Blog

Results of UN Climate Change Conference

by Silvia Lucero

January 30, 2012

On Thursday, January 19th I went to the Institute for Policy Studies to learn what came about from the UN Climate Change Conference. The panelists were:
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council
Kari Fulton, acting director of the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative
Janet Redman, co-director of IPS’s Sustainable Energy & Economy Network

This is a brief summary of what they spoke about that day.

The United Nations Climate Change conference took place in Durban, Africa, in November 2011. 194 countries come together to discuss climate change issues and how we can all come together as nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are the pollutants that cause global warming.

While droughts, floods, food and water scarcities, and other disasters cannot be blamed on climate change directly, they have been exacerbated because of climate change.

Read more: Results of UN Climate Change Conference

On Sorting Waste: Pizza Boxes, Batteries, Plastic Bags?

January 9, 2012

By now, most of us live in areas where Single Stream Recycling has been implemented. But, it seems to me that most of us still don’t realize how to separate all of our waste. Last week, I attended a presentation at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental Committee from my local hauler, American Disposal Services. I learned a few things that I’d like to share.

In addition to all of the usual glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, cans, and any kind of paper, magazines and newspapers, phone books...

Please recycle these items, even if you thought you couldn't. (Just be careful not to get any liquids into the mix as they will contaminate the paper):

• Any and all paper (wax coated paper is not recyclable but if you don't usually separate it, don't worry about it!)
• juice cartons
• books: hardback and paperback
• plastics of any kind from 1-7 except styrofoam
• pizza boxes! They will take them even if they have a bit of grease on them, but again, be careful not to contaminate other paper in your bin.
• Rinsed foil and aluminum foil trays
• empty toothpaste tubes
• plastic bottle caps
• plastic hangers
• empty aerosol cans - as long as they are empty and do not say not to recycle them on it.

They will take metal hangers but better to take wire hangers back to the dry cleaners. Some cleaners will take the plastic wrap as well.

All plastic bags, grocery bags, plastic shop bags, dry cleaning bags, ziploc bags, are recycled in bulk. They can be collected up and brought to the collection bins at Giant or Harris Teeter and other grocery stores.

Do not put used batteries in the trash. They will leach out and get into our water stream. Collect your used batteries and return to the store when you buy new ones. Best Buy will take them and many other stores as well.

Most of the single stream recycling centers operate similarly so these guidelines should apply. But different hauling companies have different guidelines on what to trash and what to recycle so make sure to check with your hauling service if you are not sure. 

For a complete list, visit American Disposal and Think Before You Throw®, or check www.earth911.com for guidelines on specific items.

Click here for a good video on how a Materials Recovery Facility or MRF (said Murrf) works.

Help Reforest Fairfax, Shred Your Documents and Recycle Electronics

October 14, 2011

Help Reforest Fairfax
The Fairfax County Restoration Project is proud to introduce a new initiative: Reforest Fairfax, a gifting program designed to help restore the tree canopy in Fairfax County. For each gift purchased, five tree seedlings will be planted by Fairfax ReLeaf during the upcoming planting season, either Spring or Fall. The gift of trees will help beautify and improve the environment of Fairfax County.  Tree gifts are appropriate for any occasion, including client thank-yous, fundraisers, corporate promotions, loyalty program awards, teacher appreciations, birthday and graduation presents, and baby and wedding gifts. For more information and to purchase trees visit www.fcrpp3.org/reforestfairfax/.

Safe Document Shredding
Saturday, Oct. 22: This event will be held from 8 a.m. to Noon at the North County Human Services Center (1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston). Residents may shred up to 5 boxes of personal documents per household. Please remove all paper from binders and remove binder clips, plastic page covers and binding. Information stored on film or computer disks will not be accepted – paper documents only. All documents will be securely shredded on-site by a private contractor and the shredded material will be taken to a local recycling facility for processing.

This event is not for medical service providers – it does not fulfill Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, requirements for document destruction.

Electric Sunday
Sunday, Oct. 23: This event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax). Residents may recycle televisions, computers and peripheral electronics such as speakers, printers, scanners, etc. Also, residents can recycle unbroken fluorescent tubes and light bulbs.

Complete details for these events and other recycling opportunities planned for 2011 can be found on the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program’s website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling, or by calling the Recycling InfoLine at 703-324-5052, TTY 711.

Restore and Beautify Your Property

September 15, 2011

All of the work on the HOT lanes in the Washington DC area has had quite an effect on the environment. We worked with the Fairfax County Restoration Project to produce a brochure directed at homeowners and HOAs effected by the construction. The brochure outlines ways that they can replant with native species to restore and beautify their properties while providing a home that is beneficial for wildlife. It will be distributed at a workshop titled, "Restore and Beautify Your Property With Natural Landscaping." This first free workshop is scheduled for Oct. 8th at the Braddock District Supervisor's Office. Read more about it here and download a pdf the brochure. You don't have to live directly in the affected area to help revegetate Fairfax!

Read more: Restore and Beautify Your Property

Just the Way Things Should Be

May 20, 2011

This week I attended an open house of a unique kind. This was sustainability at it's best - taking care of people AND the environment. This open house called "Green and Graceful" was a townhouse originally in need of much repair. It was acquired by the Reston Interfaith Housing Corp. to become part of its inventory of affordable housing units. The house is to be rented to a large family who is looking to create a better life.

In partnership with the Fairfax County Dept. of Housing and Development, Graceful Spaces, and many various contractors, the house was renovated to incorporate as many sustainable technologies as possible. Flooring and cabinetry made from recycled materials, energy star qualified roofing and windows, HVAC system with 17.2 seer, low voc paints, low flow water valves, showers, toilets and faucets, energy efficient lighting... and more.

Read more: Just the Way Things Should Be

Flip Flops

July 20, 2010

My son is on the swim team and as any parents of swimmers know, we end up living in flip flops for the summer. My flip flops were dead and FLAT. Last night I happened upon a pair of Earth Shoes flips at my fav closeout store. Earth Shoes just celebrated their 25th anniversary. They were the first shoes to market the shape that puts your feet at a 3.7 degree incline moving your body weight back just a bit so that you strengthen and tone your muscles while you walk. But they didn't look much like the old Earth Shoes I remember.

These shoes are made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The outsole is said to use a technology that accelerates post-lifecycle decomposition so it will reduce landfill waste. And they use water-based adhesives reducing potentially harmful environmental runoff.

Read more: Flip Flops

It's All About the Baby Steps

July 16, 2010

This process of blogging is another one of those habits that’s been difficult to establish. But it’s finally dawned on me that it is a great way to report many baby steps. I’ve been trying to find the time to write more complete stories- to report on the small steps I’ve taken and turn each of them into bigger things than they are. But now I see that process of taking baby steps is exactly what I’ve set out to impress upon us all.

So here then are a few of the baby steps I’ve taken during the campaign to make connections and educate myself. I plan to report on some of them more fully later on.

• Launched the campaign at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee’s “Green is Good” Mixer and Expo held on April 15, 2010. This was a well-attended event that I helped to market and get speakers for.
• On April 22, 2010, I had the opportunity to share the campaign and teach about earth day and the importance of caring for our environment with my son’s fourth grade class. (see the previous entry about that experience).
• Met with and joined the Fairfax County Restoration Project. As a group, we are working together to make a significant visible impact in the area. You should know about possiblities this public/private partnership provides. Visit www.fcrpp3.org to learn more and get involved.
• Attended educational field trips organized by the totally excellent Doug Guernsey of Guernsey Office Products, chair of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee. The trips included tours of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., headquarters in Gainesville, VA - Virginia's first facility certified "Gold" by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system; the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) in Centreville, VA, who provides state-of-the-art treatment for all wastewater generated in the Occoquan Watershed, and most recently, the Covanta Energy-from-Waste facility in Lorton, VA, where they convert virtually all of Fairfax County’s Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into energy which then powers 85,000 of the area’s homes. These trips were awesome and I’ll definitely write more about each one of them.

Read more: It's All About the Baby Steps

Fourth Grade is the Place to Be!

April 22, 2010

Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk about Earth Day and present the Stop! Think Green campaign to my son’s 4th grade class. Fourth graders are so green! We discussed a lot of the ways that they already go green at home. One girl intimated that they conserve water but are having trouble getting their Mom to change her ways. Exactly! That’s why this campaign began. Us grownups need help establishing new habits and changing old behaviors.

These kids loved the opportunity to take the message home to their families. Some kids took 7 stickers for light switches all over the house. One kid took 5 wallet cards to remind each person in his family to think about their purchases. We talked about many ways they could use the Stop! Think Green symbol to help them and their parents stop and think about their choices. One boy was so excited, he said that if he had the THINK t-shirt, he’d wear it everyday. (t-shirts and other items will be available for sale on the website soon). I hope that each of them will put a big sticker on their kitchen trashcans so their family members will stop and think before putting recyclables in them. I can see already that this campaign will quickly become very visible and encourage so many of us to change our habits.

We want to hand out as many stickers as we can. Some of you have offered to help with that. But we could use some help paying for the stickers. As we spread the word through schools, events, businesses, social media, etc. the traffic to this site will grow. Advertise here and be seen. Ad revenue will help fund the campaign getting both of our messages out. Contact me about becoming a charter advertiser or even about trading services. With your help we can have a huge impact.

Thoughts About Clothing

March 29, 2010

Shaima Ismati, president of Koolearth, an organic clothing shop, says that it’s simple to go green and there are so many small things that can make a difference that go beyond recycling and changing light bulbs. Of course we couldn’t agree more. Once we stop and think about our choices and become more aware of the way everything we do and buy is related to our own health and the health of the planet, we’ll probably start thinking further ahead and wonder about our clothing choices. Shaima says if you are what you eat, then “you become what you wear.” That’s true for substance as well as style.

Organic clothing can be made from cotton, bamboo, soy or hemp. The more organic clothing we buy, the more demand we create for farmers to grow sustainable crops grown with fewer pesticides. Conventionally grown cotton is one of the most chemically dependent crops. By buying organic, not only do we keep the land from sucking up all of those pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers, we provide better working environments for those farm workers who would ordinarily be exposed to some of the most harmful pesticides in the world. And generally, organic cotton products are softer and easier on your skin. So the next time you buy clothing, stop and think about your purchase. How will your choice impact your health and health of the planet?

Read more: Thoughts About Clothing