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The Growing E-Waste Problem

E-Waste(Electronic Waste) is obsolete, broken, or surplus electronics that are discarded in the trash.  E-Waste is the fastest growing component of municipal waste in the world, with between 20 and 50 million tons generated annually and that amount is climbing rapidly every year. One of the largest problems with E-Waste is the toxic metals contained in much of it. These metals include lead, mercury and cadmium, all of which pose large health risks. Besides toxic metals, there are also large quantities of precious and rare metals such as gold, silver, copper, and palladium. These metals require enormous amounts of carbon dioxide to mine and they are just being thrown away by people.

The largest components of E-waste are computers, cell phones, tvs, printers, digital music players and digital cameras.  Many of the over 1 billion cell phones bought in 2007 are thrown away or improperly stripped of their precious metals. In 10 years the amount of computer waste will grow 400 percent in South Africa and China, and 500 percent in India. The United States alone produces the most E-Waste of all at 3 million tons a year.

So what can be done to help reduce the problem? Well it seems the greatest challenge is getting old electronics to proper recycling centers. Many consumers are unaware of the growing problem of E-Waste and all of the dangers it presents.

Manufactures are also being held accountable to an extent in some countries in helping recycle their products. There are many manufactures and stores that will take back old electronics and recycle them for free or for a small fee. In the case of a fee being charged, many of these stores will offer a dollar for dollar credit towards the purchase of newer goods.

Recycling Options

For the Chicago and Illinois readers here is a link to the Illinois EPA that lists where and how to dispose of old electronics. Illinois EPA

Also check out the Plug-In To eCylcing program at the EPA.

Donate Instead

For those of you wanted to donate your old phones to be reused instead of recycling them there are numerous places to do so such as:

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Donate A Phone

Cell Phones for Soldiers

More Information On E-Waste

ARS Technica

VOA News

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Green Tips For Renters

Going green is possible for renters just as much as it is for homeowners. While renter’s often can not make the large home improvements such as solar water heaters and new energy star appliances, there are so easy things that can be done. I have come up with a short list of things that can be done to both save money and improve indoor air quality for renters.

1. Use CFLs.

Today this seems to be the most popular tip for going green. CFLs have the benefits of reducing energy use and reduce heat generation. Bulbs come in all sizes, shapes and wattages so finding ones to fit your need is rather easy. Just make sure you dispose of them properly as they do contain trace amounts of mercury.

2.Install black out curtains.

These are useful year round because they keep cool air in during the summer and hot air trapped inside during winter months. With potential to save as much as 25% on your energy bill, black out curtains could be a great investment.

3. Keep house plants.

If you find yourself running noisy, energy hogging air purifiers, you may consider adding some house plants around the apartment. Plants also clean the air of Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, and Volatile Organic Gases (VOCs) that most air filters do not absorb. Plants can clean about 10 square yards per plant. A list of the top 10 best air cleaning plants is at Care2.

4. Maximize heating and cooling flow.

Make sure all air registers are clear of furniture so that air can circulate freely. If your apartment has radiators place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.

5.Get a Green Shower Curtain.

Go natural with a hemp or organic cotton shower curtain paired with a nylon liner. It’s healthier than a PVC-coated curtain (PVC offgases potential hormone disruptors) and can be tossed in the washing machine for easy mold-preventing cleanup.

6. Use Soy Candles.

Soy candles do not contain petroleum unlike normal wax candles, and produce almost no soot. If indoor air quality is a concern make the switch to the much cleaning burning soy candle. They also burn about 50% longer than conventional candles saving you money as while providing cleaner air. The cost for soy candles is also getting close to the same as conventional candles so you don’t have to pay much more to get the benefits. More soy candle information.

7. If possible, install a programmable thermostat.

When used properly, a programmable thermostat with its four temperature settings can save up to $150 a year in energy costs. Proper use means setting the thermostat at energy-saving temperatures without overriding that setting. You should also set the “hold” button at a constant energy-saving temperature when you’re away or on vacation.

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Photo courtesy Royal Canadian Mint

Winter Olympic medals go green

In an exciting historical first, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games will feature medals containing recycled metals from E-Waste or Electronic Waste. The Olympic and Paralympic Games have long held a philosophy of sustainability and this is another opportunity to show it.

A Vancouver company called Teck Resources provided the metals used in making over 1000 medals for the Winter Games. 6.8 metric tons of discarded electronic circuit boards was shredded, separated and heated to recover the gold, silver and copper that was to be used. The recovered metals were then mixed with mined metal and sent off to the Royal Canadian Mint to be produced.

While the percentage of recovered metals in the completed medals is small, it still demonstrates innovative ideas for recycling and will hopefully become a long running tradition for the Olympics. I am hoping that it will help more people think about the growing issue of Electronic Waste and how to properly dispose of old electronics rather than just throwing them in the trash.

UrbanGreenSpot will be featuring a article on Electronic Waste soon so be sure to check back.

Source: ENS

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Clean Energy Week

Feb 1^st-5 is clean energy week. In honor of clean energy week organizations nationwide are working together to put clean energy at the front of national policy. These organizations aim to boost policy in the clean energy sector in order to boost the number of green jobs as well as help America become a leader in clean energy generation.

A gathering of conferences, workshops, outreach programs, and rallies in Washington D.C. will be held to educate government and industry members on applications for clean energy and the benefits of clean energy.

For more information visit: http://www.cleanenergyweek.org/

This would be an excellent week to let  your local policy makers know your opinions and demands of the clean energy sector going into the future.

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Water Conservation Tips:

Water conservation often takes a backseat to energy conservation but is just as import to a healthy planet as well as it is to money savings. The effects of water conservation are far reaching. If water demand is reduced, streams and rivers can maintain adequate flow and water levels. This in turn benefits everything downstream. Conservation also means fewer resources are needed for water treatment and storage. A reduction in treatment and storage is important because they usually cause environmental damage in one way or another. A side effect of water conservation is a reduction in energy usage to treat, distribute, and heat water.

With that said, I would like to give you a small list of easy tips for water conservation around your home or apartment:

• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.

• Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to find.

• With older toilets being one of the largest water users, consider buying a new low flow model. If that isn’t in the budget you can buy an adjustable flapper for your existing one or add a plastic bottle filled with water to the toilet tank to reduce the amount of water that is used. Be sure that there is still enough water in the tank to flush properly.

• Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors. You can find aerators that restrict flow to less than 1 gallon per minute. You can expect to save 1 to 2 gallons per minute. I can personally attest that replacing aerators in older faucets can improve your flow quality as well as save water.

• Install a low-flow showerhead. There are many models available and they are easy to install. My EARTH shower head, at 1.5 gallons per minute was a great improvement compared to the old showerhead in my apartment in both water savings and flow quality. You can save at least 1 to 2 gallons a minute and more if you have an older showerhead.

• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cold glass of water.

• Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Consider starting a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals also can add 50% to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to malfunctions and maintenance problems.

• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household.

• Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

For more information on tankless water heaters and their application check out: Tankless Water Heaters

Other Resources:

http://www.h2ouse.org/

http://www.lcra.org/water/save/tips.html

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