Can an economy based on free stuff really, really work? It really, really does at local Really Really Free Markets across the globe, where people get together to share stuff like home-baked food, used clothing, and bike repair services (it's sort of like an offline Craigslist - freeloaders welcome). Laissez-faire and simple.
Electrolux and Kelly Ripa have teamed up to raise funds and awareness for Global Green USA to help support their healthy green schools initiatives across America.
As part of its Earth Day campaign, Electrolux is making a $1 donation to Global Green USA (with a minimum of $20,000 and maximum of $25,000) when you plant a flower in our virtual flower garden.
Besides collecting plastics caps from participating schools and stores, Aveda is encouraging people to bring in clean tops from shampoo, beverage and condiment bottles (such as ketchup and mayonnaise) to its retail stores. Aveda will then ship the caps to its own recyclers and use the material to make new caps for its hair and beauty products.
Remember those bottles you were recycling earlier? If you’re not already taking the caps to Aveda, screw them on loosely before you toss them in the bin. While former instructions told us to throw the caps away, the new rules say to keep them on. If polypropylene caps travel to a recycling plant and are not attached to a bottle, it’s very easy for them to jam machines or slip through cracks and get lost, defeating the whole purpose. During the grinding and wash process for #1 or #2 bottles, the bottle material will sink and the cap material will float. Then it’s just a matter of skimming them off the top and either selling or utilizing the caps for something else.
The same as any movement, the more people try to recycle polypropylene, the more widespread and easier it will become. It’s really a volume issue, just like anything else,if you don’t have a lot of volume, then it’s not going to sell.
Glass cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/2 tsp biodegradable liquid soap or detergent, and 2 cups water in a spray bottle.
All purpose cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 tsp borax) into 1/2 gal (2 L) water. Add essential oils to lose the eau de salad dressing.
Drain clog preventer: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 L water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For clogs, use a drain snake.
According to Angelica M. Baker, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Child Safety Passenger Specialist, “Garage sales and trash cans are not the answer to unwanted, old car seats – de-manufacturing and recycling is,” Baker explains. “This is the proper way to dispose of car seats. It’s important not to throw car seats in the dump. We have seen many cases where people will pull old car seats out of dumpsters or trash cans and use them.”
If you’re looking to get a car seat recycling program going in your community, you may have to do a bit of the “grunt” work. Disassembling car seats does require a little work, but it’s worthwhile. Not only will you help keep unsafe seats from being used, but you’ll prevent reusable materials like plastic and metal from being landfilled.
Your plastic containers won’t be turned away if the writing has faded from a few trips through the microwave. Paper can be recycled no matter how many times it is written on. A little creativity can give many recyclables in your house a second life before they go to the curb.
The Cedar Rapids Garden Club will hold it's annual Plant & Garden Sale on Saturday May 9, 2009, from 8:00am to 1:00 pm, at CornerHouse Gallery & Frame, 2753 First Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA. The plants are all specially grown by Occasions Florist, Piersons Florist, the Fairfax Nursery and our member's gardens. Available will be annuals, perennials, designer patio ready pots, herbs, heirloom tomatoes, new and gently used garden items, recipes, and gardening tips and presentations. Proceeds benefit our community beautification projects.
ReUseIt Network is an online group that promotes innovative reuse options. The network consists of groups across the U.S., as well as in several other countries. The network explains: “Our goal is to find new uses for unwanted items that would otherwise be thrown into the trash.”
Once you join the online group for your area, you can send messages to group members about particular items. “Simply list the item that you wish to give away and wait for someone to respond saying that he or she is interested in taking the item,” the network’s site explains.
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