Stop Junk Mail - Precycle!

Stop it before it happens with PRECYCLE!

Not having your mailbox stuffed with junk mail will make you a happier person.  Seriously!

This is one of those easy ways I talked about on how to be green.

Does "going green" stress you out?

I don't know about you, but this whole "going green" movement can sometimes feel overwhelming.  So much so that it can lead to green guilt!


There are several definitions of "going green."  I am going to use one I find to be basic and hopefully not difficult or overwhelming.

Going Green: A phrase referring to individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior, and lifestyle.  (Source: http://www.lohas.com/glossary.html)


People can pick how they want to adjust their habits.  You are not obligated to change your entire life, just decide what is important to you and how you can contribute.  Take into consideration that we are all living together sharing a large space we are responsible for.  Think of it like a homeowner's association.  


There are several ways to contribute that are not a hassle.  Think on a smaller scale.  I know when I read some articles about global warming, pollution, waste, etc. I get overwhelmed and feel like I can't even leave my house or else I'll make a bigger carbon footprint.  I'm sure that will become a condition with a fancy hard to pronounce name and one of those big pharmaceutical companies will capitalize on it with a  pill you can take for it soon!  Oh, did I type that out loud?? 


Alright, the easy basics, as I see it.  


REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE:  This should have been something we were all doing before the green movement right?  This does take some effort from your brain.  You will have to be conscious and present in your daily activities.  


Reducing - By avoiding one time use items such as, coffee cups, to go containers, plastic or paper grocery bags, regular shopping bags, you are reducing.  One really simple thing you can do is paperless billing.  That's just a couple of clicks on the old mc'puter and you're done.  That seems easy and if you need help there are several websites dedicated to tips on how you can reduce your impact.


Reusing - This means using something more than once.  What a concept!  Here's a couple of very simple ways to do that.  Reusable bags.  Leave them in your car at all times.  I will admit, I've forgotten mine and had to go back to my car to get them.  And yes, I'm lame and annoyed, but the more I do it, the less I forget and the more it becomes a habit.  Another easy way is carry a reusable drinking device.  This can be a coffee tumbler, a water container, or whatever you want it to be as long as it can be reused.  That is a small enough way to help out that will greatly help the environment.  And again, if you want more tips just google it up.  I don't want to overwhelm you with too many ideas in this one little article...


Recycling - This does take more effort than just tossing it in the garbage can.  It's a little work, but I think it's worth it.  Several homes have recycling bins.  Many of them take mixed.  So you don't have to be exhausted by separating your glass, plastic and paper.  In addition to the leading three of recycling, there are a lot of other items that can be recycled.  Plastic bags are a big one.  Grocery stores should have plastic bag recycling bins or take them back.  But it you have a reusable bag, you don't even have to worry about this.  Things that you can't recycle at home like electronics and tennis shoes can be taken to your local recycling center.  Here's an idea, so you don't feel like I've added an inconvenient errand to your list.  If you have a Goodwill pile, this happens around whenever your "spring cleaning" time is, put your recyclable items in a pile near that one.  On the day you make your trip to Goodwill, swing by the recycle center with your e-waste and tennis shoes.  Nike recycles shoes and uses them for new ones.  Surprised?  So was I.


Alright, that's my piece.  I'm not going to push your attention span for green.  I think those are easy ways to start.  If you have questions, send them my way.  If you have comments, send them my way.  Next time we'll talk about buying green products.  Don't be scared, we're layering our green!

Green your morning coffee!

Maybe you've heard of this small coffee shop called Starbuck's.  I'm pretty sure you might have one on your local corner and across the street from that one is probably another one.  If you're unsure, just get the Starbuck's iphone application to direct you, become their friend on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.  Your choice.  What comes with millions of people enjoying their morning, afternoon and evening java across the country, and probably the world, is lots and lots of disposable cup and accessory waste.  3 billion or more to be more exact.  As of now, Starbuck's is aiming toward greener horizons with this plan of action:

What we’re working on.

Our goal is that by 2015 100 percent of our cups will be reusable or recyclable. To help achieve this goal, we’ve made the following commitments:

• Developing and launching recyclable hot and cold cups by 2012
• Reducing paper and plastic cup usage in our stores by 25 percent by using reusable mugs instead
• Having recycling available in our stores
• Re-establishing glassware or ceramic mugs as our global standard for our customers who enjoy their beverages in our stores
• Converting all of our plastic cups to polypropylene in our stores in North America and Latin America, and Foodservice accounts by 2009

(Source:  http://www.starbucks.com/SHAREDPLANET/environmentalInternal.aspx?story=greenerCups)

This is positive, but how many Starbuck's are offering recycling?  The ones I have been at do not offer recycling, but have recycling posters in the window.  Seems odd.  A press release from their site states the following:

Our policy for Starbucks company-operated stores is that where recycling services are available, stores are expected to recycle.  
(Source: http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=792)

So here's how we should green up our coffee.

1.  Take your own coffee/beverage drinking device, usually called a mug, tumbler, thermos and the like. Starbuck's offers a 10 cent discount if you do.  I know, not amazing, but it's 10 cents and you're helping to save the environment.

2.  Recycle what you can.  The hot cups are not recyclable, but a lot of the other items are.  There are the cardboard sleeves, straws, plastic cups, paper, etc.

3.  Ask your local Starbuck's to provide recycling.  They have a lot of other waste like milk jugs and cartons behind the scenes that should be recycled.  I know one person asking the random high school student behind the counter is not going to do it.  So be active and leave a comment or write the manager or owner.  Start a local petition or a nicer word like neighborhood suggestion?  Tell me and I'll spread some Green Justice!

We want to work together.  If they are making the efforts they claim, it should be upheld in every store.  Taking your own mug will help eliminate the billions of cups going into our landfills and taking up who knows how much space.  Can you imagine what 3 billion Starbuck's cups look like?  And that's just one year's worth.  Whoa.

It's an easy way to be eco-conscious (and feel good about yourself) so it's a win win!

Do you have a fruit tree?

SAVE THE FRUIT!

It's that time in the LA area that fruit trees are producing.  Let's not let those oranges go to waste!  We have an orange tree and there are a million oranges on it.  Most of them usually go unused and are wasted by falling on the ground to their rotting death.  This season let's save the orange!  I'm picking them and the extra are going to friends and food banks.  You can find your local food bank or donation center by a simple google search.  That's what I did and I promise I found one in under 60 seconds.  It's an easy and free way to help out.  If I see a fruit tree going unused I'm knocking on your door!

365 Days of Trash - OH MY!

This guy saved all his garbage in his basement for a year as an experiment.  Now that is dedication.  Click here to read all about it!

http://365daysoftrash.blogspot.com/

Recycle Puhhhhleeeeaaaseee.

We have two huge blue paper recycle bins in our office area.  Both next to regular trash cans.  I look in the trash and see lots of paper.  Not cool peeps.  If you take two steps to your right the paper will go to be recycled.  I pulled the paper out and put it in the recycle bin, but I won't always be around to trash dive.  Please be aware.  And if I see you, I'll catch you and you'll get a taste of Green Justice!

Littering...Just don't do it

While I'm in the start up phase of this blog I'm going to share some really easy ways you can be green friendly.  Let's start with littering.  Now before this whole green idea came into play, I'm pretty sure littering was frowned upon.  But now with the code red on our environment, I'm hoping even the laziest person can find a freaking trash can.  Here's how easy it is:

Model: Marc Zakalik  Photo: Rick Radomski