Bag it

A few weeks ago I went to a conference at which, instead of the standard bag-swag, they gave us a thin set of just-the-essential materials in one of those grass green HEB bags, donated by HEB. No, the bag wasn't as swank as some but it brought home the point: we can all find little and not so small ways to move away from overuse.

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.

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. Seattle adopted a zero waste strategy for the city in 2007. Austin approved a zero waste plan this past year. Also in 2009, Dallas County Commissioners Court passed a resolution for producer takeback recycling for electronic waste.

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.

San Antonio just started a committee on zero waste – to find out more, contact your City Council member or the City Solid Waste Department.

relief fund

My heart and thoughts are with the people of Haiti and all those who have lost loved ones there. If you are also moved to help with the rescue and recovery, NPR has put together a set of how-to-help resource links; and the San Antonio chapter of the American Red Cross is calling on all of us to donate to the relief fund. One immediate way to help, set up by the U.S. State Department and the Red Cross, is to text “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation. Feel free to use this space if you have other resources you'd like to share.

Happy holidays

As the holidays draw near, we are wishing you joy.

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.

TX Recycles Day

On a beautiful fall San Anto day, scores of people came out to learn about recycling in the city and pick up hints from Helioise, the keynote speaker.

At our table, kids--and no small number of adults--loved the puzzles/games on recycling and the Top Ten Reasons to Recycle. And many people signed up to get involved in community activism.

If you had the chance to come out, thank you! If not, here are a few links to online resources for kids:

Puzzle by TeacherVision

Wordsearches by Euless

and the latest Facts and Figures on Municipal Solid Waste in the US (EPA)

And an open question: What do you think are the best ways to teach recycling?

Texas Recycles Day this Saturday

This year, the city of San Antonio will once again host Texas Recycles Day to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling.

We'll be there - just look for the Sierra Club Alamo Chapter, Recycling Committee booth - hope you'll stop by and say hello!

The event will take place at 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14 at Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati.

Classes: You can take a class on composting and pick up information on grasscycling (people say that's a real word), water recycling, and cutting down on plastic bags.

Recycling and donating food items: Also, you can recycle gently used old sofas, mattresses, household appliances and electronic materials at this event--this is particularly a chance for apartment residents who don't have recycling options to drop off these items. And the San Antonio Food Bank will be on hand to collect non-perishable food items.

There'll be music and concessions through the day.

Check it out. For more info see the press release or visit www.sanantonio.gov/swmd.

Welcome

A Few Great Events coming up in October - Join us!
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!