09.24.09
Posted in Green Living, Recycling at 4:17 am by Administrator
September 24, 2009
As I was reading up on the subject of recycling, I found an article “The Compelling Facts About Plastics 2007” which was a report about the efforts going on in Europe regarding recycling plastics. The report covered 27 member states of the European Plastic Converters group plus Norway and Switzerland (EU27+NO/CH). This report had some amazing facts about their progress with recycling garbage, to the point that in some areas they are nearing complete diversion from landfill use. They “now recover more than 80% of their waste” through recycling into products or using for energy. The article goes on to say, specifically with plastics that 50% of all plastics across these European states are recycled in some way, 20.4% recycled into products and 29.2% used as energy recovery. In comparison, the latest U.S. figures (2008 State of Garbage in America report) showed that only 31% of the total waste headed toward landfills is getting recycled. Only 14% is used as energy recovery and 55% continues to the landfill. If this European group can recycle more than 80% of their total waste, we can do better than 45%. It was noted in the above article that the need for recycled plastics is growing in demand. Greater demand means industry and jobs. Germany has made a passenger ferry from plastics and glue. Imagine what other recycled products, large and small can come from the plastics or other material we now dump in landfills if we put our best effort into it. Not to mention the progress in the energy industry if we recycled any other possible resource into energy.
The EU27+NO/CH group has and continues to define ways for Europe to make full use of their resources (including garbage or solid waste as a resource). This group has developed a process with a hierarchy regarding the way they think and go about recycling. “The hierarchy for improving resource efficiency is (in descending priority order): Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover Energy, Disposal.” This sentence really broadened my concept of the recycling process. The much more inclusive and appropriate term is “improving resource efficiency”. I am afraid many Americans share my microscopic definition of recycling, which in the hierarchy above is really just the reusing step. Notice there is one step before reuse and that is reduce. Americans don’t like that word either. We are so spoiled with our big houses, big cars and having more of everything. The third step “recycle” which is actually using plastics and other garbage to make needed products that are in high demand. The next step is just as important, “recover energy”, meaning using non product recyclable garbage to make energy of some type. The last step is in the right place in the hierarchy, “disposal”. I think many people in our country think disposal first and that’s it. Some of us, including me, may reuse some things, thinking we are actually recycling. The fourth step, recover energy, while some of it goes on in our country, most of us don’t have a clue what it means much less who does it, how or where. So we have a long way to go before such becomes household conversation. The topic can get very technical and in depth as we in America make our attempts at defining and proceeding with “improving resource efficiency”.
Perhaps we can borrow some ideas from the Europeans about resource efficiency, as it seems they have been doing it for years. Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. The Europeans have experienced the necessity. Maybe, with new industries like Terracycle and companies like Kraft and others jumping in, that it is a sign Americans are beginning to see the necessity for change as well. We’ve talked about it for years but have done little compared to what is needed. There are two good reasons to move forward quickly, the most important being the well being of our environment and planet. Secondly, the Europeans have proven not only can resource efficiency be done, but it can be done with costs efficiency as well.
So Kudos to Wheat Thins, Kraft Foods, Terracycle and others joining the mission. I now am compelled to join the “resource efficiency” mission by looking for a place to take recyclable items today! My grandsons will go with me. They need to learn as well how to really recycle, not just reuse and dump. Will you join me?
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Posted in Green Living at 4:11 am by Administrator
September 23, 2009
I have been a fan of Wheat Thins for about four years now. I started eating them as a snack when I began “my” version of The South Beach Diet. After about ten months I had lost 40 pounds and have kept it off. I continue to maintain pretty much the same eating habits which include Wheat Thins as a snack.
My grandchildren snack on what I do when they come to visit. They invariably get the Wheat Thin box out and snack from the box. Only they take the bag out of the box and leave the empty box in the pantry or elsewhere (usually the floor). I have often had the thought that it would be nice if Kraft would just leave off the box packaging and just wrap them with the inside bag. This would immediately save me from having two wrappings to contend with but more importantly, save Kraft and the customer money for the extra packaging and less trash in the landfills. Well, guess what? I bought Wheat Thins lately and they were in a bag only. I bought the Garden Valley Veggie variety. On the side of the bag it boasts, “Wheat Thins Toasted Chips help keep our planet healthy! Wheat Thins Toasted Chips and Terracycle are working together in a special program to help keep some food packages from ending up in landfills. They’ll collect these empty chips or other snack bags from participating snack lovers just like you through their collection centers, and then turn them into useful products like backpacks, totes and pencil cases.” The Wheat Thins bag lists the website for Terracycle which is www.terracycle.net/brigades for more information about their recycling process.
This got me to wondering what the difference is between the Terracycle bag and regular grocery or plastic shopping bags. After all, I keep hearing about how many tons of plastic bags end up in the landfills that will be there a million years from now – or whatever. So I went to www.terracycle.net/brigades and The American Chemistry Council and read their information about Recyclable Plastic Bags. One important fact I learned is that plastic products are different and need to be sorted and recycled with like plastic products. An article on the American Chemistry Council site, “What You Should Know About Plastic Bags” is really helpful regarding sorting and even where to find recycling pick up or drop off centers for those that do not have curb side recycling services. Everyone seems to agree that recycling plastics is a good thing; it just has to be done correctly, starting at home.
I learned several new (to me) terms about the recycling business. First the terms “reuse” and “recycle” in this business have different meanings. I wrongly used them interchangeably. To reuse a plastic grocery bag means just to use the same bag repeatedly in a different way than the purpose for which it was made. For instance, below I listed fifteen ways I reuse the plastic bags I bring home from the grocery store or Walmart.
1. Trash liners for medium to small trash cans.
2. Use to harvest vegetables from my garden instead of buying baskets or other containers.
3. Stuffing boxes to mail rather than buying Styrofoam squigglys or other packing material.
4. Weave craft purses or tote bags.
5. Trash bags for vehicles.
6. Outer wrapping for frozen foods, that tend to be messy when freezing or thawing.
7. Sort and store craft materials.
8. Transport cooked foods to church socials, etc., or transport canned foods for can drives, etc.
9. Store glass or other breakables in storage boxes.
10. Transporting wet clothing, swimming suits, towels, etc. from pool or gym.
11. Lunch bags.
12. Use for pet poop pick up & disposal.
13. Dispose of used baby diapers rather than just placing them in the “open” trash can, or buying special plastic bags just for diaper disposal.
14. Picking up nasty spills (broken eggs, oat meal, etc.) rather than using paper towels or disposable gloves.
15. Wrap papers, books, photos, or other printed items that water will ruin, to transport on a rainy day.
And there are a million other ways people “reuse” these bags before they ultimately make it to the landfill.
Recycling however is entirely different. It is hopefully becoming big business. The Terracycle business was a brain child of the owner and then collage student, Tom Szaky, who wanted to simply help the earth. After a couple of trials at it, he hit upon the Terracycle idea. On the website, several types of product bags, wrappings or packaging are listed that schools, other organizations, or households can collect and send to them. Terracycle then pays a few cents per pound of bags and donates the total to the customer’s favorite charity. Of course, a school counts as a charity. Then they take these product wrappings and make many new items from toys, spray bottles, pencil holders, book bags, items for the bathroom, trash cans for home or office, fire-starters, flower pots and up to 104 new products just from trash wrappers. Go see the site and learn the wrappers that you can save for recycling with this company. You’ll be amazed. Terracycle has already donated $130,811.92 to various charities. They have 6,451,985 people collecting trash items for them. These figures are from today. Yesterday they were considerably less.
But what about the ever more numerous plastic grocery or Walmart bags? I guess I have been hanging on to the media coverage that was out there years ago about how terrible plastic bags were for the earth, that they never go away. While they are not biodegradable ordinarily, they are very recyclable. Not only that, they can be recycled for less money than recycling paper bags or making new plastic materials! The tasks for all people concerned about the mass amounts of plastic bags piling up in America’s landfills is to see that they are never put there in the first place, but are recycled instead. Not just reuse them and eventually throw them away, but make sure they are collected or deposited somewhere for recycling. Did you know that plastic bags can be recycled to make fence lumber, other construction materials, pallets, buoys, and there is always the need for recycled bags. So we all need to find places to take our bags to get them recycled. In the European report, ”The Compelling Facts About Plastics 2007”,is this quote, “In the public debate the plastic bag has been the victim of irresponsible litter behavior in society, which has unfairly damaged the reputation of this highly sustainable option for carrying our shopping back home.”
So the plastic bag has gotten a bum rap and still is by some. But there are things we can do about it. First, organize a way of sorting your plastics and other recyclables and get your kids to help in the effort. Secondly, read “Recycling in America (Part 2)” tomorrow. You’re taking step one!
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Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds at 4:02 am by Administrator
Adorable and educational!, September 21, 2009
By Lisa A. Maddock (Shakopee, MN USA)
I really enjoyed “Friends in the Meadow: Birds” by Peggy Williams. The book was full of wonderful photos and descriptions. I have been feeding and watching birds for over twenty years and I learned new things! It was fun to learn about the different birds through the viewpoints of the bird babies who each had a cute name, personality and relationship to the others. My daughter and I name and find personality in the birds who come to our feeders, too! I love the idea of the birds playing together and having celebrations and parties. Cute! I recommend this book to parents, teachers or leaders of organizations interested in exposing kids of any age to the wonderful hobby of birding. What a win-win to be involved in! And kids, what a great book for gathering information for a report, or for your own hobby, too! The author includes some nice lists at the back of the book for keeping track of the birds you have seen and other notes. Thank you Peggy, for putting together such a sweet and educational book for kids.
Thanks Lisa for the great review and the kind words.
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Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds, Parent-child relationship at 3:51 am by Administrator
First Review: Delightful, September 15, 2009
By Kbird
Peggy Williams has written a delightfully fun and educational introduction to bird watching. The reader gets to meet Lovie Dove, a mourning dove that lives on Mr. and Mrs. Wilson’s farm. Lovie Dove introduces us to all of her bird friends, both those that visit the farm year round and those that stop on their migrations. The reader learns about doves, finches, bluebirds, cardinals, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many, many more. Wonderful color photographs are included of each bird along with a detailed description. I love that Mrs. Williams includes a very detailed glossary, a place for notes, a Life List (a place to enter all the birds that have been found, when, where, etc.), and a Certificate of Completion. The book is wonderfully written with younger children in mind, perhaps pre-school through elementary school. I think this book would make an excellent addition to elementary school science curriculums, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop activities, 4-H and Cloverbud group activities, or for that special child who loves nature. I hope Friends in the Meadow: Birds is just the beginning of a wonderful nature series.
Second Review: Guide for Future Generations of Bird Watcher’s, September 16, 2009
By G. Reba
“Friends in the Meadow: Birds” offers children the chance to experience birding from a unique point of view…that of the “educated” watcher. Author Peggy H. Williams brings to life the wondrous world that exists just outside our front doors. In story book fashion, you are introduced to such loveable “characters” as Lovie Dovie, Robby Robin, Reddy Cresty Cardinal, Fee Bee Chickadee, as well as others, while learning about their way of life. From habits to habitats, and friends versus foes, young readers are certain to walk away with a better understanding of the feathered world around them if not a newly uncovered desire for birding!
At the stories heart is a message of acceptance. By accepting each other the way we are, not in spite of our differences but with them, the world can be a more peaceful place. Who wouldn’t want to impart both the knowledge of Nature as well as these heartfelt sentiments to the next generation? For the budding birdwatcher in your neighborhood, a definite must read…..
Third Review: Bird Watching - sounds like fun!, September 17, 2009
By M. Stanhope
This book titled “Friends in the Meadow-Birds”, by author Peggy Williams is all about bird watching. It’s quite unique in the fact that it starts out with a couple who keep bird feeders filled and enjoys watching all the birds stop by to feed. As you go through the book, it describes each bird and little facts relating to the species. There are also pictures for each bird described. How cute!
This would definitely be a book to work with if you were interested in getting started on bird watching. If you wanted to start a hobby with a child this book has a blank list at the end so they can fill in birds that they’ve seen. It also offers a certificate of completion if you wanted to use this book as a project. It even offers a detailed glossary at the end of the book.
Most importantly, it offers ways for adults and children to have fun, find a hobby to share and become familiar with the environment, nature, and the serenity it offers. I found this book quite enjoyable.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write these reviews and for the wonderful words about the book!
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Posted in Bird Watching, Bird watching for children, New Childrens Book Friends in the Meadow - Birds at 3:28 am by Administrator
New Press Release
Peggy Williams tested out her new book,Friends in the Meadow-Birds,with the first grade class at J.E. Terry Elementary in Dallas County, AL. on September 14, 2009. She introduced the hobby of birding to some very alert kids. It seems the book passed!
(I-Newswire) September 15, 2009 - For Immediate Release
September 15, 2009 Central Alabama, USA
The children’s book, Friends in the Meadow – Birds, written by Peggy Williams, M.Ed., and published by AuthorHouse is becoming known around the internet. The book is in online bookstores, mentioned in blogs, book and author websites and other places like JacketFlap, Shelfari, The Reading Tub, Twitter, Facebook, and Flicker among others. It is being featured for the next several months on USA Book News.com. Reviews are beginning to come in as well and so far have been very favorable.
The goal of the author, Peggy Williams, M.Ed., is to connect children with nature while encouraging parents to be involved in nature activities as well with their children. The end result most of the time is a closer bond and relationship between parent and child brought about through the hobby of bird watching. These activities can be shared together throughout their lifetime.
As the book is making its rounds about the internet, the movement took another direction on September 14, 2009. The author presented the book to the first grade class of J. E. Terry Elementary School of Dallas County, Alabama. To demonstrate how much fun the hobby of bird watching can be Mrs. Williams shared bird photos, a real bird’s nest, a bird egg shell, bookmarks and one of the activities from the website’s Kidz Page as an activity to complete later in the day. The class members were full of excitement at seeing the nest and the bird egg. The children listened with interest about the facts of the birds in the book and were enthusiastic about sharing their own experiences about birds. Hands stayed in the air as they volunteered to participate in the discussion. Their teacher, Mrs. Jenny Limbaugh, has been teaching about nature and birds for several days and the children were interested in learning more. They especially liked the male Goldfinch, one of the most colorful of wild birds. One young man in the class stated he would “want to keep him”.
So it seems the book passed the classroom challenge and Mrs. Limbaugh took a picture of the kids with “a real author” for their classroom scrapbook. Mrs. Williams left thankful that she was “the author that wrote a real book”, as one child described her, rather than the teacher. Although the children were very well behaved, Mrs. Williams left with a deeper admiration and respect for teachers that educate our children in that special place called the classroom. Ms. Susan Morgan is the Principal of J. E. Terry Elementary School.
For more information about ordering Friends in the Meadow-Birds or scheduling an event, contact the author, Peggy Williams, M.Ed., by email at: peggywilliams09@yahoo.com.
On website at: http://www.birdandnaturefriends-children.com
By regular mail at: P.O. Box 56 Lawley, AL 36793.
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09.14.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:24 am by Administrator
I received this review from Gregory Henderson this weekend. Thanks for the nice words Greg.
Having grown up in the back-woods country of Alabama, I learned early to appreciate the immense variety of nature by which I was surrounded. The tall hickories and oaks. The scent of pine and cedar. The rustle of squirrels playing in the leaves. And, of course, the birds of all varieties and color, making beautiful sounds and showing off their plumage. It seems the older I get, the more important these memories become to me. Sometimes, I push my chair away from the computer and I sit back and remember the times of my youth; wandering through the countryside and taking it all in.
The book; Friends In The Meadow; is designed to foster just such memories in the youth of today. Sometimes, no matter what our age, we need to sit back and take in the nature around us. Friends In The Meadow - Birds, is the first in a series of books which provide a look at the world from the perspective of nature’s bountiful creation. It provides fun learning experiences for young and old as it brings us together with fun exercises designed, not only to foster an appreciation of nature, yet, a closeness between young and older as we learn together to appreciate God’s creations.
I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates nature or is even a little curious about the natural world. I recommend it, not only because of the natural expression, but also, because it brings families closer together to share and create memories which may last forever.
Gregory Henderson
PC guru 2U
gregory@pcguru2u
www.pcguru2u.net
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