hour family restaurant that starts with a 'P'. I used to be a waitress there for a year or so...I quit before I totally lost my mind. Anyway, their home-cooked meals had side-dishes that were pre-prepared, frozen, shipped to the store, proportioned out into handy little Styrofoam containers and MICROWAVED before slapping the container upside down on your plate! Mmmmm, reminds me of mom's home cooking. The Styrofoam had burned edges when it came out of the commercial microwave. I implore you to never eat at these places, or ask them not to microwave it in plastic.

Next!

#7 Plastics: Every product category system must have a 'miscellaneous' category and lucky #7 is it. The miscellaneous plastics make up bullet proof materials, DVD's, IPods, computer cases, etc. Some of the plastics that fit into this category are made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. A harmful plastic that is lumped into this category was recently in the news because it leaches a synthetic form of the hormone estrogen. Ironically, this is what they make baby bottles, pacifiers and other baby products out of. Makes you wonder!

Is your brain full yet? Basically, the most highly recyclable containers and those in most demand are not being recycled. The best way to find out what types of plastic you can recycle in your area is by contacting your municipality or checking out their web site. You can also visit the web site of Waste Management to view your local recycling rules. I'm not sure if Waste Management is everywhere but it seems to be everywhere!

To effectively recycle your plastic bottles, the lids need to be removed. The label can stay on. It's also best if you rinse the container. First so that your garbage doesn't stink! Secondly, so that it doesn't mess up the recycling process. Read this article on the eHow's plastic recycling page to read all of their pointers about recycling. The EPA has set a lofty goal of recycling 25% of our nations waste. Way to go EPA!

The interesting thing here is biodegradable plastics. How come I've never heard of this before? Indeed, corn-plastic has it's issues. And as my reader suggested, it corrupts the batch if mixed in with regular plastics. According to an article written for Dear Earth Talk, an environmental advice columnist:

it will take far longer in a compost bin or in a landfill packed so tightly that no light and little oxygen are available to assist in the process. Indeed, analysts estimate that a PLA bottle could take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

Dear Earth Talk susggests that while corn-based plastics are not more environmentally harmful than petroleum based products, they are still not the answer. They are made up of 'polylactic acid' and it is derived from plants, so it does have a few things going for it.

When it is recycled, according to Elizabeth Royte, writing in Smithsonian:

PLA may well break down into its constituent parts (carbon dioxide and water) within three months in a "controlled composting environment," that is, an industrial composting facility heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and fed a steady diet of digestive microbes.

Read her article in the Smithsonian Magazine online for a more detailed perspective.

While all of the experts are trying to figure out the best alternative I'm just going to keep recycling and helping my neighbors recycle. Since we all have to drive our recyclables to the local recycling center, we take turns taking each others trash out.

One more thing, before I go, if you still use plastic grocery bags when you go food shopping, remember to recycle them when you go back to the store. Most grocery stores have bins outside that you can throw away your plastic bags. The best thing to do is to bring your own bags! It takes a little practice to get used to but you'll appreciate not having to deal with those plastic bags anymore.

Go to the Junk Raft Synopsis Page to learn more about the who and what of reforming how we think about plastic.

Is Recycling Actually Worth It?

I was in elementary school when the "Three R's" switched to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. I remember someone came into our classroom when I was in 1st grade and told us that the Ozone Layer was being destroyed. We all had to draw pictures afterwards. I drew a bull dozer lifting its bucket in the air and scraping the atmosphere away as if it were a floating pile of dirt.

This is pretty much how I still feel about most things related to the Three R's: Confused. Well, not totally. 'Reduce' and 'Reuse' are pretty easy. Buy in bulk to avoid over–packaging and reuse everything you can for whatever you can possibly think of. My Great Aunt Ree made pillows from old clothes and stuffed them with leftover plastic grocery bags, she is fabulous!

But 'Recycling' is sort of a hard process to grasp. For most of us, recycling means "lovingly" separating our recyclables and placing them in the proper container and carrying them down to the curb every week. That's easy, right? Sure, but what happens next? This is where I start to get confused, mainly because I trust that the people picking up garbage are going to take it where it will be recycled for future use.

I then hear the pessimists say that it's not actually recycled and I'm wasting my time. This makes me want to scream! But then again, I'm just taking my cans and bottles down to the road and waving goodbye. So what actually happens to all of our recyclables?

The short answer to "Is Recycling Actually Worth It?": Yes.

Why? Because I'm an optimist! Seriously, though, all systems take time to be fully adopted. With more research and public action, recycling can become very beneficial.

Take a look at this little chart:




How many people do you think use the least favored option?

This is the "Waste Hierarchy," which I found on Wikipedia while looking up information about recycling glass. Glass, for instance, is highly recyclable but it is even more beneficial to refill the bottles, rather than melting them down or manufacturing them from scratch. For glass, the waste hierarchy shows that it is most beneficial to refill, then recycle and least favorable to make from scratch.

But glass is generally not as big a problem as the dreaded Plastic!

In the next coming days I'll have more information, myths and proper practices for dealing with reducing, reusing and recycling your 'stuff', including a commentary on the Junk Boat.

Extreme Green: A Practical Incorporation

I would like to introduce a guest blogger today, Megan Lally, who is commenting on how you can take hints from the green extremes and incorporate them into your everyday normal life.

In every social movement, there is an "extremist" end to the whole ideology. And, the green movement is definitely no different. From remodeling one’s home or office to be 100% green to consuming only what you are able to grow to not having children (no joke, that is a recommended way to "cut down on resources.") And, this can all seem very intimidating. There’s no doubt that living green can be more expensive, and one could even argue time-consuming, but as the old saying goes, "moderation is the key!"

Food consumption may be the most familiar approach to living green. Environmentalists argue that you can easily sustain yourself on the garden variety. That is indeed a lovely idea, not to mention a great hobby. However, many factors exist that are not conducive to maintaining a year-long productive garden – place of residence, available time to care for your garden, climate, etc. Whatever those factors are, you can still “eat green.” Research your local farmer’s markets and support local businesses that carry locally grown food, thereby supporting the local economy. Two birds with one stone: healthy eating with responsible consumerism!

A growing trend in what could be categorized in the "elitist" conception of living green, is a complete overhaul of houses and offices so to include window paneling, insulation made of recyclable materials, and buying the latest in energy-efficient appliances. Again, lovely idea if you have the time and the money. In case you don’t have that time and money, you have the options of making your own cleaning supplies – both vinegar and baking soda can go a long way. Plus, you will have the added advantage of not spraying everything down with chemicals. You can also use natural paint, so that you and you family do not inhale toxic chemicals when you decide your family room needs a little pick-me-up.

Speaking of trends, buying a Hybrid also seems be a popular way of embracing the green lifestyle. Whether you are not able to purchase a Hybrid, or it is simply not practical for your needs, transportation alternatives are always available. Public transportation, carpooling, bicycling, and walking are the obvious choices. However, if you do not live in an area where these are viable alternatives, this can seem a bit out of reach. After all, cars are very handy. What you can do is make sure your car is environmentally friendly. This includes regular maintenance, like changing the oil and carbon filters, getting the most use out of your tires (ie. having them rotated regularly), and keeping the emissions in check. Once again, live green and the most mileage and years out of your vehicle.

And, these are only a few guiding suggestions. There are so many ways to incorporate green living in to your daily routine. It does not have to take over your life! Simple absorption of added awareness into how you conduct your daily routine can greatly improve your health, and give you the ability to say that you are, in fact, green. No longer will green living be an of-the-moment trend, but a lifestyle choice that you can implement and instill into everyday routines!

Big Green Business: Think Efficiency

Big Green Business: Think Efficiency

There is a lot you can do within your own company to green it up! I detailed these things in my previous post. It's great if you have your own business and you are proactive enough to want to initiate some change.

What about those other companies...the companies that made you never want to work for anyone else. They have policies, red tape, employee handbooks, protocols, the 'legal' department. If I was the policy writer for one of these companies my head would probably pop off. All of those great ideas have to be filtered through all the muck, and I'm sure it seriously taps your energy.

The good thing about these companies is if they see someone else doing it they will probably think it's a good idea, especially if you can download some kind of 'white paper' about the whole thing. (I'm shuddering and thanking my lucky stars that I work for myself right now!). Let's review the major points of easy change and I'll lead you to a few online references that you can insert right into your PowerPoint Presentation. Then email it, don't print it. It's your first step to becoming green.

Fascinatingly enough, my favorite resource greenbiz.com just wrote an article entitle "Taking Green Initiatives to the Next Level"

I think they are stalking me! Read on:

Most experts urge companies to start their green strategy with 'low hanging fruit' projects, such as replacing light bulbs, launching recycling programs or choosing more energy efficient technology. These early efforts don't cost much to implement, get employees engaged with green ideals and deliver quick results.

They have listed the basics that are easy. So what can turn your company from loving green to being green? Since there are no standards, I'll just say what, in my mind, makes a company green. The first step to being green is 'greening' your workplace with the simple low cost solutions. The second step would be to help others be green or to initiate some real change within your community.

An easy way is to donate some money. If you are going to donate money, please find out who you are donating it to and what they are going to do with the money. I know of several local non-profits that I wouldn't give a dime to after I met the people who worked there and after I researched where their money goes to.

If you want to do more than just write a check, create a program. One idea is to organize some volunteers, create a fundraiser and use the money you raise to clean up vacant lots and turn them into urban farms. Perhaps your fundraiser could be selling tickets to an Earth Day Networking Event, or you could sell fluorescent light bulbs, just make it something earth-friendly and get some kids to help.

Get some kind of green project going or contribute to one and tada! you are helping your community and giving your company some press. It's the best kind of PR. And if people see you actually working, not just rolling up your sleeves when the reporters show up, they will respect you a lot more because you are real.

Perhaps the best way of beginning a green project is looking at how others have done it. Here's an example of what Enterprise Rent-a-Car did from the greenbiz.com article:

Enterprise began its journey just two years ago with its 50 Million Tree pledge to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Through a public/private partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Enterprise launched an initiative through the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 50 million trees over the next 50 years — a gift worth more than $50 million dollars.

I think that is great! I'm going to say this, and it's not anti-Enterprise, but anti-established practice— What on Earth took them 2 years to figure this out? I could see it taking maybe 6 months to mete out the details. As a collective, I think we all need to stop talking about doing something and just do it. Just go plant a tree or give your employees a "day off" by having them go plant some trees instead of coming into work. If you want some press, write an article about it. Stop having committee meetings talking about what color t-shirts the volunteers should wear.

We need to become more efficient, not just in the materials we use, but the way we think. If you want something to get done, do it. If you are waiting on 'Sally' to answer a question, call her on the phone and ask her in person instead of emailing her and waiting five days for it. If you are 'Sally', please just reply to your emails as soon as you get them!

Thinking efficiently not only saves time, energy and resources, but gets you in the mode of finding creative solutions. For example, if you look at the Great Depression and the people from that era you will see everyday miracles. People lived off of the animals they hunted like groundhogs, squirrel, and other animals we now call pests that most people wouldn't think of eating today. I'm sure you have an aunt, uncle or grandparent that still hordes everything that comes their way. We all know that they do this because at one point in their life they had to. They had to rewire their brain to reuse every piece of material that came their way, and that is how they survived.

To bring this idea back around to what we are facing in today's world, we have all grown used to using what we want when we want to. We have to actively change the way the think and operate in order for the 'green' movement to have a permanent effect on our country's culture. Part of this takes leadership and changing the current 'mob-mentality'. Part of it takes corporate role models. Another part takes standing up for what needs to be done and doing it, holding nothing back until the task is complete; no excuses; no giving up.


So, I've sold you? Right. Are you looking down here for the white papers? Here are some online resources that you can use to present to your company's policy makers or use to write up a ROI analysis.

Get an overview of the current conditions: The State of Green Business Report 2008
Find statistics to help out your green initiatives:
What the US government says: The Green Business Guide
Study the Good Guys: 100 Best Corporate Citizens
The Good: Global 100: Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
The Bad: Toxic 100