Being Green in 2013: Week 4

iRecycle iPhone App

Answers to all your recycling questions

          

Recycling in Ann Arbor is getting easier each year. With single-stream recycling introduced in 2010, recycling bins in the Diag as of 2011, and last week’s announcement of a change in plastics labeling that will help eliminate confusion among recyclers, recycling is easier than ever.

But what about those materials that you’re still not sure how or where to recycle? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one place to look, where all your recycling questions could be answered?

At last! The iRecycle app by Earth911, Inc. answers all your “Is this recyclable?” and “Where do I recycle this?” questions. This FREE app found at the iTunes Store and can be used with the latest versions of the iPhone and iPad and was created to tell you how, when, and where to recycle just about anything. The app is extremely user-friendly and also allows you to share your enthusiasm about recycling through social media sites. And did I mention it's FREE?

Through the iRecycle app, you’ll find that Washtenaw County Home ToxicsCenter, located in Ann Arbor, will take your used chemistry sets, oil-based paints and paint thinners, lighter fluid, full aerosol cans, and more. BabyEarth RENEW, located in Texas, has a mail-in program accepting strollers, car seats, swings, jumpers, high chairs, and diaper bags and uses old parts in new construction projects. And Terracycle’s mail-in program accepts a wide range of previously non-recyclable waste including candy wrappers, energy bar wrappers, drink pouches, and shoes.

The list goes on, but the point is: from yoga mats to surf boards, batteries to bricks, there’s a second life out there for most of our trash. Get the iRecycle app and find your waste a better home.

For more recycling tips, news, and ideas, like us on Facebook (Recycling at the University of Michigan) and follow us on Twitter(@UmichRecycling).

Being Green in 2013: Week 3

            

Being Green in 2013: Week 3

      Happy Valentine's Day from the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office!  Today we encourage you to show a little love to the planet - and if you're doing some Valentine's Day crafts, we have some fun tips to keep it green.  Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle on this very special day! 

Crayon Valentines

Have any old crayons laying around - half wrapped, unused, and probably going to be thrown away?  

What you'll need:

• Old crayons (remove the paper - dipping in warm water will help this process)
• Heart shaped baking tin
• Optional - card stock and tape to mount the finished hearts 

Instructions:

• Heat your oven to 250°.
• Fill each mold with crayon pieces and bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes (Tip: place a sheet pan under the crayons to catch any drips).
• Once they’ve cooled, remove the hearts from the molds and smooth any rough edges by rubbing them on a piece of scrap paper (Tip: put them in the refrigerator to speed the cooling process). As they cool, they separate a bit from the sides of the pan so they are easy to tap out of the mold.
• Optional: Use small pieces of foam tape to stick each heart to a circular, heart-shaped or square piece of cardstock and then add your message.

DIY Valentine Carrier

Finished with that box of tissues?  Wait! Don't get rid of it just yet!  If your kids came home with a ton of stray Valentine cards, here's a way to keep or display them for a little bit after Valentine's Day.  You can paint over the tissue box with regular craft paint, and then used scrap paper from your recycling to cut heart shapes to paste or tape onto the box.  Design it anyway you want and then you can put the cards inside! 

Valentine Card

Finished with your morning to-go coffee? Don't toss that sleeve away, you can use it later as a Valentine card with just a little decorating.  The sleeve can easily be opened up from its normally circular shape and be used as a card when you're done using it to protect your hands from your hot coffee. With some creative ideas, a few craft items (paint, markers, printed themed paper, and glue), you can have yourself a cute and eco-friendly Valentine to give to that special someone! 

We hope that while you're sharing some love on this Valentine's Day, you remember to do a little to love the planet too by cutting down and reusing what you can!  Have a special day!

(http://1800recycling.com/2011/02/recycling-craft-crayon-valentine/)

RecycleMania Kickoff at Bert's!

     This Wednesday, stop by Bert's Cafe on Central Campus at the Shapiro Undergraduate library for a RecycleMania Kickoff event!  We'll be handing out FREE travel mugs, and you'll be able to stop by Bert's for free coffee afterwards.  Check it out, learn a little more about U-M's participation in the RecycleMania competition, and get some free stuff from 10 am - 1 pm!  Our identical event at Mujo's last week was a great success, and the mugs went like wildfire, so make sure to come by earlier rather than later! 

Follow us on Twitter @UmichRecycling for some quick updates and other info!  

RecycleMania Kickoff at Mujo's!

 This Wednesday, stop by Mujo's Cafe on North Campus at the Duderstadt Center for a RecycleMania Kickoff event!  We'll be handing out FREE travel mugs, and you'll be able to stop by Mujo's for free coffee afterwards.  Make sure to check it out, learn a little more about U-M's participation in the RecycleMania competition, and get some free stuff from 10 am - 1 pm!

  And don't fret if you can't make it to North Campus on Wednesday - we'll be hosting an identical event on Central Campus at Bert's Cafe in Shapiro Undergraduate Library next week on February 13th.

Being Green in 2013, Week 2

Being Green in 2013: Week 2

        Now that January has swiftly flown by and is coming to a close, we'd like to ask, how are your resolutions for 2013 coming along?  We know you may be thinking, if this is only one month and I've already begun to fall back to old habits, how can I last the whole year? Well, fret not, we're here to help motivate you and keep you on track - especially when it comes to keeping your life green this year and creating good, lasting habits.

       We thought we'd give an interesting twist to a common New Year's resolution - combining the idea of working out/getting healthy and keeping your exercise routine easy and eco-friendly.  If you're just getting back into the workout routine and are buying equipment, try to find used items - like exercise bikes and weights.  And when you're treating yourself to some workout gear to look good and stay motivated, maybe take a look into companies that practice and promote sustainability, such as REI, Patagonia, and Nau.  Make sure to avoid plastic water bottles, and try something more reusable to cut down on extra unneccesary waste (if you have an aversion to tap water, try out a Brita filter to fill your reusable bottle!).

      With the weather at a whopping 50+ degrees at the end of January here in Ann Arbor, its hard for us not to say unplug from the indoors and take your workout outdoors - although we know it may not last that long.  Still, when the warmer months roll around, think about moving outdoors for walks, runs, hikes, or even grab your yoga mat and enjoy the environment around you.  We know you'll be keeping at this resolution, just like us, so in a few months make sure to recycle those old worn out running sneakers if you're buying a new pair.

Here's to a new year and new habits! Keep up the good work!

(photo cred: http://media.treehugger.com) 

Being Green in 2013, Week 1

Being Green in 2013: Week 1 

         Being "green" doesn't mean you have to drastically change up your entire lifestyle (although it is possible) or spend an extravagant amount of money on better appliances or green technologies.  For 2013, we at the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office propose that each week you make one small environmentally friendly change for the better in your daily habits.  These little shifts in habit will be low cost, and only require your attention to following them.  

        This week we're going to make sure we REDUCE our personal paper demand.  Think about how much paper comes through your mailbox - whether it be catalogs, Yellow Pages books, paychecks, and all sorts of bills.  With most companies offering opt-out services, it is pretty simple to request that you stop the service on free catalogs and Yellow Books.  If you still want to receive news, sign up for email newsletters and online catalogs.  And while moving towards online bills and direct deposit may be a bigger and more noticeable lifestyle shift, it is definitely worthwhile.  You can still keep track of your bills and book keep using an online based system.  Setting up a folder on your computer for different bills and your direct deposit will allow you to download PDF files and save them here, while staying organized.  Lastly, another easy way to reduce your paper use is to reuse paper you are done with (and would normally head to the recycling) for notes and scraps.  Forget about notepads and post it notes, just cut your used paper into quarters and use the blank side for reuse.  You'll maybe even save some money with this one! 

       All in all, we intend for our tips to be costless and painless for you!  Make a few changes and make a difference in 2013!

(Picture credit: www.businessbloghub.com)

Recycling Programs to Look Forward to in 2013

        Happy New Year from the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office at the University of Michigan!  We are excited about 2013 to make even greater strides in reducing waste on our campus and spreading new ideas about recycling.

       There is already exciting news on the horizon for February, as H&M has announced an exciting clothes exchange program.  Working with a global recycling company, I:Collect, H&M will be taking used garments from any brand in exchange for a voucher.  This program will be the first global initiative of its kind, and H&M looks to reduce the environmental impact of clothes throughout their life cycle.

To read the article in full about the pros and cons of such a sustainability initiave, follow the link below:
http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/12/sustainable-hms-new-global-clothes-collecting-initiative/