Raising children to be environmental heroes

(ARA) - For modern families, being eco-friendly can be a big priority. That's why it's important to plant the recycling seeds in children early so their love for the environment grows as they do. However, because students spend significant hours in the classroom, teachers must partner with parents to develop habits that are relevant at home as well as at school.

The United States generated more than 243 million tons of material waste in 2009, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, Americans recycled only 34 percent of that waste. Statistics such as these present ample opportunities for teachers and parents to implement recycling programs  through which young children can make real contributions to saving the planet.

Mr. Sunshine's Recycling Arena

Think recycling is for adults only? Get the whole family involved with this plan

No matter the season, families can reduce, reuse and recycle with a little planning and organization. With a wealth of information available at your fingertips, it's easy to develop a plan that fits your family.

The key to thinking earth-friendly 365 days a year is to get the entire family involved so everyone feels like they're a part of the solution. Initiatives like the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling program help to teach kids about recycling and have fun doing it. Here are some easy ways for the entire family to focus on earth-friendly learning and activities all year long:

Design a recycling bin

One of the most important steps in sticking with a recycling program for the family is getting children involved in a hands-on way. An easy and fun way to do this is to have kids design a collection bin for all your recyclable items, such as newspapers, cans and glue bottles. Giving them the freedom to design the bin however they want is a great way to emphasize the fun benefits of recycling at an early age.

Use a recycling chart

A great way to get the family thinking about recycling all year is through a monthly recycling chart. Develop a simple chart or thermometer graph and hang it in an easily accessible place. Each week, the kids can chart how many items the family recycled. It's a great way to sharpen math skills while taking care of the environment. For an added twist, set recycling-focused goals for the family each month and when those goals are achieved, reward everyone with a movie or some ice cream.

Start a repair day

Implement a monthly repair day in which the entire family works together to repair household items that might need a little TLC. By working together on a consistent basis to repair what you already have, you can teach children the value of repairing and reusing. With a little teamwork, a couple drops of glue and some elbow grease, your house will be in tip-top shape each month.

By implementing a couple of these ideas you can help the entire family focus on the benefits of earth-friendly living all year long. For more environmentally-focused tips and recycling program ideas, visit http://www.elmersgluecrew.com/.

Recycle a Pizza Box? YES!

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For a green year recycle your e-waste!

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Recycle Your Cork and more @ Whole Foods Market Union Square

Recycling Roundup @ Sun Life Stadium

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Go Green When You Move - Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle

After living in Tucson, Arizona for the last seven years I just moved back this week to New York.  When moving don't just put all of your stuff in a trash bag and throw it away in the dumpster.  Be smart and go green.  Make sure you use the three R's: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle.

I accumalated a lot of stuff over the last seven years like some couches from Erin L., a blender from Allen M., a car from Jake C., etc. To go green during this move I donated clothes that didn't fit me to goodwill, gave back old hangers to the local cleaners, recylced old college papers, recycled Jack's labtop, recycled my old printer, and donated some old telephones to goodwill.  I also brought back some cfl's that didn't work anymore to Home Depot.  The average American would not do what I did when moving.  There stuff would of ended up in a landfill and they would of wasted stuff that could of been donated, resused, or recylced.  When moving think about other people and the environment.  Don't you think it makes sense to donate old clothes and shoes to goodwill instead of throwing them in the garbage? Don't you think it makes sense to recycle your old printer to Office Max to get a $50 coupon towards a new printer?

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Help a Veteran, Recycle in the Dream Machine

The Story of Electronics: Why Designed for the Dump Is Toxic for People and the Planet

America Recycles Day - November 15th

The average American discards about 4.5 pounds of trash, also known as solid waste, every day. This trash goes mostly to landfills, where it is compacted and buried. Thirty-three percent of solid waste, or 83 million tons, is recovered and recycled or composted; and 54 percent, or 135 million tons, is disposed of in landfills.

Source: USA EPA 

Recycling: Sort no more - Arizona Daily Wildcat - News

Recycling on campus just got simpler for students and faculty at the University of Arizona.

Practicing the three R's all year long

(ARA) - No matter the season, families can reduce, reuse and recycle with a little planning and organization. With a wealth of information available at your fingertips, it's easy to develop a plan that fits your family.

The key to thinking earth-friendly 365 days a year is to get the entire family involved so everyone feels like they're a part of the solution. Initiatives like the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling program help to teach kids about recycling and have fun doing it. Here are some easy ways for the entire family to focus on earth-friendly learning and activities all year long:

Tips to tailgate in an eco-friendly way

(ARA) - As tans fade and work shifts back into high gear, there's one fall tradition that helps make the transition from summer bearable: football tailgating season. A spirited American pastime for decades, tailgating has become the ultimate way for fans to fuel up for football games. But without careful planning, these parking lot picnics can consume a lot of energy and create a lot of waste. This year there's a movement to help you reduce your fan footprint and celebrate your favorite football team with a few simple changes.

Proposed Jersey City ‘Ban’ on Plastic Bags Has Narrow Focus; Most Businesses Would Not be Affected

While the news last week that Jersey City was going to consider a ban on most plastic bags has garnered considerable attention, the actual proposal is quite limited in scope and would apply to very few businesses in the city.

Under the proposed bill, which is set to be introduced at this week’s City Council meeting, applicable businesses would have to provide only recyclable paper bags, reusable bags and/or compostable plastic bags as checkout bags for their customers.

But a store would only be forced to comply with the regulation under two circumstances: if it is a “full-line, self-service supermarket with gross annual sales of two million dollars or more,” or if it is “a retail pharmacy with at least five locations under the same ownership within the geographical limits of Jersey City.” (Most of the large pharmacy chains do not have that many branches in Jersey City; by our quick calculation, Rite Aid is the only company with five or more Jersey City locations.)"

Recycling With a Vengeance

Recycle that Old Cell Phone - Make Some Money ?

The next time you’re ready to upgrade your cell phone, recycle the old one! If all the estimated 100 million dead cell phones were recycled, the United States could save enough energy to power more than 194,000 U.S. households with electricity for one year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Less than 20 percent of unwanted cell phones are recycled each year, according to the EPA.

Recycling can help the environment by keeping usable and valuable materials out of landfills and incinerators. Cell phones are made of precious metals, copper and plastics, which require energy to mine and manufacture. Recycling these materials not only conserves resources, but reduces air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier this year, EPA teamed up with cell phone retailers, manufacturers and service providers to develop collection programs. Some charitable groups and state or municipal solid waste programs also offer cell phone recycling.

To find out where to recycle your cell phone, visit www.epa.gov/cellphone.

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JZ GO GREEN TIP OF THE DAY - RECYCLE

Recycle Gadgets and raise money for American Red Cross

I am hosting an online gadget drive through Gazelle to raise money for American Red Cross, and would love your support. 

A gadget drive is a new way to fundraise that turns your used electronics (laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, and more) into cash to support a cause. Contributing to my drive is simple. Just visit my drive webpage at http://jzgogreen.gazelle.com/, find the value of the gadgets you would like to donate, and send them to Gazelle (shipping is free). The value will go to support American Red Cross. 

If you would like to donate, please go to JZ Go Green Charity Drive (http://jzgogreen.gazelle.com/) to learn more about my drive and track my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email, and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. 


Thank you in advance for your support, 


Jason Zeller

Go Green ...... Recycle

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