Field Trip.

A little over a week ago I went to the Moreno Valley Badlands where the culmination of the Inland Empire's sins are left and deposited. I was expecting a desolate wasteland of utter garbage., but it was a lot cleaner then I had imagined and on a much smaller scale then what is shown on the movies. It kind of reminded me of the movie Mad Max. I learned from our shockingly attractive tour guide that they use methane energy and use it to power some sort of contraption that produces electricity. I also found out that the trash is compacted upon several layers of sediment, not sure what the specific term is. It was pretty crazy how many birds where there, but hey, I bet there were a couple uneaten big macs hiding in the rubble. I also learned that you should wear shoes and not espadrilles, just kidding. But it was interesting to know that our everyday appliances carry chemicals in them that can be dangerous to the environment long term if they aren't dealt with, specifically freon.

Blog 10 Trash Wars(Return of the Recycle)

On my first trash day period I produced around 2 Bags of Trash. Each Bag holds about 10 gallons. I would have to estimate that 75-80% of my trash of recyclables. Most of the items that were in my trash were Gatorade bottles, numerous oreo plastic wrappings and boxes from hamburger helper.

Waste Reducing strategies

• stablish purchasing guidelines to encourage waste prevention (durable, concentrated, reusable, high quality).
• Centralize purchasing to eliminate unnecessary purchases and ensure that waste reduction purchasing policies are followed.
• Track material usage to optimize ordering.
• Consider length of warranty and availability of repair services when purchasing equipment. (Contract for maintenance to extend the life of products).
• Substitute less toxic materials for toxic materials (e.g., vegetable-based inks, water-based glue, markers and paints).
• Use plastic trash can liners made of recycled HDPE instead of ones made with LDPE or LLDPE. They contain less raw materials, work equally well for most uses, and generally cost less.
• Order merchandise with minimal packaging or layers of packaging. Contact manufacturers directly and express purchase preferences. Remember to vote with your dollars by buying products with minimal packaging or packaging containing recycled content.
• Avoid bright or deep toned paper.
• "Astrobrights" and other brightly colored papers can cause problems at paper recycling mills. Pastel colors (light green, light blue, canary yellow, light pink) are less of a problem and stand out just as well. And, they cost less!
• Request that deliveries be shipped in returnable containers.
• Order supplies by voice mail or electronic mail.
• Use optical scanners, which give more details about inventory, allowing more precise ordering.
• Start your own Recycled-Content Purchasing Program, visit "The Buy Recycled Business Alliance" web site.

2. Packaging

• Eliminate unneeded packaging or layers of packaging.
• Use lightweight packaging to conserve materials. See Hewlett Packard's site on Packaging Guidelines.
• Use reusable boxes and mailbags for shipping to branch offices, shops, and warehouses.
• Ship products to your customers in the boxes that you receive from your suppliers. Set up a place to store these reusable boxes. Ask customers to return boxes for reuse. You will save by not having to buy as many new boxes.
• Encourage suppliers to use reusable totes or boxes, rather than sending you disposable boxes that you have to break down and recycle.
• Print a message on products to encourage consumers to recycle the packaging.
• Reuse packing materials (e.g., foam peanuts, bubble-wrap and cardboard boxes) or find someone who can.
• Use materials already on hand for loose-fill packaging material, rather than buying new. One popular, low-cost option is shredded office paper.
• Set up a system for returning cardboard boxes and foam peanuts to distributors for reuse.
• Return, reuse and repair wooden pallets and spools and use a clamp system instead of new pallets for outgoing shipments.
• Purchase supplies with recycled content.
• Follow this link for additional resources and ideas for packaging waste prevention.

3. Writing/Printing Paper

• Make double-sided copies whenever possible. Go to Cutting Paper Use.
• Reuse envelopes and use two-way envelopes.
• Circulate memos, periodicals and reports, rather than distributing individual copies.
• Use voice or electronic mail, shared computer drives, or post memos on a central bulletin board.
• Make scratch pads from used paper.
• Use outdated letterhead for in-house memos.
• Eliminate unnecessary forms. Double-side forms or redesign them to fit on a half sheet.
• Use narrow-ruled notebooks.
• Save documents on floppy disks instead of printing hard copies.
• Use central files for hard copies.
• Print more words on each page (e.g., smaller font, narrow margins).
• "Duplex" your laser printer so that it automatically prints documents on both sides of the page. Installing the duplex option typically costs around $300, but makes good sense in larger offices that use and/or mail a lot of paper.
• Proof documents on screen when possible and teach employees to use print preview and spell check before printing.
• Fill the printer with paper already used on one side and print drafts on the other side. (Set this as the default print and instruct employees to use the manual feed to use clean paper.
• Use same draft of report for corrections by several people.
• Accept final in-house documents with hand corrections.
• Use executive summaries when possible and provide the entire document only upon request.
• Read about the importance of reducing paper waste in the BBC News article "Half Paper Waste Could Be Saved".

4. Overstocked/Surplus Items

• Set up an area/swap program for employees to exchange used items.
• Get rid of unwanted items, but remember another business might be able to use them! Advertise surplus and reusable waste items through a commercial waste exchange.
  • See Material Exchange Programs.

5. Equipment

• Rent instead of buying equipment that is used only occasionally.
• Use quality used or remanufactured office equipment.
• Invest in equipment that facilitates waste prevention such as:
  • high quality, durable, repairable equipment;
  • copiers and printers that make two-sided copies;
  • modem cards;
  • folder/sealers.
• Institute maintenance practices that prolong the life of copiers, computers, and other equipment.
• Reclaim reusable parts from old equipment.
• Use refilled or rebuilt fax and printer cartridges and other office supplies like pens, etc.
• Sell or give old furniture and equipment to employees or donate it to a local charity.
• Use retreaded tires on company vehicles. Rotate tires on a regular basis to prolong tire life. Keep tires properly inflated, this saves energy and improves wear.
• Install reusable heating, ventilation and air conditioning filters.
• Replace incandescent with fluorescent lights.
• Purchase products that do not need batteries or do use solar energy such as manual pencil sharpeners, staplers and solar calculators.
• Use rechargeable batteries where practical.
• Use hand blowers or cloth towel dispensers in bathrooms, or purchase recycled and unbleached paper towel rolls.

6. Communications

• Get off unwanted mailing lists! Use the National Waste Prevention Coalition's website to get your name off national mailing lists and save your business money.
• Use recycled-content items related to intra and inter-office communications: cork boards, paper, pencils, pens, etc.
• Confused about what recycled-content and other recycling lingo means? Go to "The Language of Recycling" web site.
• Use fax "stickies" instead of full page cover sheets, or even better write or stamp the first page of the fax to convey transmission information.
• Invest in a program that allows faxing directly from your computer or send documents by email instead of printing a copy to fax.
• Use two way or reusable envelopes when appropriate.
• Eliminate unnecessary elements such as envelopes by designing your mailing so the address can be printed right on the document you are sending.
• Reuse old envelopes for internal mailings.
• Keep mailing lists current to avoid duplication or mailing to invalid addresses.
• Don't pre-stuff packets for meetings or conferences. Let participants take the handouts they think they will use.
• Use email and voice mail for interoffice messages.
• Route magazines and other subscriptions rather than ordering copies for individual employees.
• Donate old magazines or journals to hospitals, clinics, or libraries.
• Keep mailing lists current/one copy per address.
• Call or mail postcards directly to senders asking that your name be removed from mailing lists.

7. "Outside" your Business

• Go to Landscaping Tips.
• See also: Oregon Compost Facilities

8. Food and Personal Services

• Purchase less toxic cleaners. See Green Seal's "Choose Green report."
• Dispense cleaning solutions in refillable containers like pump spray bottles. Use products in non-aerosol containers where possible.
• Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, flatware, cups and glasses.
• Encourage employees to bring their own mugs and utensils. Ask food vendor to offer discounts on beverages served in a customer's own mug.
• Buy company mugs; stop providing disposable cups.
• Buy reusable coffee filters or unbleached disposable filters.
• Reuse trash can liners or eliminate where possible and discontinue use in cans with dry trash only.
• Consider using cloth roll towels, hot air dryers, large paper rolls in restrooms, or buy lighter/smaller-sized paper towels.

9. Consumer Choices

• Teach your customers about the importance of waste prevention. Effective tools for getting the message across include: promotional campaigns; brochures and newsletters (remember to use recycled paper); banners; newspaper ads; product displays and store signs.
• Encourage customers to bring their own bag(s) and compliment them when they do.
• Offer customers a rebate when they reuse grocery bags, containers, mugs and cups.
• Offer customers waste prevention choices such as:
  • items in bulk or concentrate;
  • items in refillable bottles;
  • solar-powered items, such as calculators, flashlights; and
  • durable and repairable merchandise.
• If you serve beverages in cans or bottles, place a recycling bin in the dining area for your customers' empty beverage containers.
• Encourage customers to return reusable items (e.g., metal hangers to dry cleaners, styrofoam peanuts, plastic wrap, bags, etc.).
• Go to Sustainable Development International Corporation's "Smart Office" for more information on recycling, buying recycled and more!
•  http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/cwrc/strategies/

Basically my family and I need to stop buying so much processed food that tends to be wrapped in layer upon layer of plastics. I tried convincing my mom to stop buying oreos and cheez-its. I was fighting against myself  even, but in the end she decided that I was only person in the house who was doing this experiment. But for the most part just on my part is was a significant change in terms of rate at which the trash filled up. This saddened me.I'm willing to get rid of drinking Gatorades, those don't even quench my thirst. I'm not willing to give up my oreos because I need those. But for the most part I'm all for getting rid of the majority of our over packaged food.

Blog 9

 Climate change is a controversy in modern day life due to our ignorance of exactly what is going on. There are too many variables that could be changing whether it be our resource draining lifestyles, or the Earth just changing as it does every couple thousand years.

According to NASA the Ocean the land-ocean temperature has been rising consistently, and from 1980 to modern day it has skyrocketed. Human consumption and pollution could be responsible for the rapid rate in climate change since we consume more materials now then we ever have.

The problem with proving Global Warming is that we have only lived on Earth for so long, not enough information is out there to predict the long term. On top of that people generally don't believe scientist and supposed respected individuals anymore and don't see their word as law. Blame the internet and the information age for skepticism, because pretty much anyone can research hundreds of articles and form well based opinions for either side. And to make things worse, the graph above me could have been easily made up just to prove a point. Who is out there making sure these facts are true, or is it just that anyone with a PHD is considered a proverbial "burning bush".

In 50 years I think if we continue our lifestyles we can expect more bad air, and more wars directed at the finding of oil. I don't think the effects will be as harmful as made out to be. But Perhaps with better technology we can get better answers. I think that trash over a while, and the cutting of the rainforest will present a problem, but since 90% of my hw assignments are done on a computer I think technology will do away with the crude effects we are currently dealing with.

Blog # 8

          I learned that a good amount of our regular household items aren't checked very thoroughly for toxins or chemicals that may have an effect on people, especially babies.  Because toys don't present an immediate danger to health like food would. Baby bottles especially were found to have a certain toxin called BPA. This chemical would often leave remnants and leach into the content of bottle, milk, baby food etc.....
Women's lipstick is also noted for being potentially dangerous and fairly unregulated. The problem with presents most of a problem with the regulation of products for harmful toxins is that several agencies are responsible for certain aspects. The FDA regulates food and anything being consumed. EPA handles environmental affairs. The CPSC handles consumer products. All of of these  agencies have different regulations, some are looser and less restrict then one another, but the thing is that all of these chemicals and products are all on the same planet and affect each other.

          I thought it was interesting to know that a lot of the companies that makes these items are well aware of the possible dangers within their products even if it means possible damaging infants who are the future as cliche' as that sounds, but it's like cutting out own throat for a meager profit. I get why there are separate agencies but they should all adhere to the same standard.

http://www.americanchemistry.com/Policy/Chemical-Safety?gclid=COm724fZz7MCFSmCQgod4X8ABA
 This article discusses the importance of the people being aware of products that my not necessarily be safe for them to use.

http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

This article from the FDA pretty much presents everything you need to know about BPA aka Bisphenol which was found commonly in baby bottles that can affect brain development.

Blog # 7 Electronic Deprivation

This was extremely hard for me due to my addiction to music. I don't have an mp3 player, so I listen on my laptop to music, and since I'm an undiscovered writer and (extremely underrated) I couldn't finish typing my scrolls. I guess I better get out the eucalyptus sheets. My mom didn't like the idea of me cutting of the air conditioning. I think she's menopausal and has been experiencing hot flashes. Since I live in an apartment the clothes situation was rather difficult and I also live with 4 difficult human being so I was forced to still use the washer machine, but I did not use the dryer, so I cut down on my electric bill by 10 bucks. Instead of watching Netflix and making beats on my laptop I decided that I could ride my bike. I lost 1 pound and felt somewhat better about myself. Every second was temptation, the keyboard grew a mouth and started talking to me, gotta lay off the mushrooms. But I would continue cutting down on using electrical appliances, It's a lot nicer to get outside, especially since the weather is cooling down. I ride the bus already as it is, so I'm not worried about my carbon emissions. But I faced a dilemma with taking showers. Sorry but I have to smell nice for the ladies. I will continue to cut down on electricity usage with my appliances and I will continue the great habits that I already have.