Greeneroo

It’s piling up! And why? Because San Mateo County Garbage workers are on strike!
When we pay attention to recycling, composting, using less packaging, this becomes less of an issue. I wouldn’t want to be the family with a mound of plastic disposable diapers and no trash pick-up on this very hot sweltering week. Ugh!

Garbage workers in San Mateo County started a 48-hour strike Wednesday (Aug. 25) to protest stalled contract negotiations with Allied Waste Industries, a company spokeswoman said.

Several East Palo Alto residents said their garbage bins, normally collected Wednesday at 6 a.m., still lingered on the curb by mid-afternoon. The sweltering afternoon heat accentuated the pungent smell, one resident said.

Thirteen workers at the Ox Mountain Landfill near Half Moon Bay are participating in the two-day strike over negotiations that have stalled since their contract expired at the end of 2009, Allied Waste spokeswoman Peg Mulloy said.

Labor Dispute news… more information!

Please feel free to share this LINK with people you know around the state and ask them to call.

Hi Everyone! This is one of our priority Sierra Club Calfornia bills for 2010. If we can’t get this bill passed, we might as well forget about saving the planet. Low hanging fruit, people. Let’s just make that call today. Thanks SO much.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Denny
Sierra Club California Executive Committee

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It is critical to get 7 yes votes out of the list of Senators listed below in order to get AB1998 to Gov. Swartzenegger’s desk (where he has promised to sign it).

We’ve heard that at least one Senator Leland Yee is concerned due to the effect on small minority businesses. I don’t have a perfect response to counter this argument other than saying if all businesses follow the same rules no one business is put at a disadvantage. One of the reasons grocers, including the Green Grocers Assoc. support this bill is it is actually easier on businesses to have one law regarding single use bags than for a business to have to follow all the locally enacted single use ordinances. So you could push that this bill will actually simplify the regulatory environment for businesses, at least in this one environmental area.

See the other talking points below.

Thanks in advance for your time in making that call. And Loma Prietans, I didn’t notice but our new Senator Sam Blakesley is on the call list so we can say we are Sierra Club and our Chapter supports this legislation and it is a priority Sierra Club California bill.

Ann Schneider
Chair, Loma Prieta Chapter Zero Waste Committee
Sierra Club

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Here is an email that you can use to ask folks to support AB 1998. Thx, Lesli

AB 1998 will eliminate approximately 19 billion plastic bags in California. Plastic bags are a primary component of urban blight and plastic marine pollution. Local government incurs significant costs to clean up plastic bag litter. And California families are unknowingly paying these costs in the form of higher fees and taxes, in addition to higher grocery costs. AB 1998 will encourage reusable bag use. AB 1998 bill will also conserve paper resources by requiring retailers sell recycled content paper bags.

This is our target list of Senators who need to be told to support and vote yes for AB 1998:

1. Gloria Romero (Azuza, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Irwindale, La Puente, LA, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina) 916-651-4024
2. Lois Wolk (Davis, Fairfield, Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Vacaville, West Sacramento)916-651-4005
3. Ron Calderon (Montebello, Huntington Park) 916-651-4030
4. Lou Correa (Santa Ana/Fullerton) 916-651-4034
5. Tom Harman (Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa) 916-651-4035
6. Mimi Walters (Laguna Niguel) 916-651-4033
7. Roderick Wright (EQ) (Compton, Gardena, Hawthorn, Inglewood, Lawndale, Long Beach, LA, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro) 916-651-4025
8. Leland Yee (San Francisco) 916-651-4008
9. Gilbert Cedillo (Alhambra, LA, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena and Vernon) 916-651-4022
10. Denise Ducheny (Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral City, Chula Vista, Coachella, Coronado, El Centro, IB, Indio, National City, SD, San Ysidro) 916-651-4040
11. Dean Florez (Bakersfield, Coalinga, Delano, Dinuba, Fresno, Hanford, Lemoore) 916-651-4016
12. Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona) 916-651-4032
13. Alex Padilla (Canoga Park, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacoima, San Fernando, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Van Nuys, Winneka) 916-651-4020
14. Curren Price (Culver City, Hancock Park, Hollywood, LA) 916-651-4026
15. Sam Blakeslee (San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara) 916-651-4015

Main Talking Points:

1- The problem is global and permanent:

a. RECYCLING IS NOT THE ANSWER. Four years after the passage of AB 2449, mandating recycling systems at all large grocers, only 1-5% of plastic grocery bags get recycled. We need source reduction—the first “R” of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

b. PLASTIC IS HARMING OUR ENVIRONMENT: Plastic bags are blight to our communities, and harm the environment.

c. PLASTIC AFFECTS HUMAN HEALTH AND IS CONTAMINATING OUR FOOD CHAIN:

2- AB 1998 will save taxpayers money; plastic bags cost cities money in disposal, recycling and cleanup

3- Cities are already moving to ban bags and we need AB 1998 to create a uniform policy throughout the state that stops single-use bag pollution once and for all.

4- AB 1998 is good for green jobs. Most manufacturing facilities in California make dozens of different products – not just plastic bags. They will not have to close their doors. AB 1998 will create opportunities for green jobs in CA.

5- We have a unique group of stakeholders supporting: environmental groups, local gov’t, grocers, (including the California Grocers’ Association), retailers, UFCW

Lesli Daniel
Sierra Club California
lesli@sonic.net
209-337-8648

Reusing and reinventing clothing has been a big part of the fashion scene. Goodwill encourages this trend with the Eco Chic Fashion Show. This year’s 2010 event will be held on OCTOBER 8 in downtown San Jose. There will be several themes: “little black dress challenge” and a “mayoral design challenge” Contestants will have a budget and pull together an amazing outfit at any local Goodwill Store.

Goodwill Special Events Director, Susan Lucas, gets a chance to show-off her re-purposed clothing, and inspire us to stop and think before we say…. “We don’t have anything to wear”!

According to the EPA Americans throw away about 70 pounds of clothing a year per person. Clothing and textiles are helping to clog our landfill comprising about 4% of munincipal solid waste.

The Goodwill Green pages are very informative and have several hints, links, and ideas. Carpet Recycling is a great idea you can find on this page.  Here is an excerpt from Susan Lucas’ blog:

From the September 2009 Eco Chic Fashion Show Event: Join us at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The proceeds will be used to create jobs for the disadvantaged and disabled by providing them with vocational and occupational training. In this economy, Goodwill is one of few companies actually hiring and placing people in new jobs! So consider donating a dress that doesn’t fit, a bag that you’re tired of and shoes that hurt your feet! These will benefit many people and you will be green! Simply fill some bags and drop them at any Goodwill location.

Thanks for writing off your old perception of Goodwill!

For more information contact Susan Lucas at: susanl@goodwillsv.org

To help your company qualify for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) Volume Certification program you will make greener choices. Part of those standards involves the types of office supplies used. Several companies have made supply lists which feature items with at least 10 percent post-consumer content or 20 percent post-industrial material. A key element to going greener, is to take the guess-work OUT!
One method: by using StaplesLink, (part of the online Staples store) your company creates a list of green office supplies and its products have an impact by helping employees select more sustainable office supply options and making them readily available.  Anything that makes the selection and check-out quicker makes my company WANT to participate in going greener.

Another Method: Get a “GreenWatch” group going in your company! If this is their passion they will love searching out the best products and most progressive ideas. It is a huge bonus to buyers groups and trickles down to the families in the company because this green purchasing information is very valuable.  Make sure to document your decisions, so you can share your results. Don’t worry about every decision being perfect, the fact that your group is making the effort and working together has a huge positive effect for your company and employees.

Do you want YOUR COMPANY to be rated by Newsweek magazine in its Green Rankings of the country’s 500 largest companies?

You need to have a goal, commitment, buy-in from all levels and make a detailed plan. Oh sure, it sounds like fun, but it is a ton of work and may end up turning the way you do business today …. into a different direction for tomorrow!

Technology can be the PLACE TO MAKE A GREEN DIFFERENCE…..managing data centers for increased energy efficiency.

Thinking about GREEN Information Technology? Your initiatives could  include:

Day to Day

Data Center Hardware Efficiencies.

Recycling

Whether through virtualization, the data center service life extension program, or energy research labs  –You’ll have to get your employees to help you reach your goals.

FOR a more well-rounded view, please take a look at Consumer Reports discussion of the Newsweek Green Rankings!

Save money and promote green activities or explore your Eco-self. What are the best examples? Here are some to take advantage of:

SAVE ENERGY

1. Boil water in the microwave rather than on an electric stove top (use up to 60% less energy).
2. Lower your thermostat in the winter. You’ll save enough money to buy a beautiful organic wool sweater! Your heating bill goes down by a whopping 3% for each degree you reduce of heating!
3. Take short showers and you’ll save heating money and water. A fifteen minute shower each day costs about $310 / year. And while you are waiting for hot water, gather the cold water to water plants. Put a bucket in the shower so you don’t forget, and take it out when you step in.
4. Stop idling your car! Did you know that 10 seconds of idling = restarting your car (in terms of gas use). For 2 minutes of idling = driving a mile. Turn your engine off.
5. Evaluate gas vs. flying for a vacation, use fuelcostcalculator.com or costtodrive.com  … and when you are finished with a trip, unpack your truck. Every 100 pounds can cost you 1-2% of fuel cost.
6. Ride a bike to errands. Simple, easy and healthy.
7. Green Tax Credit. Install qualifying energy efficient windows, doors, water heating, roofing. Check the details at energystar.gov. You can get up to $1500.
8. Drive under 65 mph. Fuel efficiency goes down an average of 5 mpg for each 10 mile an hour speed increase. Jack rabbit starts from stops also reduce your gas mileage an additional 3 mpg.
9. Add Biking to your vacations. You can drive to your destination, park your car and then use your bike rather than the car for the daily fun outings. Lots of communities have great bike lanes and hiking trails, check the League of American Bicyclists or the Alliance for Biking and Walking. If your community isn’t bike friendly these links may inspire you to push for improvement.
10. For more info on CA biking + walking check the local Alliance listing.
11. Grow your Own! Tomatoes and Herbs are good plants to start with for beginners.
12. Walk to the local Farmer’s Market. This is a fun outing for kids and adults.

REDUCE your Impact!

1. Rent an extra room. You’ll meet some great people, get extra cash, reduce the housing crunch for singles, and you can arrange with your tenant to do chores like take out recycling or gardening or dog-sitting. With so many people downsizing, this is a viable alternative to apartment living. In the SF Peninsula / San Mateo County, go to HIP HOUSING  which offers an excellent  free matching service where renters (looking for Housing or with Housing to share) are interviewed and checked out  in San Mateo county.  Make an appointment for your interview and they will send you people that meet your criteria.
2. Rent space in your garage. Check out SpareFoot.com or Storeatmyhouse.com for general sites. Craig’s List also has extensive free listings on sublets and rooms.
3. Use Freecycle- don’t dump. Have Yard Sales – you can find yard sales in your area at yarsaletreasuremap.com, also garage sales are on Craig’s List.

Exploring Your World

1. Free Sightseeing! A local resident can show you the town – globalgreeternetwork.info. Walking tours are a great way to see everything, check this site, europtours.eu  and the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor information centers have walking information.
2. Bird Watching far from home! BirdingPal.org will connect you with a local birder, this sounds like great fun!
3. Craig’s List has many events and activities in local areas. Meet Up also has hiking groups in local areas, the San Jose Hiking Meet Up keeps me busy and there is a great variety of places to go that are new to me.

At the Inspiration Lounge they know about many things, I love this blog post: 10 things You Should Never Buy Again but what really caught my fancy was that, at the end of the post, there is this

Green America offers up five more things to never buy again that include Rayon, Farmed Salmon, Cling Wrap, and high VOC paints. For the full list with alternatives,

Why do I love this…. because either you are paying attention or your aren’t. We need to do good things now, and 10 just isn’t enough. And even though it is a magical number that someone can read and relate to there are so many more than 10… so they snuck in 10 more. I bet if I look around this great site, I’ll find 300 more because they are INSPIRED. Keep blogging Misty, your blog …  My Inspiration Lounge http://www.myinspirationlounge.com/ is a great generator of good!