Comments logocat has made

  • Minnesota State Law-

    Minnesota state law prohibits throwing away yard waste with household waste (Minnesota Statutes § 115A.931). Yard waste has to be separated, and haulers will usually have a pick up day in which leaves are then brought to a composting facility. As mentioned before, there are also drop-off sites. If your neighbor is combining the leaves with his trash, he is breaking a state law.On Umbra on compost and climate posted 1 year ago 13 Responses

  • LOL

    I'm totally ignoring the posting rules (as I think I'm sort of being a jerk): http://gristmill.grist.org/special/posting_rules

    I find the comments entertaining to a point; meaning, I can't believe people would continue to comment for months, and even years (jabailo). Dang, I just want to know what type of jobs you all have? Or is it that you just get home and get on the computer to continue to make comments? And it seems like no one is willing to really read either side. Oh, maybe the job is to post comments to make things entertaining. I don't know, there are just so many possibilities with so many different types of lives.

    Sad thing, I won't come back and check the answers to my questions, as I use Grist as a source of environmental news. I don't know what I clicked on in my daily email to get here, but it sure was fun. Great little break.

    Oh, time to get back to work,then after work it's happy hour, then going for a run, then maybe hang out in the yard with people--face to face, then...(been a slave to the laptop for far too long during graduate school and work that I have no desire to return to it when I get home after being on it for 8+ hours).

    P.S. Please take this post with a light heart. I know I probably offended someone, and I apologize for that. However, take a step back and look at the repeativeness natures of the posts--and how long it's been going on with the same people. I feel like someone should take score--no, it's not going to be me, I don't have the time. :-DOn 'Global warming stopped in 1998'--Only if you flagrantly cherry pick posted 1 year, 4 months ago 170 Responses

  • What about E the Environment Magazine?

    http://www.emagazine.com/On A quick read on green lifestyle magazines posted 1 year, 4 months ago 13 Responses

  • Waste Management--not so green

    Waste Management has been fighting against the expanison of the organics recycling (composting) program in Minnesota. They would rather fill up the landfills with material (food waste and soiled papers) that can be composted, then reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Plus, if the recycables they pick up are only 10% (sometimes even a smaller percentage) contaminated, they send the recyclables to the landfills that they own, rather than have the material recycled.
    On Largest U.S. garbage hauler greens operations posted 2 years, 1 month ago 4 Responses

  • Recyclable Part Deux

    It looks like MN is doing a great job on letting us know the markets in our area. It is true that some states take all plastics, but in general, most plastics are not recyclable due to the lack of markets. Also, the cardboard box that Lean Cuisine uses is NOT recyclable, but IS compostable. Most people make the mistake that all cardboard boxes are paper recyclable, but any of boxes that go in the fridge or freezer (i.e. microwavable meals--organic or not) cannot be recycled due to the wax layer. So, the rule: if it goes in the cupboard or bathroom or closet, it's recyclable, if it goes in the fridge or freezer--not recyclable (BUT compostable)--this goes for 12/24 packs of soda too.On Umbra on the impact of food purchases posted 2 years, 2 months ago 21 Responses

  • Biodegradable Products

    First off, I hate posting and someone is sure to post something snarky thinking I'm being snarky, but I just wanted to share some info.
    I've been working on an organics recycling program all summer, and have discovered a lot about biodegradable products. First, a good website to check out standards on biodegradable or compostable products is www.bpiworld.org. Second, most biodegradable or compostable products will take a long time to break down in a "backyard" compost as most "backyard" composts do not have high enough temperatures, or lack N or C, or another key ingredient to make awesome compost. Third, there are biodegradable or compostable products that are made by other organic matter than corn. Finally, get your village, town, city, metro area or country to start organic recycling programs, where these bio/compostable products make the most sense to use. There are several cities in the U.S., Canada and Europe that have organic recycling programs, removing food waste and other compostable items from our waste streams, and use products that are compostable and approved by BPI.

    Thanks for letting me share my 2 cents.On Umbra on biodegradable products posted 2 years, 4 months ago 5 Responses