Green is Beautiful!
by Solid Waste Program Manager Angela Brantley and Recycling Coordinator Lesley Milton

The famous and beloved character Kermit the Frog said it best in his song “It’s not easy being green” but in the end he says, "It's beautiful! And it's what I want to be."  From the feedback we have received in the last 5 years, you seem to feel the same way.
   Over the last 5 years we have given you many ways to reduce and reuse the amount of trash that ends up in our landfills. 
   A quick overview:
– We’ve asked you to COMPOST all your food scraps;
– RECYCLE your paper, plastic, metals, glass and cardboard;
– DONATE unwanted items to reuse facilities such as the Last Chance Mercantile;
– ELIMINATE Styrofoam due to the negative effect it has to marine life and our environment;
– REUSE your plastic bags and when possible REPLACE with reusable shopping bags;
– Batteries have been BANNED from landfills as well as fluorescent lights and electronic devices because they contribute to air, water and soil contamination
– We have even suggested that, while performing your daily tasks, you CONSERVE electricity, REDUCE outdoor watering, and even COORDINATE automobile driving trips (HINT HINT ~~ ride the bus, walk and BICYCLE).
– We have asked businesses to DEVELOP fuel cell technologies, CALCULATE commercial carbon footprints, PURCHASE recycled content products and cater to the demand by their customers to contribute to a healthy sustainable future.
– After the signing of The UN Urban Environmental Accord by Council and the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement by Mayor Della Sala it is clear that we are clearly on our way to a zero waste community.
   So, here is how you can celebrate your 5 years of positive change:
Get out of your cars, step away from your computers, walk out of the stores and look at where we live. Conservation is about enhancing the beautiful environment that we live in. Every day you make the choice to BE KERMIT and live the good life. For the sake of your family, your community, Kermit and the world, we hope you make the right choice.
   Happy 2008 to all of you and thank you for all that you have done to improve our lives.

Waste Free Holidays!
by Solid Waste Program Manager Angela Brantley

On an average day, a typical person creates over 5 pounds of waste. But from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25%. Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons—it all adds up to an additional 1 million tons a week to the nation's garbage piles. In fact, 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each year--enough to tie a bow around the Earth!
   And it's not just trash. The average American spends $800 on gifts over the holiday season. Think about your time and energy spent driving all around town looking at so much stuff, and dealing with the hustle and bustle of the mall. It's no wonder that so many people get stressed out during the holidays!
   Maybe it’s time for a new tradition – a no-waste holiday season. Click here for great ideas and tips for having a truly green, waste-free holiday season.
Top

Wasting Away: How to Prevent It!
by Solid Waste Program Manager Angela Brantley

Myth: “I recycle so it’s ok to waste so much paper!”
Fact: NOT! Here are some great and easy ways to save energy and resources:

~ Default your computer to automatically print using DOUBLE-SIDED copies (if your printer supports that). Go to START, PRINTERS, choose your printer and hit enter, go to PRINTER, PRINTER PREFERENCES, MAIN, choose 2-Sided Book, hit APPLY, OK, and close Control Panel. You have just done a good thing.
~ When appropriate, copy documents using the double-sided option. Place a reminder at your copier to copy this way and leave the instructions on “How To” also.
~ Get off junk mail lists at home and especially at work. Contact either Lesley Milton or me to send you a postcard to send in to a company that removes you from junk mail lists. Contact catalog companies, training firms, and those companies that are sending you the same flyers using six different variations of your name and ask them to remove you from their lists. No, this does not stop you from getting catalogs that you want but it prevents….WASTING! OR Our Fearless Leader, Hans Uslar, stuffs all the “stuff” from the company into their return envelope and mails it back to them (I will add that you should write on the “stuff” to remove your name from the list).
~ When conducting a meeting, evaluate the necessity of making paper copies for each attendee. Can this be accomplished using an overhead screen or one large tablet at the front of the meeting room? Consider sending electronic copies before the meeting so that attendees can decide if they need the information. If you make copies, remember to copy on both sides.
~ While you’re at it, ensure that your computer goes into stand-by/save energy mode when you leave it running. Turn off the lights when you leave the room or office. Switch over to the new fancy low-energy fluorescent bulbs.
~ DO NOT print your emails unless absolutely necessary. Send notices electronically and post notices on bulletin boards rather than make copies for each individual employee.
~ Use Interoffice envelopes or reuse envelopes instead of using nice clean new envelopes when sending information throughout the City.

That is the first in a series of “MythBusters”. Maybe the Discovery Channel will call us on this one!
 

Rain Water: How Can You Profit From It!
 by Solid Waste Program Manager Angela Brantley

Rainwater collection is the age-old method of using rainwater to do such things as water your gardens, your compost bins or clean your cars, as examples. Why do it? Simply stated, it’s free, it’s available, and it’s a wasted resource when it is allowed to flow down our storm drains.
   Check out this Web site: www.rainbarrelguide.com/  The following excerpt taken from this web states:
   “The Freshwater Facts..."
   "To illustrate how important and how limited a resource freshwater is in our world, consider the following. More than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but only 2.5% of this supply is considered fresh water. The rest is found in the form of salt water in the oceans. Of the fresh water that exists, most is locked up in glaciers and ice caps. Water can also be found in the form of clouds and humidity in the soil. That leaves us 3/10 of 1 percent found in the form of lakes, rivers and streams. Unfortunately, much of this small amount of freshwater is in danger of drying up through desertification or becoming so contaminated that it cannot be used for human consumption. Changing our habits of water use can help to abate this growing problem…”
   At this Web site, www.abundantearth.com/store/rainbarrelkits.html they state the following:
   “Rain Water Collection Made from Food-Grade Recycled Barrels!"
   "Cut your water costs, lighten the load on your sewer and municipal system, protect nearby rivers and streams, help recycle industrial food grade barrels, keep water away from your foundation, and come out with a great looking yard and garden to boot - all using the rainwater that falls on your roof. Rainwater is oxygenated, un-chlorinated and (usually) warmer than tap water, which makes the Rain Barrel Rainwater Collection System preferable for watering your plants, garden and lawn, and for adding moisture to compost…”
   To find out more, just use your search engine and type in Rainwater Collection Systems. There’s “gallons” of information out there to read. These two websites I have included give you measurement information for your use too.
   Good luck and if you choose to start a system such as this, please share the information.
Top

Vacation Reminder!
 by Solid Waste Program Manager Angela Brantley

Where are you going for vacation? What are you going to do to reduce the amount of waste you generate? You would be SHOCKED at the amount of recyclables that are generated and thrown into the trash after just one day of vacation. What are the alternatives?

• Provide a bag to collect bottles, cans, newspapers, and handouts you receive. Crush the bottles and cans if you can to make them smaller.
• Staying at a hotel/motel? Ask what they are doing with the recyclables. If they do not offer recycling, give them the “I am so disappointed in you” tone of voice, and then the “It is really important to me/my family to recycle wherever we go” speech! They listen to these types of complaints and do something about it for the future. Ask where the closest location is for you to drop off your recyclables. If you can’t find a recycling drop off, if you can bring it home and place it in your recycle bin.
• Camping? Clear plastic bags with RECYCLING on it next to the dark garbage bags keeps the stuff separated right from the get-go. For instance, if you are going to Lake San Antonio they have a great recycling program there now.  Again, if they do not offer recycling, complain to the management!
• How can you create less stuff to recycle or throw away while camping? This does take more work but it is worth it. Give each person their own color-coded plate, cutlery and drinking cup. Make it their responsibility to clean and maintain their stuff. Yes, even the young ones. It’s never too late or too early to teach good habits.
• Provide clear sealable containers to preserve stuff. I am not condoning the product, but Snapware is easy to seal and easy to look through to see see what is in the container. This type of container cuts down on coolers or refrigerators remaining open for long times or for foods to go bad (which ends up in the trash). Provide sturdy, yet easy to manipulate clips to seal chips and cookies.  Clearly mark the outside of boxes telling people what is inside each box so that it isn’t a scavenger hunt when kids want goodies.

   The City of Monterey offices, Sports Center and Conference Center generate a ton of paper probably every three days. It is much better to not GENERATE the paper to begin with, but if you do, here is a little data to put recycling into perspective:

Recycling one ton of paper saves:
   – 6,953 gallons of water
   – 463 gallons of oil
   – 587 pounds of air pollution
   – 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space
   – 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy
   – and…17 trees

   Happy vacation to all of you and remember to reduce waste before it is generated, reuse what you can and recycle the rest!