If you have an old cell phone that you don’t use anymore, you can donate it to a recycling program in your area, so that some of the undamaged parts can be used to create new phones. In some cases, these phones are reprogrammed and given to the less fortunate. Cell phone recycling has even been used to help families with loved ones fighting in Iraq–the phones provided a more effective way for families to communicate with one another. For more information on how you can get involved with this type of recycling program, visit www.grcrecycling.com.

If you use ‘regular’ lightbulbs in your home, you can recycle these as well. The glass and wiring can be used to make new bulbs, and you may even want to switch to using florescent bulbs in your home. These bulbs are much brighter, and don’t use as much energy.

Batteries can also be recycled; if you have used the batteries to power an electronic device or toy, you can donate them at your local grocery store (in most cases) to be recycled. They can them be recharged and sold as ‘green batteries’, which helps the city to save money, and protects the environment from being exposed to excessive corrosive materials. You can find out which drop-off points are in your city by visiting www.batteryrecycling.com.

Even if you don’t have items like cell phones or batteries to recycle, you can still motivate your family or business to participate in the recycling program in your city or state. You can request recycle bins from your local sanitation department, and simply start separating your trash so that it can be filtered and used again. For instance, you can save the glass bottles that mineral water or some sodas are packaged in; the glass can be used to create another bottle, or for parts of a new appliance. If you drink soda or canned juices often, you can recycle the metal cans, or save the tops and take them to your local recycling center; some centers even offer a small monetary reward. Teaching your children to recycle at an early age will also help to make them more sensitive to the needs of the environment, and will teach them to conserve natural resources.

For more information on a recycling program near you, visit www.epa.gov.

By Environmental Editor

In most cases, you won’t even have to buy the bin; many of the sanitation departments around the country are issuing these bins to households and businesses, in order to encourage recycling. You simply fill the bin with plastic, paper, metal or glass products, and place it curbside on the day your trash is usually picked up. You may also want to request more than one recycle bin so that you can separate all the materials–for example, paper should go in one bin, glass in another, etc.

If you can’t get a recycle bin from the sanitation department, you may be able to purchase one from your local health food store, or by visiting a recycling center in your area. Making sure that everyone in your family participates will help to do wonders for conserving natural resources not only in your city, but around the world.

When trash is picked up from your home or business, it is taken to a landfill, where it is sometimes sorted so that that sanitation workers can bring the ‘good trash’ back to factories. This process is rather tedious, and sometimes empty glass bottles or paper plates and cups that should have been recycled go unnoticed. When you use your recycle bin, you are already separating the products that can be used again to make recycled grocery bags, coffee cups and glass products.

Getting your family or coworkers involved in recycling is a great way to reduce global warming as well. When trash is taken from your home and needs to be disposed of, it is often burned in order to be easier to work with. The gases that are given off during this process negatively effect the ozone layer, and make the layer weaker. This means that over time, humans could be even more exposed to the hazardous rays of the sun. This exposure causes more incidences of skin cancer and affects our produce crops, so learning to reuse products can eventually help preserve our world.

If you are concerned about protecting the environment where you live, you should contact your local health department or visit www.recyclingbin.com. to get a recycle bin for your home or business.

By Environmental Editor

A landfill is really a depression in the ground that is used for depositing wastes. In some cases, it is built above the ground. When the fill becomes full, it will start to ‘leak’, and this is when it becomes especially hazardous to the environment. It is important to make sure that the landfills in a city or state do not burst or leak, since the wastes will find its way back into the city’s groundwater supply.

There are four main components of the landfill; the hydrogeologic setting, which keeps the wastes from escaping; the bottom liner, which separates the waste from the groundwater; the leachate collection system, which is where the extremely contaminated water is collected and hopefully kept form the city’s water supply; and the cover, which keeps the landfill from spilling over. All of these components are used in order to make sure that the trash in the landfills is kept away from the city’s water supply, and that the waste does not contaminate the lakes or rivers. However, so much trash is being deposited into these areas these days, it is difficult for sanitation workers for find new places in the landfill for more solid wastes.

This is one major reason why recycling is so important. Instead of having to take the trash to landfills, sanitation workers can take the items that can be recycled to another factory or plant, so that the items can be used again to create more products. If you want to start a recycling program in your neighborhood, you can ask the department of health in your area or the sanitation department to deliver recycle bins to your home or school. This way, you can separate the items into the respective bins before ‘trash day’, and can do your part to make your environment safer and cleaner. It is also a great idea to have recycle bins in your home if you are raising small children, so that they will get used to caring for the earth at a young age.

If you want to know more about landfills, or whether or not there are landfill locations in your area, you can visit sites like www.epa.gov. or www.solidwaste.com to find out about suitable disposal methods.

By Environmental Editor

Brands like Dixie and Solo, the makers of paper plates, cups, and eating utensils make it easy to buy recycled; the brands offer coupons often on their products, and non of their materials contain CFCs, a hazardous material given off by Styrofoam. You can find smaller cups and plants that are made partially from recycled materials, and you can rinse your plasticware before placing it in the recycle bin so that it can be used again to make more plates, cups, and other picnic accessories.

If you’re a coffee drinker and need to get your fix in the mornings, you can visit your local Starbucks to purchase your coffee in a partially recycled cup. The cup holders are also made from recycled paper, so you’ll be glad to know that you’re doing your part to save the environment while you get your morning jolt.

You can even buy recycled when it comes to electronics. People purchase recycled computers all the time to find parts in the machines that are still suitable for use. You can visit your local recycling center to find printers, ink cartridges, mouse pads, and keyboards that can be used again with a little refurbishing, and you can even take your empty cartridges to stores like Staples or Office Depot to get discounts on new office supplies. Cellular phone companies, like Verizon and Sprint, may also take your used cells phones for charity events, or to restore them and use the parts for creating new models.

Of course, there are a number of health food stores where you can buy recycled items on every aisle. Places like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s package many of their products in recycled paper, and when you get ready to check out, you’ll most likely be asked if you want a paper or plastic bag. There are also shopping bags you can buy at the stores to use over and over, so that you can cut down on paper and plastic production.

If you want to know more about how to buy recycled products, you can visit sites like www.buyrecycled.com, where you’ll find resources for all the items you want, whether you’re trying to find a new art piece, need electronic items, or are looking for unique jewelry pieces. Happy shopping!

By Environmental Editor

For instance, if you have just finished a home improvement project, and leave certain items like paint or glue around for a long period of time, the fumes could irritate your nasal passages, and could even cause skin irritation and breathing problems. Even things like furniture cleaners, cooking oils, or pesticides can be considered household hazardous waste, so you’ll need to be very careful when you’re disposing of these items. It is probably a good idea to place the discarded items in a separate trash bag, and drive them to your neighborhood’s trash drop-off location if possible. The longer these substances stay in your house, the more they could irritate the nervous or respiratory systems–this is especially dangerous if you have small children living in the house.

If you have leftover paint or cleaning solution that you need to dispose of, you should never pour it down the drain or into a storm sewer. This may seem like a better method than throwing the items in with the household trash (with is also dangerous), but introducing these poison substances to the city’s water system will have negative consequences in the long run. Your neighborhood may have already come up with a method for getting rid of household hazardous waste, so be sure to ask about this at your next neighborhood watch or homeowner’s association meeting.

Another great way to make sure that your home is not contaminated by household hazardous waste is to purchase cleaning products that are all-natural. Many times, the synthetic cleansers in bathroom and tile sprays, laundry detergents, and paints and finishing solutions can harm the environment quickly, and make children and adults very sick. If you’re using products that contain natural plant and flower oils, it is less likely that you will experience red eyes, skin rashes, or shortness of breath while cleaning or disposing of cleaning materials. Brands like Seventh Generation and Jason have great natural and organic household cleaners that you may want to try; you can purchase the products at www.wholefoods.com or Amazon.com .

For more information on how you can eliminate the exposure of household hazardous waste in your home and in your neighborhood, visit www.epa.gov to find out about disposal regulations.

By Environmental Editor

Clean River programs are one of the responsibilities of Environmental Services. These city officials are commissioned to make sure that the rivers are safe for the wildlife that may be living there, which means making sure that waste is not dumped into the river for disposal. Making sure that the fish that live in these rivers are healthy also protects the people who eat the fish, as well as those who are fishing in various parts of the city or state. The river may also be where parts of the city’s water supply comes from, and if tap, and even bathing water are contaminated with hazardous chemicals, this could be dangerous for the citizens. Respiratory problems, along with increased risk of cancer and high blood pressure can all come from contaminated drinking water, so it’s important for Environmental Services to constantly be checking local rivers and streams for cleanliness.

The installation of sewers in the city is another job for this department. Sewage systems help to ‘flush’ the dirty water from the city, filter it, and sweep new, clean water into the homes and businesses of the neighborhood. So, when a city does not recycle regularly, or when citizens dispose of their waste in the wrong way, the sewage systems become backed up, and it becomes harder to get clean water. Environmental Services professionals encourage inhabitants of their city or state to dispose of harsh cleaning products, paints, and finishing oils in the right way. This means not throwing these materials down the drain, or throwing them out with the house trash.

So how can you help the Environmental Services department in their efforts? Recycling on a regular basis is one of the best ways to reduce global warming, maintain the city’s clean water supply, and reduce the cost that incurs when factories have to make new products. You can also buy recycled goods to help save money and protect the environment. Even little things, like conserving water in your house by turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, or buying florescent bulbs will aid the Environmental Services department in your state in their efforts to make your neighborhood cleaner and safer.

By Environmental Editor

The Environmental News network is your daily sources for news about the environment, as well as information on natural resources and how you can preserve them. The site contains news articles on how people all over the country–and the world–and caring for the wildlife in their areas, and there is information on how to preserve certain natural resources that we all need, such as water and electricity. You’ll even get information on how you can get your kids involved in recycling and caring for nature. Getting information on different large corporations, such as Shell and Sony will also give you an idea of how to corporate world is working to save the world’s energy. For more information, and to learn how you can get involved, visit www.enn.com.

If you have Yahoo or MSN as an email provider, you can also visit the Health and ‘Green’ sections of these homepages to get environmental news that you can apply to your everyday life. The latest product information on hybrid cars are listed in these sections, so you’ll be able to find out which cars will save you on gas, as well as protect the ecosystem. There are also product recommendations, so you can find florescent light bulbs that will give you more energy without using as much electricity, and batteries that have been recycled or do not use corrosive materials. Learning about small things you can do to protect the environment, like limiting the time you run your water in the mornings, as well as tips for making the recycling process fun and easier are also listed on these sites.

If you’re particularly interested in the environmental news that will affect your city or state directly, the Department of Health in your area, along with the Environmental Protection Agency can give you details about the cleanliness of the rivers and lakes in your area, and can let you know how much of the city’s garbage is actually being recycled. You can visit the City Hall for your state or check out www.epa.gov to find out about environmental news, laws, and regulations that are being passed to make the environment cleaner and safer for everyone.

By Environmental Editor

The international air freight companies are in the middle of the environmental protection controversies; they have agreed and have announced that they will enter into an agreement to contribute compulsorily for projects that protect the environment all over the world. The amount that is earmarked for this purpose has not been fixed, though the agreement stipulates that it should be proportionate to the number of freight services that each cargo airline offers. Europe organized and spearheaded its efforts through the Kyoto Protocol Agreement, which states that the participating countries are committed to bringing down the carbon emission by 2012. USA was conspicuous by its absence at this momentous event.

It is encouraging to learn that the international air freight companies, which form a good part of the global mega companies, are at last taking environmental things seriously. However, is this enough? Many feel that it would be much better if each of these major and minor cargo airlines committed themselves to control the level of pollution they emit and set strict rules against pollution. This would have a rippling effect in checking the carbon emissions since the demand for air cargo services is on the rise.

Today, what is required from the international air freight companies is not a handout for green projects, but a direct, full hearted and committed approach to see that there is no further damage to the already ailing environment. While the agreement to keep aside a percentage of the overall profits for environmental protection projects is definitely a step in the right direction, much more is expected from the air cargo companies all over the world. As the use and need for cargo airlines is on the rise, unless there is a concerted effort to bring about changes inside and outside the operational areas, there is very little hope for our planet. Pacts, such as the Kyoto Protocol Agreement, are a wonderful way to show how much these mammoth companies care and are doing towards the “greener earth” objective.

By Environmental Editor

“Suddenly people started coming into town,” described JB Carnahan, former police officer in Fairbanks Alaska. “It happened kind of rapidly when it took off. Because I don’t think anybody really believed this monstrous project was going to impact us. I mean, maybe the politicians did, but I think the average guy was just kind of going, ‘Oh sure, we’ve heard this before,’ because this has always been a boom or bust town. And suddenly, there it was.” When the Trans-Alaskan pipeline project began, a flood of people came to town with $3,000 – $5,000 cash burning holes in their pockets, beautiful women arrived from New York and Florida, welders and construction workers drove up from Oklahoma and Texas, South American and Irish immigrants came to collect a check and everyone from secretaries and teachers, to prostitutes and pimps came looking for their fortune. Fairbanks hadn’t seen such activity since the gold rush of the late 1800s! Within a year, the population had doubled in size to 40,000 strong, and the pipeline project had transformed this sleepy two-cop town into a bustling metropolis. Unfortunately, along with all of the business came higher rents, more drugs and more crime.

Most Alaskan oil production is on state-owned land, generating the state $3.4 billion annually, from oil and gas production taxes, property taxes, royalties and corporate taxes. State politicians then reinvest that money in road repair, health care facilities, schools and social services to benefit all Alaskans. An additional 25% is saved in a “permanent fund” for the future. By 1980, this fund had already surpassed one billion dollars, which gives you an idea of how profitable the Alaskan pipeline has been for the state.

For more information about the Alaskan pipeline, you may want to watch the PBS documentary called “American Experience: The Alaska Pipeline.” The film discusses everything from the discovery of Alaskan oil, how the pipeline transformed life for Alaskans, protecting the pipeline from permafrost and earthquakes, native land claims and construction techniques for the pipeline. Additionally, http://www.alyeska-pipe.com has much information on this manmade wonder. But perhaps the best way to understand the massive impact of the pipeline is simply to take an Alaskan adventure and see it firsthand.

By Environmental Editor

What is alternate energy?

Alternate energy is defined as any type of energy that is a renewable energy source. Examples of this are wind, solar, any type of biological process, and geothermal energy flows. Most examples of alternative energy sources can all be indirectly linked to the sun. The exceptions would be geothermal energy or tidal energy. These are powered by the Earth and the moon’s gravitational pull.

Alternate energy is further defined by its effect upon the Earth’s atmosphere and landscape. The end goal of all alternative fuels is that there are no waste products or harmful byproducts associated with alternative energy’s use.

What are the uses for alternate energy?

The uses for alternate energy sources are limitless. Anything that can be run with fossil fuels can be powered with alternate energy. Recent automotive companies have released cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles that are considered “hybrid”. Hybrid refers to that a combination of alternative energy sources and fossil fuels, such as gasoline, are used.

Solar power is a great means for a homeowner to save on costly utilities. Homes built using solar power cells are increasing as the technology becomes more affordable. The same principle applies to vehicles as well. As the technology becomes cheaper, the prices of electric or hybrid cars will begin to decline.

How long has alternative energy been around?

Alternative energy has been around since the dawn of mankind. It has not been until the past few decades that we have turned to alternative fuel sources as a viable alternative to harmful fossil fuels. Environmentalists have pushed a growing awareness of the fragile ecosystem in which we live. There has been a concentrated movement to understand how the use of fossil fuels affects global climate.

How does alternate energy affect the environment?

The great aspect of using alternative energy sources is that does not harm the environment. The affects of global warming are being felt daily across the world. Should more countries switch to using alternative energy sources as a primary industrial power method, there would be a dramatic drop in pollution.

Are there hazards to using alternate energy?

If we consider nuclear power as an alternative energy source, then there should be recognition of the dangerous side-effects of radioactive power. When a nuclear core is breached or a meltdown occurs, mankind and the environment immediately suffer as radiation poisoning spreads. It is for this reason that many environmentalists do not consider nuclear power as an alternate energy. Other alternative energy sources such as the sun, wind and water, do not produce any harmful side-effects.

Is using nuclear power considered an alternate energy source?

This is a debatable question. Some scientists argue that nuclear power is a renewing process that can provide unlimited power. Technically nuclear power would not be considered an alternative energy source due to its byproducts. As evident by the Chernobyl reactor meltdown, the environment suffers a deadly blow if something were to go wrong.

Can I use alternate energy for my vehicle?

Yes. In the past five years many vehicle manufacturers have come to realize the need for cars that do not run primarily on gasoline or diesel. Most companies have produced a hybrid which combines the use of gas and electricity to power the vehicle. The United States took it a step farther by offering tax breaks to owners who purchased an environmentally safer car.

Besides using electricity, there are cars that run on ethyl alcohol. This alcohol is produced as a byproduct of yeast. It is the same type found in alcohol made for consumption. There are some race car drivers that have made the switch, though mainly for the power it generates.

What is the initial cost of switching over to using alternate energy?

Switching over depends on what exactly you are switching. Houses that have to be retrofitted using solar panels to generate electricity can be quite costly. Vehicles are cheaper to retrofit but require work. The costs can vary for anything switched over. The best way to get an estimated idea is to seek out a contractor or mechanic that is for using alternate energy sources.

What benefits can I expect from using alternate energy?

The first and foremost benefit that everyone receives is a reduction in environmental pollution. Unless we utilize other means of power, we are facing a bleak future. There is no doubt that our fossil fuels are not limitless and those that even briefly consider that notion to be a falsehood are foolhardy. By using alternative energy sources we not only help preserve the environment but we also can see a reduction in fuel costs.

By Environmental Editor