E-cycling My Old Computer and Electronics Recycling

I finally e-cycled my old computer and monitor. It was so easy. When my newest computer was shipped, the people at Dell included an e-cycle kit that included several packing slips with pre printed labels and straight forward information about how to pack up my old computer. All I had to do (okay, all my assistant had to do) was pack it up and then go online to arrange a pick up time with DHL. Dell paid for the shipping.

Luckily, I held on to my old computer boxes and their Styrofoam cushioning (my mother taught me well), but I could have used any box including the box from my new computer (which I also still have!).

Green Tip:
Electronics Recycling

Don't even think about sending your electronics to the landfill -- e-cycle them! To find a sustainable and socially just electronics recycling center near you, visit e-Steward.

Eco Friendly Name Badge Holders

Green Tip:
Eco Friendly Name Badge Holders

Eco Endure offers 2 eco friendly name badge holders in the very universal 3' x 4' size. One is made of PLA film which is compostable and is made from corn (an annually renewable resource, folks!) as opposed to petrochemicals.

Their other name badge holder is made from biodegradable polymer. What? I had to break that down, too. I hope by now you know what biodegradable means. Polymer is "numerous natural and synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of up to millions of repeated linked units." I'm still a little confused, but as long as it is biodegradable, I'm happy.

Eating Out and Eco Friendly Restaurants

On Sunday, I went to my hometown of Lancaster, PA to celebrate my dad's birthday. We went to a local restaurant housed in an old farm house that was built around 1790 - talk about reusing a good building! All of Lancaster is pretty darn conservative and it doesn't strike me as the greenest place in the country. In fact, I called it "the land of cows" and as you may or may not know, eating meat is not the greenest practice around, but that is a topic for another blog...

As a vegetarian, it's always a challenge to eat in my home town. Nonetheless, we all enjoyed a lovely meal and at the end, I was shocked and excited when my family members who opted to take home their leftovers were presented with what seemed to be an eco friendly container as opposed to the usual evil Styrofoam or plastic options many of us tend to see. I emailed the restaurant to commend them for their eco friendly choice and to encourage them to continue the practice.

I found out that the product is made of cellulose and biodegrades in 120 days. For more information, go to www.webstaurantstore.com. The produce line is Green Wave.

I hope the restaurant will continue to use this product and encourage other restaurateurs in the area to do the same. I'll be sure to spread the word myself.

So what can you do? If you encounter a Styrofoam or plastic container when you take your "doggie bag" home, email that restaurant and tell them to switch to an eco friendly alternative such as the one above. If we don't voice our dissatisfaction, the status quo with remain.

Green Tip:
To find an eco-friendly restaurant near you, visit the website of the Green Restaurant Association.

The GRA is a national non-profit organization which, among other things, enables you to search for green restaurants in your area. It also lists the number of environmental guidelines the restaurant engages in. Included on the list are restaurants and cafes, resorts and retreat centers, coffee and tea houses, bakeries, pubs, schools and universities and museums.

The Office and Eco Friendly 3-Ring Binders

I have to laugh when I talk to someone who says they are green because they recycle. While recycling is a very green practice and the heart of the movement, there is more to being green than recycling!

Look at your office products. Are they made of recycled materials? About 6 months ago, I started looking at EVERYTHING in my office to determine if I was using the most eco-friendly option available. I had some work to do.

I purchased a desk calendar made of recycled products and my year at-a-glance calendar is also made of recycled materials. I no longer purchase disposable pens and have opted for Cross pens (choose whatever brand you like) and just pitch the refills. And just today, my 3 ring binders made of corrugated cardboard (not plastic) just arrived. Next, instead of purchasing my ink from a well-known office supply store, I plan to purchase eco-friendly toner and ink cartridges instead.

When I moved my office, I was looking for eco-friendly furniture. Much of it was out of my budget, so I went to the local antique store and struck it rich when I found an elegant vintage desk and matching chair made of oak. And the price was a steal. No new trees cut down for me.

So think twice the next time you place that order at the office supply store. Ask yourself, "Is there a better option?"

Green Tip:
Eco Friendly 3-Ring Binders

Instead of using a 3-ring binder made of plastic materials, use one made of corrugated cardboard and is comprised of 35-38% recycled content. It's durable, recyclable and reusable.