Special Event Recycling Drop-off will be available at the Durant Presbyterian Church parking lot on 16th Street between Elm and Locust Streets and also at the Choctaw Nation Social Services Building in Hugo.

The following items will be accepted at the drop off locations listed above:

1. Cell phones
2. Printer Cartridges
3. Aluminum Cans
4. Newspapers
5. Magazines and Catalogs
6. Cardboard
7. Plastics 1 and 2

Participants will receive the latest updates on local recycling markets, successful community programs and tips for businesses, schools and governments, while also having time to network with experts and peers. The seminar program agenda, registration forms and exhibitor information can be found at www.recycleok.org/events-activities.php

The seminar is hosted by the Oklahoma Recycling Association and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Environmental Management Authority, Sierra Club – Oklahoma Chapter, and OGE Energy Corp. Any questions may be directed to info@recycleok.org

New containers for the collection of aluminum and plastics will be delivered to all the Oklahoma State Capital Complex breakrooms as well as being placed near all vending machines.

I’m always thrilled when an organization gets not only serious about recycling, but organized!

N-Viro Here’s a link:

http://www.nviro.com

N-Viro has generated sales in excess of $40 million since it’s IPO. They take biosolids (sewage sludge) and use lime and other mineral rich combustion byproducts to convert that sludge into biominerals for agriculture.

The resulting product(s) N-Viro Soil is used around the world in farm applications and landscaping, topsoil ammending and in home gardens.

That’s a great percentage.

Those of us who are like Jeff Goldblum’s character David Levinson in Independence day, when we fish someone else’s coke can out of the trash just like, are making a difference.

Yes, The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute and the Institute of Scrap Recycling recently announced that in 2008, 54.2 percent of aluminum cans were recycled.

Aluminum can be reused over and over. An empty coke can can be recycled and back on the store shelves in two months. Recycling used cans into new ones uses 95 percent less energy to create as well.

Keep recycling America!

Austria!

They recycle about sixty percent of their daily waste.

The UK!

They recycle almost 18 % of their waste. Ireland, Italy and Portugal come real close to that too.

Much of the waste recycled in the UK is fueled by incentives. There’s a landfill tax, so businesses are urged to save both the earth and their budgets by recycling as much as possible.

China!

Many folks run the recycling industry in China. Citizens collect recyclables off the street. They earn typically about $150 a month, about half of what a typical cabbie makes. Beijing plans to increase it’s recycling effords from a wholesome ten percent to a whopping 80 percent by next year.

Brazil!

Half of all the trash generated in Brazil is recycled. There are upwards of half a million recycling collectors in their $3 billion industry.

Africa!

Africans can see the light in their glass recycling efforts. They’re annual glass recyling rate shines! They went from 148,000 tons of glass to 183,000 tons in just one year.

Egypt!

In Egypt, trash collectors purchase the right to collect trash. Trash is a profitable business in Egypt.

recycling scrap

In just one rather large village in India, home to over a million people, the majority of the people recycle. They take it a step further that most. While many folks are really craft at creating new items from used ones, the Indians excel at it.

These home crafters gather trash from all over the city. They then transform it into new products. It’s a way of life for these Indians and a substantial portion of their income.

Overall, India recycles about 40 percent of their electronic waste. Kudos to India!

National Geographic’s Novica features some prominent Indian artists. Their creations range from wall hangings, metal works, woven and fabric items and jewelry.

http://www.novica.com/region/india/index.cfm?rid=15

The Honolulu Derelict Net Recycling Program takes used fishing nets in for recycling. They are chopped, crushed, sorted and ultimately recycled into fuel for the HPower electricity plant.

Their net recycling program takes in nets turned in by the general public, fishermen and other volunteers. So far, HPower has recycled about 660 tons of old nets into their program.

That’s a good start in the right direction.

fishing nets

I’ve found that ‘if’ you have an item that should be recycled BUT you’re at a loss as to what to do with it, well, you can sell it at a garage sale!  That’s reusing! That’s recycling.

Case in point. I’ve a half full gallon container of Formica adhesive.  IF I were to formally recycle it, I’d have to wait until the city decided to have an all town recycle event.  When they do that, you can haul in paint, etc, for ‘proper’ recycling and people can sort thru the cans and take what they want.  BUT, WHEN is that day?

This can of adhesive is still viable, and I can’t just toss it. That wouldn’t be very environmentally friendly, but hey, I can stick a price tag of a quarter on it and it’ll be gone the first hour of the garage sale!

Today, she was headed off to a local school to do some tutoring.  She was carrying a stack of scratch printer paper for the school to use.

She’s started saving all her used printer paper that’s only printed on one side.  When she gets a stack, she takes it to the school.  I was there when she handed over the paper. The school was MOST appreciative.

This just goes to show that people do notice our green initiatives and we do inspire greenness in others!

You go green girl!