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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Well, tickle my magic wand
Harry Potter goes green, but what about the rest of the industry? |
Kate Sheppard |
11 Jul 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Ahhh, books. They're like websites on paper, from what I gather. We wrote a while back about Harry Potter going green for the last installment of the series, with two-thirds of the 16,700 tons of paper coming from timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Scholastic, the publisher, is also using 30 percent recycled fiber for the cover, and the 'deluxe edition' is going to be printed on 100 percent recycled paper in a renewable-energy-powered factory. The b ... |
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| Topics: books, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Whence It Came
On biodegradable products |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Jul 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dearest Umbra, With biodegradable corn-plastic products like clothes hangers, credit cards, and trash bags, we are led to believe there are good alternatives to plastic that can be thrown out guilt-free. But doesn't all trash get put in landfills that are then hermetically sealed to prevent the bad contaminants from leaching out, but hold in the things that would have been composting otherwise? I thought that was the reason to co ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, green living, oil, recycling, shopping (all these topics) |
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Bonnaroo crowds (and trash) arrive
Look out! |
Sarah van Schagen |
15 Jun 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The masses started arriving yesterday. Gates opened at noon, and 'Roo-goers were ready. At left is the 'before' shot -- the open grassy field (once home to cows and cow pies) that will soon be just a field of dirt covered in dirt-covered people and dirt-covered trash. Unless Clean Vibes has something to do with it, that is. They're the expert trash-picker-uppers I mentioned last year. And if what I saw yesterday is any indication, they're back in full force ... |
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| Topics: Bonnaroo, green living, music, recycling, waste (all these topics) |
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How not to do it: A case study
They're not happy until you're happy |
JMG |
12 Apr 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Why is the Oregon bottle bill, once a shining environmental breakthrough, failing? As a wise person named Lee Barrett noted here: It's the distributors than own the reverse vending machines. They are the ones that start the 5-cent deposit. The more disgusted you get with the process of returning the cans and bottles the more nickels they get to keep. They're not happy until you're not happy. He/she's got other good things to say too, but it's his/her major point that ever ... |
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| Topics: green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Rebooting campus computing
UC system greens electronics program |
Kate Sheppard |
09 Apr 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Yolanda just posted a bit on UC Berkeley's pending approval/disapproval of a Green Initiative Fund. And in more green UC news, last week all of the UC system got a little greener by passing an 'Environmental Sustainability Policy' that includes provisions on energy, global warming, waste, and eco-friendly electronics purchasing. As part of that pledge, the ten UC schools become the first universities in the nation to adopt guidelines for buying greener electronics, ... |
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| Topics: California, campus activism, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Kids these days
Two yoot-based eco-vids |
Sarah van Schagen |
26 Jan 2007 |
Gristmill |
| For those of you who haven't read Grist List yet today (and why not, hm?), we called attention to two yoot-based eco-vids. But Grist List isn't exactly G-rated, so I wanted to call attention to them here, too. The first is a charming series of videos created by fourth-graders at The Park School in Massachusetts. Led by teacher Ted Wells, the class has embarked on a mission to green the school. The videos, which were shared with the entire school (and now the inter ... |
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| Topics: education, green living, innovation, recycling (all these topics) |
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Dude, You're Gettin' a Conscience
PC honcho Michael Dell announces new green initiatives |
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10 Jan 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Dude, You're Gettin' a Conscience PC honcho Michael Dell announces new green initiatives Amidst the energy-sucking glitz of Las Vegas, PC magnate Michael Dell announced that his eponymous company is greening up, and encouraged others to follow suit. Dell addressed two green-itiatives at an International Consumer Electronics Show speech yesterday. The first, a new partnership with carbon-offset provider Ca ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, green living, news, recycling (all these topics) |
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Wrapper's Delight
On wrapping creatively |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Dec 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Due to my procrastinating nature, I once again find myself in the position of having to wrap what seems like hundreds of gifts in wasteful wrapping paper, only to have it torn apart and thrown away the very next day. I'm a proponent of the "reduce, reuse, recycle" philosophy, but during the holidays, wrapping my gifts in the Sunday comics doesn't say "mindful conservationist" so much as it says &q ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, holiday, recycling (all these topics) |
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License Plates Never Looked So Good
Inmates exposed to toxins in e-waste recycling program, says report |
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23 Oct 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| License Plates Never Looked So Good Inmates exposed to toxins in e-waste recycling program, says report A federal recycling program that uses cheap prison labor to recycle computers and other electronics exposes inmates to unsafe conditions, says a report released by activist and environmental groups last week. Prisoners paid from 23 cents to $1.15 an hour by government-owned Federal Prison Industries, Inc., also kno ... |
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| Topics: green living, news, recycling, toxics (all these topics) |
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Consumption Unction, What's Your Function?
On reducing consumption |
Umbra Fisk |
02 Oct 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, If recycling requires energy to turn one's discarded waste into usable products, and "climate solutions take precedence over garbage-production concerns," as you wrote in June, why are we so focused on recycling and not on reducing our initial consumption? Surely this should be at the forefront of the individual consumer's attempts to help the environment, shouldn't it? Consumed wit ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling, waste (all these topics) |
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Counter Measures
On countertops |
Umbra Fisk |
24 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| With the home remodeling boom, we keep wondering: what is the best countertop choice? We've gone through a couple homes since getting married, and are now considering building our own. Laminate, Formica, butcher block, concrete, granite, plastic, composite, tile ... they all have their own durability merits and drawbacks, but from creation to home health, which is the friendliest? Leonie Mowat and Greg Overley North Las Vegas, Nev. Dear ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, green products, recycling (all these topics) |
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MP3's Company
On CDs and MP3s |
Umbra Fisk |
19 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As I was carrying a stack of CDs from the car into my home, my sister laughed and showed me the size of her MP3 player, which contains well over 100 times the music at a fraction of the size. Environmentally, which causes less of an impact? I hear that all these (non-recyclable) portable devices are terrible for the environment, and I've had some of my CDs going on (gasp!) 15 years. Downloading seems like it produces less waste, ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, e-waste, green living, recycling, toxics (all these topics) |
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Tape of Good Hope
On recycling tapes and videos |
Umbra Fisk |
17 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, What to do? I'm a child of the late '70s, and one of the last to remember what it was like to exchange a mix tape at age 15. Now I'm hitting my 30s, and realize I still have that Color Me Badd tape. I really want to chuck it, but don't have the heart to put it in the trash. What's a girl to do? Where can I send my shamefully-bad-taste-in-music tapes? Patricia O. North Plainfield, N.J. Dearest Patricia, Hey, s ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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All Up in Your Grill
On recycling foil |
Umbra Fisk |
12 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Summertime grilling is in full swing at our house, but I am wondering what the ecological cost is of all that aluminum foil we're using in place of our regular pots and pans. Sure makes for great clean up, but it is not recyclable as aluminum cans are. Sandra Liebe Paris, Ill. Dearest Sandra, I hate to be the one to point this out, but it's a little rude to say you're barbecuing all the time and not invite me. I'm use ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Textile Messaging
On old clothes |
Umbra Fisk |
05 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I promise that I searched the archives before emailing you, so hopefully you haven't already answered this question. I'm wondering about the best way to dispose of old clothes and shoes -- the tired, well-loved, and much-worn items that thrift shops really don't want. I wear my clothes until the bitter end, and then I just don't know what to do with them. Old T-shirts make great rags, but then what? Carrie Doring Seattle, W ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, fashion, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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A Random Act of Mindfulness
Random House to bump up use of recycled paper |
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18 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| A Random Act of Mindfulness Random House to bump up use of recycled paper For you fogies who still read books made of ... what do they call it? ... "paper," here's some good news: Leading U.S. publishing company Random House announced this week that it plans to increase the recycled-paper content of its books to 30 percent by 2010. It's an ambitious goal, as only about 3 percent of paper currently used in ... |
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| Topics: business, green living, news, recycling (all these topics) |
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I'm the Train Wreck They Call the City of New Orleans
New Orleans debris heads to the landfill, isn't reused or recycled |
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14 Apr 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| I'm the Train Wreck They Call the City of New Orleans New Orleans debris heads to the landfill, isn't reused or recycled New Orleans is taking great pains to recycle the waste left by Hurricane Katrina. Wait, you believed that? We're totally lying. Debris from the pummeled city is being dumped in the landfill by the truckload, including heaps of potentially reusable building materials such as ... |
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| Topics: green living, Louisiana, news, pollution and waste, recycling (all these topics) |
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E-Waste Not, E-Want Not
Washington Gov. Gregoire signs far-reaching e-recycling law |
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27 Mar 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| E-Waste Not, E-Want Not Washington Gov. Gregoire signs far-reaching e-recycling law On Friday, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed into law the toughest electronic-waste recycling measure in the U.S. -- good news for a state brimming with Microsoft techies who upgrade their systems once a quarter. The bill will require TV and computer makers to collect, transport, and dispose of the e-devices at their o ... |
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| Topics: green living, news, recycling, Washington (all these topics) |
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remunerate
Eco-entrepreneurs pay people to recycle |
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21 Feb 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remunerate Eco-entrepreneurs pay people to recycle What's the best way to get people to recycle? Same way you get them to do anything: pay them for it. Patrick FitzGerald and Ron Gonen founded RecycleBank in 2004 on the notion that economic incentives would motivate recycling more effectively than green principles. Their system rewards households with up to $400 a year in credits to national ... |
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| Topics: business, green living, news, recycling (all these topics) |
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Between the Sheets
Taking the wrinkles out of paper recycling |
Joel Makower |
31 Jan 2006 |
Toiling Point |
| Recycling paper at your company? How's it going? If you answered "yes" to the first question and "not so good" to the second, you're in fine company. After years of trying, an astonishing number of outfits both large and small are having trouble accomplishing this seemingly simple task. At least, that's my conclusion after talking with companies -- and hearing from Grist readers. Same ... |
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| Topics: business, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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What About Those Cahs in the Yahd?
Pioneering e-waste recycling law takes effect in Maine |
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20 Jan 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| What About Those Cahs in the Yahd? Pioneering e-waste recycling law takes effect in Maine Maine: It's not just lobstah anymore. This week, the Pine Tree State became the first in the nation to require manufacturers to cover the cost of recycling televisions and computer monitors. Similar to e-waste laws already in force in Japan and some European countries, Maine's new rule allows municipalities to bill the expenses o ... |
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| Topics: green living, Maine, news, recycling (all these topics) |
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Laptop Dance
On choosing a laptop |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Jan 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am buying a new laptop, and I was wondering if all computers are the same energy-wise, or if some brands are better for the environment? Aviva Horrow Philadelphia, Pa. Dearest Aviva, You're already off to a good start, as laptops consume far less energy than desktop machines -- we're talking over 50 percent less. Thin is in. Photo: iStockPhoto. Computer manufacturers have three opportunities to earn their environmental s ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, e-waste, green living, recycling, toxics (all these topics) |
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When the Rubber Hits the Road
On recycling condoms |
Umbra Fisk |
09 Jan 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| For the sake of argument, how does one recycle condoms? Unused they are plastic of some sort? I know it's a bit silly, but don't you just hate to have to flush them and all the water that goes with? Flavia S. Milan, Italy Dearest Flavia, In brief: condoms are generally made of latex and are not recyclable. (Though the actual recyclability of Milan condoms may be a question for the Milan Recycling Bureau, not yours trul ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling, sex (all these topics) |
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Tree Enterprise
Nicole Rycroft, recycled-paper pusher, answers readers' questions |
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16 Sep 2005 |
InterActivist |
| Nicole Rycroft, campaigns director for Markets Initiative. Is there a similar organization to Markets Initiative in the U.S.? -- Jerry Broadbent, Bucoda, Wash. There are a number of organizations that work to safeguard endangered forests by shifting U.S. market demand to more sustainable wood and paper products. Green Press Initiative is working with the U.S. book sector and Co-op America with the U. ... |
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| Topics: business, Canada, green living, InterActivist, interview, recycling, wilderness (all these topics) |
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Knob Appeal
On architectural salvage |
Umbra Fisk |
14 Sep 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We recently replaced the doorknobs in our place, so we have a fistful of old yet working doorknobs I'd hate to just toss. What to do with this and other perfectly good hardware? R.B.M. Arlington, Va. Dearest R.B.M., This answer goes out to you, but also to all your fellow home remodelers out there. One person's old doorknob is another's period-restoration item, as the adage goes. Don't knock it. You can, of course, try t ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, business, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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