National Take Back Recycling Day: SAT 4/29

An Easy One-Stop Recycling Day: This Sat. from 10-2 at the Civic Center, Marin County, Police, GWC, LGVSD, MSS and Ewaste groups are having a BIG take back day.

• Police will recycle ALL unused or expired medications to keep them out of landfill and the Bay
• MSS will shred onsite, up to 6 banker's boxes per person
• LGVSD will exchange a brand new digital thermometer for an old mercury filled one
• Ewaste group will recycle anything with a cord (small appliances and computers, not washer/dryers)

County of Marin, Susan Adams' office, has been the coordinator for this project.

Volunteers are still needed to help direct traffic, esp. 9am-noon. Contact judy@leapfrogproductions.com if you can assist.

EARTH WEEK: DAY TWO

"We cannot solve the problems that we have created with the same thinking that created them."
Albert Einstein

Many of our most common purchases and land fill culprits can be made at home. There is a pride that comes with frugal living--a deep satisfaction about using less, and finding one's own solutions. Enjoy!

Save the $4-8 on foaming hand soap and make your own, using the same bottle over and over and over again: FOAMING HAND SOAP INSTRUCTIONS

Cloth napkins are convenient, stylish and smart--for your family and the planet: SEW-FREE CLOTH NAPKINS

Vinegar and water cleaning solutions are as effective as the pricey store cleaners that leave chemical residues all over your house. Next time your spray cleaner runs out--save the bottle and try these recipes: HOMEMADE CLEANERS

Everyday we pack lunches for our children and ourselves (hopefully). Here are some of our favorite eco-lunch container options: ECO-FOOD CONTAINERS
ECO-FRIENDLY LUNCH TIPS

RE-USE AND RECYCLE YOUR PAPER

GREEN TIP
Brought to you by the MdTL Green Committee
Did you know that MdTL re-uses and recycles paper? Here’s why…
* Recycling paper has less environmental impact than manufacturing new virgin paper.
Energy is needed to manufacture both virgin and recycled paper, but much less total energy is needed to produce recycled paper. Recycling of paper also reduces the overall amount of air and water pollution associated with paper manufacture, reduces the amount of waste going to the landfill, and relieves pressure on forest resources. In fact, it has been estimated that recycling half the world’s paper would avoid the harvesting of 20 million acres of forestland!
*Every piece of paper you recycle stays out of our landfills.
Paper products are the largest component of municipal solid waste, accounting for 35 to 40% of the composition of landfills. The U.S. paper industry has set a goal to recover 55 percent of all the paper used in the U.S. by 2012. Let’s hope we can exceed that goal!
* It is easy to recycle your paper!
Place paper recycling into a paper bag kept near your garbage can. Paper recycling includes computer paper, copy paper, construction paper (mixed color), magazines, newspapers and cardboard. Be aware that cardboard that has come into contact with food, such as pizza boxes, cannot be recycled, and must be manually sorted out at the recycling facility!
Come garbage day, place paper bags next to your garbage for curbside pickup. Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the Unites States, but today most major cities offer curbside recycling, and more than half of all Americans have access to curbside recycling programs.
* In this electronic age, we can continue to reduce our use of paper altogether.
Reduce paper use by sharing information via email instead of with a printout, or by printing on both sides of the paper if you do require a hardcopy (set your printer default to duplex). Most companies now offer paperless billing, so set up those electronic accounts with online bill payment! When paper use is absolutely necessary, make sure to buy paper with the highest percent of recycled material available.
Paper that has only been used on one side can be cut in half and stapled together to make a notepad. Or children can use it for cutting and taping projects. Let your imagination go! Every small way in which we can reduce our paper use will provide environmental benefits in terms of reducing resource use, waste production and associated pollutants.