It seems like I'm on everyone's fundraising list lately. Most are very worthy causes; however, you have to draw the line somewhere. I have taken to using the sender's own postage paid envelopes to send back my request that they remove me from their mailing list. I've done this about 10 times. Too soon to tell if it is working, but I'm going to keep at it. Give it a try. You may be surprised.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
TerraCycle Expands Again
Trash to Treasure partners with Broward College and TerraCycle to collect items for upcycling and recycling to fund an Environmental Science Scholarship. Almost $5,000 have been raised and almost 200,000 pieces have been sent to TerraCycle. Read more here.
TerraCycle has added more items for collection. Here they are:
TerraCycle has added more items for collection. Here they are:
Solo Plastic cups
Computer Keyboards and mice (any condition)
Laptops, digital cameras and MP3 (any condition)
Personal care products (any) shampoo, makeup, deodorant, etc
Plastic outerwrap from all paper towels, toilet paper etc
Cheese packaging
Here's the latest flyer. Print it out.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
US #1 Export to China is Trash
In 2010, the number one export from the US to China was recyclable trash. How ironic!
Discards from rampant consumerism are now the primary resource the US sends to its number one import nation. The two major issues related to sustainability are reducing the unnecessary purchasing of cheap, poorly made, highly packaged, short life-span products and the reuse or recycling of what we have.
It's easy to be cynical about the situation. We buy China's crap and we send the waste back so they can make more crap for us to buy, on credit, until they completely own us.
Reuse and recycling is not just about sustainability. It's about jobs and the financial well being of our country. Garbage is a renewable resource. We make it everyday. Internally using these resources to reduce imports or exporting them expands our economy, reduces trade deficits, and creates wealth.
Recycling an aluminum can reduces the need to import the raw materials from other countries and reduces energy costs paid to oil producing nations. Exporting copper means that the money flows to the US and not another country like Chile. Recycling plastic products reduces the need to import oil from Saudi Arabia. This is what global competition is all about.
The United States has indicated that its policy to improve the trade deficit with China is not through reduction of imports but the expansion of exports. The export of machinery, products, and food are the focus. What about #1?
There is no effort to support, encourage or expand recycling. Recycling is a local issue with little national coordination.
So what we have, due to the increase in the value of recyclables, is the unemployed guy in an old pick up truck cruising for metal discards before the garbage company gets to it. We have the homeless poking through garbage cans along Main Street instead of easily accessible recycling infrastructure. At Trash to Treasure, we ask people to bring in there stray power cords for the copper to raise funds for our operation.
Not that this is all bad. It's real. And it's the front line of the economic battle. But shouldn't somebody be looking out for #1?
Discards from rampant consumerism are now the primary resource the US sends to its number one import nation. The two major issues related to sustainability are reducing the unnecessary purchasing of cheap, poorly made, highly packaged, short life-span products and the reuse or recycling of what we have.
It's easy to be cynical about the situation. We buy China's crap and we send the waste back so they can make more crap for us to buy, on credit, until they completely own us.
Reuse and recycling is not just about sustainability. It's about jobs and the financial well being of our country. Garbage is a renewable resource. We make it everyday. Internally using these resources to reduce imports or exporting them expands our economy, reduces trade deficits, and creates wealth.
Recycling an aluminum can reduces the need to import the raw materials from other countries and reduces energy costs paid to oil producing nations. Exporting copper means that the money flows to the US and not another country like Chile. Recycling plastic products reduces the need to import oil from Saudi Arabia. This is what global competition is all about.
The United States has indicated that its policy to improve the trade deficit with China is not through reduction of imports but the expansion of exports. The export of machinery, products, and food are the focus. What about #1?
There is no effort to support, encourage or expand recycling. Recycling is a local issue with little national coordination.
So what we have, due to the increase in the value of recyclables, is the unemployed guy in an old pick up truck cruising for metal discards before the garbage company gets to it. We have the homeless poking through garbage cans along Main Street instead of easily accessible recycling infrastructure. At Trash to Treasure, we ask people to bring in there stray power cords for the copper to raise funds for our operation.
Not that this is all bad. It's real. And it's the front line of the economic battle. But shouldn't somebody be looking out for #1?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Trash2Art 2011-September 10 to October 1
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!
Mark your calendar for our annual creative reuse art exhibit and contest. We welcome entries from children K-12, Amateur Artists and Professional Artists.
$25 entry fee for up to 3 pieces.
NEW THIS YEAR!!!
* Thanks to grant funding, 20 kids k-12 grade will have entry fees waived...first come, first serve.
For more information call us 888.828.8242 or email us.
Thanks to the following sponsors:
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