5 ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS NEVER ASKED

[Anonymous]

http://www.napsnet.com/articles/58744.html
Five Environmental Questions Never Asked
Simple
“green” living ideas are everywhere-from billboards to T-shirts-but
there are less common, yet equally important, environmental issues.

1. What is the impact of composting?
Composting,
the process of converting organic materials into soil, is a simple way
to reduce garbage by one-third and preserve living organisms. According
to Com posters.com, compostable waste makes up 30 percent of garbage in
the United States. In 1999, the EPA recorded that 64 million tons of
materials were saved from landfills by composting and recycling. Now,
just think how much waste can be saved if composting becomes as common
as recycling. Web sites such as Compost.org provide easy-to-use
home-composting guides. Did you know tea bags, coffee grounds and corn
husks can be composted?

2. Can print cartridges be recycled?
Yes.
In fact, many manufacturers offer print cartridge recycling free of
charge. For example, HP offers free recycling for its ink and toner
cartridges through the HP Planet Partners program and makes sure all HP
cartridges returned through Planet Partners are recycled and diverted
from landfills. Many companies that refill or remanufacture print
cartridges are private and not required to disclose end-of-life
recycling processes. A Gartner Research study stated: “While the use of
remanufactured supplies can reduce initial acquisition costs and
prevent cartridges [from] going to landfills, organizations must
understand that many remanufacturers do not have proper disposal
practices, and their efforts may not be environmentally sound.” No
matter where you buy print cartridges, be sure to research the
company’s recycling policies and standards.

3. Paper or Plastic?
Many
people know that plastic is harmful to the environment. Recently, the
city of San Francisco implemented a ban on using non-recyclable plastic
bags in grocery stores, saving nearly 5 million bags a month from
landfills. Plastic bags are not the only villain; paper bags require
more than double the amount of energy to manufacture and transport than
plastic bags, according to the Environmental Literacy Council. The
trend is catching on, and cities across the nation, such as Seattle,
are working towards “green” fees for disposable bags and encouraging
the use of reusable bags in grocery stores.

4. Is it important to purchase organic cleaners?
Harmful
pollutants in cleaners put people at risk in their homes and negatively
effect water and air quality. Organic cleaners have less toxicity, low
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are biodegradable. According to
the EPA, cleaners with high VOC content contribute to smog formation.
Ingredients containing phosphorus or nitrogen evaporate into the air
and pollute bodies of water, affecting numerous wildlife species. It’s
important to think about organic cleaners when cleaning a home but also
when searching for professional cleaning services such as housekeepers,
car detailing and dry cleaning.

5. How do I know what can be recycled?
Understanding
what can and cannot be recycled is a significant step toward helping
the environment. Many people spend 40 hours a week sitting at a desk,
where throwing away paper becomes habitual. Sticky notes can be
recycled; tissues cannot. Food wrappers or soiled products cannot be
recycled. Magazines, soda cans, juice bottles (both plastic and glass)
and even most lotion bottles can be recycled. You may be surprised what
can be recycled, even things without a recycle symbol can sometimes be
recycled, such as dry cleaning wire hangers and worn-out tennis shoes.
Web sites such as World.org provide simple recycling-education tools.
Keep a “recycle only” container at your desk for one month. You may be
surprised at how many workplace items are recyclable.

You can learn more online at EPA.gov and Compost.org.

[Author]

July 8, 2008 at 11:14 AM