Monday, January 25, 2010
Bag it
Take bags, for instance. While bans on plastic bags are gaining momentum worldwide, there's debate about whether that just leads to more use of paper. It's possible to limit or eliminate both--by going TOTE. The humble tote is strong, has handles, can be re-used, and is good for everything from books to fruit. It is said (though not confirmed) that a well-made tote can replace 1000 plastic bags. That doesn't mean we oughta go tote-buying-crazy. As Pablo Paster points out, the production of bags of all types of material (canvas, cotton, polyester, polypropyline) does have its impact. But within reason, the reusable bag beats disposables, handles down.
Don't want to buy totes new? Need a project for kids or the kid in you? Kismit and Morsbags show you how to make your own tote from materials you already own.
And here's a video to share by Good Magazine.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A Weed is a Plant
A movement is afoot that deserves our attention: the quest for Zero Waste. The zero waste case brings to mind the quote by Emerson that a weed is just “a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” That connection may not be coincidental, as zero waste takes its cues from the natural world. In nature, it’s pointed out, cycles “function without producing waste.”
Here are a few examples of companies and cities striving to reduce waste or to go waste-free. According to Eco-Cycle, Fetzer Vineyards reuses and recycles paper, cardboard, glass, and other materials, and composts thousands of tons of grape pomace a year. The winemaker has reduced waste to landfills by 96 percent since 1990 and is pursuing a zero waste-goal. Hewlett-Packard is recycling metal, cardboard and plastic, diverting over 90 percent of solid waste and reportedly saving a million a year.
Artists are also playing a part. The late San Antonio artist, Rhonda Kuhlman, gave new life to castoff bottle caps and candy wrappers, converting them into sculpture and jewelery. You can visit her work--and tributes to Rhonda--online at Rock Paper Scissors Collective--a collective that she started with fabric artist Jane Bishop.
Where waste is recognized as a resource, rather than a useless byproduct, all sorts of creative new ways to convert so-called garbage into gold emerge. And the concept urges us upstream—to look for processes that eliminate waste altogether.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
relief fund
Monday, December 7, 2009
Happy holidays
The season in all its glamor is also a chance to trim back the pomp/circumstance and focus on the things that really matter. A day off to hike, cook, raise a glass, light candles, hibernate(?) Maybe an evening with friends; a go-cart race; a trip to Enchanted Rock(?) Dancing! To set the mood, here are a few tips for a greener holiday.
Top of the list is to wrap gifts in old maps and comic pages. Don't know about you but that really takes me back...
And if that weren't enough, fans of re-use at Stanford tell us that "If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields." No elves have been dispatched to test this, but it is Stanford.
So here's to your holiday being bright. To things that cost nothing but mean the most. And to all you do to make the world a better place.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
TX Recycles Day
Monday, November 2, 2009
Texas Recycles Day this Saturday
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Welcome
Oct. 2: First Friday tabling - look for us out front of the now-opening Friendly Spot icehouse (former location of King Willie's on South Alamo)
Oct 10th: CPS Livegreenfest - sharing a booth with the fabulous Cove Restaurant - NOTE: this event is postponed due to rain - we'll keep you posted on new dates.
A Few Quick Tips for Promoting Recycling in San Anto:
Each day, you, me and everyone we meet can take a simple, everyday step to make our city a better place. We can all reduce, reuse, and recycle to keep our bills down and keep useful material out of landfills.
If you already have curbside recycling at your house: you can make the most of it by recycling not only the usual glass bottles and jars, but also paper of almost all types, plastics (labled #1 - #7) and metal. For questions: call "311."
If you live in an apartment or are a business owner and don't yet have recycling, you can help us secure recycling options by signing and circulating this petition. If you're a tenant, you can also ask your property manager what plans are underway to set up recycling.
Meanwhile, on this blog you'll find a raft of resources to help, brought to you by the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club.
We hope to hear from you: You can post your stories and suggestions here!