What she did really want over the Christmas holidays, was entertainment. Getting outside, drawing, making and baking things. Thanks to the crappy weather we spent quite a bit of time inside, so finding things to do to entertain her was quite a challenge. Luckily there are websites like http://www.lovelytrash.com/ to go to for inspiration. Lovelytrash takes recycling to a new level with creative ideas for making great toys, decorations, furniture and all sorts using the contents of your recycling bin.

South Australia’s largest cemetery has been named a finalist for a major Australian environment award.

Centennial Park is a finalist in the 2010 Banksia Environmental Awards, in the Leading in Sustainability category for small to medium businesses.

The Banksia Environmental Awards recognise environmental excellence and sustainability. They are an initiative of the Banksia Environmental Foundation.

Centennial Park Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bryan Elliott, said the finalist position was welcome recognition of the cemetery’s environmental responsibility efforts.

“Centennial Park is helping Australians to reduce the environmental impact of their final resting places,” he said.

“A range of improvements have enabled us to reduce carbon emissions by an average of 10.7% per cremation and burial service over the past two years.

“Centennial Park was the first cemetery in Australia – possibly the world – to manage our entire greenhouse gas emissions with a carbon offset scheme.

“We are extremely pleased to be recognised in this prestigious awards program. This firmly cements our position as the environmental leader in Australia’s cemetery industry.”

Other environmental improvements at Centennial Park include reducing operational waste to landfill by 95.7%, vehicle emissions by 10% and reliance on mains water.

Following simple steps that reduced electricity use by 9%, new technology in the cemetery’s chapels and administration buildings have created further reductions of 25% and 14.5% respectively. Crematorium improvements have reduced gas consumption by 5% and electricity consumption by 10%.

Centennial Park is also creating new life for flora and fauna with a revegetation program to attract more native birds and animals to its grounds.

Winners of the 2010 Banksia Environmental Awards will be announced in Sydney on Friday 15 October.

Most households in Australia now have at least one computer and with the lifespan of a personal computer ranging from 2-5 years that is a significant amount of ewaste. After six years it was finally time to upgrade my laptop, the conundrum is what to do with the old one, which still works, albeit slowly. So it seems there are now more options for reuse and recycling of computers, time to find out what they are.

There are many materials in old computers and monitors including gold and platinum that can be recycled and some that can’t. As well as recyclables there are also toxic substances so if there is life left in the old dog, its a good idea to look for opportunities for reuse first.

Reuse

If it still works consider donating it to a charity like ‘Reverse Garbage‘ or put it up on FreeCycle.

Contact GreenPC, ‘computer refurbishers’ who then make donated computers available to low-income communities, individuals and community organisations.

Dell will pick up Dell-branded equipment from any location in Australia and NZ. Visit the DELL website and fill in the forms for the items you would like collected.

The Bower reuse and repair cooperative, accept a wide range of items including computers.

Recycling

The first stop to find out what computer and ewaste recycling facilities there are near you is to check out Recycling Near You.

The government agency Sustainability Victoria in partnership with companies including Apple, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, IBM etc has been piloting a computer take-back and recycling scheme in Victoria (ByteBack) since 2007 in Victoria. Or try:

• 1800Ewaste will collect electrical devices from any capital city location for a small fee
• Computer recycling.com focuses on businesses and can offer a buyout on some equipment.
• Greenbox are ‘innovative ecyclers’. Specialising in recycling end-of-life IT equipment for businesses.
• Wesley E-Recycling refurbishes computers for individuals, low-income earners and non-for-profit organisations.
• ERNi (Equipment Recycling Network Inc) recycles donated computers for people with disabilities – Maroondah, Victoria.
• Cashforcomputers, purchase old computers and either recycle or provide to their affiliate, computersforall; Melbourne, Victoria.
• PC Graveyard recycle computers and other electronic and electrical items free of charge. Pick up or drop off. covering Geelong, Ballarat and parts of Melbourne, Victoria.
• MRI (Aust), offers computer recycling with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
• RecycleIT as the name suggests, recycle old computers. They accept all computer and personal electronic goods for recycling from the public free of charge – Perth, WA.
• E-Cycle Recovery; recycles electronic goods including computers, Adelaide, South Australia

Now there seem to be plenty of option to breathe new life into my old laptop.

]]> http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/06/11/ewaste-reuse-and-recycling-computers/feed/ 1 http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/04/08/hot-coffee-cool-planet/ http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/04/08/hot-coffee-cool-planet/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:44:47 +0000 admin http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/?p=533 Coffee addiction is becoming more widespread. Key signs of addiction include problems functioning without your morning coffee, being late due to detouring to visit a favourite coffee shop, a bin full of empty coffee cups. The KeepCup might help you feel better about your addiction. This refillable, sustainable, waste avoiding KeepCup, is the first barista standard reusable coffee cup. It is raved about by those we know that have them. Here's why.]]> Coffee addiction is becoming more widespread. Key signs of addiction include problems functioning without your morning coffee, being late due to detouring to visit a favourite coffee shop, a bin full of empty coffee cups. The KeepCup might help you feel better about your addiction. This refillable, sustainable, waste avoiding KeepCup, is the first barista standard reusable coffee cup. It is raved about by those we know that have them. Here’s why.

According to the KeepCup website the disposable paper cup is made from various materials including bleached paper sprayed with a polyethylene coating. The cup is often impregnated with dyes which makes it difficult to recycle.

In the first six months, since the launch in June 2009, KeepCup has sold over 100,000 units. According to Bluebag, the makers of KeepCup, if everybody who owns a KeepCup uses it regularly, there would be 100 million less disposable cups used, saving 17,000 trees and keeping 307 tonnes of plastic lids from landfill.

The KeepCup is recyclable (it has an estimated lifespan of four years) and replicates disposable cup sizes so you get the correct and consistent portioning of coffee and milk. Small and medium cups fit directly under the coffee machine. The plastic used is BPA free and the lid means less likelihood of spillage.

Designed and manufactured in Australia, the key features which make the KeepCup so functional include:

• A band around the body of the cup where coffee preferences are embossed. Highlight this to prevent mix up and to identify your cup at the machine.
• A sealing mechanism to make the cup splash-proof in transit. This is removable so it is easy to clean.
• Stackable, dishwasher safe and microwavable.
• Low embodied energy, reuseable, unbreakable and recyclable (polypropylene)

The KeepCup can be branded which makes it great company merchandise and a great gift for the afflicted addicted coffee cravers.

According to recent research, food and drinks contained in plastic containers or bottles can contain trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA). Scientists have found that, in animals, BPA mimics the hormone oestrogen and has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage and decreased testosterone levels. It is also believed that BPA can cause early puberty in children, cancer, diabetes and obesity.  The amounts leaching into food and drink are small, but it is the cumulative effect of these small doses that are of concern.

What is BPA?

BPA is an industrial chemical used for production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are high performance transparent, rigid plastic used for food containers such as most transparent drinks bottles, infant feeding (baby) bottles, tableware (plates and mugs) and storage containers.

Epoxy resins are used to make protective coatings and linings for food and beverage cans and vats.

How do you know what has BPA in?

On the bottom of plastic containers there is generally a mobius loop symbol with the number 1 to 7 inside. For details of what is in each category check out our waste essentials article.

Current advice is, if you are concerned about BPA then to avoid category 3, 6 and 7 unless it specifically states on a separate label that the product is BPA free. A number of products labelled BPA free are in Category 7. This is a catch all for several different types of plastic including those that contain BPA as well as those that don’t.

Disposable drinks bottles

Like many people I regularly reuse water bottles. These are typically in the category 1 plastics (P.E.T). There is no BPA in PET bottles. These water bottles are designed to be recycled after use. However, reuse of these bottles is safe providing they are washed well.

Baby bottles

BPA has been banned from use in products for babies in Canada and many US states due to the health concerns. Many baby bottles will contain BPA unless it is specifically stated on the packaging that they are BPA free. This includes the major brands. However manufacturers such as Avent, Tommee Tippee and Pigeon have brought out BPA free alternatives. Although this is not always mentioned on the product itself so look for it on the packaging when you buy it.

How to reduce your exposure

• At your desk drink out of glass instead of clear plastic cups and bottles.
• Get hold of a BPA free plastic or metal drink bottle and refill from the tap.
• Buy from your local greengrocer and butcher. This way you can buy fresh and avoid products which have sat around in plastic packaging.
• Packaging with a category 2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a category 4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a category 5 PP (polypropylene), labels contain no BPA.
• Choose fresh or frozen food over tinned foods and food in polycarbonate containers.
• Don’t use polycarbonate plastics for warm food or drinks.
• If using baby formula, avoid liquid formula in cans. Powdered formula is better in terms of BPA exposure.

The content of mobile phones varies between models, but they contain plastic and heavy metals including cadmium, lead, nickel, mercury, manganese, lithium, zinc, arsenic, antimony, beryllium and copper. Some of the contents, particularly cadmium, lead, mercury and brominated plastics can harm the environment if not handled properly.

Over 90% of the content of a mobile phone can be recovered to make new products according to Mobile Muster. The mobile phones are dismantled and the parts of the phone can be used to help repair other mobile phones, or they are recycled. The metals from mobile phones are extracted and can be ending up in copper roofs, copper piping, ski bindings and jewellery. Nickel obtained from batteries can end up being used to make stainless steel products such as saucepans. Plastic materials are shredded and used as construction materials, for building roads or to make other plastic products such as traffic cones.

There are now plenty of opportunities to recycle or reuse old mobile phones through Mobile Muster – Australia’s mobile phone industry’s official recycling program. Drop offs can be found in phone shops and through mobile muster facilities dotted all over the place. It is easy to set up additional permanent collection sites in schools or businesses or to organise a muster. So dig out those old mobile phones and get them reincarnated.

According to the Australian Geographic most of the 4 billion plastic bags used every year, are used for just 12 minutes. With only a minor percentage being taken back to recycling bins (in supermarkets), 3.76 billion head to landfill, that’s 400,000 checkout bags dumped every hour.

So what to do with those plastic bags that you can’t bring yourself throw away? Well here’s what we found out from spending an afternoon googling.

• Take them to the local supermarket’s plastic bag recycling facility.
• Keep a stash in bags, pockets or the car for when you pop in a shop unexpectedly.
• Give them to a local charity shop (to save them buying bags).
• Knit them into tote bags or clothes.
• Get creative you could use them to make items such as coasters, purses, rugs, you name it.
• Use and reuse them to wrap your lunchbox to save any leakages going over the contents of your bag.
• Use plastic bags to freeze food.

If you are using old plastic bags to line bins, that is better than buying separate bin liners, but try lining the bin with sheets of newspaper instead.

Biodegradable plastic bags are becoming more common, however, these require elements such as water, microbes and sunlight to degrade, none of which are present in landfill sites. So whilst they are better than plastic bags made from fossil fuels, they are still not ideal.

If you have any ideas for what to do with old plastic bags then email us and we’ll include them.

Some people are keen recyclers and have set up systems in their home to separate out their waste. On the other hand others aren’t really sure what to recycle, or find it too difficult or time consuming to do.

There are some simple rules to remember to become a top grade recycler, follow these are you can’t go wrong:

• If you don’t have them already contact your local council to find out materials they collect for recycling and obtain the bins or boxes provided to separate out the waste.
• Don’t place recyclables in plastic bags – staff at recycling centres will not open plastic bags no matter what the contents are, so the bag and its contents will end up in landfill.
• Take the tops off bottles and empty them to prevent liquid spilling and ruining other recyclable products or damaging equipment at the recycling centre.
• Don’t place broken glasses, plates, mugs, ovenproof glass or ceramics in the recycling container as these cannot be recycled and will contaminate normal glass making it useless for recycling.
• Metal lids from jars and bottles can be recycled through metal recycling.
• Tin cans can be recycled – rinse them in your washing up water to get rid of food contamination. They don’t need to be spotless, but getting rid of food will reduce odour.
• Empty cartons such as juice and milk containers can be recycled, again rinse if you can to reduce odour.
• Recycle newspapers, remove plastic bags from unread newspapers and mags before recycling.
• Plastic bags, crockery, polystyrene, syringes, nappies etc can’t be recycled, put these in the general waste.
• Food scraps can’t be recycled, get rid of them in a worm farm or bokashi bin.

Recycling programs also exist or mobile phones, batteries, paints, white goods, printer cartridges, computers, corks, you name it. To find out where you can recycle these visit Recycling Near You.

For more information on waste and recycling visit our waste essentials article or visit the following:
Recycling Goods – the recycling website designed to keep useful items out of landfills and general information on how to recycle waste from your household or organisation.
Visy – explains the typical recycling process at the waste facility.
Freecycle – give away or get items to prevent them going to landfill at this Australian recycling community website.

Some recycling facts:
Once an aluminium can is recycled its back on the grocery shelf as a new can within 60 days
Every ton of paper recycled saves 2.5 barrels of oil, 4,100 kWh of electricity, 4 cubic metres of water and 31,780 litres of water.
Glass takes one million years to break down naturally but can be recycled forever to the same product quality every time.
Manufacturing plastics from recycled materials uses 30 per cent of the energy required to make plastic products from fossil fuels.
Recycling steel cans saves 87 per cent of the energy it takes to make the cans from raw materials

If you want to green up your wardrobe here are a few things to think about:

• Buy second hand clothing and textiles where possible.
• Buy fewer more durable garments.
• When buying new products, choose those made with the least energy and least toxic emissions, made by workers paid a credible living wage with reasonable employment rights and conditions.
• Hire or borrow clothes.
• Wash clothes less often at lower temperatures and using eco-detergents, line dry them and avoid ironing where possible.
• Extend the life of clothing and textile products through repair.
• Dispose of used clothing and textiles through recycling businesses who would return them for second-hand sale wherever possible, but otherwise extract and recycle the yarn or fibres.

From: ‘Well dressed? The present and future sustainability of clothing and textiles in the United Kingdom’ Julian M Allwood, Soren Ellebaek Laursen, Cecilia Malvido de Rodriguez and Nancy M Bocken, 1996.

Standard clothing labels at the back of your jumper give you an indication of the material and the country of origin. However, these generally give no information on the working conditions and the treatment and dying processes. Eco labels therefore play an increasing role. There are a number of labels to look out for such as the European Union’s Öeko-Tex Standard 100 which regulates substances in raw materials as well as finished products, and every stage in between, and labels which ensure protection of workers such as FairTrade and FairWear labels. Further details are provided on our eco-labels page.