An Education In Smart Reuse

Over a hundred dedicated teachers form a line outside the Cobb County School System warehouse on a chilly winter morning. Inside the cavernous stockroom a few dozen volunteers prepare donated materials for the Teachers Supply Store quarterly open house.

School budgets are getting tighter than normal. Teachers get creative and purchase supplemental teaching supplies with their own salaries. Local companies and manufacturers have overstock, outdated products and byproducts that don't belong in the landfill. The nonprofit organization provides a helpful solution to repurpose useful items, transforming them into free educational materials.

Items such as carpet samples, fabric swatches, rolls of colored paper, twine, containers, buckets, cardboard storage boxes, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, MDF (medium-density fiber board), spools, specimen cups, and wooden blocks are used for science or art projects or classroom displays. Local companies also donate bulk quantities of paper, books, binders, posters, plastic storage bins, ink toner cartridges, envelopes, folders, and furniture.

Educators show proof of employment (school I.D., paycheck, or letter from an administrator) to enter the open house. Home school teachers are also permitted with a letter of intent. Teachers come from nearby counties and can take whatever they can carry out. First timers bring tote bags or boxes while seasoned open-housers graduate to push carts, rolling extra large suitcases, or brand new trash cans on wheels.

Already overflowing landfills get a break. Companies find a better use for unwanted items. Teachers’ pocketbooks are spared while accessing helpful education materials. Students benefit by stretching their creative imagination.

Visit the Teachers Supply Store for more information, to donate items, and the date of the next quarterly open house.

Closer to Home

This season's unusually frigid winter (dumping snow on 49 states) and the recent email admission from environmental scientist (dispelling the hype surrounding Global Warming) have some people reconsidering the importance of going green. If skepticism convinces us to forget about curbing greenhouse gas emissions, offsetting our carbon footprint, turning to more sustainable power, then maybe the new documentary Garbage: The Revolution Starts at Home, will bring the message closer to where we live.

If “seeing is believing” than filmmaker’s, Andrew Nisker, latest project should persuade Doubting Thomases that the issue of careless human consumption is a physically real problem after all. How much does one family consume and discard over a 3-month period is answered in eye-popping detail.

The family under scrutiny, Glen and Michele McDonald, agree to account for every piece of trash they create. Rather than haul away with the weekly garbage pickup, the McDonald’s trash quickly piles up in their garage. Nisker follows the trash cycle to expose the ugly truth of where our trash goes once it’s out of our sight. From kitchen scraps, bathroom waste, plastic water bottles and shopping bags, to the energy used to power Christmas lights and the fuel burned driving around town, viewers will begin to assess their own consumption and waste.

The social experiment and modern day archeological dig reveals what and how much our average society regularly uses and throws out. Without the unnecessary drama of witnessing a sea turtle choking on one of millions of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean, the visual magnitude of 3 months’ worth of household trash and where it eventually ends up should be enough to question our consuming behaviors. Thankfully the film is not available in Smell-O-Vision.

Show times on the Sundance Channel: Tuesday, February 23 (9 PM), Wednesday, February 24 (4:15 AM), and Sunday, February 28 (11 AM). The film is also available for purchase as an educational tool.

Protect Your Identity and the Environment

Today correspondences are received instantly and electronically saving time and natural resources. Paper trails consist of emails, texts, and PDF attachments. In some instances, hard copy documents containing sensitive personal information are printed out and filed for legal purposes.

Depending on the type of paperwork, organizational experts suggest households and businesses retain hard copy files for 3-5 years. Over the years these files add up. It’s not safe to dispose of files into the curbside recycling bin or into the dumpster without shredding. Rather than burn out the motor on a small home office shredder and fill up the landfills, Atlantans are encouraged to bring their old files* and the entire family for a fun day of activities at the 4th annual Great Shredder Event.

This year’s festivities is Saturday, Feb. 6th from 10 am – 4 pm at the Gwinnett Stadium. Sponsored by CBS Atlanta News and Bank of America, the event will include food, prizes, raffle, and a chance to meet your favorite CBS Atlanta News celebrity. Ask your “Tough Question” on camera, to be filmed for a future newscast.

Last year’s event shredded over 200 tons of paper - equivalent to saving 3,400 trees, 76,000 gallons of oil, 600 cubic yards of landfill, 800,000 kilowatts of energy (equals enough energy to power 71 houses per year), 1.4 million gallons of water, and 12,000 pounds of air pollution.

Also accepted this year for safe recycling are select electronics: Computers, Computer monitors, Computer keyboards, Computer mice, Fax machines, Printers, Printer ink cartridges, Gaming consoles, DVD players & VCRs, Cell phones & cell batteries, and Stereo systems. Electronics not accepted at this event include: TV's, Microwaves, and Major appliances.

Donations of non-perishable food products will also be accepted by the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Items most needed are: Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna, Canned Beans, Canned Soups, Stews and Pastas, 100% Fruit Juice, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Macaroni and Cheese Dinners, and Whole Grain, Low Sugar Cereals.

Protect your identity and the environment. Get into the spirit and bring your team down to the stadium a day before the Super Bowl for a day of fun and safe recycling.

*Shredding Restrictions: 5 boxes/trash bags per person. No metal or plastic attachments. No newspapers, magazines or phone books.

Flush It Down Comes Around

Every living creature on the planet relies on water to survive. Yet our drinking water is compromised when chemicals are inadvertently introduced into our water systems. Millions of unused medications (over the counter and prescription) are disposed of in the trash, washed down sinks, or flushed into toilets.

Municipal water treatment plants are not equipped to filter out these medications. Several studies reveal chemicals are seeping into our environment harming the organisms in the water as well as those who use, drink, play, and work in it.

In some states, strict laws govern the handling and proper disposal of prescription drugs. In addition to preventing medications from falling into unauthorized hands, when ready to be disposed of they are considered household hazardous waste. Take-back collection programs can only be managed with the presence of law enforcement agencies that have received approval from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Residents of Cobb County, Georgia have four opportunities in February to drop off unused pharmaceuticals for proper disposal. Together with Kaiser Permanente, Keep Cobb Beautiful is offering the first ever Medication Disposal Program for the public. Items accepted for drop off include: liquid and pill form medications, sharps and needles, diabetes materials, catheters, tubing, etc. No durable medical equipment (CPAP, nebulizers, etc).

Drop off will only be allowed at participating Senior Centers between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon on select Saturdays (see schedule below). In compliance with Federal law, volunteers and law enforcement personnel will be at each location to collect medications and properly dispose of them during these scheduled days and times ONLY. Drop off will not be allowed at any other times.

From 9 a.m. to noon at the following participating locations on the Saturday indicated:

February 6
Windy Hill Senior Center, 1885 Roswell Street, Smyrna, GA

February 13
North Cobb Senior Center, 4100 Highway 293, Acworth, GA

February 20
East Cobb Senior Center, 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA

February 27
West Cobb Senior Center, 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs, GA

For more information, visit Keep Cobb Beautiful.

Project Overcoat

The holidays may be over but the spirit of giving doesn’t have to end. With families financially struggling through the current economy and frigid winter temperatures still lingering, generosity is as simple as donating coats and blankets. Donating reusable items is a good way to recycle and reduce items from entering the landfill.

Project Overcoat, an annual coat and blanket collection drive, kicked off on January 12 and runs through January 23. The goal is to collect and distribute over 17,000 new and gently used coats and blankets to be distributed through more than 60 nonprofit agencies serving men, women and children in need in metro Atlanta.

The annual event is sponsored by Atlanta Union Mission, FOX 5, KISS 104.1 FM, FedEx, Kroger and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Project Overcoat donation boxes are located at metro Atlanta Kroger stores. Federal Express picks up the collections and delivers them to the Atlanta Union Mission. The United Way along with the Atlanta Union Mission coordinate the distribution to the more than 60 agencies in need.

Giving is good for your spirit, helps those in need, and helps the environment by keeping items out of the trash. Rummage through your closets for extra coats and blankets and visit your area Kroger today. Share your generosity and keep the giving spirit going through the year.

Reuse for Medical Equipment

Regardless of which side of the debate you take when it comes to the state of the American healthcare system, we can agree there are some who cannot afford access for basic healthcare needs. Each of us have either experienced a sprained muscle or broken bone once in our lives or know of a family member, colleague, or friend who has. Proper and immediate medical care is necessary to ensure recovery and reduce pain and discomfort.

The average healing time is about 8-10 weeks often aided by the use of medical equipment such as crutches, braces, orthotics, prosthetics, slings, and ace bandages. While most medical plans cover these expenses, some individuals simply can’t afford them. For those of us who can, what becomes of the equipment after we’ve recovered and no longer need them? Do they linger in our garages, attics, or closets, or end up donated to a thrift store or thrown out in the trash?

Embraced, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to collecting and distributing gently-used orthopaedic equipment to needy individuals. They aspire to distribute one million pieces, domestically and internationally, by the year 2011. Currently, the grass roots operation has 16 collection sites in the greater Atlanta area, located in doctor’s offices, physical therapy/rehabilitation clinics, gyms, and high schools. Pick up can be arranged for items that won’t fit into collection containers (i.e. wheelchairs, hospital beds and other items).

In addition to donations of equipment, Embraced welcomes financial donations through PayPal, corporate sponsors, and community-sponsored fundraiser events. 100% of donations goes towards funding the project’s mission. For more information, visit www.embracedatlanta.org or call (404) 592-4569.

Recycling Resolution

As you prepare to start the New Year, did “Be more green” make it onto your list of resolutions? Start by considering the waste generated through the holiday season and vow to make your 2010 greener. The following are a few post-holidays recycling tips.

Packaging

When possible, save reusable bits of wrapping paper, tissue, ribbons, gift bags and boxes for reuse for future gifts. Sort by type and neatly store in large gift bags hung on hangers in the spare closet. Recycle plastic clamshells and cardboard packaging in the curbside recycling bin.

For future gift giving reduce packaging by using gift bags and decorative boxes that don’t require additional

paper wrapping. Just add a fabric or biodegradable raffetta bow. Consider greener packaging options like biodegradable paper, post-consumer paper, newspapers (such as the brightly colored comics section), brown craft paper or butcher paper decorated with food coloring instead of paint or glitter (which shouldn't be composted).

The UPS Store accepts returned packing peanuts or, better yet, find the type that biodegrades in water. Instead of packaging peanuts, use crumbled newspapers, craft paper or popped popcorn for cushioning. Ask the recipient of your gifts to "Please Recycle" after they've opened their gifts.

Greeting Cards

While many electronic holiday cards are available, there’s something special about receiving handwritten greetings the old fashioned way. When purchasing greeting cards, avoid those that feature foiled envelopes and embellishments. These can’t be tossed into recycle bins. Look for cards made from recycled content which can be recycled again. Look for speciality cards made with compostible paper or seed cards (that can be torn

up and planted to sprout up spring flowers).

A few creative ways to reuse old Christmas cards include cutting off the backs and making them into postcards, gift tags, ornaments or decorations. Frame or laminate the most sentimental or prettiest ones to display on tables, walls or mantels.

School classrooms can use old cards for craft projects, illustrations, laminated placemats or coasters. Cut off the backs of old cards, bundle and send by U.S. Post to St. Jude's Ranch - they will make new cards from old ones. Send to: St. Jude’s Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude Street, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006.

Lights

Trade in your old string of lights for energy efficient LED strands. They burn cooler, last longer, and use

much less electricity. Check out sales after the holidays.

Christmas Tree

For some, artificial trees may be easier and cleaner to set up and maintain than fresh cut trees. Them come prelight, don’t require water, won’t shed needles, and are better for the allergy prone. A quality one will last for many years and won't require driving around town each year to pick up.

For those who prefer real Christmas trees, the benefits are they produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, and provide shelter for wildlife while they are growing on tree farms. Trees are are harvested when they are about 4-5 years old. Tree farms plant replacement saplings for those that are cut. If you purchased one with

it’s root ball still intact, you can plant it in your yard after the holidays.

Some communities offer curbside pick up of yard waste, including Christmas trees, but branches must be cut down to less than four-feet long and bound by twine. In some areas, trees are sunk to the bottom of lakes, ponds, or the ocean to create temporary shelter for fish. Trees can also be chipped for mulch. Additionally, fresh greenery from wreaths or centerpieces can be composted. Make sure to remove all the lights, ornaments and tinsel before recycling.

As a part of a statewide effort, Keep Georgia Beautiful hosts the annual Bring One for the Chipper on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Participating recyclers will receive a seedling while supplies last. Find participating locations at the KGB web site.

Check with your local solid waste department, Boy Scout troop, or Keep America Beautiful affiliate for more participating Christmas tree recycling events and year round recycling efforts. Have a Happy Green New Year.