Marcus's blog

Top 10 Recycling Resources

Marcus — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

We all mean to recycle. The problem is that it’s sometimes quite difficult to actually get your recyclables to the proper facilities. If your apartment building or neighborhood doesn't have a recycling program in place, you're on your own. And even if it recycles ordinary stuff, there are always those difficult items -- like computers or big things -- that need special handling.

But fear not, friends. This handy list will help you ease those recycling woes and give your old stuff a new lease on life.

1. www.ForRecycling.info

Get motivated with this great site for general info on what happens in the process of recycling, what the benefits are, what materials can be recycled, and an extensive list of links for further information. A great overview.

2. www.Earth911.org

Earth 911’s most compelling feature is a recycling center search engine that allows you to search by location and material that you’re looking to recycle. Like ForRecycling, above, it also has general information and useful tips.

3. www.Resource-Recycling.com

Here's a huge database of links that covers pretty much everything recycling-related, from recycling and composting equipment sites to state and regional organizations and centers.

4. www.Recycle-Steel.org

Recycle Steel has everything you need to know about recycling- you guessed it- steel. There's info on how to responsibly dispose of anything from an old car to a toaster oven.

5. www.MyGreenElectronics.org

My Green Electronics provides information and resources for how to recycle those old, neglected electronics that you’re just not sure what to do with.

6. www.ShareTechnology.org

Share Technology focuses on recycling computers. Whether your computer’s still in usable shape, or only a few parts can be salvaged, this site will show you the most eco-friendly method to dispose of your Mac or PC.

7. www.rbrc.org

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation provides you with a wealth of information about the benefits of recycling rechargeable batteries and cell phones, and has information about where to drop these items off to ensure that they are re-used.

8. www.DressForSuccess.org

The mission statement of this non-profit that recycles women’s business clothing is to “promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.” That pretty much says it all.

9. www.OperationFairyDust.org

This site recycles formal and prom dresses for girls who would not otherwise have the economic resources to obtain them.

10. www.NewEyesForTheNeedy.org

Instead of throwing out those old eyeglasses when your prescription changes, donate them to New Eyes For The Needy -- you’ll be reducing the garbage problem and helping out someone who truly needs it.

Want to find out more about recycling?

Recycling Tips: Did You Know You Cannot Recycle Messy Pizza Boxes?

The Benefits of Recycling: Let’s Talk Trash

Recycling the Looking Glass: When Garbage and Art Collide

Recycled Record Snack Tray

The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard

The Art of Garbage

Reduce, Reuse… FREECYCLE

Recycle Those Electronics!

Back to Basics—RRR

Picking Up Garbage TVs and Recycling as Art

Students Recycle and Reduce Garbage: Take It Or Leave It

Knight Rider Recycled—Reborn With Green Twist!

Recycling Your Garbage: Where Does it All Go?

Historic House Gets Green Facelift

Marcus — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:45:19 -0400

Located in Summit, New Jersey, Twin Maples is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The original house was erected in 1908 by well-known New York architect, Alfred F. Norris. Over the past century, the house has served as a hub for charitable events and fundraisers, and since 1949 has been the home of The Fortnightly Club of Summit and the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club. These groups support a variety of charities including the NJ Community Foodbank, the Peterpaul Foundation, SHIP (Summit Helping Its People), and the community “Tot Trot,” a foot race benefiting a different children’s charity each year.

This October, in conjunction with the opening of the Twin Maples Centennial Show House, The Fortnightly Club will be raising money in support of The Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital. In addition to adding another charity to the impressive list of causes Twin Maples has helped over the years, the unveiling of the Show House will also feature another Twin Maples milestone: environmentally sustainable design.

The Carriage House at Twin Maples, one of the newly restored buildings in the Twin Maples compound, will be an entirely green design space, utilizing sustainable building practices and alternative energy. All materials used in the renovation will be recycled, reused, or renewable. The carriage house will feature green paint, wall coverings, recycled furnishings, Energy Star appliances, and reclaimed wood cabinetry and stone. The Carriage House will also incorporate two solar arrays, courtesy of Vanguard Energy Partners. When completed, the Carriage House will illustrate how easily environmental sustainability and state-of-the-art renovation can go hand in hand.

The Carriage House will be on display as part of the Show House festivities that will be taking place next month to celebrate Twin Maples’ centennial. For more information on Twin Maples, visit www.historictwinmaples.org.

Justin Rudd Keeps Long Beach Trash-Free

Marcus — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:08:22 -0400

For the past nine years, Justin Rudd has organized a monthly beach cleanup of the beach around Granada Avenue in Long Beach, California. On the third Saturday of every month, volunteers show up at 10 AM to comb the beach for garbage, socialize, and take part in keeping the natural beauty of their community intact. The 30-Minute Cleanup team provides trash bags, gloves, and refreshments courtesy of a variety of local sponsors. Over time, the event has grown and its popularity has blossomed, to the point that the average cleanup now boasts over 150 participants!

In order to encourage participation, Rudd decided to make the cleanups short, in order to emphasize the fun, positive aspect of the activity. And it worked. The cleanups have been growing in popularity since they first started, all the way back in June of 1999. At this point, the 30-Minute Beach Cleanups have become a widely recognized community event in the Long Beach area. In fact, Rudd recently received the Hal Albertson Volunteer of the Year Award from Keep California Beautiful, a non-profit dedicated to maintaining California’s natural beauty. While he’s honored to receive the award, Rudd plans to continue his efforts to keep his community litter-free and beautiful for years to come.

For more information on 30-Minute beach cleanups, click here.

Charity: Water Aims to Stop Water Pollution at its Source

Marcus — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:11:35 -0400

Before founding Charity: Water in 2006, Scott Harrison was a successful club and event promoter in New York City, coordinating events for some of the biggest names in media, fashion and entertainment. Despite his success, Harrison was dissatisfied with the course his life had taken, and in 2004 he decided to volunteer aboard a floating hospital for Mercy Ships, a humanitarian organization which offered free medical care in some of the world’s poorest nations. Completely transformed by his experience abroad, Harrison founded Charity: Water upon returning to New York, and has devoted his life to the cause ever since, never pausing to look back at his former life of exclusive parties and nightclubs.

In the two years since its inception, Charity: Water has blossomed, and is now responsible for installing drinking wells in communities in need across the globe. Each well costs between $4,000-12,000 to install, and Charity: Water donates 100% of the money it raises to direct project costs based on greatest need, and through events and fundraising exhibitions that promote public awareness. At the moment, one in six people on the planet do not have access to clean drinking water, and Charity: Water’s mission is to change this statistic by bringing clean water to the people who need it the most.

For just $20, you can provide a person in Africa with clean water for 20 years. Help Charity: Water bring clean water to the world’s developing countries by donating here.

The Skeptical Environmentalist

Marcus — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:42:04 -0400

Bjørn Lomborg is a Danish author, academic, and environmentalist. He is an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School, and Director of Copenhagen Consensus Center. In 2007, he published “Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Climate Change,” a book that offers a fresh perspective on global warming by incorporating human needs as well as economics into its plan to address climate change.

Lomborg’s visionary approach to the global climate crisis has earned him international acclaim, as well as appearances on Larry King, 20/20, The Colbert Report, 60 Minutes, BBC Newsnight, and a host of others. In 2008, Lomborg was named one of the “50 people who could save the planet” by the UK Guardian, and one of the “top 100 public intellectuals” by Foreign Policy and Prospect Magazine. Lomborg continues to be one of the most prominent and exciting environmental thinkers of our time.

In an essay entitled “The Future of the World,” Lomborg outlines some of his positions on reversing the effects of climate change, charging his readers not to focus on the problems our planet faces, but, rather, to look to our accomplishments as a source of inspiration. Lomborg points out that, over the course of the last century, malnutrition has dropped significantly, poverty has been cut in half, illiteracy rates are way down, and access to clean drinking water has been dramatically improved. Lomborg argues that, while it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges the future holds, we must use our accomplishments as inspiration to continue to improve our world over the coming generations.

Lomborg also asserts that we shouldn’t focus our efforts solely on undoing global warming from an exclusively environmental perspective. Rather, we should strive to improve the global economy and bolster individual wealth, and environmental stability will follow. As an example, Lomborg points out that indoor air pollution is the single most pressing environmental problem, responsible for about 1.5 million deaths annually. Rather than certifying the dung that many impoverished families use to heat their homes, Lomborg proposes making these people “rich enough to afford kerosene.” Improving the global economy will lead to better environmental conditions around the world, and Lomborg is eager to guide the effort toward achieving global prosperity.

For more information on Bjørn Lomborg, go to www.lomborg.com.

The Man Burns Green

Marcus — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:15:03 -0400

Last week, I had the privilege of making my second excursion into the Nevada desert for Burning Man 2008. Situated two hours east of Reno, Burning Man is a weeklong arts, music, and cultural festival, and takes place in a temporary community known as Black Rock City that’s erected exclusively for the week of the “Burn.” The desert is peppered with dozens and dozens of dazzling art installations from some of the world’s most incredible designers, and custom designed “mutant vehicles” cruise through the desert night, lights flashing and music playing, to create a truly unique and dazzling landscape. The 2008 theme was “The American Dream,” which made for some very thought-provoking—and critical—pieces that dealt with a variety of aspects of our nation. In a word, it was awesome.

This year marked the largest turnout ever for the event, which was started by a handful of San Franciscans some fifteen or so years ago, and has blossomed into a desert pilgrimage that over 50,000 people embark on each year. It’s also the world’s largest Leave No Trace event, a staggering accomplishment when you consider the scope of how large Burning Man actually is.

As someone who’s attended Burning Man, it’s quite easy to understand the commitment the festival makes to maintain the natural environment that serves as the event’s venue. The Playa, as the desert is affectionately referred to by Burners, is treated with reverence and care. First off, there are no garbage receptacles at Burning Man. Burners are expected to take out whatever trash they bring in, and leaving MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) on the Playa is considered a serious faux pas. Second, each person is required to bring in all their own food and water, and take it all with them when they pack up and leave when the week is over. Finally, each camp is required to have containers to collect “gray water”—that is, any water that’s been used for cooking, teeth brushing, washing, etc—to avoid dumping any tainted water directly onto the desert surface. While there are port-a-potties that are fairly well maintained, showers are out of the question (unless you bring your own—and some people certainly do), so most Burners settle into a shower-less, sand-encrusted existence, where considering yourself “clean” is only a baby-wipe to the armpits away. Comforts are relative in the Black Rock Desert.

Surprisingly, though, once you settle into the Burning Man lifestyle, it’s relatively easy to adjust, and the lack of dependence on modern societal comforts is actually quite refreshing. It’s exhilarating to be completely off-the-grid, and it’s something I would recommend everyone try, if even for a short while.

On top of the environmental challenges campers face, Burning Man’s parent company, Black Rock City LLC, is also committed to ensuring that the Burn has the lowest environmental impact possible. In 2006, they issued an environmental mission statement outlining their ongoing commitment to the earth, and in 2007 the theme of the Burn was “The Green Man” to further highlight the importance of successfully carrying out an environmentally responsible Burning Man. Black Rock City LLC also plants trees and purchases carbon credits to help offset the emissions generated by the thousands of cars and RVs that journey to the desert each summer.

Having attended Burning Man for two years now, I think the thing that most impresses me about the event’s commitment to the environment is how genuine it is. People actually care about the space they’re inhabiting, from the campers, to the artists, to the event organizers themselves. It’s an incredibly refreshing feeling to be a part of such a positive community, and it’s something that I’d highly recommend. Hope to see you there.

“Buycott For Change” Recognizes Responsible Business, Promotes Merrymaking

Marcus — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:51:54 -0400

When Brooklyn resident and Northwestern University graduate Josh Sherman founded Buycott For Change earlier this year, he had one goal in mind: to change the world. The objective of Sherman’s fledgling non-profit is to recognize local businesses that have adopted socially responsible practices that benefit their employees, the surrounding community, and/or the environment. Each month, Buycott For Change selects a “target” business and hosts a gathering to encourage participants to “simply enjoy what the target has to offer.” The event serves to both patronize the selected business, and encourages participants to socialize with other like-minded members of the community.

Last month, the Buycott selected Ft. Greene’s Habana Outpost as its destination, due to its use of solar power, innovative rainwater collection systems, compostable cups and cutlery, and picnic tables made out of recycled plastic bottles and sawdust. This month, the Buycott traveled to Blue Marble Ice Cream in Boerum Hill, citing its use of local, fair trade, and organic ingredients as Buycott-worthy attributes. By bringing a mob of friendly consumers to responsible businesses, Buycott For Change hopes to provide positive reinforcement and encourage other businesses to follow suit.

Seriously, check this out. It’s a great cause, a great time, and an excellent opportunity to change the world a little with some fine people.

To learn more about Buycott For Change, visit www.BuycottForChange.org. If you have ideas or suggestions for future locations, email the Buycott at BuycottForChange@gmail.com.

Smog Envelops Beijing on the Eve of Opening Ceremonies

Marcus — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:38 -0400

Apparently, it’s unclear whether or not the “fog” that International Olympic Committee president James Rogge reported seeing earlier today in downtown Beijing is due to pollution or excessive heat and humidity. Either way, today’s haze marked the smoggiest day of the past week and, with the opening ceremonies just a day away, the I.O.C. is concerned that it may have to postpone events due to noxious air. Outdoor events, especially cycling, triathlon, and marathon running, are the most at risk, and I.O.C. officials are taking every precaution to ensure athletes’ health and safety. While Chinese authorities are confident that the air quality will remain at safe levels, the air pollution in Beijing is often three times higher than the U.S. limit on any given day.

It’s going to be interesting to see whether or not athletes opt out of tomorrow’s opening ceremony, where they’ll have to be outside for several hours. Look for Beijing’s pollution to become a theme over the course of the games—it may unfortunately play a significant role in the way several of the events unfold. There’s already been some controversy over American cyclists getting off the plane with pollution-cutting masks on. The smog, in conjunction with some serious humidity, not to mention the rising tensions of the China-Tibet conflict, could make things a little bit sticky over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Songwriters Commune With Nature, Produce Excellent Tracks

Marcus — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:06:14 -0400

You may have heard about Jack Johnson’s commendable effort to record his entire latest release on solar power earlier this year, or perhaps about how Linkin Park or Radiohead have incorporated green initiatives into their band business models. In addition to these progressive rockstars, though, another green trend is emerging in a handful of this year’s releases: the retreat to the natural world as a source for songwriting inspiration.

Throughout 2008, there has been a small, but significant, contingent of songwriters who have spent time alone in various isolated parts of the country, apparently utilizing the serenity that comes from a solitary commune with nature, in order to write material for their latest works. And the results are impressively good. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie went to Big Sur, California, while writing songs for his band’s new album, Narrow Stairs, and stayed in the same cabin where Jack Kerouac composed some of his most memorable prose. Justin Vernon, the force behind the critically-acclaimed Bon Iver, retreated to a cabin in Northwest Wisconsin to record his excellent debut, the beautiful, haunting For Emma, Forever Ago. Finally, Minnesota native and spiritual songsmith Mason Jennings headed to a cabin of his very own in a secluded corner of his home state to record an entire album, In the Ever, completely by himself and entirely on Garageband.

Listening to these three albums as a meditative, contemplative suite is indeed an eye-opening experience. Each work is incredibly personal and vulnerable, often painfully so, and the albums have an uncanny ability to meaningfully connect with the listener. Gibbard’s sweeping tenor is markedly resonant on the album’s opener, “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” in which he ponders his ongoing lack of fulfillment despite the successes he’s found. On For Emma, the longing and isolation in Justin Vernon’s voice is palpable, as if you can hear how removed from the world he is as he sings song after heartbreaking song about a relationship that went tragically awry. Finally, Mason Jennings offers what could be considered his most personal release to date, a thought-provoking examination of love, spirituality and mortality that is at turns as fragile and delicate as it is vivacious and fun.

All three works speak to the importance of personal reflection in quality songwriting, and are particularly intriguing in that these songwriters are able to achieve such profound results by temporarily leaving their urban environments and attempting to reach a part of themselves more accessible when immersed in the natural world. If this trend continues to gain popularity, we can perhaps look forward to more exceptional music in the months ahead. It seems, if you want to write a poignant ditty, all you have to do is pack up your guitar and head for the wilderness.

“WALL•E”: The Greatest Environmental Film… Ever?

Marcus — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:22 -0400

Once the opening strains of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” from the Broadway musical “Hello, Dolly!” began at the start of the film, I knew that “WALL•E” was going to be an experience I wouldn’t soon forget. And I was not disappointed: what followed was a truly groundbreaking cinematic achievement, not just in the realm of computer-animated features, but in film, period. “WALL•E” writer/director Andrew Stanton, who dazzled audiences in 2003 with the impeccable “Finding Nemo,” has outdone himself, and in turn has provided us with one of the finest films likely to hit the screens this year.

But forget how visually dazzling the epic, dystopian version of the future that Stanton paints is. Forget how effectively the film is able to convey robot emotion through the use of minimal dialogue and two songs from a musical written over fifty years ago. Forget, even, that “WALL•E” is one of the most poignant, heart-warming, resonant love stories in recent memory. Even without these elements, “WALL•E” remains an important fable about the dangers our planet faces, and the potential catastrophic results in store if we don’t amend our ways.

The world that “WALL•E” is set in is a world in which humans have incorporated mass consumption so inextricably into their lives that the earth becomes completely submerged by garbage. Eventually, conditions get so dire that the entire human race leaves on massive, cruise-ship-esque space stations, only to let their bodies and minds deteriorate over generations as they rely on machines to do all their physical tasks and thinking for them. WALL•E himself is created for the purpose of helping to collect and aesthetically redistribute garbage but, as all humans abandon the planet, he soon becomes marginalized, a relic of a bygone era programmed to perform a service that is no longer needed in the absence of human life.

And yes, it’s certainly amusing to watch the humans in the film bumble around like disoriented infants, and the message is not exactly subtle, but that doesn’t make it any less timely or relevant. While it may be unlikely that Broadway-loving robots will become intergalactic heroes in the centuries ahead (then again, what do I know?), the finite, fragile portrayal of our planet and its resources is all too real. The fact that WALL•E’s resilient spirit and optimism are eventually what turn things around for him (not to mention all of mankind) is a testament to the fact that positive, proactive thinking about the state of our earth is the only way to go from here on out. Without giving away too much of the plot, let’s just say that WALL•E is instrumental in helping the humans he encounters to realize the joys and value of preserving the natural wonder of the earth, and his tenacity comes as a much-needed breath of fresh air. “WALL•E” shows us that, while we’re facing some challenging obstacles as a planet, it’s not time to throw in the towel yet.

In short, see the movie. Oh, and if you get a chance, check out “The Dark Knight.” It’s bad ass.

Related:

Check out RiverWired’s Top 10 Eco-Films