Recycle: For a Greener Tomorrow

On July 07, 07: Watch Live Earth Concert; For a Climate in Crisis. Webcast on MSN for Free. Featuring 100+ Artists Simulcast on all 7 Continents.

Keep up with the Bills coming up for vote in Congress. These politicians who we elect work for us. Let them know we are holding them accountable.
A New Energy Policy Before Congress this week: A Bill to raise vehicle mileage requirements, Punish "Price Gouging" by oil companies, Improve Energy Efficiency of Appliances, Promote Clean Energy Technology and diminish Federal support of fossil-fuel production. If you said, sounds like a no brainer, you would be correct. The Bill failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance a measure raising $32 billion in taxes to finance the programs. Hold on, not taxes laid on the American workers back but on the oil companies to pay for the renewable-energy programs. If they could have let it by passed on to us it would have probably gone through since we don't have lobbyists in our pockets.

For future reference at election time: Our representative from Florida, Mel Martinez, voted No on both counts.

Now for a little good news: President of MIT, Susan Hockfield, is making the World Energy Crisis a campus-wide mission. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is working hard on building a better battery. Their goal is to make batteries stronger, cleaner and capable of storing more electricity. If you have ever had a dead remote battery, you know the tragedy they hope to avoid for us all in the future.

Three cheers for Amory Lovins, founder of Rocky Mountain Institute, a Colorado based non profit consulting group. For 30 years he has helped persuade American Companies to seek alternative fuel sources. He gave the kick start to Walmart to switch to more fuel- efficient delivery trucks. He showed Texas Instrument the numbers in building a plant that uses 20% less energy. He was behind the Green light in getting the United States Army to try solar power.

In 1998, Richard Valeriano, had a dream. No, not that dream. He dreamed up flexible, moving sidewalks to replace concrete. [ How many times have you thought of a great invention upon waking; only to have it slip away? ] Lindsay Smith, took the idea and ran with it. In 2001 launching Rubberside Walks, turning used tires into cost- efficient walkways in 70 cities thus far. Side note: I, myself, had an idea for a way to send someone a hug across country. What do you know, the Hug Shirt, is in production as we speak. So don't sit on those dreams, folks.

Each year 3.5 billion wire hangers end up in US landfills. No, wire hangers! Now a biodegradable alternative is on the market called Eco-Hangers. They are made from recycled- paperboard and furnished free to dry cleaners. Advertisement logos displayed on the hangers, paid for by companies such as Loreal, pay for their manufacture.

Scholastic, Inc. has committed to printing the first 8 million copies of the new Harry Potter book on paper from forests managed in environmental sound ways. They however are not saying where the remaining 4 million copies paper will hail from. Ah, give the devil his due; you have to end somewhere.

On TED. com, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, you can watch and listen to the World's greatest thinkers give inspired talks. Remember all those high achievers in college? Yes, they are all there. Guest speaker, Dr. Klaus Topfer, former UN Director for Environmental Policy, said our best bet for a carbon free future is hydrogen. Funny, I know a redneck fisherman who says the same thing.

The Volt is General Motors new plug-in hybrid vehicle projected to roll out by 2010. It runs solely on electricity except for a small gas engine that helps charge the battery when needed. It can go 40 miles without using any gasoline and recharges via an ordinary outlet. [ You know, there are going to be people forgetting to plug their car in at night ] It's expected to average 150 mpg on a 60 mile trip.

This should make all women and especially Moms stand up and shout. No, it's not an all expense paid vacation but a holiday of sorts. "Self- Cleaning" clothes that are made from a high-tech fabric that repels water, resists stains and is anti bacterial. There will be the savings of time, money on laundry products and conserving water.

For years, I was being environmentally friendly without even realizing it. My neighbors lawn was always immaculate without a blade out of place. They raked and bagged in the Florida sun while I had iced tea in the shade. Turns out, it's better to leave your cut grass where it lies, to decompose and provide nutrients back to the soil. Do it, for the land, Man.

Being guilty of buying and using too many paper products, Styrofoam cups, etc. this next bit; hit home for me. Popular name brand toilet paper and paper towels contain 0% recycled content. According to NRDC, 'If every household in the US replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper with a 100% recycled one, we could save 423,900 trees.' Even more trees could be saved using recycled paper towels. It's not so easy to find 100% recycled paper products but if we request them at our local stores, they will usually deliver. Those dyed print tissues don't go down so well on your septic tank either.

A problem in Florida is those 6-pack beverage holder rings. Besides, ending up in the rivers, choking the fish; it takes up to 450 years for them to disintegrate. In the Time Line for Biodegradable Products: Plastic Bottles Take Forever. Why did they ever stop making those glass bottles?

Now, we are forced to walk behind our dogs with plastic bags that will remain on Earth a million years. I find that more offensive than the dog poop that will degrade in days. I don't like stepping in it either but if we have to have the bags, let's just put them on our feet.

I have to say Hip,Hip, Hooray for my town, Bay County, Florida. Our landfill has an excellent program for recycling. They hold Amnesty Days where Home Owners can drop off paint cans, old tires, batteries and appliances at no charge to be disposed of properly. They also have an E-Cycling Central where you can drop off unwanted electronic equipment.

KEEPTHEBEACHCLEAN.com is a free website where locals sign up to get involved in area clean ups, etc. Check in your own hometown for ways you can make a difference. If you know of someone who is illegally dumping hazardous waste or polluting the air, make a call, write a letter, even if it's anonymously. This is the most beautiful and only planet we have. It deserves a BIG HUG everyday.