Why should we recycle E-waste?

First off, what is e-waste? E-waste is the more informal term for electronic products that are no longer useful to their original consumer. Computers, televisions, DVD players, speakers, and copiers are all common products which become e-waste. 

This photo was retrieved from the Office of Campus Sustainability website.

Why should I recycle e-waste locally? Electronic waste is NOT the same waste as everyday trash, which is why it should not be thrown in a landfill like regular trash.

1. E-waste recycling conserves natural resources.

2. E-waste contains toxic materials which can pollute our water systems.

3. Some e-waste materials are shipped out to developing countries, where unethical practices cause massively negative health effects on local populations.

1. E-waste recycling conserves natural resources.

Electronic waste contains many precious metals. Circuit boards, a common functional piece in computers, calculators, and televisions, contain metals with commercial value.The EPA estimates that “One metric ton of circuit boards contains 40 to 800 times the amount of gold and 30 to 40 times the amount of copper mined from one metric ton of ore in the US.” Should you throw your old IPad, Nook, or camera in a trash can, these precious metals will be stuck in a landfill, never to be useful to society again. E-waste recycling also indirectly conserves resources such as coal and oil, because e-waste recycling saves energy. We would save the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 24,000 US homes in a year.

2. E-waste contains toxic materials which can pollute our water systems.

While E-waste contains many commercially useful metals, it also contains many toxic materials. When you throw your electronic waste into the garbage can, it is likely to break during the process of reaching the landfill. The toxic materials inside such as lead, mercury and arsenic can leak and contaminate the landfill. Due to improper sealing of landfills, these toxic chemicals can seep into the ground as ‘garbage juice’ and contaminate the water supply, causing health problems such as cancer in local communities. Have you ever heard of biomagnification? Biomagnification is the act of a pollutant working its way up a food chain, existing in higher concentrations in top predators. For example, mercury from e-waste hypothetically seeps into the Huron River from the Sauk Hill Trails landfill in Wayne County. River plankton may absorb low levels of mercury. Fish then eat large amounts of plankton and mercury collects in the tissues of the fish. Members of the local community fish in the Huron River, eat the mercury-tainted fish, and potentially suffer from neurological impairment. Arsenic, another toxic component of e-waste can disrupt cell communication and cause cancer or diabetes. Additionally, lead exposure can impair cognitive and verbal activity, and eventually cause paralysis, coma and death.

3. Some e-waste materials are shipped out to developing countries, where unethical practices cause massively negative health effects on local populations.

In China and India, gangs hire locals to burn the heaps of computer monitors, DVD players, and televisions. The burns are meant to melt away the plastic and expose the valuable copper wires. Burning plastic releases some of the most toxic dioxins known on earth. Not only that, but proper workers safety regulations are not being put in place. Children and adults alike work in and live among these toxic air pollutants without any respiratory protection. Workers also suffer from burn marks on their hands and higher prices for water because drinkable water needs to be trucked into the town. Guiyu, a town in China with the largest e-waste site on earth, has the highest levels of cancer-causing dioxins in the world, and that pregnancies are six times more likely to end in miscarriage. 

This photo was retrieved from Greenpeace. See the webpage here.

That’s awful. What can I do about this? First, recycle your e-waste! Check to see if the manufacturer of your device will take the product back. Many manufacturers have take-back programs, including Apple, Dell and Toshiba. Sony even takes their products back in exchange for credit. These companies know the product best and therefore can most efficiently dismantle it into reusable parts. If the manufacturer will not accept their product back, drop off any electronics you are done with at any of the following locations:

• Best Buy- 3100 Lohr Rd.  
• Drop-Off Station - 2950 E. Ellsworth  
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore- 170 Aprill Drive 

Each spring the Office of Campus Sustainability partners with Ann Arbor schools to collect e-waste from citizens, small businesses, and non-profits in the local area. This year, a total of 220 tons of e-waste was collected during this three day event, from April 24-26. The equipment donated at this event is properly dismantled and recycled into raw materials at a licensed facility in North America.

This photo was retrieved from the University Record article on this year’s E-waste event. Read the article here.

The Bottom Line: E-waste isn’t really waste at all; it is a useful product that is no longer useful to you. If you don’t recycle your e-waste, precious metals like copper, silver, and gold will be stuck in a landfill, never to be used again, polluting our local water supply.

Works Cited

“What is E-waste?” What is E-Waste? CalRecycle, 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 12 May 2014.

“High-Tech Trash – Quiz: E-Waste- National Geographic Magazine.” High-Tech Trash – Quiz: E-Waste- National Geographic Magazine. n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.

“Frequent Questions I Ecycling.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 12 May 2014.

Toothman, Jessika. “How E-waste Works.” 04 June 2008. HowStuffWorks.com http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/e-waste.htm 12 May 2014.

“Following The Trail of Toxic E-Waste.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 9 Nov. 2008. Web. 12 May 2014.

Elger, Dana. “Faculty and Staff Help Recycle 220 Tons of Electronic Waste.” The University Record. The University Record, 5 May 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. 

Student Move-Out

It's hard to believe, but with less than a month left before classes end, it's time to start thinking about Student Move-Out! Students, you know the drill-- stuff all your unwanted belongings into plastic garbage bags and leave them in your dorm room or at the curb... Oh wait, that's not right. Here's a guide with everything you need to know about responsible student move-out!

For students in the dorms:
Look for the yellow donation boxes in your residence hall's lobby (or the laundry rooms of Northwood 1,2 & 3). Acceptable donations include:

 

• Clothes & shoes- no undergarments, please
• Food & toiletries- unopened/non-perishable
• Bedding- clean sheets, blankets, towels, pillows
• Household items (i.e. cooking utensils, small appliances, school supplies; clean & in working condition)

Remember to wash all bedding and clothing before placing into the donation boxes! Can't find your dorm's donation box? Ask at your residence hall community center! Last year students donated 10.61 tons of material to local nonprofits. Think we can collect 14 tons in 2014???

Got large or bulky items? Take them to the "Take It or Leave It" area outside your Residence Hall loading dock or in Northwood II lot 21 and Northwood V lot 51. Acceptable items include:

• Carpets & rugs- rolled up neatly and sealed with cord or tape
• Large electronics- printers, microwaves, computers, refrigerators
• Furniture- please place neatly in designated area
• Loft wood- please remove all nails, pile neatly in designated area

Don't forget to look through the items in the "Take It or Leave It" area and "Take" some discarded treasures for your new home. Click here for more information on moving out of your residence hall.

For students living off-campus:

As in years past, The City of Ann Arbor will be offering a free solid waste drop off site located at East University and Oakland. Drop offs will be accepted between 11am and 5pm on Tuesday April 29 through Saturday May 10. Materials accepted include:

Items for disposal

• Bagged trash
• Discarded furniture
• Curbside recycling

Items for donation

• Clothing
• Non-perishable food
• Toiletries
• Furniture
• Working electronic appliances

If you have furniture to donate but no way to transport it, call the Recycle Ann Arbor ReUse Center (734-222-7880), Salvation Army (313-965-7760), or PTO Thrift Shop (734-996-9195) as they may be able to pick it up at your residence.

To date, the University of Michigan Move Out Donation Program has collected over 200 tons of donations!

Water Recycling!

Rainwater Catchment

April showers bring more than just flowers for people with home rainwater catchment systems! Harvested rainwater can be used to water lawns and gardens, bringing you a beautiful yard and leaving some extra money in your pocket. Harvesting rainwater keeps your water bill low during gardening season, and can lower the energy used to transport water to your spigots and faucets. Moreover, according to the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum's (MBGNA), rainwater harvesting reduces flooding, pollution, and erosion of the Huron River. Here's how you can get started!

The Huron River Watershed Council has compiled a list of places for Ann Arbor residents to purchase rain barrels. A 55-gallon rain barrel from the Washtenaw County Conservation District runs about $75-- not a bad investment since you can save up to 40% of your household water bill each summer you water your garden and lawn with rainwater. But if the cost is too steep or you're just feeling handy, Mother Earth News provides excellent DIY step-by-step instructions for "How To Make A Rain Barrel".

Once you've acquired or constructed your rain barrel, the next step is installation. The MBGNA provides comprehensive 5-step instructions for "Installing your Rain Barrel" plus some helpful tips for maintenance. Need help getting started? Check out these links for answers to all your rainwater harvest questions:

• www.hrwc.org/take-action/capture-rain/buy-a-rain-barrel/
• washtenawcd.org/ps/rainbarrels.php
• www.motherearthnews.com/diy/how-to-make-a-rain-barrel-ze0z11zkon.aspx?PageId=1#axzz2y5753tYT

Greywater Reuse

Rainwater harvesting is a great project for homeowners, but there are plenty of ways for students and renters to recycle water as well. Greywater is water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines that can be collected and used as a source of water for your lawn and garden. Although greywater usage has been a topic of debate, the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) recently published a 5-year-long study and identified no major concerns with greywater usage in growing garden plants. The study even found that most landscape plants are healthier under long-term greywater irrigation compared to freshwater irrigation.

The easiest way to collect greywater is to place a bucket or tub in the bathroom sink, shower, or kitchen sink. Water collected this way can be used to water the garden, lawn, or houseplants, or you could try the toilet water bucket flush. Greywater Action, a group that works to educate and empower people to build sustainable water culture and infrastructure, has educational materials and instructions for more in-depth greywater recycling projects available on their website. Easier projects can be found on the Sustainable Baby Steps website.

Wolverines Recycle Water!

Approximately 65% of household water can be recycled as greywater, and Ann Arbor receives an average rainfall of 3.2 inches in the month of April alone. The potential for household water recycling is huge! The University of Michigan Water Center has awarded over $4.6 million in large grants to bolster freshwater research, restoration, and protection efforts throughout the Great Lakes region and beyond. It's time for the University's students, faculty, and staff to be as dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Michigan's freshwater resources as the University itself! Choose a project-- big or small-- and join the water recycling movement!

Happy St. Re-Patrick-Cycle-Mania Day!

It's that time of year again, Wolverines...the time when your two favorite events coincide... it's a green squared holiday...it's...

 St. Patrick's Day AND Recyclemania!!! 

Here are a few tips to make your St. Re-Patrick-Cycle-Mania Day even greener!

1. Share, swap, and get thrifty!
That all-green window display at American Apparel sure is tempting, but you'll save some green in your wallet, go green for the environment, and end up with a more original St. Paddy's Day outfit by sharing clothes with friends or checking out secondhand stores.

• Try organizing a pre-St. Paddy's Day clothing swap with friends. You know what they say... one friend's trash is another friend's treasure!
• Hit up Salvation Army, Value World, or the vintage stores on State Street. You might just get lucky!

2. Save the beads!!!

Got some old Mardi Gras beads lying around? These beads are not recyclable and often end up as litter or landfill, so make sure to hang onto them over the years. The green ones make fantastic St. Paddy's Day accessories!

Last year, Ann Arbor's Ecology Center tested Mardi Gras beads and found that they contained lead, bromine, arsenic, and other hazardous chemicals. Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center recommends that wearers of these beads avoid putting the beads in their mouths, wash their hands after handling, and make sure to reuse the beads rather than leaving them on roadways and sidewalks where chemicals could leach into the environment.

3. Green eats, green drinks

Having a St. Paddy's Day shindig? Planning to serve some green food or drink? It turns out artificial green food dye isn't so "green" after all. A study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest shows that artificial food coloring known as FD&C Green No. 3 and Fast Green CFC is derived from petroleum, contains coal tar, and has been associated with increased risk of certain cancers and hyperactivity in children. As an alternative, try serving foods that are naturally green, like kale, bell peppers, avocado, kiwi, or cucumbers. Smoothies, anyone?? If you've just got to have your green cupcakes and green beverage, try using a naturally-derived food dye instead. These can be found at health food stores or, if you're feeling ambitious, here are directions for DIY natural food dyes!

Another important thing to remember at your St. Paddy's Day party-- whether your cups are green or classic red, all plastic cups (i.e. Solo brand) can be recycled! Make sure to clean up your cups and recycle responsibly. Even better-- have guests bring their own reusable cups or mason jars so that everyone can show off their naturally-dyed green beverage!

Happy St. Re-Patrick-Cycle-Mania Day, everyone! 

Zero Delivery on Zero Waste Promise at the Sochi Olympics

Let's start off with some good news. According to the Economist/YouGov Poll posted February 19, the number of Americans willing to declare the Games "successful" has jumped from 36 to 49 percent since the opening ceremony. Congratulations, Sochi!

We know you're sick of hearing about all the failures of the Sochi Olympics. From the jokes spurred by the Olympic ring incident at the opening ceremony, to the compilations of photos displaying unwelcoming hotel conditions, the U.S. media has done little but blast the Russians with criticism. Many of the Sochi mishaps are forgivable, but the Russian government's failure to uphold their promise for Zero Waste Olympic Games is one #SochiProblem that is truly deplorable.

The promise for a Zero Waste Olympics-- the cleanest Olympics the world has ever seen-- was a centerpiece in Russia's bid for holding the Winter 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Sochi presented the International Olympic Committee with an ambitious sustainability plan. They promised the construction of new facilities for waste-to-building materials and waste-to-energy conversion, and claimed a desire to showcase the economic practicality of sustainability.

Russia also specified that they would refrain from dumping construction waste and rely on only reusable materials. Perhaps this is why construction waste disposal is not accounted for in the $51 billion budget for the Olympics. But in October of last year, construction waste from Sochi was found being illegally dumped just outside Sochi, in a landfill located within a water protection zone.

Aside from breaking their Zero Waste Promise, Russia's illicit waste disposal activities raise larger questions of health, safety, and sustainability in Sochi. Dumping of industrial waste is banned at this site because the site is located in close enough proximity to potentially contaminate the Mzymta River, which provides about half of Sochi's water supply. In response to complaints from villagers and activists in the surrounding community, Russia's Environmental Protection Agency issued a $3,000 fine to the multibillion dollar company Russian Railways. The EPA did not require the waste be removed from the site.

Other environmental concerns have addressed the impact of the the Olympic games on Sochi's habitat and biodiversity. According to Salon magazine, the construction of the Olympic village affected over 8,000 acres of Sochi National Park, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Environmental regulations were relaxed to accommodate the games, resulting in the degradation of sensitive ecosystems.

In response to criticism of Russia's dedication to sustainable practice at the Sochi Olympics, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reminds critics that Sochi will hold the first carbon neutral Games in Olympic history. Russia will be partnering with Dow Chemical, who will invest in low-carbon technologies to offset emissions, including travel, from the games. Putin also touts the government's agreement to invest in restoration of the endangered Persian leopard population. So the games may not end up being "zero waste" but they aren't "zero effort" either.

The International Olympic Committee has noted that the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics are the first to take environmental concerns into consideration. They are not, however, the first to recognize the intersection between sports and sustainability. Here at University of Michigan, our student group M-SAS (Michigan Student Athletes for Sustainability) has brought together student athletes with concern for the environment since 2012. Click here to learn some helpful sustainability tips from our very own athletes and here to let our athletes tell you more about the U-M hybrid buses.

This post would not be complete without a shout out to the University of Michigan athletes participating in this year's Winter Olympics in Sochi. For more information on U-M's representation in Sochi, visit: http://bit.ly/NcNPO0. 

GO USA! GO BLUE! GO RECYCLE!

Why Natural Burial Is the Right Way to Go... literally

When you die and you're buried, your body decomposes, and within a few years, you're back in the Earth. Just like composting! All-natural, right? Well, not exactly... 

In the U.S., the most common modern burial process starts with embalming, in which a formaldehyde-based chemical solution is used to preserve and disinfect the body. Next, the body is placed in a steel-lined wooden casket which is then placed inside a concrete vault. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a conventional funeral is $6,500 with many running over $10,000, a steep price to pay for a service nature provides all other animals for free. 

Conventional burial practices are also extremely costly to the environment. At burial sites across the U.S., 1.6 million tons of concrete, 827,060 tons of formaldehyde-based embalming fluid, 90,000 tons of steel, and 30 million tons of hardwood are buried each year! Formaldehyde is a carcinogen known to pose health risks in funeral homes, and has been banned for use in embalming in the E.U. for this reason. Manufacturing and transporting steel is an energy-intensive process, as is the manufacture of concrete which is usually made with coal-fired energy. In the past few years, a number of organizations have begun to address environmental concerns surrounding the burial industry, and a new sector has emerged: natural burial.

The Green Burial Council was founded in 2002, spearheading a movement for ecologically responsible deathcare. On their website, GBC outlines their vision:

• We believe end-of-life rituals are meant to let us honor the dead, heal the living and invite the divine.
• We believe burial is "green" only when it furthers legitimate environmental aims such as protecting worker health, reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources, and preserving habitat.
• We believe the field of funeral service needs to embrace a new ethic for a new era.
• We believe death can and should connect to life.

GBC engages in advocacy efforts to spread the word on green burial, provides training and technical assistance at educational seminars, and has created the world's first eco-certification program for cemeteries, funeral homes, and burial products. GBC offers three levels of certification for cemeteries-- Hybrid Burial Grounds, Natural Burial Grounds, and Conservation Burial Grounds. The state of Michigan has two "Natural" and one "Hybrid" cemetery, as well as 14 three-leaf-rated funeral homes!

In natural burial, no chemical preservatives or disinfectants are used. The body is not embalmed (or if it is, only approved, nontoxic chemicals are used) and is shrouded in cloth or buried in a natural casket made from biodegradable materials such as cardboard, wicker, or pine. Concrete burial vaults are not used, and some cemeteries have even started using GPS coordinates or trees and shrubs to mark graves, rather than headstones.

Other alternatives to conventional burial exist as well. Cremation is a popular option, but not necessarily a "greener" one. Cremated bodies are still embalmed and the burning process releases the carcinogenic embalming chemicals into the air. A single cremation requires temperatures of between 1,400 and 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and emits about 573 pounds of carbon dioxide, as well as other fossil fuels including hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and dioxin. 

Some crematoriums have begun to reduce their ecological footprint by participating in carbon-offset programs. Other green minds have begun to think up eco-friendly uses for cremated ashes. In 2011, an industrial design student from France introduced Poetree, a funeral urn-gravestone-tree planter combo that allows new life to sprout from the ashes of your loved one. Another innovative business, Great Burial Reef, allows cremated remains to be incorporated into natural concrete urns which are placed on the ocean floor to become part of an artificial reef, attracting and fostering marine plant and animal life in a federally-protected marine sanctuary.

A lesser-known alternative to conventional burial is a process called "promession." In this process, a body is frozen to -196 degrees Celcius in liquid nitrogen and then placed on a vibrating mat allowing it to disintegrate into powder. After any metal parts are removed by magnet, the remains are packaged and placed in a shallow grave to be reincorporated into the ecosystem. Susanne Wiigh-Masak, the Swedish marine biologist who developed the process, envisions "prematoria" to replace crematoria as an eco-friendly alternative to body disposal.

Innovative minds around the world are churning out new ideas and alternatives to conventional burial and cremation practices that better maintain the intimate connection between life and death. Many of these ideas are quite new and have yet to catch on in the mainstream, but perhaps it won't be long before the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" will be followed by, "What do you want to be when you die?"

Being Green in 2013: Holiday Edition

DIY Recycled Holiday Decorations

Cardboard Tube Snowflake

Materials:

Cardboard tube

Scissors

Tape, Elmer’s glue, or hot glue gun

White acrylic paint

Paintbrush

Glitter

String




Directions:

1) Flatten cardboard tube

2) Cut into pieces about ¼ inch wide

3) Arrange 5 or 6 petal-shaped cardboard pieces with points touching in the center, forming a flower or star shape

4) Add additional cardboard pieces for a more complicated snowflake

5) Tape or glue cardboard pieces together where they touch. Make sure to keep it symmetrical like a snowflake!

6) Paint with white acrylic paint and sprinkle glitter while paint is still wet. Let dry.

7) Tie a string around one of the cardboard loops and hang as decoration around the house!

Alternative snowflake design: 

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Cardboard Tube Wreath

Materials:

Cardboard tube (1 paper towel roll or 3 toilet paper rolls)

Scissors

Elmer’s glue or hot glue gun

Green acrylic paint

Paintbrush

Glitter

Directions:

1)  Flatten cardboard tubes

2) Cut into pieces about ¼ inch wide for a total of 38 pieces

3) Glue the point of one petal-shaped cardboard piece ½ or 1/3 of the way up the side of another. Repeat so that all petals are paired. There should be 19 pairs.

4) Arrange in a circle—you may have to add or subtract pieces to form a full circle, depending on the size of your cardboard tube(s)

5)  Paint each pair of cardboard pieces with green acrylic paint (this will be easier than painting the final product!). Let dry.

6) Arrange back into the circular shape. Glue pieces together wherever they touch

Optional: Reapply clear-drying glue around the edges and generously sprinkle glitter
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Recycled Gift Wrap

Get creative with you gift wrap this year-- it's free, fun, and can still be festive! Check out these examples for inspiration:

 

Newspaper + Magazine bow

Paper grocery bag

Bandana or extra pieces of fabric

Old road maps

Lightly-used foil

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Happy Holidays from the U-M Waste Reduction and Recycling Office!

Tracy, Rufus, Eva and Alison