The following information came from http://www.earth911.org/.
We hear about climate change in the news – from devastating hurricanes to heat events - but what is it and what can we do to help stop climate change? Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer).
Climate change affects people, plants, and animals. Scientists are working to better understand future climate change and how the effects will vary by region and over time.
Climate change is often associated with terms like greenhouse gases, which are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere (like a greenhouse). Example include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.
There is much discussion about global warming and climate change. These terms mean different things to different people. At Earth 911, our job is to present the best information we can on all sides of an issue and let you make up your own mind. We have compiled some basic information here to help you in your quest for good information to make informed decisions.
“Global warming” as it is commonly used refers to the increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature, due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” is used in a broader context that refers to long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation.
Climate Change is an increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. It is a term most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. It is different from the term global warming in that climate change is more broad and refers in the wider sense to also include natural changes in climate.
Climate change has occurred on Earth as the result of natural influences and in cycles throughout the history of the Earth; however, the current warming we are experiencing and that is expected to continue is purported to be the result of human-caused increases in greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide.
There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there has been in the past 650,000 years. The carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere and acts like a warm blanket that holds in the heat. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
One thing to keep in mind is that having some greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is not bad. We do need some warmth on the Earth or we would not have the proper narrow range of temperature that allows us to have the right conditions for breathable air, clean water and mild weather.
In fact, the Earth in general would be too cold to inhabit without some greenhouse gasses or the greenhouse effect. However, it is believed that humans have begun to tip the balance and overload the atmosphere with too many greenhouse gases from our cars, factories and power plants – gasses that trap more heat and can lead to devastating changes in our environment. If we don’t start fixing the problem now, we are in for more extreme temperatures, rises in sea levels and more destructive storms.
In the United States, approximately 6.6 tons (almost 15,000 pounds carbon equivalent) of greenhouse gases are emitted per person every year. And emissions per person have increased about 3.4% between 1990 and 1997. Most of these emissions, about 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our cars. The remaining emissions are from methane from wastes in our landfills, raising livestock, natural gas pipelines, and coal, as well as from industrial chemicals and other sources. (Source: US EPA).
With this said, also keep in mind that emissions vary based on the country and state in which you live. At the present time, the United States emits more greenhouse gasses per person than any other country. Emissions also vary by state as they are based on the many factors such as the types of fuel used to generate electricity, the total population of a state, and the amount of (and distance traveled by) commuters.
As an individual there are three areas where we can make the most impact in reducing carbon emissions – the electricity we use in our homes, the waste we produce, and the transportation we choose to use. According to the U.S. EPA, you can affect the emissions of about 4,800 pounds of carbon equivalent, or nearly 32% of the total emissions per person by the choices we make in these three areas. The other 68% of emissions are affected more by the types of industries in the U.S. the types of offices we use, how our food is grown and other factors (source: U.S. EPA). Below are tips on how to reduce carbon emissions and help stop climate change.
Ten Basic Tips To Help Stop Climate Change
Don’t have a lot of time, but want to take action? Here are ten, simple, everyday things each of us can do to help stop climate change. Pick one, some, or all. Every little effort helps and adds up to a whole lot of good.
Change a light. Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.*
Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool, take mass transit, and/or trip chain. All of these things can help reduce gas consumption and one pound of carbon dioxide for each mile you do not drive.
Recycle more and buy recycled. Save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide each year just by recycling half of your household waste. By recycling and buying products with recycled content you also save energy, resources and landfill space!
Check your tires. Properly inflated tires mean good gas mileage. For each gallon of gas saved, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide are also never produced.
Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in carbon dioxide emissions. Using cold water for your wash saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, and using a low flow showerhead reduces 350 pounds of carbon dioxide. Make the most of your hot water by insulating your tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120.
Avoid products with a lot of packaging. Preventing waste from being created in the first place means that there is less energy wasted and fewer resources consumed. When you purchase products with the least amount of packaging, not only do you save money, but you also help the environment! Reducing your garbage by 10% reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1,200 pounds.
Adjust your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer not only helps with your energy bills, but it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well. No matter where you set your dial, two degrees cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer can mean a reduction of 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Plant a tree. A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
Turn off electronic devices when not in use. Simply turning off your TV, VCR, computer and other electronic devices can save each household thousand of pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
Stay informed. Use the Earth 911 Web site to help stay informed about environmental issues, and share your knowledge with others. Together, we can and do Make Every Day Earth Day!
Climate change affects us all, every living thing. Understanding the risks and what can be done to stem climate change effects are being addressed at all levels – individual, community, government agency and organization and at the international level.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Lead
The following information came from www.earth911.org.
Lead Information
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. In addition to its effects on health, particularly children under six years old, lead is an environmental issue because it can contaminate our drinking water.
Since the 1980’s, the EPA has phased out lead in gasoline, reduced lead in drinking water, reduced lead in industrial air pollution, and banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. States and municipalities have set up programs to identify and treat lead poisoned children and to rehabilitate deteriorated housing.
Lead is a hazardous product and must be taken into account when recycling household products. Materials containing lead should not be disposed of in a way where the lead can enter the environment, particularly our drinking water.
Where Lead is Likely to be a Hazard
Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can’t always see, can be serious hazards.
Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include:
Windows and window sills.
Doors and door frames.
Stairs, railings, and banisters.
Porches and fences.
Note: Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) to find out about testing soil for lead.
Facts About Lead
Did you know the following facts about lead?
FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.
FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.
FACT: You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.
FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
Where Lead is Found
In general, the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint.
Paint. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found:
In homes in the city, country, or suburbs.
In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing.
Inside and outside of the house.
In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)
Household dust. (Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.)
Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family’s clothes.
Old painted toys and furniture.
Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.
Folk remedies that contain lead, such as “greta” and “azarcon” used to treat an upset stomach.
Lead Information
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. In addition to its effects on health, particularly children under six years old, lead is an environmental issue because it can contaminate our drinking water.
Since the 1980’s, the EPA has phased out lead in gasoline, reduced lead in drinking water, reduced lead in industrial air pollution, and banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. States and municipalities have set up programs to identify and treat lead poisoned children and to rehabilitate deteriorated housing.
Lead is a hazardous product and must be taken into account when recycling household products. Materials containing lead should not be disposed of in a way where the lead can enter the environment, particularly our drinking water.
Where Lead is Likely to be a Hazard
Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can’t always see, can be serious hazards.
Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include:
Windows and window sills.
Doors and door frames.
Stairs, railings, and banisters.
Porches and fences.
Note: Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep, or walk through it.
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) to find out about testing soil for lead.
Facts About Lead
Did you know the following facts about lead?
FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.
FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.
FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.
FACT: You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.
FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.
Where Lead is Found
In general, the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint.
Paint. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found:
In homes in the city, country, or suburbs.
In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing.
Inside and outside of the house.
In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars.)
Household dust. (Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.)
Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
Use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family’s clothes.
Old painted toys and furniture.
Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.
Folk remedies that contain lead, such as “greta” and “azarcon” used to treat an upset stomach.
Plastic Recycling
The following information came from www.earth911.org.
While there are seven different forms of plastic that can be recycled, most beverage containers will fall in the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) category, marked with a #1 recycling label.
The pages below will teach you everything you need to know about recycling plastic bottles. Plastic bottle recycling is the least utilized beverage container recycling service, according to the Container Recycling Institute, so it is imperative that we all do our part to keep these plastic bottles out of landfills.
Plastic Bottle Recycling Facts
In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each, but only recycled an average of 38 bottles per person, which equals about 50 billion plastic bottles consumed, with only 23% being recycled. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006 each person consumed 28.3 gallons of bottled water.
In 2006 we spent $15 billion on bottled water. That’s more than we spent on iPods or movie tickets. We will spend $16 billion in 2007.
31% of soda bottles were recycled in 2002, BUT we only recycled 11% of water bottles.
Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon and 90% of the cost is in the bottle, lid and label.
Plastic bottles go to landfills and take 700 years before they start to decompose.
Manufacturing bottled water uses over 1.5 million barrels of oil per year. In one year, that’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.
Plastic bottles can be recycled into: rugs, swimming goggles, dog bowls, back packs, skateboard wheels, and ski jackets. For a very extensive list of what products can be made from recycled plastic bottles check out this website.
Plastic bottles are very fashionable: about five plastic bottles produce enough fiber filling for a ski coat, 25 recycled bottles can make a fleece coat, and it takes 26 bottles to make a polyester suit.
It takes 14, 20-ounce PET bottles to produce one Extra Large T-shirt.
Amazing Recycled melts plastic and whips it in an electric mixer, making a foam. The foam is spun into fibers. They take the fibers, mix it with cotton and make white T-shirts that are 50% cotton/50% soda bottles.
Made from recycled plastic, the nails and screws in plastic lumber hold better than wood for at least 50 years.
In New Baltimore, NY, the first recycled-plastic bridge made from 68,000 recycled milk jugs mixed with fiberglass is strong enough to hold cars. Plastic Lumber Corp. in Chicago supplied the plastic lumber for the 30-foot long bridge.
8 out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste.
Take the ‘refill not landfill‘ pledge. If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week they would save 24 million bottles from going into the landfill, if they gave up water bottles for one month they save 112 million bottles from going into the landfill and if they give up water bottles for one year they save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill.
Factoring in packaging and transportation, drinking bottled water costs up to five times more than putting gas in your car.
A one liter soda bottle can be recycled and manufactured as a ruler.
The filling for one sleeping bag could be made from 85 20-ounce soda bottles.
Plastic bottles are cleaned and chopped into chips, heated and turned into tiny white pellets. Sold alongside Virgin PET, recycled PET is a super hot item, with 40% of sales going to the Chinese.
Sources:
http://www.recycleitnow.net
http://filterforgood.com
http://www.plasticsresource.com
http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2004/water/water_disposable.html
http://refillnotlandfill.org
http://www.bottledwaterblues.com
http://www.sks-bottle.com
http://www.bottlesandcans.com
http://www.npr.org
http://www.csmonitor.com
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/28/recycled-water-bottle-cascade-chandelier/
http://thefuntimesguide.com/2007/08/plastic_bottle_lids_and_caps.php
Explaining the Bottle Bill
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was adopted in 1976 to define the role of the federal government in solid waste and resource management and recovery. As part of RCRA, the federal government intended to: 1) reduce solid waste and encourage recycling efforts by fostering collaboration between federal, state and local agencies as well as private entities, 2) promote public education regarding recycling and 3) establish solid waste management guidelines that encourage recycling for municipalities. (GAO 2006)
Local and state government agencies are mainly responsible for recycling programs, deciding what materials to collect, how to collect them, who collects and processes them, and how to conduct education and outreach programs. Some states require municipalities to operate recycling programs. Beverage container recycling programs, commonly referred to as “bottle bills,” are one important example.
Beverage Container Deposits
Bottle bills require deposits on beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, at the time of purchase. These deposits can be totally or partially recovered by individuals who recycle these containers. The first such bill was passed in Oregon in 1971. Eleven states currently operate bottle bill programs, and these states differ in how unredeemed deposits are dispersed. Most states allow consumers to return beverage containers to either retailers or participating recycling centers. A summary of each state’s deposit program is provided as follows:
California (imposed September 29, 1986): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
Connecticut (April 12, 1978): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Delaware (June 30, 1982): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Hawaii (June 25, 2002): Distributors pay a five-cent per container deposit into a special state fund on a monthly basis. Distributors charge retailers the deposit on each container purchased by the retailer, and the retailer in turn charges the consumer the deposit. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
Iowa (April 1978): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Maine (January 12, 1976): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, soft drink, wine cooler, non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on wine and other liquor beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by the state General Fund.
Massachusetts (January 1983): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state Clean Environment Fund.
Michigan (November 2, 1976): A 10-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained at 75 percent by a state-managed fund and 25 percent by retailers.
New York (June 15, 1982): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Oregon (July 2, 1971): A two-cent deposit is imposed on all standardized refillable beverage containers, and a 5-cent deposit is imposed on all non-standardized refillable beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Vermont (April 7, 1972): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, malt, soft drink, mineral and soda water, and wine cooler beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on liquor beverage containers greater than 50 milliliters. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Those 11 states currently having bottle bill programs report higher recycling rates for beverage containers than states without such programs. California, for example, reported a 60 percent recycling rate for its beverage containers between January and December 2006; during that year, over 13 billion containers were recycled, which was 814 million more than the year prior.
California leads the nation in the total quantity of bottles and cans recycled. (DOC 2007) As well, states with deposit programs have generally maintained higher recycling rates for beverage containers than the U.S. average rate.
Bottle bill opponents call deposit requirements a “tax” fronted by taxpayers. However, one-way, throwaway, no-deposit, no-return beverage containers are a corporate subsidy, a hidden tax. Taxpayers absorb the cost of disposing of beverage containers. And many taxpayers absorb the costs of recycling beverage containers through curbside recycling programs.
When there is a refundable deposit on beverage containers, the consumers (not taxpayers) pay the deposit. The deposit is refunded if the container is returned. And the beverage distributors and bottlers absorb the cost of collection. They then chose whether or not to pass their costs on to their consumers. Because 70 percent or more of the deposit containers are returned, taxpayers pay less for disposal and less for litter pickup and less for curbside recycling.
National Recycling Program
Based on a recent report published by the General Accounting Office on municipal recycling, recycling stakeholders interviewed encouraged, as the second most frequently cited policy option, increasing municipal recycling via adoption of a federal bottle bill. The National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2003 was introduced to the Senate, which referred the bill on November 14 to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The bill was introduced to the Committee three days later by Senator Jeffords (I-VT), but no action has as yet been taken on the bill.
While there are seven different forms of plastic that can be recycled, most beverage containers will fall in the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) category, marked with a #1 recycling label.
The pages below will teach you everything you need to know about recycling plastic bottles. Plastic bottle recycling is the least utilized beverage container recycling service, according to the Container Recycling Institute, so it is imperative that we all do our part to keep these plastic bottles out of landfills.
Plastic Bottle Recycling Facts
In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each, but only recycled an average of 38 bottles per person, which equals about 50 billion plastic bottles consumed, with only 23% being recycled. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006 each person consumed 28.3 gallons of bottled water.
In 2006 we spent $15 billion on bottled water. That’s more than we spent on iPods or movie tickets. We will spend $16 billion in 2007.
31% of soda bottles were recycled in 2002, BUT we only recycled 11% of water bottles.
Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon and 90% of the cost is in the bottle, lid and label.
Plastic bottles go to landfills and take 700 years before they start to decompose.
Manufacturing bottled water uses over 1.5 million barrels of oil per year. In one year, that’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars.
Plastic bottles can be recycled into: rugs, swimming goggles, dog bowls, back packs, skateboard wheels, and ski jackets. For a very extensive list of what products can be made from recycled plastic bottles check out this website.
Plastic bottles are very fashionable: about five plastic bottles produce enough fiber filling for a ski coat, 25 recycled bottles can make a fleece coat, and it takes 26 bottles to make a polyester suit.
It takes 14, 20-ounce PET bottles to produce one Extra Large T-shirt.
Amazing Recycled melts plastic and whips it in an electric mixer, making a foam. The foam is spun into fibers. They take the fibers, mix it with cotton and make white T-shirts that are 50% cotton/50% soda bottles.
Made from recycled plastic, the nails and screws in plastic lumber hold better than wood for at least 50 years.
In New Baltimore, NY, the first recycled-plastic bridge made from 68,000 recycled milk jugs mixed with fiberglass is strong enough to hold cars. Plastic Lumber Corp. in Chicago supplied the plastic lumber for the 30-foot long bridge.
8 out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste.
Take the ‘refill not landfill‘ pledge. If everyone in NYC gave up water bottles for one week they would save 24 million bottles from going into the landfill, if they gave up water bottles for one month they save 112 million bottles from going into the landfill and if they give up water bottles for one year they save 1.328 billion bottles from going into the landfill.
Factoring in packaging and transportation, drinking bottled water costs up to five times more than putting gas in your car.
A one liter soda bottle can be recycled and manufactured as a ruler.
The filling for one sleeping bag could be made from 85 20-ounce soda bottles.
Plastic bottles are cleaned and chopped into chips, heated and turned into tiny white pellets. Sold alongside Virgin PET, recycled PET is a super hot item, with 40% of sales going to the Chinese.
Sources:
http://www.recycleitnow.net
http://filterforgood.com
http://www.plasticsresource.com
http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2004/water/water_disposable.html
http://refillnotlandfill.org
http://www.bottledwaterblues.com
http://www.sks-bottle.com
http://www.bottlesandcans.com
http://www.npr.org
http://www.csmonitor.com
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/28/recycled-water-bottle-cascade-chandelier/
http://thefuntimesguide.com/2007/08/plastic_bottle_lids_and_caps.php
Explaining the Bottle Bill
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was adopted in 1976 to define the role of the federal government in solid waste and resource management and recovery. As part of RCRA, the federal government intended to: 1) reduce solid waste and encourage recycling efforts by fostering collaboration between federal, state and local agencies as well as private entities, 2) promote public education regarding recycling and 3) establish solid waste management guidelines that encourage recycling for municipalities. (GAO 2006)
Local and state government agencies are mainly responsible for recycling programs, deciding what materials to collect, how to collect them, who collects and processes them, and how to conduct education and outreach programs. Some states require municipalities to operate recycling programs. Beverage container recycling programs, commonly referred to as “bottle bills,” are one important example.
Beverage Container Deposits
Bottle bills require deposits on beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, at the time of purchase. These deposits can be totally or partially recovered by individuals who recycle these containers. The first such bill was passed in Oregon in 1971. Eleven states currently operate bottle bill programs, and these states differ in how unredeemed deposits are dispersed. Most states allow consumers to return beverage containers to either retailers or participating recycling centers. A summary of each state’s deposit program is provided as follows:
California (imposed September 29, 1986): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
Connecticut (April 12, 1978): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Delaware (June 30, 1982): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Hawaii (June 25, 2002): Distributors pay a five-cent per container deposit into a special state fund on a monthly basis. Distributors charge retailers the deposit on each container purchased by the retailer, and the retailer in turn charges the consumer the deposit. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state-managed fund.
Iowa (April 1978): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Maine (January 12, 1976): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, soft drink, wine cooler, non-alcoholic carbonated and non-carbonated beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on wine and other liquor beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by the state General Fund.
Massachusetts (January 1983): A five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by a state Clean Environment Fund.
Michigan (November 2, 1976): A 10-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained at 75 percent by a state-managed fund and 25 percent by retailers.
New York (June 15, 1982): At least a five-cent deposit is imposed on all eligible beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Oregon (July 2, 1971): A two-cent deposit is imposed on all standardized refillable beverage containers, and a 5-cent deposit is imposed on all non-standardized refillable beverage containers. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Vermont (April 7, 1972): A five-cent deposit is imposed on beer, malt, soft drink, mineral and soda water, and wine cooler beverage containers, and a 15-cent deposit is imposed on liquor beverage containers greater than 50 milliliters. Unredeemed deposits are retained by distributors/bottlers.
Those 11 states currently having bottle bill programs report higher recycling rates for beverage containers than states without such programs. California, for example, reported a 60 percent recycling rate for its beverage containers between January and December 2006; during that year, over 13 billion containers were recycled, which was 814 million more than the year prior.
California leads the nation in the total quantity of bottles and cans recycled. (DOC 2007) As well, states with deposit programs have generally maintained higher recycling rates for beverage containers than the U.S. average rate.
Bottle bill opponents call deposit requirements a “tax” fronted by taxpayers. However, one-way, throwaway, no-deposit, no-return beverage containers are a corporate subsidy, a hidden tax. Taxpayers absorb the cost of disposing of beverage containers. And many taxpayers absorb the costs of recycling beverage containers through curbside recycling programs.
When there is a refundable deposit on beverage containers, the consumers (not taxpayers) pay the deposit. The deposit is refunded if the container is returned. And the beverage distributors and bottlers absorb the cost of collection. They then chose whether or not to pass their costs on to their consumers. Because 70 percent or more of the deposit containers are returned, taxpayers pay less for disposal and less for litter pickup and less for curbside recycling.
National Recycling Program
Based on a recent report published by the General Accounting Office on municipal recycling, recycling stakeholders interviewed encouraged, as the second most frequently cited policy option, increasing municipal recycling via adoption of a federal bottle bill. The National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2003 was introduced to the Senate, which referred the bill on November 14 to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The bill was introduced to the Committee three days later by Senator Jeffords (I-VT), but no action has as yet been taken on the bill.
Paper Recycling
The following information came from www.earth911.org.
Paper is one of the most versatile and important materials used in homes, schools, offices, and businesses throughout the world. Each day we enjoy the benefits of paper products – from the newspaper we read in the morning; to the box that holds our cereal; to the paper we use for homework and business purposes; and the documents that mark the significant achievements of our lives.
Paper dates back over 2,000 years and hand-made production methods were used until the 19th century. The industrialization of the paper making process helped to bring education and books to a broad spectrum of people, and continued advances have resulted in better and more efficient products that meet our daily needs, while leaving a smaller footprint on our environment.
Why is it Important to Recycle Paper?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), approximately 35 percent of the municipal solid waste stream (MSW) is made up of paper and paperboard products. Paper makes up the largest portion of the municipal waste stream, and also one of the most recovered materials. Recycling produces numerous direct and indirect benefits:
Conserves resources
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
Saves energy
Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
Creates jobs
Stimulates the growth of greener technologies
Reduces the need for new landfills and incineratorsSource: U.S. EPA
According to a 2005 AF&PA Community Survey, 254 million people (86 percent of the U.S.) have access to some form of community paper/paperboard recycling, either through curbside collection or drop-off programs.
An impressive 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. In fact, if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling than all glass, plastic and aluminum combined. Not yet satisfied, the American Forest & Paper Association has set a goal of 55 percent recovery by the year 2012. It will take your help to get there.
How is Paper Recycled?
According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. This significant achievement was made possible by the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work, and school every day.
In fact if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling from municipal solid waste streams than all glass, plastic, and aluminum combined. Additional good news: every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Paper Recycling Starts with You and Me!
Paper recycling begins with you and me! Recycling means recognizing the value of a used resource, and turning it into something new. The paper recycling process begins at any number of locations, including community curbside programs, drop-off centers, schools, or offices. Regardless of where the recycling process starts, it is important to understand what materials can be recovered in your community, and how to properly prepare them for recycling.
To find out what recycling programs are available in your area and the types of paper accepted, use the green recycling center locator box at the top of the page.
How Is Paper Recycled Once Collected?
After it is collected, recovered paper is transferred to a recycling center or Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is sorted into its different grades and “contaminants” such as trash, glass, plastics, and metals are removed. Once the recovered paper is properly sorted and free of contaminants, it is compacted into large bales and transported to a paper mill where the recycling process begins.
To begin the papermaking process using recovered fiber, the fiber is shredded and mixed with water to make a pulp. The pulp is washed, refined and cleaned, then turned to slush in a beater. The process of papermaking from that point forward is essentially the same whether or not recovered fiber is used.
For a visual walk-thru of the process, click here.
Additional paper making and recycling links:
Paperrecycles.org
EPA
Forest Products Management Development Institute
Project Learning Tree
Can Paper Continue To Be Recycled?
Each time paper is recycled, the fiber length decreases, which impacts its strength. It is estimated that paper has approximately seven generations, meaning it can be recycled up to seven times.
Because paper is made from a renewable resource, introducing new, or “virgin” fiber into the process is a logical answer. Today approximately 80 percent of the nation’s paper mills use some recovered fiber in the production of new paper and paperboard products.
Further, the U.S. forest products industry plants an average of 1.7 million trees every day - five new trees for every tree harvested. Thanks to the responsible forestry practices of U.S. companies, the amount of standing timber in U.S. forests has increased by nearly 40 percent over the past half-century, and by 10 million acres since 1990.
Paper is one of the most versatile and important materials used in homes, schools, offices, and businesses throughout the world. Each day we enjoy the benefits of paper products – from the newspaper we read in the morning; to the box that holds our cereal; to the paper we use for homework and business purposes; and the documents that mark the significant achievements of our lives.
Paper dates back over 2,000 years and hand-made production methods were used until the 19th century. The industrialization of the paper making process helped to bring education and books to a broad spectrum of people, and continued advances have resulted in better and more efficient products that meet our daily needs, while leaving a smaller footprint on our environment.
Why is it Important to Recycle Paper?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), approximately 35 percent of the municipal solid waste stream (MSW) is made up of paper and paperboard products. Paper makes up the largest portion of the municipal waste stream, and also one of the most recovered materials. Recycling produces numerous direct and indirect benefits:
Conserves resources
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
Saves energy
Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
Creates jobs
Stimulates the growth of greener technologies
Reduces the need for new landfills and incineratorsSource: U.S. EPA
According to a 2005 AF&PA Community Survey, 254 million people (86 percent of the U.S.) have access to some form of community paper/paperboard recycling, either through curbside collection or drop-off programs.
An impressive 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. In fact, if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling than all glass, plastic and aluminum combined. Not yet satisfied, the American Forest & Paper Association has set a goal of 55 percent recovery by the year 2012. It will take your help to get there.
How is Paper Recycled?
According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2006. This significant achievement was made possible by the millions of Americans who recycle at home, work, and school every day.
In fact if measured by weight, more paper is recovered for recycling from municipal solid waste streams than all glass, plastic, and aluminum combined. Additional good news: every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Paper Recycling Starts with You and Me!
Paper recycling begins with you and me! Recycling means recognizing the value of a used resource, and turning it into something new. The paper recycling process begins at any number of locations, including community curbside programs, drop-off centers, schools, or offices. Regardless of where the recycling process starts, it is important to understand what materials can be recovered in your community, and how to properly prepare them for recycling.
To find out what recycling programs are available in your area and the types of paper accepted, use the green recycling center locator box at the top of the page.
How Is Paper Recycled Once Collected?
After it is collected, recovered paper is transferred to a recycling center or Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is sorted into its different grades and “contaminants” such as trash, glass, plastics, and metals are removed. Once the recovered paper is properly sorted and free of contaminants, it is compacted into large bales and transported to a paper mill where the recycling process begins.
To begin the papermaking process using recovered fiber, the fiber is shredded and mixed with water to make a pulp. The pulp is washed, refined and cleaned, then turned to slush in a beater. The process of papermaking from that point forward is essentially the same whether or not recovered fiber is used.
For a visual walk-thru of the process, click here.
Additional paper making and recycling links:
Paperrecycles.org
EPA
Forest Products Management Development Institute
Project Learning Tree
Can Paper Continue To Be Recycled?
Each time paper is recycled, the fiber length decreases, which impacts its strength. It is estimated that paper has approximately seven generations, meaning it can be recycled up to seven times.
Because paper is made from a renewable resource, introducing new, or “virgin” fiber into the process is a logical answer. Today approximately 80 percent of the nation’s paper mills use some recovered fiber in the production of new paper and paperboard products.
Further, the U.S. forest products industry plants an average of 1.7 million trees every day - five new trees for every tree harvested. Thanks to the responsible forestry practices of U.S. companies, the amount of standing timber in U.S. forests has increased by nearly 40 percent over the past half-century, and by 10 million acres since 1990.
Recycling
The following information came from www.earth911.org.
Recycling
Recycling is the third R of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. This section of our site provides information about how to recycle, why to recycle and what you can recycle. And of course the Earth 911 green recycling locator box above can help you find where you can recycle. Just type in what you want to recycle on the left side and where on the right side by entering your zip code or city and state.
Recycling Facts & Figures
In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators. Today, this country recycles 32% of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.
While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically: 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of all major appliances are now recycled.
Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000 curbside programs had sprouted up across the nation. As of 2005, about 500 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Aluminum Can RecyclingThe aluminum can is the most valuable beverage container to recycle and it is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today. Recycling aluminum cans provides environmental, economic and community benefits to communities and organizations across the country.
Benefits of Aluminum Can RecyclingAluminum can recycling provides many environmental, economic and community benefits to individuals, communities, organizations, companies and industries.
Environmental Benefits
Recycling aluminum cans saves precious natural resources, energy, time and money — all for a good cause — helping out the earth, as well as the economy and local communities.
Aluminum cans are unique in that in 60 days a can is recycled, turned into a new can and back on store shelves.
Aluminum is a sustainable metal and can be recycled over and over again.
In 2003, 54 billion cans were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil — America’s entire gas consumption for one day.
Economic Benefits
The aluminum can is the most valuable container to recycle and is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today.
Each year, the aluminum industry pays out over $800 million dollars for empty aluminum cans — that’s a lot of money that can go to organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, the Boy or Girl Scouts of America or even a local school. Money earned from recycling cans helps people help themselves and their communities. Recycling helps build new homes, pays for a group trip, supports a project or buys a lunch!
Today it is cheaper, faster and more energy-efficient to recycle aluminum than ever before. The aluminum can is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. The can remains the most recyclable of all materials.
Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled.
Aluminum has a high market value and continues to provide an economic incentive to recycle. When aluminum cans are recycled curbside, they help pay for community services.
Community Benefits
Aluminum can recycling enables charitable organizations and groups to earn funds to further local projects. The money earned enhances programs, communities and improves the quality of people’s lives. From a local can drive to raise money for school improvements, to a Boy or Girl Scout troop “Cans Into Cash” competition to pay for camp, recycling is used all over the country to help others.
A perfect example of this is the Cans for Habitat program. Through a national partnership between the Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International, aluminum cans are recycled via a network of drop-off locations to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to build decent, affordable housing with low-income families. To think, just by recycling a can once destined for the landfill, you are keeping our local environment clean, providing a needed resource for the aluminum recycling process, and most importantly, helping provide local housing to those in need. It’s a win-win for the individual, community, business, industry and the environment.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Facts about Aluminum RecyclingDiscovered in the 1820s, aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth.
Over 50% of the aluminum cans produced are recycled.
A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That’s closed loop recycling at its finest!
Aluminum is a durable and sustainable metal: 2/3 of the aluminum ever produced is in use today.
Every minute of everyday, an average of 113,204 aluminum cans are recycled.
Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours.
Last year 54 billion cans were recycled saving energy equivalent to 15 million barrels of crude oil - America’s entire gas consumption for one day.
Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.
In 1972, 24,000 metric tons of aluminum used beverage containers (UBCs) were recycled. In 1998, the amount increased to over 879,000 metric tons.
In 1972, it took about 22 empty, aluminum cans to weigh one pound. Due to advanced technology to use less material and increase durability of aluminum cans, in 2002 it takes about 34 empty aluminum cans to weigh one pound.
The average employee consumes 2.5 beverages a day while at work.
The empty aluminum can is worth about 1 cent.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
Cans For HabitatCans for Habitat is a national partnership between The Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International that began in August of 1997. Money earned from recycled aluminum cans is used to build decent, affordable housing with families nationwide. A network of Habitat affiliates, local businesses, recycling centers and community organizations “make every can count” by recycling aluminum cans to help build homes.Below are some fun facts about the Cans for Habitat program:
There are currently more than 600 Cans for Habitat affiliates participating in the program.
To date, approximately 11.3 million pounds of aluminum cans have been recycled - an equivalent of $4 million dollars raised by and for Habitat affiliates as part of the Cans for Habitat program. That equates to 88 houses!
If every American recycled one can today, Habitat could build 56 homes tomorrow.
Americans recycled $800 million worth of cans in 2003 - just one percent of that figure could build 160 Habitat for Humanity homes! Every can really does count!
For more information on how you can participate in the Cans for Habitat program and make a difference in your community, please visit the links below. Join our network and help make every can count!
Cans for HabitatLearn more about Cans for Habitat and how you and your community can recycle cans to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity InternationalHabitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that seeks to eliminate sub-standard poverty, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
History of Aluminum CansThe development of the “can” originated in Napoleon’s time around the early 1800s; however, the use of aluminum in beverage containers did not debut until 1965. Learn more about the evolution of steel and aluminum cans over the last several decades.
How Are Aluminum Cans Made?
Cup Forming — The process starts with an aluminum coiled sheet which is fed through a press that punches out shallow cups.
Redrawing & Ironing — Cups are fed into an ironing press where successive rings redraw and iron the cup and reduce sidewall thickness to get a full length can. The bottom is domed to obtain strength required to withstand internal pressure.
Trimming — Cans are spun as a cutting tool trims the rough shell from the inside.
Cleaning — The cans are cleaned and pre-treated for decoration and inside coating.
Pre-clean with water rinse
Clean with commercial cleaner
Cold water rinse
Conditioning
Cold water rinse
Deionized water rinse
Drying
Printing & Varnishing — Cans are rolled against a rubber cylinder to print up to four colors simultaneously, then moved to another station where a clear protective overvarnish is applied.
Bottom Varnishing — Cans are conveyed past an applicator that applies protective varnish to the bottom.
Baking — Cans wind through a conveyor in an oven to dry the printing.
Inside Spraying — A specially selected coating is sprayed on the inside of the cans.
Baking — Cans are conveyed through a tunnel oven that bakes and cures the inside coating.
Necking and Flanging — Cans are necked-in at the top to reduce can diameter and flanged to accept the end.
Light Tester — Clean cans are cycled through a light tester that detects pin holes and rejects defective cans…
Palletizing — After final inspection cans are palletized for shipments to the customer . . .
End-Making
Stamping — Ends are stamped out of pre-coated aluminum coil. Compound is added to assure a perfect seal between can and end at the customer’s plant.
Rivet Making, Scoring and Tabbing — Ends are fed through a high precision press where rivet making, scoring, and tabbing occur in consecutive operations.
Shipping — Ends are bagged and placed on skids for shipment to the customer.
How Is An Aluminum Can Recycled?Beverages packaged in aluminum cans are purchased by millions of consumers around the world each day. They pop the top, hear that familiar hiss and down their favorite drink. You didn’t think you were the only one, did you?But, then what? Where does that can go, after you toss it into the nearest recycling bin?
Two out of every three cans produced in the United States begin the recycling process either at local recycling centers, community drop-off sites, charity collection sites, reverse vending machines or curbside pick-up spots.
Aluminum cans from these sources are then gathered at large, regional scrap processing companies. There, they condense the cans into highly dense, 30-pound briquettes or 1,200-pound bales and ship them off to aluminum companies for melting.
At the aluminum companies, the condensed cans are shredded, crushed and stripped of their inside and outside decorations via a burning process. Then, the potato chip-sized pieces of aluminum are loaded into melting furnaces, where the recycled metal is blended with new, virgin aluminum.
The molten aluminum is then poured into 25-foot long ingots that weigh over 30,000 pounds. The ingots are fed into rolling mills that reduce the thickness of the metal from 20-plus inches to sheet that is about 10/1,000 of an inch thick.
This metal is then coiled and shipped to can makers, who produce can bodies (the side of a can is the same thickness as a human hair!) and lids. They, in turn, deliver cans to beverage companies for filling.
The new cans (stocked with your favorite canned beverages, of course) are then ready to return to store shelves in as little as 60 days, only to go through the entire recycling process again!
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
Battery RecyclingBatteries are essential to our portable lifestyle. Cars, phones, music, cameras and even our daily planners make our lives convenient and instant because of power supplied by batteries. As we continue to enhance our lives with portable amenities, battery disposal is becoming an environmental challenge. A number of resources are available to reduce battery waste.
Best Buy & Future Shop Help Reduce, Reuse, RecycleBest Buy and Future Shop stores in Canada are offering boxes for customers to recycle seven different types of electronics at no charge.
Fall Electronics Recycling Day set for Oct 27 in Decatur, GAOn Saturday October 27, Decatur will have its Fall Electronics Recycling event with this year's change that batteries, Styrofoam and mercury will also be accepted.
How to Recycle and Properly Dispose of BatteriesBatteries are a unique product comprised of heavy metals and other elements that make things “portable.” Some of these toxic heavy metals include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid, which can threaten our environment if not properly discarded.
Help the Environment - Batteries Find out how you can continue to help the environment by stretching the life out of your batteries and then disposing of them properly.
Helpful Links & ResourcesFind additional battery information and regulation, including the 1996 Battery Act, the current battery Enforcement Alert by the U.S. EPA, how batteries are made and other online resources.
Sponsored By
Curbside RecyclingCurbside recycling now serves half of the U.S. population providing the most convenient means for households to recycle a variety of materials. Learn more about your curbside recycling program and the different types of curbside programs across the nation.
About Curbside Recycling
Currently one in two households with access to curbside recycling, participate on a regular basis. The EPA estimates that while 75 percent of what Americans trash every week could be recycled, only 25 percent is. There is more to be done.
According to the EPA, 20 years ago only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 1998, 9,000 curbside programs and 12,000 recyclable drop-off centers had sprouted up across the nation. As of 1999, 480 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.
There are many ways for communities to recycle at the curb. They include:
Dual-stream recycling
Single-stream recycling
Pay-as-you-throw
Here is a little bit about each major option. Find out what is available in your community today.
1. Dual-Stream Recycling
This is probably the most popular form of curbside recycling in the U.S. Residents are asked to sort containers in one curbside bin and papers (newspaper, magazines, direct mail, etc.) in another. Usually the two bins are color-coded (i.e. blue for paper, green for containers, etc.). Both bins are set out on the curb on pick-up day.
Most communities that offer this service use special trucks that are divided in half to allow workers to sort at the truck by container and paper, just as the residents did.
2. Single-Stream Recycling
One growing, and often controversial development is the emergence of “single-stream” curbside recycling programs. Single-stream recycling allows all commodities to be commingled in a wheeled, lidded cart (65 or 94 gallon). Carts can be wheeled to the curb versus lifted, contents are not revealed unlike existing bins and residents do not have to separate any materials.
Haulers favor single-stream because they can reduce the number of trucks, the frequency of pick-ups and the incidence of injuries. On the other hand opponents have strong and legitimate concerns about the impact of single-stream on the quality of materials collected from this large and growing source.
Evidence does suggest, despite criticism about contamination and other issues, that single-stream sharply increases pounds per household as access to larger bins allows residents to recycle more items. Quantitative research conducted by ORC revealed that seven in 10 recyclers (using traditional 18-gallon bins) at least occasionally have more to recycle than their container holds.
Many cities have implemented, or are planning to launch or test single-stream programs, including Tucson, Orlando, Dallas, Chicago and Denver. While this list below is by no means exhaustive, here are some initial findings that shed light on the successes of single-stream:
Dallas, who has implemented a test with its MRF operator CDW among 1,400 household with 96-gallon carts. As of month 10 of the 12-month test (July 2005) Dallas has seen a participation increase of 46 percent and a pound increase of 120 percent (no data on specific commodities at this time.)
A nine-week test was conducted in Collier County, Florida, by Waste Management, Recycle America and Anheuser-Busch. The test revealed a weekly pick-up of 64-gallon carts yielded an increase in recycling when compared to a weekly pick up of 18- gallon bins. Specifically, an additional 1,640 pounds of aluminum cans and 45,700 pounds of newspaper were recycled, among other lifts as demonstrated in the accompanying chart. Interestingly, set-out rates actually declined in the three weeks of the 64-gallon test (53 percent as compared to 75 percent for the three week 18-gallon benchmark). This is most likely due to the new size of the bins (3.5 times larger than their 18-gallon bins) and the fact that as residents adapted to the new system they were not filling them quickly enough to set them out every week, instead opting to set them out only when full. This disparity between an increase in collection and decrease in set-out rates indicates a longer term study of this issue is necessary to fully understand the impact.
3. Pay-as-you-throw
“Up to 75 percent of trash in an average garbage can is recyclable, but typically only 25 percent gets recycled.”
— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash collection programs, when combined with curbside recycling programs, can be highly effective in increasing participation, particularly when curbside is offered free and effectively-communicated to residents. As part of PAYT, residents often pay a fee per bag of trash they set out on the curb. In turn, curbside is offered at no cost or at a reduced cost, to incentivize less trash and more recycling.
There are several benefits to PAYT programs.
Decreases waste: The EPA says municipalities often see 25-35 percent decreases in waste as well as significant increases in recycling. Lower waste costs can also help the community, encouraging more recycling and other infrastructure investments.
Increases recycling: When faced with paying for trash or recycling for “free,” residents will be more diligent about what they recycle and more watchful about what gets trashed. According to an article in The Next American City, one California municipality implemented PAYT and saw “recycling volumes almost triple, literally overnight.”
Households can control their waste management costs: Residents are responsible for what they trash and to save money, will be forced to recycle more. Consumers can choose to divert waste every day and there is an economic reason to do so that literally affects their bottom line.
More materials about who supports PAYT are available from the EPA. Over 6,000 communities across the country have successfully implemented PAYT.
Used Motor Oil & Filter Recycling
Did you know that each year over 180 million gallons of motor oil are disposed of illegally by people who change the oil in their trucks and cars?
Never put motor oil in the trash or pour it on the ground or into a storm drain. Motor oil can be 100% recycled! Many oil change centers and auto part stores will take your oil hassle free. Many waste haulers offer curbside collection of used motor oil as well.
How To Change and Recycle Your Oil Filter
Used oil filters are becoming more commonly accepted in local recycling programs. In many cases, the used oil collection facilities where you take your used motor oil may also accept used oil filters for recycling. If they do not, and you cannot find a location on Earth 911, consult with your local used oil collection facility to see if they can direct you to a location or business that provides this service.
If you don’t have access to a local recycling program for used oil filters, check with your local municipal recycling coordinator or solid waste department for recommended disposal options. Remember – regardless of how you recycle the used oil filter, you should drain the used oil out of the oil filter first.
Tips on Changing Your Oil Filter
1. After you have drained all the oil from the engine block, use a filter wrench to loosen and remove the old oil filter.
2. Place the flat or open end of the filter in the drain pan or on the used oil recycling container to allow as much of the used oil as possible to drain out of the filter. It is recommended that you leave the filter in this draining position for at least 12 hours. Many used oil collection centers or municipalities provide specialized used oil recycling containers that accommodate filters. Your local auto parts store may stock them as well.
3. To store the oil drained from the oil change and the filter, certain everyday household containers can be used including milk and water jugs or the original motor oil bottles. DO NOT use a container that previously held household chemicals, such as cleaners,solvents, fuels (gasoline), paint or bleach. Make sure the cap is securely fastened and taped to avoid spillage.
4. Install the new oil filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Take the used oil and oil filters to the nearest recycling center in your community.
How to Collect and Recycle Your Motor Oil
What is used motor oil?
According to the U.S. EPA, used motor oil is any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used for vehicle lubrication. As a result of normal use, motor oil becomes contaminated with various impurities such as dirt, water, chemicals or metals from your engine. Some governmental jurisdictions classify used motor oil as hazardous. It may contain additives (e.g. rust inhibitors), contaminants (e.g. heavy metals generated through engine wear, or externally introduced materials such as PCBs from old transformer oils), potentially carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic compounds (from the fuel combustion process), or glycol leaked from the cooling system. Because of these “impurities,” used motor oil should be handled with care and disposed of correctly to ensure the safety of the local community, environment and waterways.
Tips on Collecting Your Used Motor Oil
Once you are finished draining the oil from your car’s crankcase, pour the used motor oil into a clean, leak proof container with a screw-top lid or use a drip pan that serves as both a collection and holding container. Check with your local collection center to determine what types of containers they can accommodate. Some collection centers may want you to leave behind the container for disposal if they are not set up to empty it immediately on site.
Containers specifically designed to hold used motor oil can be purchased at your local automotive supply store.
Certain everyday household containers can also be used for used motor oil collection, including milk and water jugs or the original motor oil bottles. DO NOT use a container that previously held household chemicals, such as cleaners, solvents, fuels (gasoline), paint or bleach.
Make sure the chosen storage container has a secure lid so motor oil will not spill or leak.
Keep the collection containers clean.
Always clearly label the container “Used Motor Oil”.
Keep collected used motor oil out of reach of children and pets at all times.
Recycling
Recycling is the third R of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. This section of our site provides information about how to recycle, why to recycle and what you can recycle. And of course the Earth 911 green recycling locator box above can help you find where you can recycle. Just type in what you want to recycle on the left side and where on the right side by entering your zip code or city and state.
Recycling Facts & Figures
In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators. Today, this country recycles 32% of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.
While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically: 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of all major appliances are now recycled.
Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000 curbside programs had sprouted up across the nation. As of 2005, about 500 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Aluminum Can RecyclingThe aluminum can is the most valuable beverage container to recycle and it is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today. Recycling aluminum cans provides environmental, economic and community benefits to communities and organizations across the country.
Benefits of Aluminum Can RecyclingAluminum can recycling provides many environmental, economic and community benefits to individuals, communities, organizations, companies and industries.
Environmental Benefits
Recycling aluminum cans saves precious natural resources, energy, time and money — all for a good cause — helping out the earth, as well as the economy and local communities.
Aluminum cans are unique in that in 60 days a can is recycled, turned into a new can and back on store shelves.
Aluminum is a sustainable metal and can be recycled over and over again.
In 2003, 54 billion cans were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil — America’s entire gas consumption for one day.
Economic Benefits
The aluminum can is the most valuable container to recycle and is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today.
Each year, the aluminum industry pays out over $800 million dollars for empty aluminum cans — that’s a lot of money that can go to organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, the Boy or Girl Scouts of America or even a local school. Money earned from recycling cans helps people help themselves and their communities. Recycling helps build new homes, pays for a group trip, supports a project or buys a lunch!
Today it is cheaper, faster and more energy-efficient to recycle aluminum than ever before. The aluminum can is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. The can remains the most recyclable of all materials.
Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled.
Aluminum has a high market value and continues to provide an economic incentive to recycle. When aluminum cans are recycled curbside, they help pay for community services.
Community Benefits
Aluminum can recycling enables charitable organizations and groups to earn funds to further local projects. The money earned enhances programs, communities and improves the quality of people’s lives. From a local can drive to raise money for school improvements, to a Boy or Girl Scout troop “Cans Into Cash” competition to pay for camp, recycling is used all over the country to help others.
A perfect example of this is the Cans for Habitat program. Through a national partnership between the Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International, aluminum cans are recycled via a network of drop-off locations to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to build decent, affordable housing with low-income families. To think, just by recycling a can once destined for the landfill, you are keeping our local environment clean, providing a needed resource for the aluminum recycling process, and most importantly, helping provide local housing to those in need. It’s a win-win for the individual, community, business, industry and the environment.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Facts about Aluminum RecyclingDiscovered in the 1820s, aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth.
Over 50% of the aluminum cans produced are recycled.
A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That’s closed loop recycling at its finest!
Aluminum is a durable and sustainable metal: 2/3 of the aluminum ever produced is in use today.
Every minute of everyday, an average of 113,204 aluminum cans are recycled.
Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours.
Last year 54 billion cans were recycled saving energy equivalent to 15 million barrels of crude oil - America’s entire gas consumption for one day.
Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.
In 1972, 24,000 metric tons of aluminum used beverage containers (UBCs) were recycled. In 1998, the amount increased to over 879,000 metric tons.
In 1972, it took about 22 empty, aluminum cans to weigh one pound. Due to advanced technology to use less material and increase durability of aluminum cans, in 2002 it takes about 34 empty aluminum cans to weigh one pound.
The average employee consumes 2.5 beverages a day while at work.
The empty aluminum can is worth about 1 cent.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
Cans For HabitatCans for Habitat is a national partnership between The Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International that began in August of 1997. Money earned from recycled aluminum cans is used to build decent, affordable housing with families nationwide. A network of Habitat affiliates, local businesses, recycling centers and community organizations “make every can count” by recycling aluminum cans to help build homes.Below are some fun facts about the Cans for Habitat program:
There are currently more than 600 Cans for Habitat affiliates participating in the program.
To date, approximately 11.3 million pounds of aluminum cans have been recycled - an equivalent of $4 million dollars raised by and for Habitat affiliates as part of the Cans for Habitat program. That equates to 88 houses!
If every American recycled one can today, Habitat could build 56 homes tomorrow.
Americans recycled $800 million worth of cans in 2003 - just one percent of that figure could build 160 Habitat for Humanity homes! Every can really does count!
For more information on how you can participate in the Cans for Habitat program and make a difference in your community, please visit the links below. Join our network and help make every can count!
Cans for HabitatLearn more about Cans for Habitat and how you and your community can recycle cans to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity InternationalHabitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that seeks to eliminate sub-standard poverty, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
History of Aluminum CansThe development of the “can” originated in Napoleon’s time around the early 1800s; however, the use of aluminum in beverage containers did not debut until 1965. Learn more about the evolution of steel and aluminum cans over the last several decades.
How Are Aluminum Cans Made?
Cup Forming — The process starts with an aluminum coiled sheet which is fed through a press that punches out shallow cups.
Redrawing & Ironing — Cups are fed into an ironing press where successive rings redraw and iron the cup and reduce sidewall thickness to get a full length can. The bottom is domed to obtain strength required to withstand internal pressure.
Trimming — Cans are spun as a cutting tool trims the rough shell from the inside.
Cleaning — The cans are cleaned and pre-treated for decoration and inside coating.
Pre-clean with water rinse
Clean with commercial cleaner
Cold water rinse
Conditioning
Cold water rinse
Deionized water rinse
Drying
Printing & Varnishing — Cans are rolled against a rubber cylinder to print up to four colors simultaneously, then moved to another station where a clear protective overvarnish is applied.
Bottom Varnishing — Cans are conveyed past an applicator that applies protective varnish to the bottom.
Baking — Cans wind through a conveyor in an oven to dry the printing.
Inside Spraying — A specially selected coating is sprayed on the inside of the cans.
Baking — Cans are conveyed through a tunnel oven that bakes and cures the inside coating.
Necking and Flanging — Cans are necked-in at the top to reduce can diameter and flanged to accept the end.
Light Tester — Clean cans are cycled through a light tester that detects pin holes and rejects defective cans…
Palletizing — After final inspection cans are palletized for shipments to the customer . . .
End-Making
Stamping — Ends are stamped out of pre-coated aluminum coil. Compound is added to assure a perfect seal between can and end at the customer’s plant.
Rivet Making, Scoring and Tabbing — Ends are fed through a high precision press where rivet making, scoring, and tabbing occur in consecutive operations.
Shipping — Ends are bagged and placed on skids for shipment to the customer.
How Is An Aluminum Can Recycled?Beverages packaged in aluminum cans are purchased by millions of consumers around the world each day. They pop the top, hear that familiar hiss and down their favorite drink. You didn’t think you were the only one, did you?But, then what? Where does that can go, after you toss it into the nearest recycling bin?
Two out of every three cans produced in the United States begin the recycling process either at local recycling centers, community drop-off sites, charity collection sites, reverse vending machines or curbside pick-up spots.
Aluminum cans from these sources are then gathered at large, regional scrap processing companies. There, they condense the cans into highly dense, 30-pound briquettes or 1,200-pound bales and ship them off to aluminum companies for melting.
At the aluminum companies, the condensed cans are shredded, crushed and stripped of their inside and outside decorations via a burning process. Then, the potato chip-sized pieces of aluminum are loaded into melting furnaces, where the recycled metal is blended with new, virgin aluminum.
The molten aluminum is then poured into 25-foot long ingots that weigh over 30,000 pounds. The ingots are fed into rolling mills that reduce the thickness of the metal from 20-plus inches to sheet that is about 10/1,000 of an inch thick.
This metal is then coiled and shipped to can makers, who produce can bodies (the side of a can is the same thickness as a human hair!) and lids. They, in turn, deliver cans to beverage companies for filling.
The new cans (stocked with your favorite canned beverages, of course) are then ready to return to store shelves in as little as 60 days, only to go through the entire recycling process again!
Source: The Aluminum Association
Sponsored By
Battery RecyclingBatteries are essential to our portable lifestyle. Cars, phones, music, cameras and even our daily planners make our lives convenient and instant because of power supplied by batteries. As we continue to enhance our lives with portable amenities, battery disposal is becoming an environmental challenge. A number of resources are available to reduce battery waste.
Best Buy & Future Shop Help Reduce, Reuse, RecycleBest Buy and Future Shop stores in Canada are offering boxes for customers to recycle seven different types of electronics at no charge.
Fall Electronics Recycling Day set for Oct 27 in Decatur, GAOn Saturday October 27, Decatur will have its Fall Electronics Recycling event with this year's change that batteries, Styrofoam and mercury will also be accepted.
How to Recycle and Properly Dispose of BatteriesBatteries are a unique product comprised of heavy metals and other elements that make things “portable.” Some of these toxic heavy metals include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid, which can threaten our environment if not properly discarded.
Help the Environment - Batteries Find out how you can continue to help the environment by stretching the life out of your batteries and then disposing of them properly.
Helpful Links & ResourcesFind additional battery information and regulation, including the 1996 Battery Act, the current battery Enforcement Alert by the U.S. EPA, how batteries are made and other online resources.
Sponsored By
Curbside RecyclingCurbside recycling now serves half of the U.S. population providing the most convenient means for households to recycle a variety of materials. Learn more about your curbside recycling program and the different types of curbside programs across the nation.
About Curbside Recycling
Currently one in two households with access to curbside recycling, participate on a regular basis. The EPA estimates that while 75 percent of what Americans trash every week could be recycled, only 25 percent is. There is more to be done.
According to the EPA, 20 years ago only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 1998, 9,000 curbside programs and 12,000 recyclable drop-off centers had sprouted up across the nation. As of 1999, 480 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.
There are many ways for communities to recycle at the curb. They include:
Dual-stream recycling
Single-stream recycling
Pay-as-you-throw
Here is a little bit about each major option. Find out what is available in your community today.
1. Dual-Stream Recycling
This is probably the most popular form of curbside recycling in the U.S. Residents are asked to sort containers in one curbside bin and papers (newspaper, magazines, direct mail, etc.) in another. Usually the two bins are color-coded (i.e. blue for paper, green for containers, etc.). Both bins are set out on the curb on pick-up day.
Most communities that offer this service use special trucks that are divided in half to allow workers to sort at the truck by container and paper, just as the residents did.
2. Single-Stream Recycling
One growing, and often controversial development is the emergence of “single-stream” curbside recycling programs. Single-stream recycling allows all commodities to be commingled in a wheeled, lidded cart (65 or 94 gallon). Carts can be wheeled to the curb versus lifted, contents are not revealed unlike existing bins and residents do not have to separate any materials.
Haulers favor single-stream because they can reduce the number of trucks, the frequency of pick-ups and the incidence of injuries. On the other hand opponents have strong and legitimate concerns about the impact of single-stream on the quality of materials collected from this large and growing source.
Evidence does suggest, despite criticism about contamination and other issues, that single-stream sharply increases pounds per household as access to larger bins allows residents to recycle more items. Quantitative research conducted by ORC revealed that seven in 10 recyclers (using traditional 18-gallon bins) at least occasionally have more to recycle than their container holds.
Many cities have implemented, or are planning to launch or test single-stream programs, including Tucson, Orlando, Dallas, Chicago and Denver. While this list below is by no means exhaustive, here are some initial findings that shed light on the successes of single-stream:
Dallas, who has implemented a test with its MRF operator CDW among 1,400 household with 96-gallon carts. As of month 10 of the 12-month test (July 2005) Dallas has seen a participation increase of 46 percent and a pound increase of 120 percent (no data on specific commodities at this time.)
A nine-week test was conducted in Collier County, Florida, by Waste Management, Recycle America and Anheuser-Busch. The test revealed a weekly pick-up of 64-gallon carts yielded an increase in recycling when compared to a weekly pick up of 18- gallon bins. Specifically, an additional 1,640 pounds of aluminum cans and 45,700 pounds of newspaper were recycled, among other lifts as demonstrated in the accompanying chart. Interestingly, set-out rates actually declined in the three weeks of the 64-gallon test (53 percent as compared to 75 percent for the three week 18-gallon benchmark). This is most likely due to the new size of the bins (3.5 times larger than their 18-gallon bins) and the fact that as residents adapted to the new system they were not filling them quickly enough to set them out every week, instead opting to set them out only when full. This disparity between an increase in collection and decrease in set-out rates indicates a longer term study of this issue is necessary to fully understand the impact.
3. Pay-as-you-throw
“Up to 75 percent of trash in an average garbage can is recyclable, but typically only 25 percent gets recycled.”
— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash collection programs, when combined with curbside recycling programs, can be highly effective in increasing participation, particularly when curbside is offered free and effectively-communicated to residents. As part of PAYT, residents often pay a fee per bag of trash they set out on the curb. In turn, curbside is offered at no cost or at a reduced cost, to incentivize less trash and more recycling.
There are several benefits to PAYT programs.
Decreases waste: The EPA says municipalities often see 25-35 percent decreases in waste as well as significant increases in recycling. Lower waste costs can also help the community, encouraging more recycling and other infrastructure investments.
Increases recycling: When faced with paying for trash or recycling for “free,” residents will be more diligent about what they recycle and more watchful about what gets trashed. According to an article in The Next American City, one California municipality implemented PAYT and saw “recycling volumes almost triple, literally overnight.”
Households can control their waste management costs: Residents are responsible for what they trash and to save money, will be forced to recycle more. Consumers can choose to divert waste every day and there is an economic reason to do so that literally affects their bottom line.
More materials about who supports PAYT are available from the EPA. Over 6,000 communities across the country have successfully implemented PAYT.
Used Motor Oil & Filter Recycling
Did you know that each year over 180 million gallons of motor oil are disposed of illegally by people who change the oil in their trucks and cars?
Never put motor oil in the trash or pour it on the ground or into a storm drain. Motor oil can be 100% recycled! Many oil change centers and auto part stores will take your oil hassle free. Many waste haulers offer curbside collection of used motor oil as well.
How To Change and Recycle Your Oil Filter
Used oil filters are becoming more commonly accepted in local recycling programs. In many cases, the used oil collection facilities where you take your used motor oil may also accept used oil filters for recycling. If they do not, and you cannot find a location on Earth 911, consult with your local used oil collection facility to see if they can direct you to a location or business that provides this service.
If you don’t have access to a local recycling program for used oil filters, check with your local municipal recycling coordinator or solid waste department for recommended disposal options. Remember – regardless of how you recycle the used oil filter, you should drain the used oil out of the oil filter first.
Tips on Changing Your Oil Filter
1. After you have drained all the oil from the engine block, use a filter wrench to loosen and remove the old oil filter.
2. Place the flat or open end of the filter in the drain pan or on the used oil recycling container to allow as much of the used oil as possible to drain out of the filter. It is recommended that you leave the filter in this draining position for at least 12 hours. Many used oil collection centers or municipalities provide specialized used oil recycling containers that accommodate filters. Your local auto parts store may stock them as well.
3. To store the oil drained from the oil change and the filter, certain everyday household containers can be used including milk and water jugs or the original motor oil bottles. DO NOT use a container that previously held household chemicals, such as cleaners,solvents, fuels (gasoline), paint or bleach. Make sure the cap is securely fastened and taped to avoid spillage.
4. Install the new oil filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Take the used oil and oil filters to the nearest recycling center in your community.
How to Collect and Recycle Your Motor Oil
What is used motor oil?
According to the U.S. EPA, used motor oil is any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used for vehicle lubrication. As a result of normal use, motor oil becomes contaminated with various impurities such as dirt, water, chemicals or metals from your engine. Some governmental jurisdictions classify used motor oil as hazardous. It may contain additives (e.g. rust inhibitors), contaminants (e.g. heavy metals generated through engine wear, or externally introduced materials such as PCBs from old transformer oils), potentially carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic compounds (from the fuel combustion process), or glycol leaked from the cooling system. Because of these “impurities,” used motor oil should be handled with care and disposed of correctly to ensure the safety of the local community, environment and waterways.
Tips on Collecting Your Used Motor Oil
Once you are finished draining the oil from your car’s crankcase, pour the used motor oil into a clean, leak proof container with a screw-top lid or use a drip pan that serves as both a collection and holding container. Check with your local collection center to determine what types of containers they can accommodate. Some collection centers may want you to leave behind the container for disposal if they are not set up to empty it immediately on site.
Containers specifically designed to hold used motor oil can be purchased at your local automotive supply store.
Certain everyday household containers can also be used for used motor oil collection, including milk and water jugs or the original motor oil bottles. DO NOT use a container that previously held household chemicals, such as cleaners, solvents, fuels (gasoline), paint or bleach.
Make sure the chosen storage container has a secure lid so motor oil will not spill or leak.
Keep the collection containers clean.
Always clearly label the container “Used Motor Oil”.
Keep collected used motor oil out of reach of children and pets at all times.
Energy Conservation
The following information came from www.dosomething.org.
Every time you hop into a car or turn on your bedroom light you use energy. We use energy for transportation, in our residences, in commercial places and in the industrial sector.
But using too much energy leads to negative effects on the environment like air pollution. We can curb this negative impact by conserving energy and figuring out how to do everyday things using less energy or alternative energy sources.
Want to do something about it? Learn more, starting with these 14 shocking facts.
From the paper you take notes on to the food you eat at dinner, you are surrounded by things that require tons of energy and resources to produce. Read up on these facts about energy and resource use, and then do something!
Fact 1
If the price of gas is $3.00 per gallon, each 5 miles per hour you drive over 65 miles per hour you drive is like adding $.21 per gallon of gas.
Fact 2
More than 25% of energy consumption in homes goes to lighting.
Fact 3
A ton of recycled paper equals or saves 17 trees in paper production.
Fact 4
Production of recycled paper uses 80% less water, 65% less energy, and produces 95% less air pollution than producing paper from new trees.
Fact 5
If offices in the United States started using two-sided copying more (from 20%, the figure in 1991, to 60%), they could save the equivalent of about 15 million trees.
Fact 6
One fifth of all wood harvested in the world goes to paper production.
Fact 7
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
Fact 8
The United States consumes almost 9 million barrels of gasoline daily – 43 percent of total global daily gasoline consumption.
Fact 9
LEDs could cut national energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent in 20 years.
Fact 10
If left on constantly, an LED light could last for up to 50,000 hours, or 6 years, which is 50 times longer than a regular 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Fact 11
Only about 10 percent of the energy used by a bulb creates light. The rest of the bulb only creates heat. (Not good!)
Fact 12
If everyone in the world lived as Americans do, we would need 5.4 planet earths in order to sustain life.
Fact 13
1.5 BILLION gallons of water would be saved and 60,000 pounds of fertilizer would not have to be used and released into the water table if just 10,000 gave up eating beef once a week.
Fact 14
If every American made sure that their car tires were properly inflated, an estimated 4 million gallons of gas could be saved every day, and there would be 30% less used tires in landfills.
Fun Facts about ENERGY
A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light.
Across America, home refrigerators use the electricity of 25 large power plants every year.
A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. That's more than one person uses in two weeks.
An energy-smart clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime!
Every time you open the refrigerator door, up to 30 percent of the cold air can escape.
Every year, more than $13 billion worth of energy leaks from houses through small holes and cracks. That’s more than $150 per family!
A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular bulb – and it can last up to four years.
A crack as small as 1/16th of an inch around a window frame can let in as much cold air as leaving the window open three inches!
Some new refrigerators are so energy-smart they use less electricity than a light bulb!
To Do something, check out our page on ways to conserve energy and prevent pollution!
Sources:Fact 1 & 9 – U.S. Department of EnergyFact 2 – www.wikipedia.orgFact 3-7 – www.earth911.orgFact 8 – Alliance to Save EnergyFact 2, 10-11 – Greenlight www.greenlight.orgFact 12-14 – Ideal Bite www.idealbite.org
Fun Facts- www.alliantenergykids.com
Message boards
Discuss the causesExchange ideas with other Do Something members concerned about these issues. Discuss
Hot projects
Greenway Goes GreenGreen Cup ChallengeGreen GW House
Info
What is renewable energy?
"Green" Glossary -- Learn the very important terms related to energy conservation
Energy FAQ
Low impact Beach Trips
Commercial Conservation
Quiz on Energy Conservation
Take Action
Start an Ewaste & techno trash recycling campaign
27 ways YOU can conserve!
Make your home more energy efficient
Write to your Representative about energy conservation
Sustainable barbeques
What's the deal with Blackouts?
Look/Listen
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Movies
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Quiz
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Video Clips
Every time you hop into a car or turn on your bedroom light you use energy. We use energy for transportation, in our residences, in commercial places and in the industrial sector.
But using too much energy leads to negative effects on the environment like air pollution. We can curb this negative impact by conserving energy and figuring out how to do everyday things using less energy or alternative energy sources.
Want to do something about it? Learn more, starting with these 14 shocking facts.
From the paper you take notes on to the food you eat at dinner, you are surrounded by things that require tons of energy and resources to produce. Read up on these facts about energy and resource use, and then do something!
Fact 1
If the price of gas is $3.00 per gallon, each 5 miles per hour you drive over 65 miles per hour you drive is like adding $.21 per gallon of gas.
Fact 2
More than 25% of energy consumption in homes goes to lighting.
Fact 3
A ton of recycled paper equals or saves 17 trees in paper production.
Fact 4
Production of recycled paper uses 80% less water, 65% less energy, and produces 95% less air pollution than producing paper from new trees.
Fact 5
If offices in the United States started using two-sided copying more (from 20%, the figure in 1991, to 60%), they could save the equivalent of about 15 million trees.
Fact 6
One fifth of all wood harvested in the world goes to paper production.
Fact 7
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
Fact 8
The United States consumes almost 9 million barrels of gasoline daily – 43 percent of total global daily gasoline consumption.
Fact 9
LEDs could cut national energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent in 20 years.
Fact 10
If left on constantly, an LED light could last for up to 50,000 hours, or 6 years, which is 50 times longer than a regular 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Fact 11
Only about 10 percent of the energy used by a bulb creates light. The rest of the bulb only creates heat. (Not good!)
Fact 12
If everyone in the world lived as Americans do, we would need 5.4 planet earths in order to sustain life.
Fact 13
1.5 BILLION gallons of water would be saved and 60,000 pounds of fertilizer would not have to be used and released into the water table if just 10,000 gave up eating beef once a week.
Fact 14
If every American made sure that their car tires were properly inflated, an estimated 4 million gallons of gas could be saved every day, and there would be 30% less used tires in landfills.
Fun Facts about ENERGY
A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light.
Across America, home refrigerators use the electricity of 25 large power plants every year.
A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. That's more than one person uses in two weeks.
An energy-smart clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime!
Every time you open the refrigerator door, up to 30 percent of the cold air can escape.
Every year, more than $13 billion worth of energy leaks from houses through small holes and cracks. That’s more than $150 per family!
A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular bulb – and it can last up to four years.
A crack as small as 1/16th of an inch around a window frame can let in as much cold air as leaving the window open three inches!
Some new refrigerators are so energy-smart they use less electricity than a light bulb!
To Do something, check out our page on ways to conserve energy and prevent pollution!
Sources:Fact 1 & 9 – U.S. Department of EnergyFact 2 – www.wikipedia.orgFact 3-7 – www.earth911.orgFact 8 – Alliance to Save EnergyFact 2, 10-11 – Greenlight www.greenlight.orgFact 12-14 – Ideal Bite www.idealbite.org
Fun Facts- www.alliantenergykids.com
Message boards
Discuss the causesExchange ideas with other Do Something members concerned about these issues. Discuss
Hot projects
Greenway Goes GreenGreen Cup ChallengeGreen GW House
Info
What is renewable energy?
"Green" Glossary -- Learn the very important terms related to energy conservation
Energy FAQ
Low impact Beach Trips
Commercial Conservation
Quiz on Energy Conservation
Take Action
Start an Ewaste & techno trash recycling campaign
27 ways YOU can conserve!
Make your home more energy efficient
Write to your Representative about energy conservation
Sustainable barbeques
What's the deal with Blackouts?
Look/Listen
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Movies
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Quiz
Energy Conservation Look/Listen Video Clips
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Toxic Beauty Care Products
This information came from www.newstarget.com.
Beauty to die for: health hazards of cosmetics and skin care products revealedby Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. Your medicine cabinet is one of the most dangerous areas of your house, and not for the reasons you may think. Lurking just behind your bathroom mirror, where all of your favorite beauty products are housed, is a virtual toxic nightmare. The growing list of synthetic ingredients manufacturers add to their products is turning the most innocent-looking shampoos and moisturizers into cocktails of toxins that could cause cancer or reproductive damage over years of sustained use. Modern cosmetics contain a host of dangerous ingredients, which would be more at home in a test tube than in our bodies.
Like most people, you probably assume that the ingredients found in beauty products have been thoroughly tested for safety well before they land on your grocery store's shelves. After all, the government has regulations in place for the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. One would assume that the FDA would also be overseeing the cosmetic industry to ensure the health and safety of consumers. Unfortunately, the FDA has little power when it comes to regulating the ingredients found in your beauty products. In fact, the only people ensuring the safety of personal care products are the very people who govern the industry: The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Scientists paid by the CTFA make up the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel (CIR) and are charged with regulating the safety of the industry's products.
In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the findings of a study it conducted regarding the safety of beauty care products. Comparing approximately 10,000 ingredients found in 7,500 different products against lists of known and suspected chemical health hazards, the research revealed that the CIR was falling tragically short of ensuring consumer safety.
Of the 7,500 products tested by the EWG, a mere 28 had been evaluated for safety by the CIR. The EWG found that one in every 120 products analyzed contained ingredients certified by the government as known or probable carcinogens and that nearly one-third of the products contained ingredients classified as possible carcinogens. Astoundingly, 54 products even violated recommendations for safe use that the CIR had put in place, yet these products are still available for sale today.
Of the products tested, the worst offenders were those containing the cancer-causing ingredients coal tar, alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, and those containing the hormone-disrupting ingredient, phthalate.
Coal TarSeventy-one hair dye products evaluated were found to contain ingredients derived from coal tar (listed as FD&C or D&C on ingredients labels). Several studies have linked long-time hair dye use to bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
A research study conducted in 2001 by the USC School of Medicine found that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than doubled their risk of bladder cancer. The study estimates that "19 percent of bladder cancer in women in Los Angeles, California, may be attributed to permanent hair dye use."
A link between hair dye and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was established in 1992 when a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that 20 percent of all cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be linked to hair dye use.
While the FDA has not stepped in to prevent the use of coal tar in beauty products, it does advise consumers that reducing hair dye use will possibly reduce the risk of cancer.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) & Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA)Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are commonly used in products advertised to remove wrinkles, blemishes, blotches and acne scars. With consumer complaints of burning, swelling and pain associated with AHA and BHA flooding into the FDA, the regulatory body began conducting its own research about 15 years ago. The findings linked the use of AHA and BHA with a doubling of UV-induced skin damage and a potential increased risk of skin cancer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, skin cancer has reached "epidemic proportions," with 1 million new cases occurring each year and one person dying every hour from the disease. The agency estimates that, at the current rate, one in five people will develop skin cancer over their lifetime.
The FDA's study findings were presented to the CIR, but the panel approved the continued use of AHA and BHA "in spite of serious safety questions submitted by a consumer group and a major manufacturer," according to an FDA spokesperson.
Even though one out of every 17 products analyzed by the EWG study contained either AHA or BHA (with nearly 10 percent being moisturizers and 6 percent sunscreens), the most that the FDA could do was suggest that products containing the ingredients carry a warning to use sunscreen and to limit sun exposure while using the product. A puzzling solution, since some of the products containing the dangerous ingredient are designed specifically for use in the sun.
PhthalatesPhthalates are industrial plasticizers widely used in personal care products to moisturize and soften skin, impart flexibility to nail polish after it dries and enhance the fragrances used in most products. Studies indicate that phthalates cause a wide range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments, targeting every organ in the male reproductive system and causing problems ranging from low sperm count to serious genital deformities that can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
While the EWG only found four products with phthalate listed as an ingredient (all nail care products), there is no telling how many products actually contain it. The industry is not required to list fragrance ingredients or "trade secret" ingredients on products, and phthalates often fall into one of those two categories.
In September 2004, the European Union implemented a ban on all beauty products containing phthalates. California Assemblywoman Judy Chu has proposed a similar bill (AB 908) to be voted on later this year that would implement the same ban in the United States. Opponents of the bill, mainly the CTFA, argue that changing labeling processes would present a huge economic burden and could infringe on trade secrets. A similar bill failed just last year.
Four Steps of Action1. Go to http://www.ewg.org/ and check out the health risks of your favorite products. EWG has compiled a guide of 7,500 beauty care products and has ranked them according to their ingredients' potential to cause cancer, trigger allergic reactions, interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) system, impair reproduction or damage a developing fetus.
2. Visit the FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/ and familiarize yourself with the steps that you can take in order to file complaints or concerns about consumer products.
3. Visit http://www.safecosmetics.org/ to learn more about how you can become involved with bill AB 908 to ban phthalates in beauty products in the United States.
4. Check out my recommendations for all-natural and safe products for both you and your family at http://www.scmedicalcenter.com/. All products mentioned have been used safely and with wonderful results by my patients for years.
Dr. Connealy, M.D., M.P.H., began private practice in 1986. In 1992, she founded South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine where she serves as medical director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Dr. Connealy writes monthly columns for Coast and OC Health magazines, and is a bi-weekly guest on Frank Jordan's "Healthy" radio show. She routinely lectures and educates the public on health issues.
Beauty to die for: health hazards of cosmetics and skin care products revealedby Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. Your medicine cabinet is one of the most dangerous areas of your house, and not for the reasons you may think. Lurking just behind your bathroom mirror, where all of your favorite beauty products are housed, is a virtual toxic nightmare. The growing list of synthetic ingredients manufacturers add to their products is turning the most innocent-looking shampoos and moisturizers into cocktails of toxins that could cause cancer or reproductive damage over years of sustained use. Modern cosmetics contain a host of dangerous ingredients, which would be more at home in a test tube than in our bodies.
Like most people, you probably assume that the ingredients found in beauty products have been thoroughly tested for safety well before they land on your grocery store's shelves. After all, the government has regulations in place for the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. One would assume that the FDA would also be overseeing the cosmetic industry to ensure the health and safety of consumers. Unfortunately, the FDA has little power when it comes to regulating the ingredients found in your beauty products. In fact, the only people ensuring the safety of personal care products are the very people who govern the industry: The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Scientists paid by the CTFA make up the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel (CIR) and are charged with regulating the safety of the industry's products.
In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the findings of a study it conducted regarding the safety of beauty care products. Comparing approximately 10,000 ingredients found in 7,500 different products against lists of known and suspected chemical health hazards, the research revealed that the CIR was falling tragically short of ensuring consumer safety.
Of the 7,500 products tested by the EWG, a mere 28 had been evaluated for safety by the CIR. The EWG found that one in every 120 products analyzed contained ingredients certified by the government as known or probable carcinogens and that nearly one-third of the products contained ingredients classified as possible carcinogens. Astoundingly, 54 products even violated recommendations for safe use that the CIR had put in place, yet these products are still available for sale today.
Of the products tested, the worst offenders were those containing the cancer-causing ingredients coal tar, alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, and those containing the hormone-disrupting ingredient, phthalate.
Coal TarSeventy-one hair dye products evaluated were found to contain ingredients derived from coal tar (listed as FD&C or D&C on ingredients labels). Several studies have linked long-time hair dye use to bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
A research study conducted in 2001 by the USC School of Medicine found that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than doubled their risk of bladder cancer. The study estimates that "19 percent of bladder cancer in women in Los Angeles, California, may be attributed to permanent hair dye use."
A link between hair dye and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was established in 1992 when a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that 20 percent of all cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be linked to hair dye use.
While the FDA has not stepped in to prevent the use of coal tar in beauty products, it does advise consumers that reducing hair dye use will possibly reduce the risk of cancer.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) & Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA)Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are commonly used in products advertised to remove wrinkles, blemishes, blotches and acne scars. With consumer complaints of burning, swelling and pain associated with AHA and BHA flooding into the FDA, the regulatory body began conducting its own research about 15 years ago. The findings linked the use of AHA and BHA with a doubling of UV-induced skin damage and a potential increased risk of skin cancer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, skin cancer has reached "epidemic proportions," with 1 million new cases occurring each year and one person dying every hour from the disease. The agency estimates that, at the current rate, one in five people will develop skin cancer over their lifetime.
The FDA's study findings were presented to the CIR, but the panel approved the continued use of AHA and BHA "in spite of serious safety questions submitted by a consumer group and a major manufacturer," according to an FDA spokesperson.
Even though one out of every 17 products analyzed by the EWG study contained either AHA or BHA (with nearly 10 percent being moisturizers and 6 percent sunscreens), the most that the FDA could do was suggest that products containing the ingredients carry a warning to use sunscreen and to limit sun exposure while using the product. A puzzling solution, since some of the products containing the dangerous ingredient are designed specifically for use in the sun.
PhthalatesPhthalates are industrial plasticizers widely used in personal care products to moisturize and soften skin, impart flexibility to nail polish after it dries and enhance the fragrances used in most products. Studies indicate that phthalates cause a wide range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments, targeting every organ in the male reproductive system and causing problems ranging from low sperm count to serious genital deformities that can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
While the EWG only found four products with phthalate listed as an ingredient (all nail care products), there is no telling how many products actually contain it. The industry is not required to list fragrance ingredients or "trade secret" ingredients on products, and phthalates often fall into one of those two categories.
In September 2004, the European Union implemented a ban on all beauty products containing phthalates. California Assemblywoman Judy Chu has proposed a similar bill (AB 908) to be voted on later this year that would implement the same ban in the United States. Opponents of the bill, mainly the CTFA, argue that changing labeling processes would present a huge economic burden and could infringe on trade secrets. A similar bill failed just last year.
Four Steps of Action1. Go to http://www.ewg.org/ and check out the health risks of your favorite products. EWG has compiled a guide of 7,500 beauty care products and has ranked them according to their ingredients' potential to cause cancer, trigger allergic reactions, interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) system, impair reproduction or damage a developing fetus.
2. Visit the FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/ and familiarize yourself with the steps that you can take in order to file complaints or concerns about consumer products.
3. Visit http://www.safecosmetics.org/ to learn more about how you can become involved with bill AB 908 to ban phthalates in beauty products in the United States.
4. Check out my recommendations for all-natural and safe products for both you and your family at http://www.scmedicalcenter.com/. All products mentioned have been used safely and with wonderful results by my patients for years.
Dr. Connealy, M.D., M.P.H., began private practice in 1986. In 1992, she founded South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine where she serves as medical director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Dr. Connealy writes monthly columns for Coast and OC Health magazines, and is a bi-weekly guest on Frank Jordan's "Healthy" radio show. She routinely lectures and educates the public on health issues.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Mold
The following information came from www.cdc.gov.
There is always some mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold grows where there is moisture.
Mold and Your Health
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. These people should stay away from areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.
A link between other adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, memory loss, or lethargy, and molds, including the mold Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra), has not been proven. Further studies are needed to find out what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage and other adverse health effects.
top
Mold and Your Home
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.
Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
top
You Can Control Mold
Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
Keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%;
Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;
Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;
Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.
If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you can not rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.
If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html. [external link]
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
top
MOLD PREVENTION TIPS
Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.
Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after flooding.
Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.
To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency's publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html. [external link]
After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.
People at Greatest Risk from Mold
People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections.
Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure
People who are sensitive to mold may experience stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation. People allergic to mold may have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.
Recognizing Mold
You may recognize mold by:
· Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?)
· Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?)
Safely Preventing Mold Growth
Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building. (See the fact sheet for drying out your house, Reentering Your Flooded Home).
· When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people.
· To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.
· Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) .
· If you wish to disinfect, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document, A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your Home.
If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.
To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.
If you choose to use bleach to remove mold:
· Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes
· Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
· Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
· If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.
· Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
· More information on personal safety while cleaning up after a natural disaster is available at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp.
If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear an N95 mask.
There is always some mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold grows where there is moisture.
Mold and Your Health
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. These people should stay away from areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.
A link between other adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, memory loss, or lethargy, and molds, including the mold Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra), has not been proven. Further studies are needed to find out what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage and other adverse health effects.
top
Mold and Your Home
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.
Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
top
You Can Control Mold
Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
Keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%;
Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;
Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;
Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.
If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you can not rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.
If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html. [external link]
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
top
MOLD PREVENTION TIPS
Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.
Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after flooding.
Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.
To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency's publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html. [external link]
After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.
People at Greatest Risk from Mold
People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections.
Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure
People who are sensitive to mold may experience stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation. People allergic to mold may have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.
Recognizing Mold
You may recognize mold by:
· Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?)
· Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?)
Safely Preventing Mold Growth
Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building. (See the fact sheet for drying out your house, Reentering Your Flooded Home).
· When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people.
· To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.
· Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) .
· If you wish to disinfect, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document, A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your Home.
If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.
To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.
If you choose to use bleach to remove mold:
· Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes
· Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
· Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
· If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.
· Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
· More information on personal safety while cleaning up after a natural disaster is available at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp.
If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear an N95 mask.
Toxins in the Home
The following information came from www.leas.ca/hazards
Hazards of Commercial Household Cleaners
Activist urges caution when using cleansers
by Dan Hilborn - Burnaby NOW reporter
Danger lurks underneath your kitchen sink and in the laundry room, the storage closets and the garage, too.
While most people are aware that toxic chemicals can be found in many household cleaners and laundry soaps, Burnaby resident Mae Burrows wants the public to know that many of these common cleaners can also cause cancer.
But there are alternatives that can keep your house clean and still reduce your risk, says Burrows, executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and winner of the 2002 Eugene Rogers Award for her work protecting the environment.
"Canada is facing a cancer epidemic," she says. "But just as with tobacco, the best strategy for avoiding these cancers is to simply not allow yourself to be exposed to them. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don't know what to watch out for."
Burrows and Sean Griffin, the research coordinator with LEAS, have spent several years researching exactly which chemicals are used in which cleaners, and they've compiled lists of the most dangerous ones.
And because of the growing cancer rates, Burrows believes the need for this type of information is vital. For instance, one in every 2.4 Canadian men will contract some form of cancer during his lifetime, while one in 2.7 Canadian women will develop cancer.
Even more alarming, says Burrows, is the increase in cancer rates among children, according to recent statistics released by the Canadian Cancer Society.
"Cancer is now the second leading cause of death among children, after accidents," Burrows said. "There has been a 28 per cent increase in the incidence of all childhood cancers since the 1970s.
"While Workers' Compensation Board rules allow employees to refuse to handle toxic chemicals unless they are given the appropriate equipment, people often use the identical chemicals without any protection because they just don't know any better," Burrows said.
A large part of the problem lies in the fact that the manufacturers of cleaning products are not compelled to list the real name of the chemical on their packaging.
Some of the most alarming stories revolve around chemicals known as ethoxylated nonyl phenols, which have recently been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Also known as endocrine disrupters, these chemicals are called "gender benders" by environmentalists because they are believed to cause reproductive problems for some animals. For instance, a group of Columbia River otters, with large doses of ethoxylated nonylphenols in their bodies, can no longer reproduce because their penises are too small.
More than 56 per cent of all nonylphenols used in Canada are found in cleaning products, notably in toilet cleaners and certain liquid laundry soaps, Burrows says.
Another highly toxic product is 2-butoxyethanol, used in some popular spray cleaners, which has been linked to low sperm counts in men, and learning disorders in children.
Burrows wants the public to know that it is possible to reduce exposure to cancer-causing agents, but it does take some work.
The first step towards a safer cleaning regimen is to read the labels on your cleaning products – even on those old standby products that have been around for generations.
"We encourage people to ask at the store," said Burrows.
Often, manufacturers will publish a toll-free 1-800 phone number on their packages so customers can call to find out exactly what is in their products. Concerned consumers should ask for the product's material safety data sheet, a formal document that spells out all of the known risks for anything sold in Canada.
While those documents are the best source of information on chemical products sold in Canada, they are often difficult to decipher and may contain contradictory statements, Burrows said.
"Often, companies will come up with their own names for a chemical, so then you will also need the formal chemical abstract service number," Burrows says.
Thankfully, there are non-profit groups such as LEAS that do all the hard work for you.
Over the past two years, LEAS has worked with the Burnaby school district to help remove from local schools five different types of cleaners that contain cancer-causing compounds. One of the most significant finds was a carpet cleaning compound that contained a substance previously banned in many U.S. jurisdictions.
With the help of CUPE Local 379, Burnaby school district employees, LEAS and the school board found alternative cleaners that did not contain known carcinogens, and the end result was a net removal of 7,440 litres of the different toxic products.
"Groups like us are actually forcing the manufacturers to use other products," says Burrows. "This is something that is totally do-able, and we're documenting all the products we're eliminating."
products you buy
How do you know what’s in the products you buy?
There are hundreds of products to choose from in buying household cleaning supplies. How do you know what’s in them?
Actually, it’s a lot harder for Canadians than it is for our neighbours to the south. American regulations in most states provide for product labelling that outlines the main ingredients in the product.
It’s better for products used in the Canadian workplace. The federal government’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) legislation states that worksites must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on site for every product used.
Some environmentally-friendly products, such as those manufactured by Seventh Generation and Ecogent, do make it a practice to disclose their ingredients, setting a model for what should really be the the standard.
Consumers make a difference
There public really should be entitled to know what toxins they may be exposed to in household products. But until we get there, informed consumers can make a big difference.
The best place to start in learning about what you’re using is product category. There certainly are exceptions but most hand soaps and liquid dish detergents are fairly safe. So are most fabric softeners.
Other products can be quite variable. Laundry soaps can contain the carcinogen trisodium nitrilotriacetate, for example. Some powdered abrasive cleaners can contain silica, another carcinogen.
The products to watch particularly carefully for hazardous ingredients such as carcinogens and reproductive toxins include carpet stain removers, paint strippers, tile cleaners and graffiti removers.
Steps you can take
First, check the product label. Although there’s usually not much ingredient information there, some ingredients such as the carcinogen trichloroethylene and the reproductive toxins xylene and toluene may be listed as hazards. Stay away from those products.
Phone the 1-800 questions and comments number that’s printed on most products sold today. Some companies will supply a material safety data sheet on demand and the more that people phone up and ask for them, the more likely they are to offer them on-line – and possibly even agree to product labelling.
Finally, there are some on-line resources where you can get more information hazardous ingredients. One of the largest lists is provided by Wal-Mart covering the many products it sells. It’s not certain how often the store updates its MSDS list, which is based on U.S. standards, but it does provide a lead on product ingredients. Some other sites are listed below.
A green home is good enough to eat
Rob Grand, owner of Grassroots store on Danforth Ave., says that with just a few natural products everyone can make their own cleaning solutions.
I cleaned my house with salad dressing the other day.
The recipe for all-natural wood cleaner and polish called for nothing but olive oil and vinegar.
It felt bizarre – like wearing dental floss as jewellery. But it worked beautifully. The console in the front hall still gleams like a church pew.
I didn't want to eat it, despite my predilection for salad. If I did, that would be okay.
Which is the whole point of green cleaning.
"There are over one million poisonings a year in North America, and 60 per cent are children under six, most of whom have eaten household cleaners," says Rob Grand, the owner of the green retail store Grassroots.
Getting rid of all the chemical cleaners in my house was my next step in lightening my ecological footprint. True, it's not as big a step as, say, ditching my car. But it's easier. And it makes a difference – not just to my health but to the environment.
Cleaning products and services are the leading source of toxic air pollution in our homes, according to the Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, published by the U.S.-based non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists.
They're also causing water pollution. Hormone-disrupting chemicals from antibacterial soaps and cleaning agents – among other things – were recently found in San Francisco Bay during a year-long study by the Environmental Working Group, an American non-profit agency.
Rob Grand's recipes
Toilet cleaner: Sprinkle in borax and vinegar, let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub.
Cream cleanser: 1 2/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup pure soap, 2 tbsp. vinegar, 1/2 cup water.
Draino: 1/2 cup baking soda,
1/2 cup vinegar, fizz for 5 minutes, then boil kettle and pour down drain.
Oven cleaner: Spray water, sprinkle baking soda, spray water overtop, let it sit overnight. Wipe down in morning. Then clean with pure soap.
Dryer sheets: Before the cycle ends, throw a damp rag into the drum.
Windex: Spray with club soda.
Your cleaning lady refuses to use all-natural products? Hire a green cleaning service instead:
Enviromaid: 416-402-6177, http://www.enviromaid.ca/
Earth Concerns: 416-535-9397, http://www.earthconcerns.com/
Fair Trade Cleaning: 416-537-7979, http://www.fairtradeclean.com/
One of the chemicals, triclosan, has been shown to feminize fish.
My first step was to sit down on the floor beneath my sink, and actually read all the labels on the cleaning products I use regularly: Orange Glo Wood Polish and Conditioner; No Name Toilet Bowl Cleaner; Bissell Carpet Cleaner; Comet. ... What I found were a lot of corroded hand symbols, a few skull and crossbones and many instructions to phone the Poison Control Centre if the product was swallowed.
Then I went to the laundry room: Tide, Javex Bleach, and my beloved Spray N' Wash stain remover.
To my surprise, none had any ingredients listed. That's because Health Canada doesn't require it. It operates under the assumption that chemicals in cleaning products are at such low doses, they aren't harmful, says Mae Burrows, the executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society, a Vancouver group leading the "right-to-know" campaign to reverse that.
They list the known carcinogenic and toxic chemicals in some brand-name products on their website. Tilex Total Bathroom Multipurpose Cleaner, for instance, contains 2-Butoxyethanol – a reproductive toxin the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says causes birth defects in animals.
And the toxin is just one of eight chemicals they were looking for. There are thousands. The external relations manager for fabric and home care at Procter & Gamble, which makes Tide and Cheer, told The New York Times there are up to 400 raw ingredients in detergent. Many may be safe. We don't know, because in most cases, long-term studies on the health and environmental impacts of these chemicals have not been done.
"We don't know what's a safe dose of carcinogen. But we do know it's an epidemic. More than one in three Canadians get cancer," says Burrows. "With most products, you can find a cost comparative and equally-effective alternative. So why use it if you're unsure?'
But aren't the chemicals what make them clean well? While I was committed to the cause, I wasn't convinced of the outcome.
To ensure I didn't relapse, I scooped up all 20 bottles and dropped them off at the hazardous waste depot. Then I went to Grassroots, where Grand gave me a quick lesson on green cleaning.
His store is a paragon of environmental virtue. There is LED lighting and no plastic packaging. Cashiers bundle your items in reused plastic bags. And there are shelves of green cleaning products – all with ingredient lists that include things like corn starch and coco-betaine (from coconuts). They all biodegrade in water within 28 days. At trade shows, the inventors of one new brand drink their products, he said.
But, I didn't need any of them, Grand said, pulling out his own cleaning bucket. In it were the few basic cleaning essentials: baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, liquid soap, a whole lemon, a bottle of club soda and borax – a mineral which disinfects, deodorizes and inhibits mould growth. Add a dash of essential lemon or grapefruit oil, and I'd have the makings for everything from bathroom tile spray to toilet bowl cleaner.
I grabbed a copy of Annie Berthold-Bond's Clean and Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping. In total, it cost me $60. Then I went home and got cracking.
I was surprised at how easy it really was, once I got over the hurdle of stirring up cleaning products for each specific job like I was preparing courses for a dinner party.
Grand's patented cream cleanser worked really well in my kitchen sink and on the counter. The night after dumping a cup of borax in my toilet, the bowl scrubbed clean easily. And the e-cloths I picked up, which advertised cleaning windows with nothing but water, worked amazingly. I plan on giving them to everyone I know for Christmas.
But there were a few weak spots.
No matter how much I scrubbed with the bath tile spray I'd concocted, the lime scales on my shower doors remained. And the first two natural stain removers I made only managed to turn the brown blobs on my daughter's white dress to a rust-orange. I then applied some premade all-natural stain-remover. The stains are still there.
That could be a problem, as I can't convince my 1-year-old to stop spilling food on her clothes.
But it's one I'll have to live with.
"It's a bit like dandelions on your lawn," said Dr. Kapil Khatter, a family doctor and the pollution policy adviser for Toronto-based Environmental Defence. "If you don't want to use chemical pesticides, you are going to have a few."
"Reproduced with permission - Torstar Syndication Services"[MET Edition]Catherine Porter. Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.:Aug 11, 2007. p. A19Abstract (Summary)
Toxins in Household Products
Cleaning and home maintenance products are a multi-billion dollar industry in Canada and the huge selection of products available on the retail shelf often makes it difficult for consumers to know what is safe to buy. The good news is that most products contain generally benign ingredients, but there are definitely some to avoid.
Some ingredients may be carcinogens or reproductive toxins. Some may be endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect both humans and wildlife. Other ingredients, such as bleach and phosphates, may raise environmental concerns.
In the listings on our Toxins Table, we've identified eight ingredients in household cleaning and home maintenance products that are of particular concern because they are carcinogens, endocrine disrupters or known or suspected reproductive toxins. They are also the most commonly found in household products.
Check the brand listings on the left hand side of the table. If a product contains one of the eight ingredients, it will be marked with a "yes" in one of the table entries opposite the product name. If all the spaces are blank, then it's considered a safer product to use. There are are also alternative products from environmentally-conscious manufacturers that you may want to consider.
Obviously, the products on the table don't contain all products that are available - it's intended as a representative list of categories and a guide to common products that contain the listed toxins.
2-butoxyethanol
Also known as ethylene glycol butyl ether, this is one of many glycol ethers used as a solvent in carpet cleaners and specialty cleaners. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause blood disorders, as well as liver and kidney damage. According to the fact sheet issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, it may also cause reproductive damage on long term exposure.
Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (NPEs)
This is a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals still used in cleaning products, even though Environment Canada has declared them CEPA-toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Known as "gender-benders," nonyl phenols can induce female characteristics in male fish, for example. The threat posed to the environment by nonyl phenols prompted the European Union to ban them from all cleaning products manufactured or used in the EU.
Methylene chloride
For years, people have been using methylene chloride, or products containing methylene chloride, as a paint stripper. Methylene chloride is listed as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In 1987, regulators in the U.S. compelled manufacturers to put warning labels on products containing methylene chloride. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that since that time, there has been a 55 per cent reduction in the number of cancers that would have been caused by these products.
There are no warning label requirements in Canada for methylene chloride, which is sold in hardware and home improvement outlets, both as a pure product and as an ingredient in a wide range of paint strippers and similar products. Avoid using those products and look for alternatives, such as 3M Safest Stripper or Removall 400 Graffiti and Overspray Remover.
Naphthalene
Either naphthalene, or another chemical called paradichlorobenzene, is used in moth balls and moth crystals. Naphthalene is listed by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment as a substance "know to the state to cause cancer," while paradichlorobenzene is listed by IARC as a possible human carcinogen. Avoid all moth products that contain either of these two ingredients. A garment bag or a box with a tight fitting lid is more effective against moths than the odours from mothballs.
Silica
Made from finely ground quartz, silica is carcinogenic when it occurs as fine respirable dust. It's found in that form in some abrasive cleansers, which are often used on a regular basis around the home. For virtually all applications, abrasive cleansers can easily be replaced with a cream cleanser such as Ecover or Vim, or a similar product that does not contain silica.
Toluene
Toluene is a potent reproductive toxin, which is used as a solvent in numerous products, including paints. It is also sold as the pure product. Toluene is listed by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a reproductive toxin that may cause harm to the developing fetus. Pregnant women should certainly not use products containing toluene.
Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA)
Used as a builder in laundry detergents, NTA is listed as a possible human carcinogen (IARC 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It also has an adverse environmental impact because it can impede the elimination of metals in wastewater treatment plants. NTA's action can cause metals that have already settled out to be re-mobilized back into the liquid waste stream.
Xylene
Another extremely toxic ingredient that is often found in graffiti and scuff removers, spray paints and some adhesives, is xylene, a suspected reproductive toxin that has shown reproductive harm in laboratory experiments. It is also a neurotoxicant that can cause memory loss on repeated exposure.
Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite)
In June, 2002 a part-time caretaker in a Toronto school was rushed to hospital after complaining to a co-worker that she was unable to breathe. She later died in hospital. Investigators looking into the incident discovered that she had mixed a sanitizing product containing sodium hypochlorite with an acid toilet bowl cleaner. The two ingredients had reacted together to form deadly chlorine gas, which led to her death.
It's an extreme case but it's an example of the health hazards that can be associated with chlorine bleach, or sodium hypochlorite. When bleach is mixed with acids (typically found in toilet bowl cleaners), it reacts with them to form chlorine gas. When it is mixed with ammonia, it can create chloramine gas, another toxic substance.
In the environment, sodium hypochlorite is acutely toxic to fish. The chlorine in bleach can also bind with organic material in the marine environment to form organochlorines, toxic compounds that can persist in the environment. Chlorine use is a particular concern for those who live in areas such as Victoria, where there is not even primary treatment of sewage wastewater before it is discharged into the ocean.
There may be some circumstances where bleach use is necessary for disease control, but there is little need for it on a regular basis. Tests have shown that washing counters and other surfaces with soap and water removes most bacteria and there are a number of oxygen-based alternatives for laundry uses of bleach.
Phosphates
Phosphates were a high-profile public issue three decades ago when streams and lakes were becoming choked with vegetation in a chemical process known as eutrophication. The process was the result of widespread use of phosphates in laundry products which produced nutrients for algae and other aquatic plants as phosphate-rich wastewater entered the environment.
Manufacturers have since reduced or even eliminated phosphates from laundry products, but no action has ever been taken on dishwasher detergents. Most of the products available from major manufacturers contain 30-40 per cent phosphates. Some also contain high levels of chlorine-based sanitizing ingredients. Products from alternative manufacturers such as Ecover, Nature Clean, and Seventh Generation are a much better environmental choice.
Hazards of Commercial Household Cleaners
Activist urges caution when using cleansers
by Dan Hilborn - Burnaby NOW reporter
Danger lurks underneath your kitchen sink and in the laundry room, the storage closets and the garage, too.
While most people are aware that toxic chemicals can be found in many household cleaners and laundry soaps, Burnaby resident Mae Burrows wants the public to know that many of these common cleaners can also cause cancer.
But there are alternatives that can keep your house clean and still reduce your risk, says Burrows, executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and winner of the 2002 Eugene Rogers Award for her work protecting the environment.
"Canada is facing a cancer epidemic," she says. "But just as with tobacco, the best strategy for avoiding these cancers is to simply not allow yourself to be exposed to them. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don't know what to watch out for."
Burrows and Sean Griffin, the research coordinator with LEAS, have spent several years researching exactly which chemicals are used in which cleaners, and they've compiled lists of the most dangerous ones.
And because of the growing cancer rates, Burrows believes the need for this type of information is vital. For instance, one in every 2.4 Canadian men will contract some form of cancer during his lifetime, while one in 2.7 Canadian women will develop cancer.
Even more alarming, says Burrows, is the increase in cancer rates among children, according to recent statistics released by the Canadian Cancer Society.
"Cancer is now the second leading cause of death among children, after accidents," Burrows said. "There has been a 28 per cent increase in the incidence of all childhood cancers since the 1970s.
"While Workers' Compensation Board rules allow employees to refuse to handle toxic chemicals unless they are given the appropriate equipment, people often use the identical chemicals without any protection because they just don't know any better," Burrows said.
A large part of the problem lies in the fact that the manufacturers of cleaning products are not compelled to list the real name of the chemical on their packaging.
Some of the most alarming stories revolve around chemicals known as ethoxylated nonyl phenols, which have recently been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Also known as endocrine disrupters, these chemicals are called "gender benders" by environmentalists because they are believed to cause reproductive problems for some animals. For instance, a group of Columbia River otters, with large doses of ethoxylated nonylphenols in their bodies, can no longer reproduce because their penises are too small.
More than 56 per cent of all nonylphenols used in Canada are found in cleaning products, notably in toilet cleaners and certain liquid laundry soaps, Burrows says.
Another highly toxic product is 2-butoxyethanol, used in some popular spray cleaners, which has been linked to low sperm counts in men, and learning disorders in children.
Burrows wants the public to know that it is possible to reduce exposure to cancer-causing agents, but it does take some work.
The first step towards a safer cleaning regimen is to read the labels on your cleaning products – even on those old standby products that have been around for generations.
"We encourage people to ask at the store," said Burrows.
Often, manufacturers will publish a toll-free 1-800 phone number on their packages so customers can call to find out exactly what is in their products. Concerned consumers should ask for the product's material safety data sheet, a formal document that spells out all of the known risks for anything sold in Canada.
While those documents are the best source of information on chemical products sold in Canada, they are often difficult to decipher and may contain contradictory statements, Burrows said.
"Often, companies will come up with their own names for a chemical, so then you will also need the formal chemical abstract service number," Burrows says.
Thankfully, there are non-profit groups such as LEAS that do all the hard work for you.
Over the past two years, LEAS has worked with the Burnaby school district to help remove from local schools five different types of cleaners that contain cancer-causing compounds. One of the most significant finds was a carpet cleaning compound that contained a substance previously banned in many U.S. jurisdictions.
With the help of CUPE Local 379, Burnaby school district employees, LEAS and the school board found alternative cleaners that did not contain known carcinogens, and the end result was a net removal of 7,440 litres of the different toxic products.
"Groups like us are actually forcing the manufacturers to use other products," says Burrows. "This is something that is totally do-able, and we're documenting all the products we're eliminating."
products you buy
How do you know what’s in the products you buy?
There are hundreds of products to choose from in buying household cleaning supplies. How do you know what’s in them?
Actually, it’s a lot harder for Canadians than it is for our neighbours to the south. American regulations in most states provide for product labelling that outlines the main ingredients in the product.
It’s better for products used in the Canadian workplace. The federal government’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) legislation states that worksites must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on site for every product used.
Some environmentally-friendly products, such as those manufactured by Seventh Generation and Ecogent, do make it a practice to disclose their ingredients, setting a model for what should really be the the standard.
Consumers make a difference
There public really should be entitled to know what toxins they may be exposed to in household products. But until we get there, informed consumers can make a big difference.
The best place to start in learning about what you’re using is product category. There certainly are exceptions but most hand soaps and liquid dish detergents are fairly safe. So are most fabric softeners.
Other products can be quite variable. Laundry soaps can contain the carcinogen trisodium nitrilotriacetate, for example. Some powdered abrasive cleaners can contain silica, another carcinogen.
The products to watch particularly carefully for hazardous ingredients such as carcinogens and reproductive toxins include carpet stain removers, paint strippers, tile cleaners and graffiti removers.
Steps you can take
First, check the product label. Although there’s usually not much ingredient information there, some ingredients such as the carcinogen trichloroethylene and the reproductive toxins xylene and toluene may be listed as hazards. Stay away from those products.
Phone the 1-800 questions and comments number that’s printed on most products sold today. Some companies will supply a material safety data sheet on demand and the more that people phone up and ask for them, the more likely they are to offer them on-line – and possibly even agree to product labelling.
Finally, there are some on-line resources where you can get more information hazardous ingredients. One of the largest lists is provided by Wal-Mart covering the many products it sells. It’s not certain how often the store updates its MSDS list, which is based on U.S. standards, but it does provide a lead on product ingredients. Some other sites are listed below.
A green home is good enough to eat
Rob Grand, owner of Grassroots store on Danforth Ave., says that with just a few natural products everyone can make their own cleaning solutions.
I cleaned my house with salad dressing the other day.
The recipe for all-natural wood cleaner and polish called for nothing but olive oil and vinegar.
It felt bizarre – like wearing dental floss as jewellery. But it worked beautifully. The console in the front hall still gleams like a church pew.
I didn't want to eat it, despite my predilection for salad. If I did, that would be okay.
Which is the whole point of green cleaning.
"There are over one million poisonings a year in North America, and 60 per cent are children under six, most of whom have eaten household cleaners," says Rob Grand, the owner of the green retail store Grassroots.
Getting rid of all the chemical cleaners in my house was my next step in lightening my ecological footprint. True, it's not as big a step as, say, ditching my car. But it's easier. And it makes a difference – not just to my health but to the environment.
Cleaning products and services are the leading source of toxic air pollution in our homes, according to the Consumers Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, published by the U.S.-based non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists.
They're also causing water pollution. Hormone-disrupting chemicals from antibacterial soaps and cleaning agents – among other things – were recently found in San Francisco Bay during a year-long study by the Environmental Working Group, an American non-profit agency.
Rob Grand's recipes
Toilet cleaner: Sprinkle in borax and vinegar, let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub.
Cream cleanser: 1 2/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup pure soap, 2 tbsp. vinegar, 1/2 cup water.
Draino: 1/2 cup baking soda,
1/2 cup vinegar, fizz for 5 minutes, then boil kettle and pour down drain.
Oven cleaner: Spray water, sprinkle baking soda, spray water overtop, let it sit overnight. Wipe down in morning. Then clean with pure soap.
Dryer sheets: Before the cycle ends, throw a damp rag into the drum.
Windex: Spray with club soda.
Your cleaning lady refuses to use all-natural products? Hire a green cleaning service instead:
Enviromaid: 416-402-6177, http://www.enviromaid.ca/
Earth Concerns: 416-535-9397, http://www.earthconcerns.com/
Fair Trade Cleaning: 416-537-7979, http://www.fairtradeclean.com/
One of the chemicals, triclosan, has been shown to feminize fish.
My first step was to sit down on the floor beneath my sink, and actually read all the labels on the cleaning products I use regularly: Orange Glo Wood Polish and Conditioner; No Name Toilet Bowl Cleaner; Bissell Carpet Cleaner; Comet. ... What I found were a lot of corroded hand symbols, a few skull and crossbones and many instructions to phone the Poison Control Centre if the product was swallowed.
Then I went to the laundry room: Tide, Javex Bleach, and my beloved Spray N' Wash stain remover.
To my surprise, none had any ingredients listed. That's because Health Canada doesn't require it. It operates under the assumption that chemicals in cleaning products are at such low doses, they aren't harmful, says Mae Burrows, the executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society, a Vancouver group leading the "right-to-know" campaign to reverse that.
They list the known carcinogenic and toxic chemicals in some brand-name products on their website. Tilex Total Bathroom Multipurpose Cleaner, for instance, contains 2-Butoxyethanol – a reproductive toxin the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says causes birth defects in animals.
And the toxin is just one of eight chemicals they were looking for. There are thousands. The external relations manager for fabric and home care at Procter & Gamble, which makes Tide and Cheer, told The New York Times there are up to 400 raw ingredients in detergent. Many may be safe. We don't know, because in most cases, long-term studies on the health and environmental impacts of these chemicals have not been done.
"We don't know what's a safe dose of carcinogen. But we do know it's an epidemic. More than one in three Canadians get cancer," says Burrows. "With most products, you can find a cost comparative and equally-effective alternative. So why use it if you're unsure?'
But aren't the chemicals what make them clean well? While I was committed to the cause, I wasn't convinced of the outcome.
To ensure I didn't relapse, I scooped up all 20 bottles and dropped them off at the hazardous waste depot. Then I went to Grassroots, where Grand gave me a quick lesson on green cleaning.
His store is a paragon of environmental virtue. There is LED lighting and no plastic packaging. Cashiers bundle your items in reused plastic bags. And there are shelves of green cleaning products – all with ingredient lists that include things like corn starch and coco-betaine (from coconuts). They all biodegrade in water within 28 days. At trade shows, the inventors of one new brand drink their products, he said.
But, I didn't need any of them, Grand said, pulling out his own cleaning bucket. In it were the few basic cleaning essentials: baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, liquid soap, a whole lemon, a bottle of club soda and borax – a mineral which disinfects, deodorizes and inhibits mould growth. Add a dash of essential lemon or grapefruit oil, and I'd have the makings for everything from bathroom tile spray to toilet bowl cleaner.
I grabbed a copy of Annie Berthold-Bond's Clean and Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping. In total, it cost me $60. Then I went home and got cracking.
I was surprised at how easy it really was, once I got over the hurdle of stirring up cleaning products for each specific job like I was preparing courses for a dinner party.
Grand's patented cream cleanser worked really well in my kitchen sink and on the counter. The night after dumping a cup of borax in my toilet, the bowl scrubbed clean easily. And the e-cloths I picked up, which advertised cleaning windows with nothing but water, worked amazingly. I plan on giving them to everyone I know for Christmas.
But there were a few weak spots.
No matter how much I scrubbed with the bath tile spray I'd concocted, the lime scales on my shower doors remained. And the first two natural stain removers I made only managed to turn the brown blobs on my daughter's white dress to a rust-orange. I then applied some premade all-natural stain-remover. The stains are still there.
That could be a problem, as I can't convince my 1-year-old to stop spilling food on her clothes.
But it's one I'll have to live with.
"It's a bit like dandelions on your lawn," said Dr. Kapil Khatter, a family doctor and the pollution policy adviser for Toronto-based Environmental Defence. "If you don't want to use chemical pesticides, you are going to have a few."
"Reproduced with permission - Torstar Syndication Services"[MET Edition]Catherine Porter. Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.:Aug 11, 2007. p. A19Abstract (Summary)
Toxins in Household Products
Cleaning and home maintenance products are a multi-billion dollar industry in Canada and the huge selection of products available on the retail shelf often makes it difficult for consumers to know what is safe to buy. The good news is that most products contain generally benign ingredients, but there are definitely some to avoid.
Some ingredients may be carcinogens or reproductive toxins. Some may be endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect both humans and wildlife. Other ingredients, such as bleach and phosphates, may raise environmental concerns.
In the listings on our Toxins Table, we've identified eight ingredients in household cleaning and home maintenance products that are of particular concern because they are carcinogens, endocrine disrupters or known or suspected reproductive toxins. They are also the most commonly found in household products.
Check the brand listings on the left hand side of the table. If a product contains one of the eight ingredients, it will be marked with a "yes" in one of the table entries opposite the product name. If all the spaces are blank, then it's considered a safer product to use. There are are also alternative products from environmentally-conscious manufacturers that you may want to consider.
Obviously, the products on the table don't contain all products that are available - it's intended as a representative list of categories and a guide to common products that contain the listed toxins.
2-butoxyethanol
Also known as ethylene glycol butyl ether, this is one of many glycol ethers used as a solvent in carpet cleaners and specialty cleaners. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause blood disorders, as well as liver and kidney damage. According to the fact sheet issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, it may also cause reproductive damage on long term exposure.
Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (NPEs)
This is a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals still used in cleaning products, even though Environment Canada has declared them CEPA-toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Known as "gender-benders," nonyl phenols can induce female characteristics in male fish, for example. The threat posed to the environment by nonyl phenols prompted the European Union to ban them from all cleaning products manufactured or used in the EU.
Methylene chloride
For years, people have been using methylene chloride, or products containing methylene chloride, as a paint stripper. Methylene chloride is listed as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
In 1987, regulators in the U.S. compelled manufacturers to put warning labels on products containing methylene chloride. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that since that time, there has been a 55 per cent reduction in the number of cancers that would have been caused by these products.
There are no warning label requirements in Canada for methylene chloride, which is sold in hardware and home improvement outlets, both as a pure product and as an ingredient in a wide range of paint strippers and similar products. Avoid using those products and look for alternatives, such as 3M Safest Stripper or Removall 400 Graffiti and Overspray Remover.
Naphthalene
Either naphthalene, or another chemical called paradichlorobenzene, is used in moth balls and moth crystals. Naphthalene is listed by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment as a substance "know to the state to cause cancer," while paradichlorobenzene is listed by IARC as a possible human carcinogen. Avoid all moth products that contain either of these two ingredients. A garment bag or a box with a tight fitting lid is more effective against moths than the odours from mothballs.
Silica
Made from finely ground quartz, silica is carcinogenic when it occurs as fine respirable dust. It's found in that form in some abrasive cleansers, which are often used on a regular basis around the home. For virtually all applications, abrasive cleansers can easily be replaced with a cream cleanser such as Ecover or Vim, or a similar product that does not contain silica.
Toluene
Toluene is a potent reproductive toxin, which is used as a solvent in numerous products, including paints. It is also sold as the pure product. Toluene is listed by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a reproductive toxin that may cause harm to the developing fetus. Pregnant women should certainly not use products containing toluene.
Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA)
Used as a builder in laundry detergents, NTA is listed as a possible human carcinogen (IARC 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It also has an adverse environmental impact because it can impede the elimination of metals in wastewater treatment plants. NTA's action can cause metals that have already settled out to be re-mobilized back into the liquid waste stream.
Xylene
Another extremely toxic ingredient that is often found in graffiti and scuff removers, spray paints and some adhesives, is xylene, a suspected reproductive toxin that has shown reproductive harm in laboratory experiments. It is also a neurotoxicant that can cause memory loss on repeated exposure.
Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite)
In June, 2002 a part-time caretaker in a Toronto school was rushed to hospital after complaining to a co-worker that she was unable to breathe. She later died in hospital. Investigators looking into the incident discovered that she had mixed a sanitizing product containing sodium hypochlorite with an acid toilet bowl cleaner. The two ingredients had reacted together to form deadly chlorine gas, which led to her death.
It's an extreme case but it's an example of the health hazards that can be associated with chlorine bleach, or sodium hypochlorite. When bleach is mixed with acids (typically found in toilet bowl cleaners), it reacts with them to form chlorine gas. When it is mixed with ammonia, it can create chloramine gas, another toxic substance.
In the environment, sodium hypochlorite is acutely toxic to fish. The chlorine in bleach can also bind with organic material in the marine environment to form organochlorines, toxic compounds that can persist in the environment. Chlorine use is a particular concern for those who live in areas such as Victoria, where there is not even primary treatment of sewage wastewater before it is discharged into the ocean.
There may be some circumstances where bleach use is necessary for disease control, but there is little need for it on a regular basis. Tests have shown that washing counters and other surfaces with soap and water removes most bacteria and there are a number of oxygen-based alternatives for laundry uses of bleach.
Phosphates
Phosphates were a high-profile public issue three decades ago when streams and lakes were becoming choked with vegetation in a chemical process known as eutrophication. The process was the result of widespread use of phosphates in laundry products which produced nutrients for algae and other aquatic plants as phosphate-rich wastewater entered the environment.
Manufacturers have since reduced or even eliminated phosphates from laundry products, but no action has ever been taken on dishwasher detergents. Most of the products available from major manufacturers contain 30-40 per cent phosphates. Some also contain high levels of chlorine-based sanitizing ingredients. Products from alternative manufacturers such as Ecover, Nature Clean, and Seventh Generation are a much better environmental choice.
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