Being Green in 2013: Thanksgiving Edition

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

You might still be trying to get all the cooking done for Thursday, but here at U-M Recycling we're already thinking about leftovers! After all, the next best thing to Thanksgiving dinner is the days of Thanksgiving leftovers that follow. The best way to show how thankful you are for all the food on your Thanksgiving table is to make sure none of it goes to waste! So here are some great recipes that will let you savor every last bite of Thanksgiving:

Next-Day Turkey Soup
8 cups chicken broth
1 turkey carcass, all meat removed
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
2 onions
2 bay leaves
3 cups dark turkey meat
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups leftover cooked Thanksgiving vegetables (brussel spouts, sweet potatoes, green beans, etc)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

For full directions: http://bit.ly/8B2v72

Stuffing-Stuffed Mushrooms
1 cup leftover stuffing
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 minced garlic clove
24 button mushoom caps

Mix leftover stuffing with parmesan, olive oil, parsley, and garlic. Stuff into mushroom caps. Top with parmesan and olive oil. Bake 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees.

http://bit.ly/Ifh8wE

Cranberry Tartlets
12 (2 3/4-inch) squares of dough
6 tablespoons cranberry sauce
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Sanding sugar

Arrange squares of dough in a mini-muffin pan. Top each square with 1 1/2 teaspoons cranberry sauce. Fold in edges. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Beat together egg yolk and cream. Brush tartlets with egg wash. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake at 400 degrees 30-35 minutes (until golden).

http://martha.ms/1cIGCMn

For many more Thanksgiving leftovers recipes, go to:
http://bit.ly/4IiCA
http://bit.ly/u9IQkv
http://bit.ly/hUSiIZ

Happy Turkey Day! We're thankful for our readers of the MRecycle blog!

Being Green in 2013: Week 16

Reduce, Reuse,... Reprocess
How the health care industry is becoming less disposable and more sustainable

According to environmentalists, our "culture of disposability" will not be environmentally and economically feasible for long, and we will soon transition away from single-use items. If necessity arises, humans could reasonably transition from Kleenex back to handkerchiefs and give up Solo cups and plasticware. But what those products for which the benefits of disposability extend beyond convenience? In the medical arena, disposable items such as syringes, gloves, masks and bandages provide the hygiene, sterility, and safety that define our modern medical system. So what can hospitals do to be less disposable and more sustainable?

Recycling and reprocessing of surgical instruments is a growing area in engineering and product development. Reprocessing generally entails cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing reusable devices. Medical device recycling has been ranked 6th out of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Industries 2012-2017. According to an article from Clemson University:

[T]here's a new push for controlling the amount and type of waste hospitals generate, as it costs a lot of money to control biohazardous waste. Not only are hospitals interested in controlling this cost, but companies are also interested in a more sustainable model. As a result, some instruments are now being reprocessed so that they can be safely reused for different surgeries. Additionally, insurance companies are no longer funding certain medical devices for individual patients, so work toward making such devices reusable is also being done.

Cost-effectiveness is a key incentive for the recycling of medical devices. Stryker Sustainable Solutions Inc., a leader in medical device reprocessing and remanufacturing, asserts that even if only 1 to 2 percent of all single-use devices were reprocessed, the healthcare industry could save up to $2 billion. Universities have been showing increasing interest in the reprocessing sector and in 2012, Clemson University established the first Medical Device Recycling and Reprocessing Certificate Program for engineers entering the medical device industry. Beyond reprocessing, some companies are creating alternatives to conventional wasteful medical devices. A Netherlands-based technology group has recently come out with the Bioneedle, a waste-free alternative to syringes for vaccine delivery.


The healthcare sector is taking other measures to reduce its environmental impact as well. According to an article on Grist.org, hospitals across the country are finally working to cure their "environmental ills". Spectrum Health's Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids, MI is working to become mercury-free. The Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY has established a comprehensive waste-reduction program and has built a distillery to reclaim its chemical waste. And the Gunderson Health System in LaCrosse, WI has invested $30 million in becoming energy self-sufficient by 2014. 

A non-profit organization called Health Care Without Harm partners with hospitals to "implement ecologically sound and healthy alternatives to health care practices that pollute the environment and contribute to disease." The organization seeks to transform the health care industry worldwide. Their goals include: to create markets and policies for safer products; eliminate incineration of medical waste; transform the design and construction of health care facilities; encourage sustainably-sourced food production at health care facilities; promote human rights and environmental justice; and address climate change by improving energy practices.

The University of Michigan Health System leads the health care industry in environmental stewardship. In September 2013, U-M Hospitals and Health Centers (UMHHC) was recognized by "Becker's Hospital Review" as one of the 50 greenest hospitals in America. UMHHC has also received Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Leadership Circle Award-- the organization's most prestigious award-- five years in a row (2007-2011). UMHHC has an Environmental Stewardship Committee with subcommittees focusing on building design, energy conservation, waste management and recycling, environmentally preferred purchasing, cleaning and chemicals, and food programs.


U-M Hospitals and Health Centers provides all new buildings, additions and construction projects with a budget of $10 million or more to meet or exceed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification level. Building design focuses on energy saving, water efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions, improved indoor air quality, and stewardship of resources. The new LEED certified C.S. Mott Children's and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital have features including the green roof, which reduces heating and cooling costs and water runoff issues, and occupancy sensors to save energy when rooms are not in use. For more information on sustainable building design at UMHHC visit: http://sustainability.umich.edu/envsteward/design.

Since 2005, UMHHC buildings have increased their energy efficiency by over 24%. Energy-saving projects in 2012 included advanced controls to increase efficiency of heating and cooling and reduce heating and cooling of unoccupied areas, occupancy censors and daylight censors, water-saving fixture retrofits in restrooms, airflow balancing, and GreenIT programs to manage computer energy use during inactive periods. Check out this Youtube video onU-M Health System Energy Conservation to learn more.

UMHHC recycled over 25% of its waste in 2010 and decreased its total waste by 106.65 tons from the previous year. The UMHHC participates in a Beverage Container Recycling Program, Battery Recycling Program, Cell Phone Recycling Program and the Recycle Write! program. With health care facilities across the country adopting a new focus on environmental sustainability, and trend-setters like the U-M Hospitals and Health Care Centers to lead the way, we can trust that our health care system has begun to tackle the issue of disposability.

NoThrowber Challenge

Want a chance to reduce your environmental impact and win cool prizes? 

Take the NoThrowber Challenge! 

This October 2013, the U-M Waste Reduction & Recycling Office is hosting the NoThrowber Waste Reduction Challenge to encourage U-M students, faculty, and staff to be mindful of what they throw away. Each day we will post a new challenge to our Facebook page. Participants may respond via “Like” or comment on the daily post. Some challenges will include a free giveaway and the participant who completes the most challenges will receive a Grand Prize. The NoThrowber Challenge is open to all U-M students, faculty, and staff.

Grand Prize: U-M Recycling canvas tote bag filled with goodies that will keep you waste-reducing all the time

Giveaway and Grand Prize winners will be contacted via Facebook to arrange pick-ups.

Please only post relevant comments and pictures. The U-M Waste Reduction & Recycling Office reserves the write to delete any off-topic or inappropriate content.

https://www.facebook.com/UMRecycling

Being Green in 2013: Week 15

The Game Plan

Recycling at the Big House and beyond

According to MGOBLUE.com:

"Our goal is for everyone involved in Michigan Athletics to be an active recycler, including our fans, coaches, student-athletes and staff. Through signage, more containers and education, we are confident we can significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills."

Football season is in full swing and U-M Recycling is working hard to make sure everyone recycles at the Big House. At the August 31^st game against Central Michigan University, fans recycled more than 5 tons of material and over 6.5 tons of recyclables were collected at the September 7th game against Notre Dame! A total of 25% of total waste was recycled at our first home game of the season and 21% at the second. Michigan Athletics has set the goal of at least a 50% recycling rate at all its locations, so Michigan football fans better step up their recycling game!

 

This year, Michigan Stadium is kicking off its first composting program. Back-of-house concessions will start composting food waste, and plans are in the works to improve the overall recycling and waste diversion program at Michigan Stadium. 

Last year, students at the Erb Institute published a feasibility study of Zero-Waste at the Big House. Click here to view a copy of the report.

What are other schools doing?

This year, 12 schools including Central Michigan University and Ohio State University are participating in the 2013 Game Day Recycling Challenge. The Game Day Challenge is a competition held by a partnership between the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), RecycleMania, and Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Colleges and universities track and report waste reduction and disposal data from football games and are then ranked based on this data. Last year, Earlham College ranked 1st in the category of Waste Reduction with 0.029 lbs/person of waste at their football stadium. Franklin College ranked 1st in the per capita Recycling category with 1.000 lbs/person of recyclables. Ohio State came in 1st in the Waste Diversion category, with a 98.2% diversion rate...woah. 

The University of Michigan does not participate in the Game Day Challenge due to Michigan's 10-cent deposit on many bottles and cans.  This deposit brings can collectors to Michigan Stadium each game, preventing the University from gathering data that can be accurately compared with other schools.

The Green Sports Alliance is another organization involved in enhancing sustainability and encouraging waste reduction for collegiate and professional sports organizations.The Alliance holds workshops, industry roundtables, keynotes, panels, and tours, and promotes networking and innovative solutions to help green the sports industry. Over 40 teams and nearly 90 venues now participate in the Green Sports Alliance.

What's next for recycling at Michigan Stadium? The Erb Institute study concludes that with careful planning and management, the Big House can be transformed into a zero-waste facility. Are our Leaders & Best up for the challenge?

Being Green in 2013: Week 14

Rufus is watching.

The U-M Waste Reduction & Recycling Office wants you to know that Rufus is watching… watching to see whether you are recycling, that is! The WRRO’s new “Rufus is Watching” campaign is starting to gain attention on campus, with students asking questions like, “Uhh…who’s Rufus? That’s actually kind of creepy…” on the diag. Rufus, a big blue triangle with sunglasses and a baseball cap, has been U-M recycling’s mascot since 2007, and it’s time every U-M student knows who he is! Known to don a smile and give out high-fives, this year Rufus really means business. Our latest campaign is intended to draw attention and spread the word about recycling on campus. The “Rufus is watching” posters send a message to students to set a good example by choosing to recycling because someone is always watching. Check out our poster and banner on the diag! And don't forget... Rufus is watching.

Being Green in 2013: Week 13

Recycled School Supplies

Start out the semester a green wolverine!

So you stepped on the M and now you're done for... you're going to fail your next Blue Book exam! Well what if we told you you never have to take a Blue Book exam again? Head on over to Ulrich's and buy yourself a Green Book instead! U-M students can also get free Green Books from the Alumni Association. Made with 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper content, Green Books are one example of school supplies made from recycled materials. Maybe, just maybe, the U-M Dept. of Myth Enforcement (or whoever deals with that stuff...) will cut you some slack and pass you for using recycled school supplies!

You can find school supplies made with recycled content at all major school and office supply retailers. Recycled notebooks come in anywhere from 30 to 95 percent post-consumer recycled content, and many are made from 100 percent recycled materials (including both pre- and post-consumer waste). Other products including printer paper, Post-It notes, and even calculators can also be found with recycled content.

There are recycled options for pens and pencils as well. Pilot brand's B2P "Bottle-2-Pen" is the first pen made from recycled plastic bottles and contains 89.9 percent post-consumer plastic. Shepenco is the maker of Newsprencil-- a pencil made from 75 percent recycled newspaper and TreeSmart makes pencils from 100 percent recycled newspaper. Cardboard pens are also a popular options and some brands, including Logomark, are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.

Ever wondered what to do with your writing utensils once they run out of ink? Recycle Write!, a program of U-M Recycling and Procurement Services, allows U-M students, faculty, and staff to dispose of pens, pencils, and markers in an environmentally responsible way. Send or bring your recycled instruments to Recycle Write!, Plant Building & Grounds Services, 109 E. Madison, Campus Zip 2993. Click here for more information on the Recycle Write! program.

Responsible waste disposal is extremely important, but is not where recycling ends. Close the loop and keep the cycle going by purchasing recycled content materials! 

Being Green in 2013: Week 12

Power to Recycling!

The importance of battery recycling

Batteries are one of the only everyday consumer products with federal laws controlling their disposal. The EPA designates batteries as a hazardous waste product. Throwing lead batteries in the trash is illegal in 30 U.S. states and many states also have laws surrounding the disposal of cell phone and rechargeable batteries. So what's the big deal about batteries? Why are they any more hazardous than other waste? The answer has to do with heavy metals. 

All batteries contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, manganese, and lithium which react with electrolytes to generate power. Batteries are not dangerous when we use them because they are well-sealed with plastic, but this plastic degrades after disposal allowing heavy metals to enter the environment. Excessive exposure to heavy metals can damage mental and central nervous function, blood composition, and vital organs such as lungs, kidneys, and liver. When batteries are thrown in the trash and sent to landfills or incinerators, these heavy metals may contaminate the soil or pollute the air and water, posing a threat to human health.

The Corporation for Battery Recycling, funded by Duracell, Energizer, and Panasonic, aims to create a national battery recycling program with an eventual goal of zero waste from batteries. Call2Recycle, a non-profit funded by various battery and electronics manufacturers, was established in 1996 to help consumers recycle rechargeable batteries. The program has since diverted over 70 million pounds of disposable batteries from landfill. The auto industry also promotes battery recycling and according to the EPA, 96 percent of all lead-acid car batteries are recycled. Nearly all car dealerships selling lead-acid batteries also collect used batteries for recycling. The EPA says a typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic! 

Here at U of M, batteries are collected through the Hazardous Materials Management Program (HMM) at OSEH and sent off campus to be recycled. All types of batteries are accepted by HMM. The program manages all aspects of battery use at U of M to ensure that the University is in compliance with State and Federal regulations. To request a battery collection bucket, call OSEH at 763-4568. Students in Residence Halls can ask the front desk for the location of their building's collection container. This information and more can also be found on our website: http://www.recycle.umich.edu/grounds/recycle/materials/batteries.php