Urban Ecoist

A couple of weeks ago I posted about CFLs and how I found out that they were the huge mercury risk that I’d read that they were. Since then, I’ve been replacing my burned out incandescents with CFLs. Of course, I’ve been having some difficulties finding the appropriate wattage, but that’s a story for another day. In my kitchen, I’ve got one of those typical box lights housing two florescent bulbs. One of these bulbs has been burned out since we bought the house almost 2 years ago. I’ve not replaced it because: 1) I don’t like that much light, 2) I think the bulbs are expensive, 3) I’m not 100% sure what size and color I need.

I’ve been reading about people who are retrofitting their homes with LED lighting and even a grocery store with all LED lights. But the money I’d spend in trying to replace all my fixtures is a bit more than I’m willing to stomach. I stumbled upon a possible option today. EverLED is now making a tube light replacement that will fit in a typical fluorescent ballast. It uses less energy than atypical fluorescent and doesn’t contain the harmful chemicals. Their lifespan is about 10 years, which is 3-5 years longer than the average CFL. The only draw back is it’s $150 price tag. =(

Park your car on your lawn or grassy area. The ground will serve as a natural filter for the run off.

More ideas, more information here.

OK folks. Here it is, my first installment in the DIY category. I know you’ve been waiting with baited breath. =P

So I went to the the local Home Depot this weekend, as is my habit lately. I needed a piece of sheet rock to patch the ceiling where my man fell through it. Of course, I did not bring my own tie-downs, so I grabbed some of the thin tie-down material they had. I believe it’s nothing more than 20 or so fishing line filaments. Either way, when I got home, I was loath to just throw it away. Instead I put it on my Knifty Knitter loom and created a Recycled Tie-down Kitchen Scrubbie. I uploaded it to my personal site, but I think it’s worth mentioning here too.

Okay, so keeping in line with my quest for recycled bags of late, I’ve decided to start putting together a list of all the really cool recycled bags and bag patterns I can find. I’m sure my list will not be exhaustive. But it’s really a place where I can keep track of all the interesting ideas I find in my searches. Maybe you’ll find some use in it too. In no particular order….

Purchasable Bags:

• Passchal - made from truck tire innertubes.
• Alchemy Goods - bicycle innertubes.
• Used Rubber - innertubes.
• Flat Bags - made from dead car seat vinyl and the like.
• Freitag - made from truck tarps, seatbelts, innertube, and airbags.
• Little Earth - license plates.
• Green Guru Gear - (Thanks Davidson) inner tubes, billboards, hemp, climbing ropes.
• Ecologic Designs - (Thanks Davidson) Billboard, blowout, hemp and alternative materials design series.

Any really good ones that you know of that I have missed? Let me know!!!

So I was surfing again, looking for interesting things to help facilitate reducing, reusing, or recycling. I came across this nifty purse made of VHS tape. Also, found another one over at MyRecycledBags.com. Now I just have to think of what to do with the VHS tape casing… and perhaps the clam-shell case itself.

Although, thinking about this again, might it be a better idea to donate some of those items to local libraries? At least then they might still get some use.

recycle, crochet, purse, VCR tape, cassette tape, upcycle

I was thinking about the recycle cassette tape wallets I mentioned in my Tape Cassette Wallet post. What do you do with the tape innards? Well, today I found my answer. Cindy over at MyRecycledBags, has come up with a neat crocheted purse made out of cassette tape… the brown ribbony innards!

Now if only I hadn’t thrown out my cassettes all those years ago in favor of CDs! =)

A single native tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. So plant a tree!! ( or visit Tree-Nation to plant one in your global neighborhood.)

green tip tuesday, tree, tree-nation, plant a tree

Okay, so I’ve got what appears to be a cat litter dilemma. I have 3 cats and have been using clumping clay litters for years. I’ve been aware of the potential issues with using clay litters. There’s Silicosis. Silica dust is mined from the earth and used to make products that absorb moisture. The silica dust is most noticeable when the cat covers waste in the litter box or when the product is poured into the litter pan. The inhalation of these silica particles has been linked to lung cancer, bronchitis and tuberculosis. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust containing extremely fine particles of crystalline silica. Silicosis only develops after prolonged exposure to crystalline silica. The odds of developing the disease from exposure to clay cat litter are therefore highly unlikely. But there are concerns about possibilities of clay being ingested through daily cleaning, as well as the possibility of issues to my dogs if, on the off chance, they happen to eat the litter (yes, I know it’s gross, but they *are* dogs.)

So in some of my research (which I’m having difficulties finding now) I had read how benonite clay and clumping litters are bad for the environment. There are several alternatives out there that seem reasonable enough to try: SwheatScoop Wheat Litter,World’s Best Cat Litter and Pura. Unfortunately, some don’t seem to be available in the US: Ami Sand, Tact and Catolet are brands I’ve never seen around here. Franny over at About.com gives a breakdown of some of the most popular with pros and cons.

So, here’s the question… have any of you tried these litters? Does anyone out there know why the clay (when mined from the earth) would be harmful when put back? Let me know your thoughts.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs) and how they are better for the environment. Not to mention being better on your pocketbook in the long run. However, several months ago I read an article about the $2,000 cleanup bill from breaking one of those bulbs in your house. I was immediately concerned. Several months back, I had broken a bulb myself, though I had not called the EPA, because I had no idea there was mercury in them at all. And do keep in mind that when I was 12 or so, I broke a thermometer, picked up the mercury with my unshielded hands and dropped it down the sink. (Yeah, let’s don’t talk about the number of dumb things done in that scenario. I don’t ever remember being told in school that mercury was bad. *sigh*)

Either way, I’ve been worried ever since about putting CF bulbs in my house, because I don’t want to break one and poison us all. With a little bit of research done today, I have found that while a CF bulb does contain mercury, the amount of mercury is 4 milligrams, compared to the 500 milligrams present in a thermometer.

The EPA has published documentation on how to dispose of the bulbs. For broken bulbs or accidents, the EPA recommends that

(1) you immediately open windows to reduce mercury concentrations inside your home; (2) you do not touch the spilled mercury; (3) you clean up the broken CFL glass carefully and immediately (but not with your hands or a vacuum cleaner), and (4) you wipe the affected area with a paper towel to remove all glass fragments and mercury.

EPA further recommends that you place the paper towel and glass fragments in a sealed plastic bag and bring the sealed bag to your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site.
And for unbroken bulbs, they have this to say:

While CFLs for your home are not legally considered hazardous waste according to federal solid waste rules, it is still best for the environment to dispose of your CFL properly upon burnout. Only large commercial users of tubular fluorescent lamps are required to recycle. If recycling is not an option in your area (see below on how to find out), place the CFL in a sealed plastic bag and dispose the same way you would batteries, oil-based paint and motor oil at your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site. If your local HHW Collection Site cannot accept CFLs (check Earth911.org to find out), seal the CFL in a plastic bag and place with your regular trash.

Additionally, if you have an IKEA near you, you can recycle your CFLs there.

CFL, compact fluorescent, mercury, lightbulbs

Of course, most people know about the dangers of typical commercially produced nail polish. Well the folks over at SpaRitual have created a nail lacquer that is phthalate free. DBP, or dibutyl phthalate, is a plasticizing ingredient that has recently been banned for use in cosmetic products in the European Union. DBP is a potential developmental and reproductive toxin that may cause a broad range of birth defects.

Maybe my nails won’t have to be naked forever.

phthalates, nail polish, fingernails, nail lacquer

Just a couple of days ago Greenline Industries announced the commissioning of their latest 3 million gallon a year biodiesel production facility in Harlingen, Texas. The facility will provide ASTM quality biodiesel created from locally grown cottonseeds and vegetable oils. Their waterless process also means that water treatment facilities won’t be need downstream from the facility to clean up the mess!

Source: Greenline Industries

Texas, biodiesel, cottonseed, Greenline Industries, Valco Bioenergy

Walk, bike or take public transport, you’ll save one pound of Carbon Dioxide for every mile you don’t drive.

green tip tuesday, transportation, cars, bike, walk, carbon dioxide

I know a couple of weeks back I talked about the cosmetics industry and all the destructive chemicals we are putting on our bodies. As an addendum to that I wanted to take a moment to put the spotlight on, an Irish company, Nadur Organics. Founded by Carol O’Hanlon, she seeks to provide Irish products that are 100% natural and organic.

Currently, her product line includes only two baths salts and a handful of candles, but keep checking back as she plans to launch new products every few months.

And just FYI, he has a really good page on safe cosmetics. I’m sure you’ve read it all before, but…

cosmetics, natural, organic, irish

I found this really neat site today. RecycleYourJeans.com. Published by Softwalker Ltd, one of a very small handful of shoemaking companies still manufacturing in the UK, it’s a shoe company that takes your own personal bluejeans and recycles them into the uppers for some really nifty shoes. Currently, they are only making womens shoes (sorry guys!) but they are promising to have mens versions shortly.

Not entirely green, the Kalahari sandal consist of polyurethane for the soles, metal buckles, sewing thread and woven labels. Additionally, for those of us in the US, having a pair shipped would being increasing our carbon footprint… so let’s cross our fingers for a US distributor.

Of course, I have a question about all of this… I’m not a super skinny supermodel or anything. I’m a real woman and I wear real sized clothes. What happens to the extra/left over material? If I’m already using my jeans and recycling them for … or even …. . Can I send in only the amount they need? Maybe the left over material goes into the bin for their ‘off the rack’ pairs? Maybe I’ll ask.

recycling, blue jeans, shoes

So, I got an email today. A random email from someone on the web who happened to stumble upon this blog. This email, not selling breast enlargment drugs, or male enhancements, contained information about a good cause. The Tree-Nation Project is dedicated to fighting climate change and poverty through the planting of trees. Their goal is to plant 8 million trees in Niger, in the shape of a heart.

The project has the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and so far they have planted 1570 trees. Obviously, this effort is made possible by ‘viewers like you’ who chose to purchase or fund the planting of a tree. It appears that there are four tree types available for purchase/planting: Acacia Senegal, Ronier, Acacia Sieberiana, and Boabab.

If you get a chance, please stop by their site today and have a look. And if you can afford it, buy at tree… =)

tree-nation, plant a tree, conservation, poverty, UNEP