There is an organization known as the Earth Friendly Products which caters for the establishment of healthy atmosphere. If you are sincere to the concept of safe guarding the catastrophic problems of green harm, this organization is the response for you. The products they design or produce will give the same effect as that of any other chemical based substances but the toxic effects are removed.

The toxic contained materials are replaced by the bio degradable environmental materials. These materials do not cause impairment to your skin or do not cause any irritation to the eyes, neither do they accumulate the poisonous substances in your body.

Earth Friendly Products indicate stringent class control measures. The four needed stringent conditions they insist on are, the ingredients have to be vegetation based, they do not deplete the rain forest, they cause no scratch to the endangered species, and completely, they abide by the conventional rules of fair trade practices.

With this they not only ensure their products are bio degradable and healthy but also ascertain equal wages and contemplation for the people who are engaged in these activities. The products do not break the ecosystem.

We have to be confident of our requirement for the products by the Earth Friendly. Their strategic focus is the cleaning materials. The cleaning materials hitherto gathered are all contain a lot of bad for you chemicals. By the use these green products we can be sure of not exposing ourselves to the ill effects of the harmful chemicals.

The examples of Earth Friendly Products include bath room supplies which, are free from petroleum and other caustic materials, bleach and chlorine are removed from laundry and kitchen supplies, the cleaners provisioned for intricate wood have vital oil for the upkeep and freshness of the wood. Besides, there are products above all, for the pets, which do no stick their furs even when exposed to the animals for long. The vital components of the Earth Friendly Products are that of citrus, corn, and convinced other herbal and plants.

The Earth Friendly Product is a Green Patriot certified company having complied with their stringent requirements and it is one of the top ten companies in the world dealing in similar products. This company can give clear lines and practical materials for those consumers who are enormously zealous on living natural. The products are offered in US, UK, Canada and European and Asian countries. You can place orders through online at the luxury of your home.

For the consumers determined to have a natural lifestyle, the response is in the form of Earth Friendly Products. The products of Earth Friendly Products are contemporary in US, UK, Canada and many of the European and Asian countries. The Earth Friendly adopts the latest scientific developments and keep on updating the technologies in commensurate with the requirements of the atmosphere. If you are interested to know further, internet will give you the required information.

Timothy Greensland
Get more info concerning green friendly and earth friendly baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/earth-friendly-products-and-natural-environment-1742760.html

Technorati Tags: catastrophic problems, contained materials, earth friendly products, environmental materials, harmful chemicals

Office environments can be brutal to the environment. With all the electricity being used for lights and computers, plus all the paper and office supplies going into the garbage every day, there certainly are a lot of environmental hazards. The good news is that cutting down on the environmental waste is very easy to do in offices. By simply putting a few practices into motion, you can easily make your office space a green space! Clear-Environment.co.uk have provided some easy to implement tips below.

1. Save Electricity

l Instead of taking the elevator every day, use the stairs. Not only will you be saving energy, but you’ll also be getting your daily dose of exercise too!

l Turn your lights off every time you leave your office or area, even if it’s only for ten minutes. The notion that you use more electricity turning lights on and off simply isn’t true. You use less electricity when you aren’t using it.

l Use windows to their maximum capacity. Draw back the curtains and let all that natural light in! You might not even need to use a light at all.

l Turning off your cell phone when it’s finished charging is another great way to save electricity. Leaving your phone turned on once it’s finished charging actually uses just as much electricity as when it’s charging.

l Use energy saving tools on devices such as computers, printers, and photocopiers. Check to see if any of these have a standby feature that they could stay in when not in use or shut them down when possible.

l When it’s time to leave for the day, unplug all of the machines. When machines are kept plugged in, there is still electricity moving through the plug. Unplug everything, and know that there is no electrical activity going on when you’re not there.

l Turn down the heating or air conditioning when you leave for the day so that there’s not energy being wasted when there’s no one there.

l During the summer months, close the blinds partially. This will keep the room from heating up and using more air conditioning.

l Use only as much water and coffee grinds as you need for your office. If you’re the only drinking coffee, don’t make a whole pot.

2. Reduce Supplies

l Keep track of how much paper and toner you use. Just keeping track of how much paper you’re wasting is sure to make you pay attention to it and reduce the number. Use any paper that can’t be used for scrap paper. Use it to take messages, write reminders, etc.

l Instead of making copies of very large documents, email them or put the document together in a Power Point presentation.

l When possible, read documents on the computer rather than printing them out.

l Always use the “Print Preview” option before printing something out. This will let you see if there are mistakes in your document and save you from printing it out twice.

l Email phone messages and other messages instead of writing them on paper.

l Regularly update mailing lists and delete any that are out of date.

l Don’t use fax cover sheets when you don’t absolutely have to.

l Create business cards for departments rather than for individual people.

l Use scrap paper that has writing on one side to create draft documents. Always make sure that all staples and paper clips have been removed.

l Change printer settings so that “Draft” qualities are being printed rather than “Best.” This will reduce the amount of times you’ll need to print the document.

3. Share Stationary

l Ask that reports be printed once and passed around the office for everyone to read instead of printing out a different report for every person.

l Share supplies such as staplers, hole punches, etc. instead of buying each person their own.

l Use labels that can be reused for sending out packages and then reuse the packages.

l Use tape dispensers and pens that are refillable rather than buying new ones.

4. Recycle

l Buy recycled paper products. Make sure that anything that will be going through a machine such as a printer or photocopier can handle high volumes of recycled paper. Also buy re manufactured toner rather than buying new.

l Use recycling bins. Set a few up for paper, aluminum, and cardboard and place them throughout the office.

l Use a reusable mug for your coffee instead of using a paper or plastic cup several times a day.

l Car pool with a friend on the way to and from work or take the bus.

5. Pass It On

l Tell your office that you’re going green and encourage everyone to join in!

Going green is especially important in today’s day and age when everyone’s worried about using up our resources and reducing consumption. Office spaces are one of the easiest places to go green, and maybe even save some overhead costs too!

Clear Environment.co.uk provide of sustainable and environmentally friendly office clearance, for more information please visit Environment.co.uk

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/top-tips-for-going-green-around-the-office-1736851.html

Technorati Tags: electrical activity, environmental waste, office environments, saving energy, use the stairs

“Bt brinjal (eggplant) gets biotech regulator’s approval”, said the headline in an Indian newspaper.

The story went on to report that a key government committee has cleared the way for the first genetically modified food crop in the country. The company producing the genetically-modified eggplant seed says it has been tested for nine years and is fully compliant with guidelines and directives issued by government regulators. They claim that a million farmers will benefit because this strain of brinjal has been engineered to resist common pests that have hindered production in recent years.

Greenpeace India has questioned the bio-safety of this product and asked the government to hit pause and hold off on the commercial sale of this seed. Greenpeace commissioned a study by a prominent French scientist, who concluded that Bt Brinjal may present a serious risk to human and animal health.

Further, environmentalists like Vandana Shiva of the Navadanya movement have objected to genetically-engineered foods for fear of damage to surrounding land. The only other genetically-modified crop in India is a non-food, cotton, and it has increased costs to farmers.  

Shiva and other environmentalists also warn of the ingenuity of nature; pest mutations and strains can break through specific genetic modifications. In addition, moralists argue that seeds are nature’s gift to mankind and should not be subject to profiteering by large corporations at the cost of individual consumers and farmers.

How do we, as lay people, react to this debate? I have watched e-mail exchanges on Yahoo groups and noted that while a few people raise concerns, for most of us science is like religion. We barely know enough to understand the positive and negative impact. Many of us view these developments as unstoppable. Helplessly, we are willing to live with the consequences.

To me, genetically modified foods are problematic for several reasons. First, the human body is incredibly complex.  I don’t think science understands the way the body works in the same we understand, say, how an automobile works. As an example, on something as basic as our diet, there are varying opinions on the impact of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. We embrace diets that later turn out to be bad for us. Many people know more about what grade of gasoline to put in our cars than what food to put into our bodies.

Second, any impact of genetically modified food on the body could be long-term and difficult to identify. Only after decades of smoking have we realized the ill-effects of cigarettes. Even seemingly rigorous testing has not prevented the release of harmful drugs like Vioxx. In effect, the health of a billion Indians depends on a handful of scientists who are paid by the government to review mounds of data produced by many more scientists paid by drug and food companies.

Third, the best data links intensive, industrial farming using chemicals – fertilizers and pesticides – with soil erosion; the reduction in fertility rates; and barrenness of farmlands.

I recently met Nammalwar, an agricultural scientist who has dedicated his life to promoting ecological farming. He makes a compelling case for going back to nature’s zero-waste design of growing crops, trees and animals in a farm – and allowing the waste of one species to act as a food for the other. His own experiences have shown that ecological farming, at a fraction of the cost, produces much higher yields per hectare than intensive farming.

Human beings have a much shorter time on this planet than the flora and fauna. Until a few centuries back, we battled nature but did not have the weapons to do much damage. Unfortunately, the last two hundred years have led to environmental weapons of mass destruction.

We need a different approach to deciding on the fate of future generations – an approach that is holistic, inclusive and sustainable. Can we really afford to leave it to the hands of a few scientists, economists and politicians? It’s up to us. It’s up to you. What do you think? Share your thoughts and get involved.

Sudhakar Ram believes that we have the potential to create a sustainable world and live in harmony with our environment. However, this would require a fundamental shift in our mindsets – the “constructs” that drive our attitudes and actions. The New Constructs is his initiative to leverage Connected Intelligence in realizing the Connected Age. What can we in the New Constructs community contribute to global governance mechanisms? Please feel free to comment. We look forward to your active participation.

Sudhakar Ram is Chairman and Co-Founder of Mastek, a leading IT solutions company specializing in providing IT platforms and applications for large and complex transformation programs like the London Congestion Charging Scheme, and the National Health Service in the UK.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/concerns-about-genetically-modified-food-1734753.html

Technorati Tags: brinjal eggplant, french scientist, government regulators, mail exchanges, yahoo groups

In Danville, Virginia, city fathers are planning to use stimulus funding, via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (distributed through the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Formula Block Grant), to install solar panels on the city’s market building in December.

The $202,000 grant will fund a 25-kilowatt (or larger) installation, for which Danville city officials are already seeking request for proposals. The contractor chosen must design, procure, install and commission the system.

The market is actually a train freight depot, now unused, that serves as a farmer’s market and community activities building located in the Dan Complex, or “Crossing of the Dan”, in the historic Tobacco Warehouse District.

Completed, it will be the first major solar photovoltaic installation in the region, and officials hope it provide enough electricity for the entire building (which will still rely on a gas-powered heating system).

More important, the solar energy system – which represents the city’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainable environment – will encourage other businesses in the community to go solar.

Any energy not used for the market, as in winter, will be fed back into the grid, according to Danville Deputy City Manager Joe King.

The project is calling for both solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal energy (hot water heating), and the wording of the RFP suggests that any firm winning the bid would also be engaged in other renewable energy projects, and would additionally be responsible for helping the city find other sources of funding to complete the installation.

Danville has already made its first “green” venture by installing energy-efficient LED lighting under the Cree LED City Program, to its water treatment plant and Adult Detention Center.

On Oct. 28, the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury also awarded $29 million in bonds to American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) for a solar energy project in the City of Danville. It is one of 805 awarded across the nation that provides zero-interest development bonds for renewable energy. AMP, a member-owned wholesale power supplier, is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and owns the 213-megawatt Gorsuch coal-fired generating plant in Marietta.

AMP’s investment in solar energy can be seen as a positive indicator that even coal-plant owners are beginning to see a future in solar.

Cooler Planet is a leading solar resource for connecting consumers and commercial entities with local solar Installers. Cooler Planet’s solar panel resources and solar energy page contains articles and tools to help with your solar project.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/virginia-goes-solar-with-stimulus-money-1730701.html

Technorati Tags: renewable energy projects, solar energy project, solar energy system, solar photovoltaic panels, tobacco warehouse district

It’s easy to understand why states like California and Texas might opt for clean, renewable solar energy to replace fossil-fuel electricity generation. Each has large areas of solar insolation whose values approach 5.5 (on a scale of 2.0 to 9.0 in the continental United States).

Wisconsin, at 2.5 – with a peak of 3.5 – is harder to imagine. Yet Wisconsin is the only state in the union other than California and Texas to have two major cities included in the Solar America Cities program; Milwaukee and Madison.

The Solar America Cities program is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy, which aims to see accelerated adoption of solar energy technologies to create a cleaner, more secure energy future. Comprised of 25 major American cities, the program operates through 180 municipal, county and state agencies, as well as solar companies, universities, regional utilities and various non-profit policy organizations, all of whom are committed to seeing solar energy take a front seat at the energy table.

The fact can’t be accounted for merely by Wisconsin’s renewable portfolio standard, or RPS, since the goal is 10 percent of energy from renewables by 2105.

The law, SB 459, enacted in March 2006, allows utilities to fulfill their requirements by buying renewable resource credits (RRCs) from one another, and also allows a carry-forward method of accounting.

In spite of that, Wisconsin really is leading in renewable energy, notably solar, with a proposed $19.6 million project for Roundy’s Corp. supermarket distribution center in Oconomowoc.

Initiated by the state’s Office of Energy Independence (OEI), and funded through an $8.822-million grant that the OEI applied for in 2009 (via the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Stimulus program), the 12,000-panel, 3.177-megawatt installation will, when completed, become the largest solar project in the Midwest.

The project will also create 190 jobs, double the state’s solar portfolio, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,237 tonnes per year, and provide for almost 20 percent of distribution center’s electricity needs.

Add to that the new factory in Mazomanie, to be built by Menomonie-based Cardinal Glass, which makes low-e glass for energy-efficient windows and will now being making solar panel glass, adding about 60 jobs and competing with Corning, an industry leader in glassware production who is also thinking of expanding into solar panel glass manufacture.

Wisconsin is a leader in solar panel installation training, with more certified solar installers per capita than nearly every state in the nation, according to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s executive director Terri Parker, whose agency plans to train 200 instructors across six states over the next five years, thanks to a $3.3-million grant. And this isn’t even counting the cooperative, internally financed solar education “farm” being developed by the Milwaukee Area Technical College and Johnson Controls, which will consist of about 2,500 panels.

Some information in the story was provided by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Cooler Planet is a leading solar resource for connecting consumers and commercial entities with local solar Installers. Cooler Planet’s solar panel resources and solar energy page contains articles and tools to help with your solar project.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/wisconsin-leading-solar-energy-push-1730704.html

Technorati Tags: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable portfolio standard, renewable solar energy, solar energy technologies, solar insolation

1. Attractive Content

Include engaging content which provides a reason for site visitors to learn more about the business. The information can work to establish credibility, create a sense of urgency for purchasing decisions and highlight the benefits of a particular organization over others.

2. Simple Navigation

Incorporate navigation tools which are easy to use so that the site can be viewed with ease. Two ways this can be accomplished are with buttons and text links. Buttons allow for one or two words of text to be enter into a visually appealing box which links to a corresponding page. Text links are embedded into the body of text and make it easier for visitors to view pages which relate to the content.

3. Track Leads

Evaluate the sites success and failures using lead tracking tools. For example, Google analytics tracks what customers are visiting the site, how often, what pages they are viewing and for how long. This will determine where a site can be improved and what type of audience to focus attention on; including, the type of content and graphics which will target the end user.

4. Answer Questions

Compile a list of common questions which arise from customers. Post and answer the questions in a section of the website. This will build credibility, provide reason for customers to view the site and enable them to access information quickly.

5. Be Available

The easier a business is to contact the more inclined users will be to reach out. Offer support online through live chat forums or make clear contact pages with information featured prominently.

6. Give Reason For Contact

Offer incentives! For example, a search engine optimization company could offer a free website assessment to customers visiting a corporate site. This will give customers a reason to contact the business.

7. Track Contact

Include a contact form with the free website assessment. This will encourage site visitors to provide their phone or email address. Have a sales team follow up with the contact and initiate a sale.

8. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Be visible on search pages. Ensure that the site is easily found online with different search engine optimization techniques. Check a site ranking by searching it in Google or Yahoo. If the site does not appear within the top five or ten sites listed on the results page, customers are not able to find the site and leads will be lost to more easily found competitors. There are various tools for fully search engine optimizing a site to find out more information contact: www.netgainseo.com.

9. Respond to Inquiries Quickly

Ensure that customers are not waiting for a response, as the longer they have to wait the quicker they will turn to a competitor for assistance. If a company responds quickly the odds of the site visitors turning into repeat customer’s increases, as customers that are satisfied the first time are more likely to return in the future.

10. Provide Clear Purchasing Options

Don’t be elusive with pricing. Provide clear, direct information regarding the purchasing of products. This can be done through e-commerce sites which allow customers to purchase product directly from the site.

For information: www.netgainseo.com
Contact: Carla@netgainseo.com
t. (705) 797-2455

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/the-top-ten-steps-to-generate-more-leads-from-a-website-1724036.html

Technorati Tags: engine optimization company, search engine optimization, search engine optimization company, sense of urgency, website assessment

With the preservation of our planet’s natural beauty on everyone’s mind today, ‘Going Green’ not only helps the environment and protects our natural resources, but involves only minor lifestyle changes and minimal expense for individuals searching for ways to contribute to the ‘Green Earth’ preservation effort. When shopping for your favorite signature B&B recipe ingredients, bring along your own reusable bags. Green reusable bags reduce the amount of paper and plastic bags that are typically discarded after a single shopping trip. Plastic bags take thousands of years to decompose at local landfills, and if disposed of in our oceans, are often confused by sea creatures as food such as jellyfish, and they can be killed upon consuming them. There are many ways to save on electricity usage as well, therefore reducing power demands on local coal and nuclear power plants. Wash your clothes in cold water, open windows for natural lighting, turn off unneeded lights and appliances, and unplug or shutdown unused electronics such as computers and laptops. Automobiles are one of the largest contributors to global pollution, as every gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, so keep your vehicle tuned-up and tires properly inflated to conserve fuel. Going the speed limit and avoiding rapid acceleration also will save on gas costs.

Shop and support your local farmers markets. You can cook fresh, organic meals impressing your bed and breakfast guests while assisting a local farmer who uses less or perhaps no pesticides that contaminate soil and can seep into your water supply. Buy a reusable water bottle to take with you on the go and re clean with soap and water after each use. This will eliminate the buying of bottled water at the store, and save you money as most bottled water costs are comparable to soda or juice prices. And, below 20% of all water bottles purchased today are actually recycled, and they are quickly becoming the main trash item in most of our countries landfills. Also, most plastic water bottles are made with petroleum, and when the bottle warms, can leach dangerous chemicals into your water. As you can see, ‘Going Green’ does not require paradigm shifts in your current lifestyle, and with minor changes you can help preserve our planet’s beauty for generations to come. And don’t forget, be sure to share with your guests the various ‘Green’ environmental techniques your bed and breakfast inn has implemented, because we all care about the future of this beautiful planet and the preservation of it’s illustrious future.

David Ludwig
Blog/Marketing Director
The Bed and Breakfast Directory Blog
TheBedandBreakfastDirectory.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/businesses-going-green-1716872.html

Technorati Tags: carbon dioxide emissions, earth preservation, local farmers markets, nuclear power plants, rapid acceleration

If we modern humans prove wise enough to recognize that carbon footprint reduction cannot reduce the current levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, and we do it soon – and if we also prove focused enough to begin scrubbing the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, a project that will probably take five years for congress to realize there is a problem, another five to get started and more than ten to complete – if all of that happens, we will still be sorely tested by increasingly extreme weather which will continue to worsen for the entire twenty, maybe thirty years it takes to complete this work. Just how much our lives will be disrupted will be measured by how well we can prepare to manage the host of emergencies that must now be considered unavoidable.

In addition to avoiding and reducing human suffering – another primary purpose of this next emergency management scheme will be preventing, or at least delaying mass migrations of domestic populations. Migration, away from the regions hammered the hardest and longest by extreme weather is a bigger concern than the hardships imposed by bad weather. Consider the real possibility that hurricanes might become so frequent and intense that Gulf Coast populations, unable to insure their homes, watching property values drop, businesses moving elsewhere, tourism curtailed and a cascade of other worries, simply give up and decide to move away. It has already begun. The Gulf Coast population numbers 87 million and if only half move away, cities in less affected areas will be experiencing millions of eco-refugees showing up on their doorstep looking for a roof, a meal and a job. If the Southwest is stricken by drought and wildfire to the point that it becomes “just too much” then there are 20-25 million more of us on the move. The hazards of centralization and globalization become reality and the economic disruption is off the charts – the impact is felt everywhere.

Frequent, pre-hurricane mandatory evacuations, if they happen often enough – maybe 2 or 3 per year – could motivate migration after a just a few years. To prevent this, mass evacuations will need to change from what we have seen too often on TV. Twelve to fourteen hours creeping along in the car, screaming babies, no place to take a leak, or get a drink, or buy gas or food, unknown difficulty that waits at the unknown destination, lost income, lost family members – that has to stop if we are to keep these folks where they are. Then there’s the damage if the storm does hit. Government money and clever design resources can create employment doing built infrastructure hardening projects. Cadres of relocatable repair resources from neighboring regions that can move in to start the rebuilding the day the skies clear.

Given our shared experience with Katrina we should expect the federal response to the great emergencies of the future to be a confused, unprofessional and deeply disappointing exhibition of incompetence. The states, quick to appeal to the federal government for assistance as soon as the emergency overwhelms local resources have been slow to expand their capacity to respond. At this moment there does not appear to be anything to build on that inspires even minimal confidence.

(Peer reviewed research, supporting the claims made in this Factoid, can be found at the website shown below)

Rich Albertson is a retired lawyer, author, builder, building designer, carpenter and long time amateur naturalist. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Albertson’s most recent book (2009), “The Sky is the Limit – A Brief and Easy Explanation of Climate Change for Present and Future Voters” (134pp), is an explanation of the science, economics, politics and a discussion of the future of climate change written for people of average experience. Climate Change Factoids are drawn from the book. His first book (1978), “The Bio-Conversion of Waste to Resource” (4 Vols, 2624pp), was a treatise on methods for the sustainable management of solid and liquid waste in urban society. More about the Sky is the Limit book can be found at http://www.thecircleworks.org

As a Naturalist, Albertson’s primary interest is to understand and then explain the conflicts that result from modern human practices that interfere with the operation of the natural world on a planetary scale.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/climate-change-factoid-emergency-management-18-of-a-series-1710638.html

Technorati Tags: coast population, economic disruption, extreme weather, greenhouse gases, mass migrations

Going green doesn’t have to be a lofty endeavor. Small changes really can make a huge difference in the quality of your environment. Simple adjustments in your lifestyle will reduce the impact of your carbon footprint and also facilitate a healthier home and family circumstances.

RECYCLE. If you don’t already, start recycling! It takes minimal effort and time to separate the paper, plastic and glass from your actual garbage. Recycling is easy and you can even garner a little cash out of the deal. Save up your aluminum soda cans and turn them in for cash every few months.

SHOP GREEN. Not everything you own needs to be brand new in order to be valuable and entirely useful. Start checking out local thrift shops for used books, clothes and household items. You’ll find a more unique selection then you would at a major department store and you’ll save a significant amount of money on your purchases.

GREEN LIGHTS. I don’t actually mean green tinted lights, but I suggest replacing your burnt out light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs. These bulbs are much more efficient than traditional bulbs so they will reduce your monthly electrical bill. They also last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. Don’t forget to replace your burnt out headlights with HID headlights which last up to 4 times longer than stock headlights.

UNPLUG. Appliances and electronics that are left plugged in when they aren’t in use is a huge energy waster. Many people are unaware that turned off electronics can still be adding to their monthly electric bill. From now on, unplug them or invest in a power strip that you can turn off whenever you leave the room.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/simple-ways-to-be-more-ecofriendly-pt-1-1708615.html

Technorati Tags: aluminum soda cans, carbon footprint, compact florescent bulbs, family circumstances, garbage recycling

Introduction

As the founder of the German Green Party, Petra Kelly once said “If we don’t do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable.” It is time we answered Kelly’s call to action and set into motion the necessary steps to revitalize the earth, such as, integrating recycling programs within local communities. The simple practice of generating new uses for discarded materials conserves natural resources, reduces air pollution, saves energy and downsizes landfills. For example, if everyone in the country recycled a newspaper a week thirty-six million trees a year would be saved.

There are six steps involved with setting up a recycling program for special events:

1. Consult a waste collection service
2. Determine what is needed
3. Gather equipment
4. Organize
5. Roll out the program
6. Maintain program

This guide will outline each of these steps in detail and how to use them to implement a successful recycling program.

Step 1: Consult a Waste Collection Service

Before introducing a program determine what type of recycling is possible for the area. Contact local businesses and find out who collects waste and recyclables in the area. When contacting the companies evaluate their customer satisfaction and collection costs, as well as, determine if neighbouring businesses are interested in sharing recycling services.

Each community has a different procedure for collecting recyclables. Find out from the waste hauler what the collection requirements are in the area including:

• What types of materials are collected
• How materials are separated
• What color schemes are used
• What types of containers are accepted
• When are materials collected
• How much does it cost
• What type of areas work with the collection trucks
• What happens when the program requirements change

Step 2: Determine What Is Needed

Determine how much and what type of waste is anticipated. Apply it to the specifications provided by the hauler and the anticipated level of traffic for the area. Together this information will provide what is needed for the recycling program to run. For example, a special event planner may require different container combinations based on the event which they are servicing. The type of recycling bin combination which will work best will depend on how often it will be emptied, the amount of staff and attendees contributing to it, possible janitorial services and the size of the area.

A great way to determine what is needed for a recycling program is by seeking the input and approval of those in the space. Applying the advice of others can encourage future program use. It can also ensure that an appropriate recycling program is selected by those who will be using it.

Step 3: Gather Recycling Equipment

Now that the specific needs of the program have been determined the equipment can be purchased. Consult a recycling bin manufacturer for program ideas and container solutions. Ensure that the bins selected are easy to use, efficient and environmentally sound.

Easy to use recycling containers should be versatile and custom designed to work with any environment. There are different bin features available which make participation in a recycling program easier such as:

• Mountable bins for increased surface space
• Desk side bins for increased leg room
• Stackable containers for easy storage
• Large wheeled or lidded containers for easy transportation

Select the container which makes the most sense for the area it will be placed in.

Containers should feature the correct combination of visual indicators and sorting mechanisms to maximize the ease in use. Use clearly marked labels, shaped deposit slots and different color options.  These tools will allow others to quickly identify what the bin is designed to collect.

Implementing plastic containers which are environmentally sound can assist a recycling program. Select containers which are 100% recyclable, made with a minimum of 35% recycled content and complimented by matching waste baskets. Containers meeting these requirements will maximize the results of a recycling program as they have green solutions built right in.

North American made containers have a reduced impact on the environment. Local products will reduce air pollution resulting from overseas shipping and toxins from foreign containers. Also, if the recycling bins are within arm’s reach they will be easier to replace or distribute in the future should new containers be needed.

Product Recommendations

Busch Systems offers an extensive line of recycling and waste container solutions. The type of bin to select for a special event will depend on how it will be used. There are two categories of use to consider when selecting recycling bins: temporary and permanent. Listed below are product recommendations for each category:

1. Recycling containers designed for temporary use target functions which require added recycling, such as, banquets or weddings. The ‘Recycle Clear’ series is ideal for these types of temporary activities as it is lightweight, durable and custom designed to work indoor or outdoor in varying weather conditions.
2. It is a cost-effective alternative to concrete bins which will not rust, dent or dirty.

These are only a few of the recycling container solutions offered at Busch. To view the complete line of equally attractive alternatives please visit: www.buschsystems.com.

Step 4: Organize the Recycling Program

After a container is selected it must be incorporated into a well organized recycling program. The first step is assigning a program coordinator. This should be someone who is involved with the event and interested in taking charge of the program. Once the coordinator is made aware of their responsibilities they can ensure that the recycling program is always running smoothly.

The new candidate can begin their duties by selecting where the containers should go. When deciding where bins should be placed bear in mind other containers which may be in the environment, traffic, capacity and collection. The scheduling of container collection may be the deciding factor in determining where the bins should go. Placement options may be limited depending on the size of the collection vehicle and the accessibility of the area.

Suggested Green initiatives

Once the collection of recyclable material has been arranged other green initiatives can be considered. Listed below are a few suggestions for green practices which special event coordinators can practice:

• Advertising online
• Using online registration and confirmation
• Choosing local venues to reduce gas emissions resulting from travel
• Having food service providers supply sugar, salt, pepper and cream in bulk containers
• Planning meals using local ingredients
• Selecting venues with linen reuse programs

Step 5: Roll Out Program

Following the development of a recycling program is the execution. In order for the program to run smoothly the end user must be educated on how it operates and understand what the goals are. Rolling out the initiative will get those sharing the space excited about the program and motivated to use it.

Contact event venues and inform them of the recycling program. This will ensure that there are no competing programs at the event and eliminate confusion for guests. Organize a meeting with all staff prior to the event. Educate the staff on how the program runs, what the goals are, who the program coordinator is and what everyone’s responsibilities are. Also, consult the event hosts and determine if recycling program information can be supplied to guests prior to the event (perhaps alongside an invitation).

Step 6: Maintain Program

Maintaining a recycling program is a critical component to ensuring its longevity and success. A large part of the upkeep process will be the responsibility of the program coordinator. They will need to constantly monitor the effectiveness of the program and find ways to improve it. The coordinator will also be responsible for keeping those in the facility enthused and new staff educated on the program procedures.

There are several ways in which a program coordinator can keep up enthusiasm at special events. For example, a record can be stored of the amount of recyclables leaving each event. Statistics can be generated on the materials recovered. These statistics can be distributed to each staff member at the beginning of each event along with an acknowledgement of a job well done. This will keep up program enthusiasm and motivate staff keep up recycling efforts at every special event.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the combined usage of the above six steps will enable special event coordinators to incorporate an effective recycling program. The program should work toward conserving our natural resources and safeguarding our environment. Ideally, a new recycling program will allow future generations to flourish in what we have instead of flounder in what we have left behind.

Sources:

Alon Tal, Speaking of Earth: Environmental Speeches That Moved The World (USA, 2006) 140.

Waste Reduction Week Canada. 23 Sep. 2009. Environment Canada. http://www.wrwcanada.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/how-to-set-up-a-recycling-program-for-special-events-1702010.html

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