Green Zone   Tags: climate_change, conservation, ecology, environment, global_warming, organic, pollution, recycling, waste_reduction  

The lazy environmentalist on a budget : save money, save time, save the planet 
by Josh Dorfman.

Have you replaced an appliance with a new, energy-efficient model? Congratulations! Use this link to find out how to recycle your old appliance, working or not.

Batteries pose a significant environmental threat and must be disposed of properly, not in the trash. Fortunately, it's more convenient than ever to drop off your used batteries:

• Many retailers collect old batteries; look for a bin at the checkout counter, and ask if you don't see one.
• The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility has expanded their open hours to Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They offer drive-through service so you don't even have to leave your car!

Remember, your old electronic gadgets create e-waste that must be recycled by a qualified recycling company. It's free, and some of them will even pick up.

It is illegal to dispose of universal waste with regular trash.  
Universal waste includes:

• Household Batteries
• Fluorescent Bulbs
• Mercury Thermometers
• Computers
• Printers
• Microwave Ovens
• VCRs
• Radios
• Cordless Telephones
• Cellular Telephones
• Answering Machines

For a complete list of products and local options for reuse/recycling, see Universal Waste Recycling.

Did you know that you can return your used compact fluorescent lightbulbs to Orchard Supply Hardware or The Home Depot for recycling?

Bonus: You can recycle your old cell phones by donating them to Project Second Chance, the Adult Literacy project of the Contra Costa County Library.

In October 2009 the Pleasant Hill Library embarked on an exciting new partnership with the City of Pleasant Hill to promote reuse, increase recycling, and help the city reach its goals for diverting solid waste from landfills. This resource guide is intended for use county-wide to find solutions for any recycling dilemma.

But "green" means much more than just recycling - be sure to check out the tabs in this guide for Green Living Ideas, Green Building, Healthy Gardens and Yards, Saving Energy, and Water Conservation.

The Green Zone was created in the Pleasant Hill Library to bring together its collection of books, magazines, and audio/visual materials making it easier to explore environmental concepts and solutions. Several other libraries, including Antioch, Lafayette, Oakley, Orinda, and Pittsburg have also designated a Green Zone to promote their collections of environmental materials. These collections were made possible with the generous support of the Friends of the Library group in each community.

Get Cash for your Trash! Use this guide to find a buy-back center near you and get paid to recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic bottles. Get the kids involved in this eco-friendly habit!

Unwanted or expired medications and medical equipment such as syringes and needles are hazardous to the environment and should never be disposed of in the trash, flushed down the toilet, or poured down the sink.

For proper disposal, you can:

• Find a collection facility at Cal Recycle.gov
• Take them to your local police department or the Sheriff's Office
• Ask if your pharmacy or medical facility accepts these items

In the midwestern town where I grew up, people routinely deposited their unwanted goods - furniture, appliances, lawn mowers, bicycles - at the curb, where they magically disappeared. We didn't even need to slap a "free" sign on it because it was understood that anything placed at the curb was up for grabs. My first apartment was furnished largely from curbside finds.
In California, this practice is discouraged, if not prohibited, but people still need to get rid of or acquire "stuff" that has useful life remaining.  Check out these organizations for help.

Books are difficult to recycle due to the glues used in their bindings, but you have a number of options:

Friends of the Library groups accept donations of used books, which may be added to the library collection, or "recycled" to other readers at their book sales.

Books for the Barrios is a good place to donate your old National Geographic magazines. They also accept some encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Used Book stores will often give cash or store credit for your books.  Find them in the telephone directory under Book Dealers - Used & Rare.

Used Textbooks can be donated or recycled through several organizations; see CalRecycle.

Q. Where can I recycle clothing that is too worn out to give to charity? What about fabric from sewing projects?

A. There is a market for worn-out clothing and fabric, which can be recycled into insulation and other products. Campus California TG is a non-profit that collects and sells used clothing. Find a donation box near you. (You can also cut up old t-shirts and towels and use them for rags.)

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(925) 646-6434 (outside county)

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The Story of Stuff is a fascinating 21-minute video created by Annie Leonard to begin a public discourse on a series of environmental, social and economic concerns. The Story of Stuff Project expands this discussion.

The story of stuff : how our obsession with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health--and a vision for change - Annie Leonard ; with Ariane Conrad.

The director of The Story of Stuff Project tracks the life of the "stuff" we use every day, transforming how we think about our patterns of consumption.

 

We all know where to recycle the bottles, but what about the corks?