MESA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the face of what most would call overwhelming odds, an environmental company in Arizona has established itself as the leader in biodegradable plastics. Unfortunately, the waters were muddied when California recently filed a lawsuit to forbid the labeling of ENSO products as biodegradable, despite scientific proof of biodegradation by internationally recognized testing. The general public, legislators and the media continue to be confused about biodegradable plastics.
"History is full of examples where science has provided the facts to overcome false beliefs, a principle that ENSO will continue through the pioneering of new information, technology and education."
Danny Clark, President of ENSO, states, "Our industry is young, and we are still improving standards and dispelling false beliefs. Our products perform as we claim, and we have the data to prove it. The situation in California is a lack of education and misunderstanding new technologies; this is not an issue of false claims. We will take this opportunity to bring legislators up to speed with ENSO technologies and the value they bring to the environment." "The citizens of California and the environment deserve better," stated Del Andrus, VP of ENSO. "History is full of examples where science has provided the facts to overcome false beliefs, a principle that ENSO will continue through the pioneering of new information, technology and education." At ENSO, we stand behind our claims and our mission to solve the world's plastic pollution. Every one of us has contributed to this global problem, and it will take each of us, working together, to solve it. Companies like AQUAMANTRA and Balance should be recognized for rising above status quo and implementing environmentally sound solutions. We do not claim that biodegradability is a silver bullet, but it is a huge step in the right direction. Consumers should be educated on the true impact of the products they are buying and have the opportunity to take that step. For more information on how ENSO biodegradable plastics can help the environment, visit our website at www.ensoplastics.com. About ENSO Plastics Founded in 2008, ENSO Plastics develops environmental plastic solutions. ENSO supports effective recycling programs and the energy conversion of methane from landfill biodegradation. The company's long-term goal is to close the loop by creating renewable and biodegradable plastics with the same beneficial properties of plastics today. To learn more about how you can help reduce plastic pollution and improve our environment visit ensoplastics.com or call 866-936-3676
October 28 2011 - With the deaths of nearly 500 birds at the Laurel Mountain wind facility earlier this month, three of the four wind farms operating in West Virginia have now experienced large bird fatality events, according to American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation's leading bird conservation organization. "Wind energy has the potential to be a green energy source, but the industry still needs to embrace simple, bird-smart principles that would dramatically reduce incidents across the country, such as those that have occurred in West Virginia," said Kelly Fuller, ABC's Wind Campaign Coordinator. There were three critical circumstances that tragically aligned in each of the three West Virginia events to kill these birds. Each occurred during bird migration season, during low visibility weather conditions, and with the addition of a deadly triggering element – an artificial light source. Steady-burning lights have been shown to attract and disorient birds, particularly night-migrating songbirds that navigate by starlight, and especially during nights where visibility is low such as in fog or inclement weather. Circling birds collide with structures or each other, or drop to the ground from exhaustion. At the Laurel Mountain facility in the Allegheny Mountains, almost 500 birds were reportedly killed after lights were left on at an electrical substation associated with the wind project. The deaths are said to have occurred not from collisions with the wind turbines themselves, but from a combination of collisions with the substation and apparent exhaustion as birds caught in the light's glare circled in mass confusion. On the evening of September 24 this year at the Mount Storm facility in the Allegheny Mountains, 59 birds and two bats were killed. Thirty of the dead birds were found near a single wind turbine that was reported to have had internal lighting left on overnight. This incident stands in stark contrast to industry assertions that just two birds per year are killed on average by each turbine. Data from Altamont Pass, California wind farms – the most studied in the nation – suggest that over 2,000 Golden Eagles alone have been killed there. On May 23, 2003 at the Mountaineer wind farm in the Allegheny Mountains, at least 33 birds were killed. Some of the deaths were attributed to collisions with wind turbines and some to collisions with a substation. "The good news is that it shouldn't be hard to make changes that will keep these sorts of unnecessary deaths from happening again, but it's disturbing that they happened at all. It has long been known that many birds navigate by the stars at night, that they normally fly lower during bad weather conditions, and that artificial light can draw them off course and lead to fatal collision events. That's why minimizing outdoor lighting at wind facilities is a well-known operating standard. And yet lights were left on at these sites resulting in these unfortunate deaths. This reinforces the need to have mandatory federal operational standards as opposed to the optional, voluntary guidelines that are currently under discussion," Fuller said. A fourth wind farm in West Virginia, the Beech Ridge Wind Energy Project in Greenbrier County, has not experienced large mortality events, likely because it is currently prohibited by a court order from operating during nighttime between April 1 and November 15. "Some West Virginia conservation groups have suggested that other wind farms in the state should shut down their wind turbines at certain times and seasons to protect birds. Given the recurring bird-kill problems, that idea needs to be seriously considered, at least during migration season on nights where low visibility is predicted. A wind farm in Texas is doing just that, so it is possible." said Fuller. This article was written by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to conserve native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats, while building capacity in the bird conservation movement.
PYMATUNING, Pa. - What in Sam Hill are sandhill cranes doing in Pennsylvania? They don't have much history here; their status was more of a just-passing-through or accidental visitor than anything else. Heck, they don't even have relatives in Pennsylvania. But their growing presence here ensures that those folks who refer to most wading birds as "cranes" will start to be right some of the time! "Sandhill cranes, until relatively recently, weren't part of the state's breeding bird community," explained Dan Brauning, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief. "In fact, it's sort of amazing they're anywhere in North America today given the bird's troubled past." A majority of the sandhill crane's global population historically has nested throughout Canada. East of the Mississippi River, they predominantly inhabited the Great Lakes in substantial numbers through the 1800s. But they encountered hard times when increased unregulated hunting pressure and habitat loss limited their productivity. By the start of World War II, it was believed there were only several thousand remaining in North America. Since then, heightened management attention and the bird's increasing and advantageous use of agricultural areas have helped the sandhill regain its standing in the United States. Today, it is the most abundant crane species in the world, and is expanding its range into Pennsylvania and other states. In 1888, when B.H. Warren, who eventually became the Game Commission's first executive director, penned his Birds of Pennsylvania, he referred to the "green-legged, little brown and large white cranes," referring to the names people gave green herons, American egrets and, possibly, bitterns. There was no mention of sandhills. George M. Sutton, who wrote his Birds of Pennsylvania in 1928, only mentioned the "crane" or "sandhill crane" as erroneous identifications of the great blue heron. By the time W.E. Clyde Todd wrote the Birds of Western Pennsylvania in 1940, sandhill cranes were mentioned to have occurred in southwestern Pennsylvania during migration. But the bird was referred to as "very large wading bird," which it can be, but mostly is not. Given the sandhill crane's previous identity problems and existence issues, and its historic nonresident status, it's no wonder most Pennsylvanians really don't know a lot about them. But the birds do have a mysterious side to them according to the International Crane Foundation. Headquartered in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the organization works toward a future where all crane species are secure and where people cooperate to protect and restore wild crane populations and their ecosystems. "We've been following sandhill cranes for 20 years and we're still learning things," noted Matt Hayes, a Foundation sandhill crane researcher. In June, Hayes, accompanied by Andy Gossens, from the International Crane Foundation, and Hoa Nguyen, from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, came to Pennsylvania as part of a multistate research project to collect information on and genetic samples from the newest additions to Pennsylvania's limited, but established, sandhill nesting population. Directed by Game Commission staff with assistance from local birders, Hayes focused mostly on possible nesting sites in northwestern counties and another site in Bradford County. Finding sandhill chicks – sometimes referred to as colts – in the lush, emergent vegetation of the lowlands in which they prefer to nest was equivalent to sifting through sand for a contact lens in sweltering, humid conditions while serving reluctantly as a lunch wagon for the insect world. "In Pennsylvania, the Foundation's mission mirrors the work of the Game Commission, which is why our organizations immediately recognized the need to partner," Brauning said. "Matt Hayes found plenty of interest among and assistance from local birders and agency field personnel who helped him and his team to nests that were always hard to find. Cooperation was vital to the success of this ambitious fieldwork." "Nests are so hard to find," Hayes explained, "even with a helicopter and plenty of help. The birds paint themselves with mud and when it dries they blend in so well. We try to time our searches to take chicks when they're five to six weeks old, which is when they're easier to handle and can be banded." The Game Commission and the Foundation are interested in learning more about what sandhill cranes are doing in Pennsylvania and charting their range expansion. Their remarkable resurgence follows a horrific population tailspin they seemed unlikely to escape. "The Great Lakes population went through a historic bottleneck in the 1930s," Hayes explained. "We don't know what their previous numbers were, but we do know they were reduced to about 300, including 25 to 30 breeding pairs in and around Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. Today, they are 50,000 cranes strong in the Great Lakes; 650,000 globally." Sandhills currently can be found from Siberia to Cuba. It is believed the migratory Great Lakes sandhill crane population, which nests from Minnesota south and east to Ohio, is spurring the expansion into Pennsylvania, and as far east as New York, Massachusetts and Maine. So these birds, which have inhabited the continent longer than any other extant bird species, now seem to find the Mid-Atlantic States and New England attractive. But why? Why is the bird's nesting frontier Pennsylvania and not also Virginia or Maryland? Is it latitude? Climate? Habitat? Surely, they have areas that resemble Pennsylvania's countryside mix of wetlands, farmlands and fallow fields south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Hayes is quick to point out that cranes can be wanderers and bewildering. "That's why we're interested in their dispersal and movements; how this growing population is expanded its geographic range," Hayes said. "Sorting it out will help us try to better understand the overall population ecology of the sandhill crane. We suspect the main part of the Pennsylvania population is probably from the Great Lakes, but we want to try and understand more about it." Brauning noted that sandhill cranes seemed to have been sizing up Pennsylvania as potential nesting territory since the early 1990s. "Then, in 1993, a pair was observed in Lawrence County doing courtship behavior," Brauning said. "The birds suddenly disappeared for a few months in the summer. The next time they were seen, they had a juvenile crane. We were quite surprised!" Since that 1993 breeding confirmation, sandhills are believed to have been recurring nesters in the state's northwestern and northeastern counties. "A number of sandhill cranes have been observed over the past 10 years, summering in the northwest – Butler to Crawford counties – and in Bradford and Sullivan counties," Brauning explained. "At times, young were observed, but the state's first confirmed sandhill crane nest was found only in 2009. A nest that was uncovered this spring by Land Management Group Supervisor Jerry Bish and Northwest Region Land Management Supervisor Jim Donatelli in the Pymatuning region yielded two, two-day-old chicks during this fieldwork." Sandhills nest on the ground; nest materials are usually comprised of whatever vegetation is dominant in the wetland area they chose. The female lays two eggs normally and they hatch in about a month. The young will fledge, or begin to fly, in about 70 days. "The chicks have a pretty long period of vulnerability where they're susceptible to predation," Hayes said. "But once the chicks get to six to seven weeks of age, they tend to do a much better job of defending themselves, especially when their parents are around." Haynes noted that family ties among cranes are pretty strong, especially when it comes to encounters with predators. "We were watching a flock of 20 birds hanging out in a field in August and all of a sudden their heads went up," Hayes explained. "They all started looking around and then circled up like musk oxen do and all the chicks went in the middle. The adults were on the outside with their bills pointing out. A coyote suddenly appeared and ran through the field. After it passed, they broke apart and returned to foraging." The sandhill crane, despite its limited population in Pennsylvania, is not a state endangered or threatened species. "Because sandhills are expanding their range into Pennsylvania, and were not a historic nesting bird here, at this time it seems inappropriate to list them," Brauning said. "That listing process is designed to protect species in decline. We're glad sandhills have become a member of the state's breeding bird community, but their overall population gains make it clear they're not a species of special conservation need." Sandhills have established themselves firmly in Pennsylvania. Their known nesting presence is growing and they've been wintering in increasing numbers in western counties – Butler, Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence – for almost 20 years. Some also are wintering in eastern Pennsylvania, particularly Lebanon and Lancaster counties. Sandhills seem to be finding the tranquility and that modicum of privacy they – both breeders and non-breeders – prefer in several areas of the state. "Sandhill cranes are a very watchable wildlife resource, "Brauning said. "There are seasonal chances to see them at the Pymatuning and Middle Creek wildlife management areas, but the best place to watch sandhills in the state is at Pennsy Swamp on State Game Land 284 in Mercer County." If you observe what appear to be nesting sandhill cranes, or adult cranes in summer with juveniles, the Game Commission would like to hear from you. Send an email titled Sandhill Crane Observation to pgccomments@pa.gov. Include details on the potential nesting or sighting location and contact information. Adult sandhill cranes are 12-15 pounds in size and have a distinct red skin patch on their forehead and crown. Males are slightly larger. In flight, its wingspan is about seven feet. The mostly grayish bird stands at about the same height as a great blue heron (roughly 40 inches) and may be seen foraging for everything from worms and insects to mice and waste grains in agricultural settings. The sandhill's piercing call also is a dead giveaway to its presence and takes a backseat only to its dancing grace when assessing the bird's charms after encounters with it. Sandhill cranes, like all wildlife, are dependent on habitat and a peaceful coexistence with humans to ensure their future. But for now, they have plenty of elbow room in Pennsylvania and their limited numbers aren't a threat to anyone. That's why they're here; they fit in. And, they're one fine addition!
HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 28, 2011 - The Department of Environmental Protection has fined John Stull, owner of a salvage business in Adams County, $34,464 for Solid Waste Management Act violations documented in 2009 and 2011. Since 2003, Stull has been repeatedly cited for improperly storing waste tires and openly burning truck trailers and other materials, among other waste-related violations. The salvage business, now located in Mount Joy Township, was previously located in Union Township, Adams County. Among other salvage operations, Stull purchases and scraps truck trailers by cutting the trailers apart, salvaging the metal and setting fire to the wooden floors.
Matt Rand, director of global shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to an announcement by the Taiwan Fisheries Agency that it will impose a ban next year on shark finning—the practice of slicing off the animal's fins on-board and then throwing away the body at sea—and mandate that sharks are landed with their fins attached. "This announcement is an indication that Taiwan is on the right track when it comes to protecting sharks. However, it falls short of what is really needed. With up to 73 million sharks killed every year, many by Taiwan's fleet, a finning ban does not address the larger overfishing problem that is driving these animals toward extinction. "As the images we released this week show, enormous numbers of sharks are coming into Taiwan's ports. The announced policy does not set limits on how many sharks can be killed by Taiwanese vessels fishing in any ocean. As such, the hunt will continue. "To truly reduce the excessive pressure fishing has on these animals, Taiwan should prohibit catching sharks that are threatened or near threatened with extinction. It should also end fishing of shark species that do not have science-based management plans in place to ensure that these animals are caught at a sustainable level. As countries around the world are establishing sanctuaries that ban shark fishing in their own waters, we hope Taiwan will move to further protect sharks."
DAVIS, Calif. - Seventy rice farmers in Glenn and Colusa County have signed contracts to participate in a $2.68 million pilot project with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to modify their rice fields and production practices to benefit shorebirds and waterfowl. In the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI), rice farmers will engage in a number of practices strategically targeted to benefit the birds' migratory and breeding needs. Under MBHI, for example, rice farmers will flood their fields earlier or maintain the water longer in the season—and at the depth specifically needed at critical points in the season. "In general shorebirds and many waterfowl require shallowly flooded habitat, 2-6 inches deep," says Alan Forkey, Assistant State Conservationist for NRCS. "Rice fields are often deeper than that. Also, rice farmers often pull the water off their land in January but under MBHI they will keep it on longer and withdraw the water more gradually." Forkey says. Additionally, rice farmers will be shaping the levees between the fields to better accommodate the birds' nesting and resting needs. Sloped levees will be flattened providing a better nesting surface and shoulders that make it easier for chicks to navigate from nests to water. Some farmers will also provide artificial nesting structures. In many ways this is the culmination of years of scientific, agronomic and outreach work between conservationists and rice farmers. The California Rice Commission, Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and other groups partnered with NRCS for over a decade. "Together we have tested practices that seem to really make a difference to waterbirds that are also acceptable to rice farmers," said Paul Buttner of the California Rice Commission. Some practices are clear win-wins for farmers and waterbirds. For example, the longer flooding of the fields also degrades the post-harvest rice stubble. Additionally, some farmers will manage small portions of their fields as wetland habitat which will allow intake water to warm a bit—a practice that both the birds and the tender rice plants appreciate. The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership will be measuring bird response to the new activities undertaken by the rice farmers. In August, money became available for MBHI but the opportunity came with a very short timeframe. All outreach, planning and contracting had to occur in two short weeks. Conservationists from all the partner organizations helped with a workshop that swelled with interested farmers. "I believe that providing the 'why' and the context for these practices really increased farmer enthusiasm for adopting the practices," said Rodd Kelsey of Audubon California. Rice farmers will begin their bird-friendly practices this fall and continue through 2014.
Addressing Problems and learning about the Anacostia RiverWelcome to the 25th Episode of GreenNews4U! In the episode I have Brent Bolin with the Anacostia Watershed Society. We talk about the problems the river is facing, solutions to the problems, the history and how the Anacostia Watershed Society is working to improve the river. We go in depth and talk about much more so have a listen to this great interview. http://www.archive.org/download/25thEpisodeOfGreennews4u/25thEpisodeOfGreennews4u.mp3
EDINBURG, Texas - One of America's most vibrant "birding hotspots" is Rio South Texas; a tropical paradise with almost 500 recorded species of bird. The huge number of bird species, alongside the region's large tracts of nature preserves and ranch land, is attracting a new color to kaleidoscopic Rio South Texas: green! Each year, this border region brings in more than $300 million from nature loving tourists, who flock in from all over the world to view the majesty of the Western Wood-Pewee, fish the Laguna Madre, or go bow hunting for wild Javelina. This finding comes off the back of a study recently conducted by Texas A&M University's Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences and Department of Agricultural Economics. Nature tourism has long been an important focal point for the area's visitor bureaus, and the study's results demonstrate that these efforts are paying dividends. In addition to the influx of cash that nature tourists bring to Rio South Texas, these nature lovers also boost local employment. The study estimates more than 4,407 full- and part-time jobs are directly attributable to nature tourism. Given that the survey was conducted during the off-peak season for nature tourism, the resulting figures are likely conservative estimates. Rio South Texas Economic Council (RSTEC) member and CEO of the Mission Area Chamber of Commerce, Matt Ruszcazak, believes sustainable growth is an important balancing act: "It's tempting to clear every piece of land for development when your economy is booming like ours, but the benefits that come from caring for nature corridors can also have an impressive and positive economic impact for our area." "Once you've watched a Yellow-Bellied Kiskadee chase off a Peregrine Falcon, it's pretty easy to get hooked," grins Ruszcazak. "This study makes it clear just how positive nature tourism is on a financial level; its effects are not only apparent today, but also set to bring great advantages for the region in future years." RSTEC brings together the region's economic development organizations with a unified, clear vision focused on fostering expansion and relocation efforts by companies seeking an attractive business environment. The Council also works toward furthering educational opportunities in the region to boost the area and provide local companies with a workforce of highly educated individuals.
Consumers Energy's Green Scenes Video Contest to Award $5,000 to Winning EntryConsumers Energy's Green Generation program is inviting Michigan high schools in its electric or combination service territory to participate in a video contest showing their school's commitment to renewable energy. The grand prize entry will receive $5,000 for their school, with smaller prizes for first, second and third place. Videos can be submitted from now through November 15. Information on this contest is available at www.greenscenescontest.com, including official contest rules. "This program taps into the amazing creativity and enthusiasm for renewable energy by high school students. It also provides a great opportunity to win a cash prize to benefit your high school," said Thomas Shirilla, Green Generation program manager for Consumers Energy. The winning entries will be based on a number of criteria, including creativity, strength of theme, video quality, and the number of votes received at the Green Scenes Contest website. Voting for this contest ends on November 30, 2011, and winning entries will be named shortly thereafter. Student participants are encouraged to recruit their family and friends to vote for their video application, and help their high school win one of the four prize levels. Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest renewable energy provider. Green Generation is the utility's voluntary program for homes and businesses served by the utility. Launched in 2005, the program relies on renewable energy produced in Michigan, including wind and landfill gas. The Green Generation program adds diversity to Consumers Energy's overall energy mix, reduces dependence on traditional energy sources, and helps to preserve our natural resources.
ROCKVILLE, Md. - Busy families can be earth friendly this Halloween by shopping at Goodwill® stores. Find everything you need at Goodwill to create a unique costume for yourself or your children. All you need is a little imagination to transform your child into a favorite superhero or fairy princess. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090716/DC47803LOGO) By shopping at Goodwill this Halloween, you are purchasing high-quality, affordable items and diverting them from landfills. The nearly 2,600 Goodwill stores in the United States and Canada have items donated by 74 million donors. This vast inventory includes anything you can imagine, from clothing in every color to apparel from different decades and accessories to transform an ordinary look into a fantastic costume. "Shopping at Goodwill for Halloween is a simple step toward living a more sustainable lifestyle," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Reusing and repurposing items from Goodwill stores are a fun way to make a unique Halloween costume for not a lot of money." Shopping at Goodwill is not just good for the planet. It also benefits people in local communities. Revenue from Goodwill stores fund job training programs and career and community-based services for people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment. Your purchase helps people learn the skills they need to work in Goodwill stores and in growing fields outside of Goodwill such as healthcare, green industries and financial services. "In 2010, Goodwill Industries® diverted more than 2 billion pounds of used goods from landfills," said Gibbons. "Look no further than your nearest Goodwill store to find what you need to celebrate a green Halloween." To find your local Goodwill, visit locator.goodwill.org. To learn more about Goodwill Industries International, visit www.goodwill.org. This year, Goodwill Industries International is partnering with Green Halloween to share our commitment to safe and eco-friendly Halloween celebrations. For more information, visit http://greenhalloween.org/.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Already raising nearly $4,000 for shark research through selling lemonade and shark-shaped cookies at her home in Minnesota, 8-year-old Sophi Bromenshenkel recently joined forces with her hero, celebrated marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, to raise an additional $7,500 for the cause with a few creative strokes of a brush. Alexandra Junor of Coral Gables purchased the artwork collaboration‹ which Sophi named Free Pass, because a loggerhead turtle shown swimming near the sharks in the painting was left alone. The funds raised from the painting will go to the University of Miami¹s R.J. Dunlap Conservation Program, which was founded in 2009. Sophi flew from her home to participate in the South Florida Premier of This is Your Ocean: Sharks, a documentary starring Dr. Harvey, fellow artist Wyland and diver and underwater photographer Jim Abernathy. The South Florida Premier was held October 13th at the Bill Cosford Cinema on campus at the University of Miami. Directed by Emmy award-winning producer George C. Schellenger, the film will be shown again in Broward County, Florida on October 20th at the Nova Southeastern University¹s Miniaci Theatre. The 44-minute documentary depicts sharks in their environment capturing both adventure and passion and providing the audience with face-to-face realism never shown before on film. Dr. Harvey, a highly active and passionate conservationist, has through his foundation, The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org, and through support of research groups such as Miami¹s R.J. Dunlap Conservation Program and the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University, embraced the protection and conservation of many endangered species, including sharks, bluefin tuna, Nassau grouper, sea turtles and marlin. PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Soto
An Interview on E-waste RecyclingE-waste is the disposal of electronics or in other words electronic waste. Technology is moving at such a fast pace and new electronics are manufactured to keep up with the technology so old technology is discarded. We see this in cellphones, smart-phones, computers, printers, monitors, refrigerators, TV's, washing machines, excreta, excreta. Let's use an example on computers. The average life of a computer is around 3 years. In America 76% of the people have computers. This number does not include companies, organizations or education facilities. According to the EPA, if you total it all up, each year in the US, 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is trashed. Globally its 50 million metric tons of electronics and the sad part is many of these electronics end up in a landfill. But letâs go back to computers. Did you know 99% of a computer is recyclable and that in the U.S. about 4.2 million computers are used in homes or businesses? In the U.S. an estimated 500,000 are recycled annually. That's a little less than 12% which is a very shocking number considering how many programs are in place to encourage electronic recycling. Now there is a lot that goes into promoting, handling, and recycling e-waste and Iâd like to get down to some nuts and bolts and take a look at the challenges, processes and the benefit of recycling e-waste. To do this I have one of Canada's industry leaders in e-waste solutions. The name of the company is FCM and on the line with me is Andrew Rubin.
FCM will be holding an e-waste collection event located on the corner of Baseline Rd. and Clyde Ave. at the Scouts National Office on Saturday October 15th from 12 pm to 3 pm in collaboration with the Scouts of Canada.CORNWALL, Ontario, October 12, 2011 – FCM Recycling is pleased to announce that it will be holding a collection event located at the Scouts National office at 1365 Baseline Road in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday October 15th from 12 pm to 3 pm in collaboration with the Scouts of Canada. Staff from FCM and the Scouts will be on hand to assist Ontario residents to recycle their unwanted electronics including PCs, computer monitors, CD/DVD/VCR players, radios, printers, fax machines, keyboards, televisions, cell phones and other items. The complete list along with more information can be found at http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/program/accepted-electronics. The collection will be free for all Ontario residents and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Scouts of Canada. More information can be found by contacting FCM Recycling at (888) 781-8111 or info@fcmrecycling.com. About Scouts of CanadaScouts Canada is the country's leading youth organization. For more than 100 years, they have brought a world of adventure, outdoor experience and friendship to 17 million Canadian youths. Scouts have a lot of fun discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't have elsewhere. Along the way they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For more information please visit http://www.scouts.ca/About FCM Recycling FCM Recycling is one of North America's leaders in the recycling and safe disposal of end-of-life electronic equipment. We dispose of EOLEs with no impact to the environment and the highest level of data protection. We boast major processing facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, government certifications, over 18 years' experience, and knowledgeable, dedicated personnel. One of our key objectives was to become a pioneer in e-waste environmental services. We have achieved that objective. Today we strive to maintain our position as industry leader by continuously improving our processes and using the best practices available to us and the recycling industry. EOLES received at any of FCM's various state-of-the-art recycling facilities, are broken down into various recyclable components such as copper, aluminum, plastics, glass etc. Equipment is fully destroyed, ensuring that no data becomes exposed to pilfering, with Certificates of Destruction issued on request. For more information about FCM Recycling please visit www.fcmrecycling.com
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 7, 2011 - Brock International, the leader in performance base systems for synthetic turf, today became the first company in the industry to have a Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) product. Recognized as the most comprehensive, rigorous environmental certification process, the designation is administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which evaluates products and materials for their impact on human health and environmental health and design for future life cycles. "Our mission is to engineer the best, safest and most sustainable playing fields in the world for all levels of athletes," said Dan Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer of Brock. "For us, sustainability is not just a concept but a commitment. It is an honor to receive this recognition for our positive environmental impact." Brock was awarded the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) Silver Designation for its PowerBase product. The company worked closely with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to collect data throughout the supply chain, assess all materials for impact to human and environmental health, and evaluate manufacturing processes for use of renewable energy, water stewardship, and social responsibility. MBDC is a global consultancy and certification firm that helps clients create a positive footprint on the planet by implementing the Cradle to Cradle® design framework. Environmental stewardship is a core value for Brock, who has lead the synthetic turf industry in sustainability since the company's inception. Offering the only product in the market that can be closed loop recycled, the company's technologies reduce overall energy cost of constructing a field by 50%. Made in an ISO and TS certified manufacturing facility of 100% recyclable and non-toxic material, Brock PowerBase is certified to the world's most stringent environmental standards. Brock PowerBase is manufactured into an interlocking panel system with the highest quality, food grade 100% pure polypropylene, known for its longevity and environmental safety. The panels can be easily removed, cleaned and begin their next life as a quality, durable material with minimal use of additional energy or waste. Alternatively, as a pure mono-component material, the panels can be easily recycled and remade into new Brock panels, eliminating the demand for new fossil fuels for this use. Unlike many industrial hybrid materials used by others, which include a mixture of components that are difficult or impossible to be salvaged after their current life, Brock PowerBase is a pure non-toxic product that can be used over and over again. The Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) program is a multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product's safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles. The program provides guidelines to help businesses like Brock implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and recycled as technical nutrients or composted as biological nutrients. Unlike single-attribute eco-labels, MBDC's certification program takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the design of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product. The materials and manufacturing practices of each product are assessed in five categories: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social Responsibility. For more information, visit www.c2ccertified.org.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Postal Service marked National Energy Awareness Month as postal officials highlighted energy savings and cost avoidance — credited in large part to postal employees' actions — and with Go Green Forever stamp messages that encourage Americans to participate in low- and no-cost ways to go green. "The 2011 Energy Awareness Month theme is 'Turn Words into Action, Turn Action into Results,'" said Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman. "Actions taken by the Postal Service to reduce energy use demonstrate we can save money and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions at the same time." In June 2011, USPS reported it had reduced facility energy use by nearly 30 percent since fiscal year 2003, equal to the average annual energy use of approximately 100,000 U.S. households. USPS also reported an 8-percent decrease in its greenhouse gas emissions since fiscal year 2008, equal to the average annual energy use of approximately 130,000 U.S. households. The decrease in facility energy use accounted for nearly 50 percent of the Postal Service's greenhouse gas emissions reduction. "Leaner, greener, faster and smarter is the Postal Service's sustainability call to action," said Tom Day, chief sustainability officer. "More than 400 employee Lean Green teams work every day to implement low- and no-cost ways to conserve facility energy and other natural resources and reduce costs. In fiscal year 2010, Lean Green teams helped the Postal Service save more than $5 million." Day reminded postal employees that Energy Awareness Month is a national effort and each time we turn off a light, take the stairs or use a revolving door the energy savings add up. The Postal Service works to achieve aggressive sustainability performance goals, including:
Reduce facility energy use 30 percent by 2015.
Reduce vehicle petroleum use 20 percent by 2015.
Increase vehicle alternative fuel use 10 percent annually by 2015.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020.
Details of USPS energy reduction and other sustainability performance results can be found in the FY 2010 Annual Sustainability Report. For additional information about USPS sustainability initiatives and the Go Green Forever stamps, visitabout.usps.com/greenand the Green Newsroom. USPS has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo awards, Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year and Climate Registry Gold Status Recognition. USPS participates in the International Post Corporation'sEnvironmental Measurement and Monitoring System, (an international postal industry program) to reduce participating posts' carbon footprint 20 percent by 2020 based on a fiscal year 2008 baseline. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
As I've stated in my other podcast and you will most likely here me say this again and again. Water is a precious resource that we, we meaning those of us that are fortunate to have running water, take for granted. I'm just going to go through a list of some facts:
884 million people lack access to safe water supplies; approximately one in eight people.
3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease.
The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country slum uses in a whole day.
Only 62% of the world's population has access to improved sanitation – defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact.
Lack of sanitation is the world's biggest cause of infection.
2.5 billion People lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 billion people who have no facilities at all.
Diarrhea remains in the second leading cause of death among children under five globally. Nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to diarrhea. It kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.
Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. No one is immune to this problem and it cannot be swept under the rug. Now I can go on and on with facts but let's start looking at solutions to address these issues. Let's face it, the old way of water treatment is outdated and we need to look at new ways to treat water. To talk about this I have Melissa from Organica Sustainable Water. The company is Engineering fresh solutions for fresh water. To find out more information on Organica Sustainable Water go here
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Saudi Arabia inaugurated its first solar power plant on October 1 as it continues to diversify its energy sources. The 500-kilowatt plant, located on Farasan Island, will save the equivalent of transferring 28,000 barrels of diesel fuel to the island annually. The plant was constructed by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., a Japanese energy company partly owned by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. This is one of the many initiatives led by SEC to introduce clean energy throughout the Kingdom. "Saudi Arabia is committed to building and refining alternative energy solutions," said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. "This program is one large step that will benefit the environment and the Saudi people." The Kingdom is a prime location to harness solar energy because of its year-round sunshine. The sun in Saudi Arabia emits about 7,000 watts of energy per square meter over an average of 12 hours every day. In February 2010, the Saudi government, in coordination with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, began building the first solar-powered water desalination plant. For more information on Saudi Arabia, please visit www.saudiembassy.net and follow the Embassy on Twitter (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) or on the Embassy YouTube page.
US demand to increase 6% annually through 2014 US demand for water and wastewater pipe is expected to increase six percent annually to $19 billion in 2014, equivalent to approximately five billion feet. Stimulants include a rebounding residential building construction sector, the growing obsolescence of sewer and drainage systems, and needs to upgrade municipal water systems. Plastic pipe will advance at the fastest pace, reflecting a strong rebound in construction applications as well as opportunities in drain and sewer applications and water transmission. Broadened plastic pipe use will be driven by performance upgrades made possible by resin and processing improvements. Plastic pipe to advance at above-average pace Demand for plastic pipe will advance at an above-average pace through 2014. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe will remain clearly dominant with growth driven by improved joining technologies and resins such as molecularly oriented PVC. Polyethylene pipe will exhibit healthy growth based on opportunities in potable water and corrugated drain and sewer applications. Good growth is also anticipated for crosslinked polyethylene in water distribution applications. Demand for concrete pipe will expand 3.4 percent per year through 2014, driven by drain and storm sewer applications. Growth will be fueled by concrete's excellent crush resistance and longevity, making it ideally suited for demanding large diameter water pipe applications. Opportunities will also be driven by the growing frequency of leaks and ruptures caused by an aging water distribution network. Concrete pipe is primarily used in high pressure, large diameter water distribution trunk lines. Copper pipe's rapid advances will reflect renewed growth in the building construction segment, primarily for distribution pipe, aided by a moderation in prices. Steel and cast iron pipe will also exhibit good growth in areas such as water transmission and drainage. Large municipal market will be steady; construction to exhibit strong rebound Municipal markets dominated water and wastewater pipe applications in 2009 and are expected to exhibit good growth through 2014 in light of financial availability and the obsolescence of many water pipe systems. Building construction markets are expected to rebound significantly through 2014, particularly in the residential segment. Study coverage The new industry study offers US historical demand data (1999, 2004, 2009) plus forecasts in dollars for 2014 and 2019 by material, market and application. Footage data is also included for each material. In addition, the study considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share data and profiles US industry competitors. To order this report:Water distribution and treatment Industry: Water & Wastewater Pipe Market More Market Research Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Astronomers have found a new cosmic source for the same kind of water that appeared on Earth billions of years ago and created the oceans. The findings may help explain how Earth's surface ended up covered in water. New measurements from the Herschel Space Observatory show that comet Hartley 2, which comes from the distant Kuiper Belt, contains water with the same chemical signature as Earth's oceans. This remote region of the solar system, some 30 to 50 times as far away as the distance between Earth and the sun, is home to icy, rocky bodies including Pluto, other dwarf planets and innumerable comets. "Our results with Herschel suggest that comets could have played a major role in bringing vast amounts of water to an early Earth," said Dariusz Lis, senior research associate in physics at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and co-author of a new paper in the journal Nature, published online Oct. 5. "This finding substantially expands the reservoir of Earth ocean-like water in the solar system to now include icy bodies originating in the Kuiper Belt." Scientists theorize Earth started out hot and dry, so that water critical for life must have been delivered millions of years later by asteroid and comet impacts. Until now, none of the comets previously studied contained water like Earth's. However, Herschel's observations of Hartley 2, the first in-depth look at water in a comet from the Kuiper Belt, paint a different picture. Herschel peered into the comet's coma, or thin, gaseous atmosphere. The coma develops as frozen materials inside a comet vaporize while on approach to the sun. This glowing envelope surrounds the comet's "icy dirtball"-like core and streams behind the object in a characteristic tail. Herschel detected the signature of vaporized water in this coma and, to the surprise of the scientists, Hartley 2 possessed half as much "heavy water" as other comets analyzed to date. In heavy water, one of the two normal hydrogen atoms has been replaced by the heavy hydrogen isotope known as deuterium. The ratio between heavy water and light, or regular, water in Hartley 2 is the same as the water on Earth's surface. The amount of heavy water in a comet is related to the environment where the comet formed. By tracking the path of Hartley 2 as it swoops into Earth's neighborhood in the inner solar system every six and a half years, astronomers know that it comes from the Kuiper Belt. The five comets besides Hartley 2 whose heavy-water-to-regular-water ratios have been obtained all come from an even more distant region in the solar system called the Oort Cloud. This swarm of bodies, 10,000 times farther afield than the Kuiper Belt, is the wellspring for most documented comets. Given the higher ratios of heavy water seen in Oort Cloud comets compared to Earth's oceans, astronomers had concluded that the contribution by comets to Earth's total water volume stood at approximately 10 percent. Asteroids, which are found mostly in a band between Mars and Jupiter but occasionally stray into Earth's vicinity, looked like the major depositors. The new results, however, point to Kuiper Belt comets having performed a previously underappreciated service in bearing water to Earth. How these objects ever came to possess the tell-tale oceanic water is puzzling. Astronomers had expected Kuiper Belt comets to have even more heavy water than Oort Cloud comets because the latter are thought to have formed closer to the sun than those in the Kuiper Belt. Therefore, Oort Cloud bodies should have had less frozen heavy water locked in them prior to their ejection to the fringes as the solar system evolved. "Our study indicates that our understanding of the distribution of the lightest elements and their isotopes, as well as the dynamics of the early solar system, is incomplete," said co-author Geoffrey Blake, professor of planetary science and chemistry at Caltech. "In the early solar system, comets and asteroids must have been moving all over the place, and it appears that some of them crash-landed on our planet and made our oceans." Herschel is a European Space Agency cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes. NASA's Herschel Project Office is based at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., which contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel's three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at Caltech in Pasadena, supports the U.S. astronomical community. For NASA's Herschel website, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/herschel For ESA's Herschel website, visit: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel/index.html
-- Join the national celebration of American recycling by hosting a local event. Get free resources! --
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2011 --America Recycles Day, recognized annually on November 15, celebrates the successes of recycling while providing an educational platform that helps raise awareness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling – every day – all throughout the year. America Recycles Day is a national initiative of nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB). Online registration is now open at http://AmericaRecyclesDay.org for local organizers to schedule events in their communities and gain access to valuable resources such as best practices guides, posters (on recycled paper), banners (made from recycled plastic bottles), pencils (made from recycled newspaper), buttons (made from recycled aluminum), and much more. Access to these collateral materials and/or downloadable resources are available to any organization ranging from state and municipal governments to local "green teams" or scouting troops. Many collateral materials are offered "first-come, first served," so early registrations are highly encouraged. Events can be scheduled any time during the month of November, but should be held as close to November 15th as possible. New opportunities for high profile events are being offered for 2011. For the first time ever, in partnership with KAB, Walmart locations nationwide are inviting local organizers to hold America Recycles Day educational tabletop events at their stores on Saturday, November 12. If you are looking for a high-traffic location for a recycling awareness event, this is a great opportunity. Details on holding events at Walmart stores are available to registrants as part of the organizers' "Go-to Guide." Additionally, KAB has joined forces with the College and University Recycling Coalition to produce new resources and guidelines for hosting America Recycles Day events at NCAA football games and tailgating events in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Game Day Challenge" initiative. More information on this program can be found at AmericaRecyclesDay.org. Many more opportunities are becoming available and will be announced soon, so stay tuned and be sure to bookmark http://AmericaRecyclesDay.org. And be sure to "Like" our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/AmericaRecyclesDay for all the latest. We look forward to seeing the results of your local events! America's leading companies are proud to make America Recycles Day possible. See a full list of our sponsors, partners and supporters at AmericaRecyclesDay.org.
WASHINGTON D.C. - Saving energy at home can be a confusing topic, so Plastics Make it Possible®, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, is partnering with HGTV's Brooks Utley to show that it doesn't take a lot of money, time, or skill to improve energy efficiency– a priority for most American homeowners. According to a recent survey(1) conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of Plastics Make it Possible® that measured homeowner attitudes toward home-energy efficiency, 92 percent of American homeowners feel it's important to make their homes more energy efficient, yet almost half of those surveyed (46 percent) are not taking the necessary steps to increase their home's energy efficiency because they think it's too expensive. "While most homeowners realize the importance of home-energy efficiency, far fewer are aware of the many cost effective ways to make their homes more energy efficient," said Brooks Utley, green building and design expert and star of HGTV shows The $250,000 Challenge and Designed to Sell. "Plastics are an integral part of home building and design today and can play a big role in making homes more energy efficient. I'm thrilled to be working with Plastics Make it Possible® to show homeowners simple steps they can take to lower their energy bills." To explore new innovations in home energy efficiency available to consumers, Brooks Utley and Plastics Make it Possible® areheaded to the 2011 Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. From September 24 through October 2, collegiate teams from across the nation showcase livable homes built using the latest innovations in green building and energy efficiency. "The Solar Decathlon is a great place for Plastics Make it Possible® and Brooks Utley to showcase how plastics can help improve energy efficiency throughout the building and construction industry," said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. "Plastic building products can help reduce energy expenses and lower maintenance costs, too – we're really glad that Brooks is partnering with us to help consumers save energy." To encourage energy efficiency, Plastics Make it Possible® has launched an online interactive house that highlights ways to save energy using plastics. Visitors can customize a virtual home and share it online for entry into a sweepstakes to win a $250 gift card to a home improvement store. Visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com for more information. Consumers can help increase their own home energy efficiency while spending little and without sacrificing style and design. Plastics Make it Possible® offers the following tips:
Seal it Up: Installing plastic weather stripping around drafty windows and doors helps reduce the loss of warm or cool air throughout the home.
Swap them Out: Replacing older, inefficient windows with durable, low maintenance vinyl plastic windows can help save on energy costs. More efficient windows help keep hot or cold air where it belongs – whether outside or inside – to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Insulate: Plastic foam insulation for roofs, walls and foundations helps improve energy efficiency and save on utility bills.
MESA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the face of what most would call overwhelming odds, an environmental company in Arizona has established itself as the leader in biodegradable plastics. Unfortunately, the waters were muddied when California recently filed a lawsuit to forbid the labeling of ENSO products as biodegradable, despite scientific proof of biodegradation by internationally recognized testing. The general public, legislators and the media continue to be confused about biodegradable plastics. 
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