Feel free to send us your environmental tips and we will place them here!
K Cup Recycling
Community Member Submission: "Keurig's site says they do have recyclable K Cups now. Groot will take the K Cups with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7, basically they don't take cups with a number 6. This is very good news. In Canada, by the end of 2018 100% of the K Cups produced will be recyclable. Today and through 2019 production availability of recyclable K Cups in the USA will continue to increase. By the end of 2020 all new K Cups produced will be recyclable. This is great news for coffee drinkers. We just need to spread the word because today, some varieties of K-Cups are already recyclable and OK with Groot (Keurig's Green Mountain and Laughing Man listed on Keurig's web site)."
Natural Weed Killers
Fortunately, there are many natural options to choose from when trying to eradicate weeds that are not only highly effective, but they are much more affordable than their toxic counterparts. Here are fifteen of them that you can try out.
#1 VINEGAR AND LEMON JUICE
#3 BAKING SODA.
#4 SALT WATER
#5 VINEGAR AND SALT
#6 VINEGAR AND DISH SOAP
#7 SALT
#8 BOILING WATER
Can’t get a more affordable, easy, or natural weed killer than good old plain water.
#9 PLASTIC BAGS
#10 NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers can be used in the same manner as the plastic bags we discussed above. Just place the newspaper over the weeded area and weigh them down with rocks, bricks or logs. This too denies them of light and air. What’s even better about this option is that newspaper is biodegradable.
#11 VODKA
Spray it on the weeds and the alcohol will dry it out.
#12 BORAX
Spray on weeds.
#13. FOR POISON IVY
(Will need to re-apply several times every week or so until it completely dies.)
The only thing you must watch out for is that most of the natural weed killer recipes presented aboe will kill everything in the area including your grass, so you want to be sure to apply them only to the weed.
#14 MANUAL LABOR
Get out there and pull the weeds with your hands, a rake, a hula ho, shovel, etc.
#15. ACCEPTANCE
Last but not least, another alternative to killing your weeds is to accept them. Like every other living thing on the planet they have a purpose and fulfill some biological role. Nature does not consider them to be weeds. In many cases, you can simply allow them to exist and live in harmony with them. Take a close look at them and appreciate what unique qualities and characteristics they contain and admire their ability to thrive. For example, the common dandelion is an exceptionally beautiful flower and adds character to your yard.
“When Did the Dandelion Become Our Enemy,?”
Be sure you don’t put your weeds in your compost pile or they will make their way back into your yard!
#1 VINEGAR AND LEMON JUICE
- Mix vinegar with concentrated lemon juice.
- Use a (1 to 1 ratio.)
- Put it in a spray bottle and apply to weeds.
- Bottle of white or cider vinegar.
- Pour it directly on the weeds or the ground around them.
- Alternatively, you can put it in a spray bottle and spray the weeds.
- Use higher acetic concentrations if possible.
#3 BAKING SODA.
- Mix baking soda with water.
- Pour it over weeds.
#4 SALT WATER
- Boil salt water and pour it over the weeds while still hot.
#5 VINEGAR AND SALT
- 1 quart of boiling water
- 5 TBSPS vinegar
- 2 TBSPS salt
- Pour on weeds while still hot.
- Can double or triple recipe.
#6 VINEGAR AND DISH SOAP
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup dish soap
- Mix together and apply to weeds.
#7 SALT
- 1/4 tsp of salt
- Sprinkle it around the base of the weeds.
#8 BOILING WATER
Can’t get a more affordable, easy, or natural weed killer than good old plain water.
- Just boil the water and pour it on the weeds. But, do be careful not to get it on your plants or grass.
#9 PLASTIC BAGS
- Place the plastic bags over the weeds and then anchor them down with big rocks, bricks, or logs.
- Remove them in about two weeks and the earth beneath them will be bare, because they have been deprived of air and light.
#10 NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers can be used in the same manner as the plastic bags we discussed above. Just place the newspaper over the weeded area and weigh them down with rocks, bricks or logs. This too denies them of light and air. What’s even better about this option is that newspaper is biodegradable.
#11 VODKA
- 3 TBSP of Vodka
- 2 cups of Water
Spray it on the weeds and the alcohol will dry it out.
#12 BORAX
- 5 tsps of borax
- 1 quart of water
Spray on weeds.
#13. FOR POISON IVY
- 1 quart of vinegar
- 1/4 tsp of clove and/or cinnamon oil
(Will need to re-apply several times every week or so until it completely dies.)
The only thing you must watch out for is that most of the natural weed killer recipes presented aboe will kill everything in the area including your grass, so you want to be sure to apply them only to the weed.
#14 MANUAL LABOR
Get out there and pull the weeds with your hands, a rake, a hula ho, shovel, etc.
#15. ACCEPTANCE
Last but not least, another alternative to killing your weeds is to accept them. Like every other living thing on the planet they have a purpose and fulfill some biological role. Nature does not consider them to be weeds. In many cases, you can simply allow them to exist and live in harmony with them. Take a close look at them and appreciate what unique qualities and characteristics they contain and admire their ability to thrive. For example, the common dandelion is an exceptionally beautiful flower and adds character to your yard.
“When Did the Dandelion Become Our Enemy,?”
Be sure you don’t put your weeds in your compost pile or they will make their way back into your yard!
the Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act
Public Act 97-0287 (Electronic Products Recycling & Reuse Act) establishes a statewide system for recycling and/or reusing the items listed below discarded from residences by requiring electronic manufacturers to participate in the management of discarded and unwanted electronic products.
Covered and Eligible DevicesEffective January 1, 2012 all of the covered electronic devices listed below are banned from landfills.
Covered and Eligible DevicesEffective January 1, 2012 all of the covered electronic devices listed below are banned from landfills.
- Televisions
- Monitors
- Printers
- Computers (laptop, notebook, netbook, tablet, desktop)
- Electronic Keyboards
- Facsimile Machines
- Videocassette Recorders
- Portable Digital Music Players
- Digital Video Disc Players
- Video Game Consoles
- Small Scale Servers
- Scanners
- Electronic Mice
- Digital Converter Boxes
- Cable Receivers
- Satellite Receivers
- Digital Video Disc Recorders
watering 101
Remember these simple tips when watering!
1. More delicate plants, including any new trees, shrubs, perennials or seed/sod that you’ve planted this year, typically require more moisture than more mature plants. That said, it doesn’t matter what plant you have: keep in mind that you should water plants, shrubs, trees or lawns when needed. What does that mean? For annual and perennial plants, check them on a regular (even daily) basis to see if they look healthy and gauge the moisture in the soil. If the dirt is dry, cracked or crumbly and you haven’t watered in a while or experienced a good rainfall, then water. You can also dig right in with your finger or a trowel and check the soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface to determine moisture.
2. Many experts recommend watering in the morning. It’s not only a pleasant time of day to be out in the garden, but if you go a little overboard, the plants or lawn have the extra daylight and warmth to dry out a bit. Automatic timers are a handy tool for today’s busy gardeners, but if there have been several days of regular rainfall, as there has been this summer, you should hold back or tweak the timer accordingly. Excessive watering can make your trees/shrubs become dependent on irrigation rather than resilient enough to survive on what nature provides
3. Adjust your watering time and amounts by the depth of the plants. Annuals, like geraniums and petunias, generally have roots down to about six inches. Perennials, shrubs and trees have roots that extend down as much as 12 inches. So it can take longer for the water to get down deeper for those varieties. Soaker hoses work well for watering trees and shrubs and tend to more efficient than overhead sprinklers. Mulching around trees and shrubs will also help conserve moisture (and keep weeds away). Avoid placing mulch against the trunk as this will help avoid rot
1. More delicate plants, including any new trees, shrubs, perennials or seed/sod that you’ve planted this year, typically require more moisture than more mature plants. That said, it doesn’t matter what plant you have: keep in mind that you should water plants, shrubs, trees or lawns when needed. What does that mean? For annual and perennial plants, check them on a regular (even daily) basis to see if they look healthy and gauge the moisture in the soil. If the dirt is dry, cracked or crumbly and you haven’t watered in a while or experienced a good rainfall, then water. You can also dig right in with your finger or a trowel and check the soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface to determine moisture.
2. Many experts recommend watering in the morning. It’s not only a pleasant time of day to be out in the garden, but if you go a little overboard, the plants or lawn have the extra daylight and warmth to dry out a bit. Automatic timers are a handy tool for today’s busy gardeners, but if there have been several days of regular rainfall, as there has been this summer, you should hold back or tweak the timer accordingly. Excessive watering can make your trees/shrubs become dependent on irrigation rather than resilient enough to survive on what nature provides
3. Adjust your watering time and amounts by the depth of the plants. Annuals, like geraniums and petunias, generally have roots down to about six inches. Perennials, shrubs and trees have roots that extend down as much as 12 inches. So it can take longer for the water to get down deeper for those varieties. Soaker hoses work well for watering trees and shrubs and tend to more efficient than overhead sprinklers. Mulching around trees and shrubs will also help conserve moisture (and keep weeds away). Avoid placing mulch against the trunk as this will help avoid rot
homemade insecticidal soap
Homemade Insecticidal Soap - Bugs normally aren't a big problem in your garden as natural predators will keep the bad guys in check. Sometimes though, Mother Nature needs a hand if bug populations get out of balance. That is where you can help. A soap based insecticide is very safe for the environment and your family. It works by drowning the offending pest. Here is an easy recipe to make your own.
- Materials Needed: A tightly lidded jar that holds 2 cups of liquid (for example a mason or mayonnaise jar) and a spray bottle.
- Ingredients: 1 cup of vegetable oil; 1 tablespoon of Ivory liquid soap, or another pure liquid soap. Note: Adding a teaspoon of garlic or pepper to this recipe can make it more effective as a pest deterrent if desired.
- Making the Insecticidal Soap: Add the oil and the liquid soap to the jar, and shake the jar vigorously to mix the soap and oil well. Add 2 teaspoons of the mixture to every cup of water in the spray bottle when ready to use.
- How to use Insecticidal Soap: Shake the spray bottle often while applying to keep the water and oil mixture blended. Spray the plant all over; both the top and bottom of the leaves. Try to avoid spraying in the direct sun to avoid scorching the leaves. Insecticidal soap works by drowning the offending pest, so the trick is to get the spray on the bug. The residual acts to deter future bugs.
spring into natural lawn care
1) Aerate
2) Overseed
3) Sharpen Mower Blades
4) Avoid applying "Weed and Feed" products - CHOOSE ORGANIC FERTILILZER & WEED NATURALLY USING THE RIGHT TOOL
5) Water 1" per week.
6) Mow at least 3" high.
2) Overseed
3) Sharpen Mower Blades
4) Avoid applying "Weed and Feed" products - CHOOSE ORGANIC FERTILILZER & WEED NATURALLY USING THE RIGHT TOOL
5) Water 1" per week.
6) Mow at least 3" high.
Rain Barrels offer solutions to landscaping and storm water management issues
“you don’t know the value of water until the well is running dry.”
Besides helping the environment, an obvious reason for harvesting rainwater is to save money. You can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system. This extra water can have a significant impact on your water bill. One of the best reasons to start harvesting rainwater with rain barrels is that if you teach and encourage others to do the same, you will help to spread the culture of rainwater collection and in turn help your larger community and the environment. It is always important to remember that every living thing on the planet needs water to survive so we as humans must expand our idea of community to the plants and animals that surround us.
Great Book Suggestion!
The World We Made - A Book by Jonathon Porritt
A word from the author:"It's clear to me that we're never going to scare people into living more sustainably! We have to be able to demonstrate just how dynamic and aspirational such a world could be — and that we've still got time to deliver it." Jonathon Porritt
Part history, part personal memoir, this story charts the key events, technology breakthroughs and lifestyle revolutions that make the world what it is mid-century.
Part history, part personal memoir, this story charts the key events, technology breakthroughs and lifestyle revolutions that make the world what it is mid-century.
The Trouble with plastic
The Recycling Myth - The Truth About Down-cycling
Collecting plastics at curbside fosters the belief that, like aluminum and glass, these will be converted into new similar objects. This is not the case with plastic. The best we can hope for plastics is that these will be turned into other products such as doormats, textiles, plastic lumber, etc. These products will still end at some point in the landfill.
This is not recycling, but down-cycling.
But not even down-cycling is happening. In the US, 93% of plastics are NOT recovered (put in plastic “recycling” bins). These go straight to landfills. PET bottles that have a redemption value (cash value) fare a bit better: 62% are NOT recovered. (EPA data 2008)
"I Can Do That" Pledge Suggestions
-Use a reuseable bag at the store instead of taking a plastic bag
-Bring a food storage container to a restaurant instead of using a plastic or styrofoam "to go" box
-Avoid buying products with excessive plastic packaging
Learn basic concepts of plastic pollution at the following link:
http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/learn/basic-concepts/
Plastic is forever,
Plastic poisons our food chain,
Plastic affects human health,
Disposable plastics are the main source of plastic pollution,
Plastic recycling is not a sustainable solution to the crisis, and
Plastic pollution is not only in the ocean.
Collecting plastics at curbside fosters the belief that, like aluminum and glass, these will be converted into new similar objects. This is not the case with plastic. The best we can hope for plastics is that these will be turned into other products such as doormats, textiles, plastic lumber, etc. These products will still end at some point in the landfill.
This is not recycling, but down-cycling.
But not even down-cycling is happening. In the US, 93% of plastics are NOT recovered (put in plastic “recycling” bins). These go straight to landfills. PET bottles that have a redemption value (cash value) fare a bit better: 62% are NOT recovered. (EPA data 2008)
"I Can Do That" Pledge Suggestions
-Use a reuseable bag at the store instead of taking a plastic bag
-Bring a food storage container to a restaurant instead of using a plastic or styrofoam "to go" box
-Avoid buying products with excessive plastic packaging
Learn basic concepts of plastic pollution at the following link:
http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/learn/basic-concepts/
Plastic is forever,
Plastic poisons our food chain,
Plastic affects human health,
Disposable plastics are the main source of plastic pollution,
Plastic recycling is not a sustainable solution to the crisis, and
Plastic pollution is not only in the ocean.
After the Holidays, it is time to think about proper disposal of unwanted/used Gift cards!
75 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, a toxic substance) material from plastic cards enters America’s waste stream every year
Credit cards are so small, they might not seem worth all this trouble. But in 2006, the United States Census Bureau determined that there were nearly 1.5 billion credit cards in use in the U.S. A stack of all those credit cards would reach more than 70 miles into space — and be almost as tall as 13 Mount Everests. If this number of credit cards were thrown away every three years, the stack of credit cards would reach almost 43 Everests high after a decade.
You can mail your used/unwanted plastic cards to:
Earthworks c/o Halprin Ind.
25840 Miles Road
Bedford, OH 44146
THEY MAKE CARDS MADE FROM EARTHWORKS 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC!
Earthworks c/o Halprin Ind.
25840 Miles Road
Bedford, OH 44146
THEY MAKE CARDS MADE FROM EARTHWORKS 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC!
18 Ideas To Reuse Expired Credit Cards
WHAT ABOUT PACKING PEANUTS? WHAT CAN I DO WITH THEM? WHY CAN'T I THROW THEM AWAY IN MY TRASH?
Packing Peanuts are usually made from Styrofoam.
Styrofoam cannot be broken down. Traditional packing peanuts are typically reused up to ten times before being thrown out. Their simplest reuse is in another package you need to ship. Additionally, most shipping stores will gladly accept donations of peanuts for recycling.
Good News! The UPS store at 310 Busse Highway in Park Ridge DOES accept packing peanuts!
(Styrofoam blocks will be collected
Not sure where to go? Call the automated, 24-hour Peanut Hot line at 800-828-2214 to find a site near your residence that will reuse them.
Packing Peanuts are usually made from Styrofoam.
Styrofoam cannot be broken down. Traditional packing peanuts are typically reused up to ten times before being thrown out. Their simplest reuse is in another package you need to ship. Additionally, most shipping stores will gladly accept donations of peanuts for recycling.
Good News! The UPS store at 310 Busse Highway in Park Ridge DOES accept packing peanuts!
(Styrofoam blocks will be collected
Not sure where to go? Call the automated, 24-hour Peanut Hot line at 800-828-2214 to find a site near your residence that will reuse them.
Keep Those Leaves!
This is the time of year for raking leaves and cutting back in the garden. Keep those leaves, grass clippings, and plants to enrich your soil next year. You don't have to buy a composting container. Simply start with a pile in your backyard. Turn it several times throughout each season and have great compost someday. For more information on composting, visit http://www.howtocompost.org/
This is the time of year for raking leaves and cutting back in the garden. Keep those leaves, grass clippings, and plants to enrich your soil next year. You don't have to buy a composting container. Simply start with a pile in your backyard. Turn it several times throughout each season and have great compost someday. For more information on composting, visit http://www.howtocompost.org/
