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For those Georgians without cable or satellite TV and who do not have compatible TV’s for digital conversion, please do not throw your old TV into the trash can.  Instead, you can recycle it with…

Recycletronics^TM

at Tommy Nobis Center

1480 Bells Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30066

Recycletronics press release…

Many years of research and development have led to a unique process and machinery to recycle CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs and monitors just in time for the June 12 digital TV transition.  Tommy Nobis Center (TNC) has been licensed by MOLAM, the only EPA contractor for electronics recycling in the State of Georgia, to use the first complete TV and monitor recycling process in the United States.  Many recyclers either ship whole TVs overseas or partially process them (using older mechanisms such as “CRT Angel”) and then ship overseas.   However, Recycletronics’^TM  process utilizes a dismantling line, CRT Preprocessor, CRT Auto Cutter, and CRT Dry Washing system which produces clean furnace ready reusable glass here in Georgia.  This revolutionary process will soon be available nationwide through Recycletronics^TM authorized facilities.

 This innovative machinery helps keep our environment free of hazardous electronic material.  Our alliance and cooperation with Tommy Nobis Center provides “green” jobs for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, our process creates and supplies standardized reusable/resalable commodities such as glass, steel, copper, and plastics to the manufacturing sector. 

 Recycletronics^TM, under a take back program with Sony and Waste Management, is accepting all Sony electronics including TVs and monitors free of cost.  For other than Sony TVs or monitors, there is a $10 charge for the first TV and $5 for each additional TV or computer monitor. One hundred or more units are subject to special discounts (contact the depot for details).  All other electronics except kitchen appliances are recycled for free.  All donors receive a receipt for tax deduction.

 Recycletronics™ is a wholly owned Trademark of MOLAM International.

April is an exciting month…chalk full of Earth Day events that generate all sorts of awareness about our environment.  In the spirit of raising awareness, I wanted to share some interesting facts….

-1970 was a big year…the 1st Earth Day was held on April 22 and the EPA was established on December 2.

-The average American’s daily water use (for all purposes, including energy and industry) is 1,500 gallons .

-Of the 100 million tons of plastic produced each year, about 10 percent ends up in the ocean.  So, the next time you order seafood, think about what you might be eating.

-China has overtaken the United States as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

-Average waste produced by Americans each day in 2006 was 4.6 pounds per person.

-Paper bags take more water and energy to make than the production of plastic bags.  While both are recyclable, why not eliminate them altogether and use reusable bags.

-How many miles does your food travel to get to your plate?  An average of 1500 miles, so hit your local farmers market.

-Idling a car engine for more than 10 seconds emits more pollution than turning it off and back on again.

So, as April comes and goes, remember that you can make a difference 365 days a year by incorporating the 3 R’s in your daily decisions…REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE.

Green Marketing  is a crucial component for any entity whether big or small, start-up or well-established that integrates or wants to integrate environmental initiatives into their business objectives.   That said, I wanted to share some helpful links…

Green Claims - FTC guidelines and language

• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/energy/bus42.shtm
• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/general/gen02.shtm

Green Strategy- Credibility, Relevance, Effective Messaging, Differentiation   (excerpt from Joel Makower’s book, “Strategies for the Green Economy” )

• http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/11/24/the-four-simple-steps-pitch-perfect-green-marketing?page=0%2C0

Now, more than ever, it is critical for organizations to clearly & concisely state what their products’ and/or services’ green attributes are to avoid being thrown into the greenwashing category.    -Hadley

So, this week’s media coverage on the environment has produced some good and not so good news for us environmentalists.  I’ll start with the not so good news…according to a poll released this week by the Pew Research Center, climate change and other environmental issues are not a priority for US voters. 

• -Global warming came in last among 20 voter concerns.
• -Only 30 percent of the voters deemed global warming to be “a top priority,” compared with 35 percent in 2008.
• -41% of voters consider “Protecting the environment” a top priority, compared with 56 percent last year.

Read more about the above poll at…

Revkin, Andrew. “Environmental Issues Slide in Poll of Public’s Concerns.” New York Times 1/23/09.

Okay, on to the better news.   The Wall Street Journal reported this week that our efforts over the last 20 years to clean up our air has resulted in adding an average of 5 months to our lives.  So, hold your head high knowing that our country’s pollution reducing efforts have had quantifiable results that benefit each and every one of us.  This just shows that we can’t stop now!

Read more about these cleaner air findings at…

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123260018471605295.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

-Hadley

Coming from a beverage company, I know the importance of water…it is the main ingredient for every product.  As water becomes scarcer, companies, countries and individuals will be faced with many challenges…shortages, sanitation issues, etc.   Once a resource taken for granted, it is now considered a valuable commodity.  While action by multi-nationals and governments can be complex when it comes to how water is handled (or mishandled), us, individuals, can have a positive, immediate impact…CONSERVE.  It is that simple…take shorter showers, install aerators and low flow toilets, only run a full load of dishes or laundry, install rain barrels to your gutters and use for garden or landscape, etc.  

For a great overview on the global water situation, go to http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&ObjectId=MzIzMjg  (Source: Ethical Corporation via WBSCD)

-Hadley

Recently, I was at a Green Foodservice Alliance meeting and a restauranteur shared what he had implemented on the eco-front…1) a recycling program that has already diverted 75% of the restaurant’s waste from landfills and 2) he purchased biocompostable cups instead of plastic ones.  The latter brought up an interesting discussion about biocompostable cups and dishware.  He felt he was doing the right thing even if it did cost him a bit more because they would rapidly biodegrade in the landfills, as opposed to the plastic ones.  However, these items are only compostable in the right environment and a municipal landfill does not provide this because it is an anerobic setting.  Composting requires an aerobic setting (i.e. oxygen).   That said, he was frustrated and felt misled.  The real dilemma in all of this is the transparency & lack of information provided by companies that make and sell such products that claim to biodegrade.  While these companies are accurate about their products being biodegradable, they also need to clearly inform customers on how to properly dispose of their products (i.e.  sending to a composting facility and NOT a landfill).  Another thing these companies should highlight is the fact that their products are made from renewable resources, unlike their plastic counterpart which is made from nonrenewable resources, like petroleum.   I am sure there are more positive life-cycle attributes to biocompostables, so why not make sure these are communicated to the end-user.  This will only help people make better, more informed decisions.   -Hadley

Amidst all of the campaign rhetoric between the donkeys and the elephants of late, I am glad to see bipartisan legislation efforts are being made regarding the energy challenges ALL of us are facing.  The New Energy Reform Act of 2008 seems to be a good start at addressing these energy challenges.  The New ERA bill contains three main components:
• An intensive effort to transition vehicles to non-petroleum based fuels;
• a robust federal commitment to conservation and energy efficiency; and
• targeted, responsible domestic production of energy resources.*

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Congress can continue to work across party lines instead of against them and get the New ERA passed sooner rather than later.   -Hadley

For more information, go to:
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2008/2008-08-04-03.asp 
http://www.cfr.org/publication/17065/new_energy_reform_act_of_2008_new_era_bill_proposed.html

*Source:  Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), www.cfr.org, 2008

Today’s blog entry is not about the environment.  It is about remembering all of the innocent people who lost their lives in NYC, PA and the Pentagon and their families.   It is about being proud of our country and supporting the brave men & women fighting for freedom all around the world.   United we stand!

In today’s world, we are surrounded by technology everywhere we turn.  A lot of this technology comes in the form of small gadgets - like IPods, IPhones, Blackberrys, cell phones, GPS systems, video games, digital cameras, etc.  And, with having some or all of these devices, you have a bunch of wall chargers that you have to keep straight…UGH!  Don’t fret, there is a streamlined, eco-friendly solution for powering up all of these things…SOLIO.  SOLIO is an award winning, solar hybrid charger that comes with a variety of tips that plug into most of your handheld devices.   It is compact, durable and portable.  Its internal battery is charged via clean, free sunlight and holds its charge for a year.   If you happen to live in a cave or something, you have the option to charge SOLIO’s internal battery via a wall charger or a USB connection.  So, there you have it…simplify your life by getting rid of all of those product specific wall chargers and just take one SOLIO with you wherever you go.   www.solio.com