Go Greener Tips

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When most people think of recycling, they think about recycling things such as aluminum cans, plastic water bottles and plastic grocery bags. But in reality, you can recycle almost anything. Here is a list of 50 common things you can recycle.

1. Cars – Instead of selling your car or sending it to the junk yard, donate it to a charitable organization. Not only will you keep the car out of the landfill, you will receive a tax deduction as well.

2. Clothes – Clothes are one of the easiest things to recycle as so many charitable organizations will accept them such as Goodwill, Veteran’s Support Groups and most churches. In addition, you can possibly sell them at a consignment shop if they are still in good shape and in style.

3. Christmas Trees – Most local city governments set up Christmas Tree recycling drop off’s across the community after Christmas. They will accept the trees free of charge. The trees are generally turned into mulch which is then used in city parks.

4. Food – yes food. Start a compose heap in your backyard. Instead of throwing old food in the trash, throw it in the compost heap. You can use it to fertilize your garden.

5. Food Containers – Before throwing a food container in the trash, check the label to see if it is able to be recycled. Glass jars and bottles, cardboard boxes such as some cereal boxes and paper wrappers can all be recycled in many cases.

6. Computers – If your computer still works, you can donate it to a local library, school system or charity. If it no longer operates, contact your local recycling center. In addition, you can contact a local electronics retailer to see if they have a computer recycling program.

7. Cell phones – There are numerous charities that accept cell phones – notably many charities that assist women. In addition, many companies that can be found online will pay you for your used cell phone if it still works. Finally, cell phone can be recycled for their parts which are re-used in new cell phones.

8. Smoke detectors – Some smoke detectors can be returned to the manufacturer. Check with your manufacturer to see if the recycle your particular model. Some smoke detectors are considered hazardous waste because they contain small traces of Americium 241. If this is the case the manufacturer will recommend they’re disposed of as hazardous waste.

9. Ink Cartridges – Many office supply stores will take these. Some pay $1 per cartridge. Check with you local office supply store.

10. Tires – Tires are horrible for landfills as they take up a lot of space, can leach dangerous chemicals over time and can pose a fire hazard. Tires are taken by local recycling centers and can be used for a variety of purposes such as be shredded for rubber mulch, recycled into new tires, and recycled into rubber containers.

11. Telephones – There are places willing to buy back or accept donations of old telephones. These places refurbish old phones or use the parts and casings for other things. To find out how to dispose of your old telephones, do an Internet search.

12. Magazines – Since magazines are made of paper, all recycling centers and local curbside recycling services will accept them. You can also donate them to local schools or libraries.

13. Foam Packing Material – Most shipping businesses will take your old foam packing material. They will not pay you for it, but the material will be reused.

14. Fluorescent Bulbs – Fluorescent light bulbs contain Mercury which is considered hazardous waste. The mercury in bulbs can be used to make new bulbs. Don’t throw your bulbs in the trash, contact your local recycling center to ask for their hazardous waste recommendations. Also, many hardware and home improvement stores will accept fluorescent bulbs for recycling.

15. Paint – Paint is considered hazardous waste. You cannot dispose of paint by dumping it down a drain or storm sewer. Many recycling centers accept paint which can be blended into some fuels at different manufacturing facilities.

16. PDAs – Recycling PDAs is similar to cell phone recycling. They can be given to charities, exchanged for cash on some sites, or truly recycled for their parts.

17. Motor Oil – If you change your own oil, please don’t pour it down the drain, into a storm sewer or onto the ground. Most oil change and auto parts store will take your used oil for free. They use it to convert back into usable oil products.

18. Bathtubs, toilets and sinks – Many salvage stores will purchase old bathroom fixtures. Contact your local recycling organization to learn how to drop off used fixtures.

19. Books – Books can be donated to schools, libraries and other charities. They can also be recycled at your local recycling center or in your local curbside recycling program.

20. Carpets, Rugs, Padding – There are places that will try to recycle used carpets and rugs rather than toss them into landfill. Check online with the Carpet America Recovery Effort, UGA Carpet Recycling Resource, the California Integrated Waste Management Board or any other number of organizations geared towards recycling.

21. Batteries – If you’re not already using rechargeable batteries, please consider doing so. Most recycling centers will accept batteries, depending on the type. Most auto parts stores will accept car batteries. If you buy a new battery from them, they will give you a discount off the new battery if you bring in your old battery.

22. Plastic Bags – Every supermarket has a bin located at the front for dropping off your plastic bags, even those that are torn. You can also make things from old supermarket plastic bags.

23. CDs/DVDs/Game Discs – There are various for profit businesses that buy or trade used CDs and DVDs and game discs. There are also some businesses that will take scratched discs and refurbish them for resale. Even if they do not pay you for the discs, they will not go into a landfill.

24. Clothing Hangars – Most dry cleaners will accept used clothes hangers. That is the easiest way to recycle them to be used again.

25. Mattresses – Mattresses can be recycled. They’re cleaned, sanitized, re-stuffed and resold or donated to charitable organizations and homeless shelters. For a mattress recycler near you do an Internet search, they’re all over.

26. Leaves – Use your leaves for compost and mulch.

27. Barbecue propane tanks – When refilling your propane tank, most refillers will use your old tank. If you must get rid of a tank, contact your local natural gas and/or propane supply company as they will take them free of charge, even if they are rusted out and/or leak.

28. Sewing machines – Sewing machines can be recycled anywhere that takes scrap metal.

29. Styrofoam containers – Can be recycled at local recycling centers and or local curbside recycling pickup.

30. Televisions – Old TVs fill landfills and can leak dangerous chemicals harmful to animals and humans. If the TV works, you can sell it or give it to charity. If it does not work, most local recycling centers take them free of charge. If you buy a new TV, most TV retailers will also dispose of the TV free of charge.

31. Fencing – Contact your local recycling center or bulk waste center to learn how to dispose of your old fencing material.

32. Fire extinguishers – Contact your hazardous waste center to learn how to recycle your fire extinguisher.

33. Grass clippings – Use your old grass clippings for mulch and compost. Dried grass can also be used to line certain small animal cages.

34. Aluminum cans. What? People have been using their foreheads to crush cans for recycling for, well, a long time. Surely they know what to do with them after that. (I know YOU do!)

35. Old Toys – Toys for Tots collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. http://www.toysfortots.org/

36. Fluorescent Bulbs – Fluorescent light bulbs contain Mercury which is considered hazardous waste. The mercury in bulbs can be used to make new bulbs. Don’t throw your bulbs in the trash, contact your local recycling center to ask for their hazardous waste recommendations. Also, many hardware and home improvement stores will accept fluorescent bulbs for recycling.

37. Paper – Paper of all kinds can be recycling including notebook paper, newspapers, food packaging, etc… All recycling centers take paper and most communities now have recycling programs with curb side pick-up for paper.

38. Cardboard boxes – Many local non-profits and will take them for their personal us. If your workplace collects at least 100 boxes or more each month, UsedCardboardBoxes.com accepts them for resale.

39. Shoes – Charities and thrift shops will accept shoes which can still be used. Nike also has a used show program that sends used athletic shows to Africa and Latin America.

40. Clothes – Clothes are one of the easiest things to recycle as so many charitable organizations will accept them such as Goodwill, Veteran’s Support Groups and most churches.

41. Toothbrushes and Razors – Plastic ones can be recycled back into plastic or plastic lumber.

42. Scrap Metal – Not only can you recycle it, you can earn from it. Scrap metal from construction projects, home remodeling, demolition, etc…

43. Glass – Recycling glass containers of any type is generally about 33% more efficient than producing it from scratch. This saves energy consumption which reduces carbon emissions.

44. Old Jewelry – Most jewelry can be melted down and refashioned into something new for you. Recycle your jewelry and get a new fashion piece at the same time.

45. Wine Corks – Some flooring companies will take used wine corks and turn them into cork flooring. Help build a house with your old wine corks.

46. Old Christmas Lights – How many times have you pulled out the Christmas lights from last year and they did not work? Instead of throwing them away, recycle them. Some lighting companies will take them.

47. Appliances – Washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators are accepted by local thrift shop or charitable organizations of they still work. If not, take them to your local recycling center. They will tear them apart to recycle the various parts such as the metal.

48. Eyeglasses -Old glasses can be donated to many charitable organizations. If you do not know of any, your eye doctor will also take them and send them to a deserving charity.

49. Phone Books – Most recycling centers will accept phone books. If not, when new phone books are delivered each year, the phone book company will set up recycling areas around the community to take the old phone books. Otherwise contact the closest Project ReDirectory center.

50. Hearing Aids – Like eyeglasses, there are many people in need of hearing aids who can’t afford them. Donate your old hearing aids to a variety of charities.

To learn more about Recycling in general, visit http://www.RecyclingCenters.org
RecyclingCenters.org has information on recycling and provides maps of local recycling centers in your area.

Author: Nick Hensgen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

The Benefits of Green Tea Extract: Anti-Aging, Anti-Cancer, Weight Control

One of the great advancements in nutrition in the twenty-first century is the scientific confirmation of the many benefits of green tea extract. Here are just a few. Green tea:

• Lowers cholesterol
• Slows arthritis
• Prevents the growth of cancer cells
• Assists weight loss

What accounts for the health benefits of green tea extract? Over 1,800 scientific studies have found that the active constituents in green tea are powerful antioxidants. These are called polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols. Epigallocatechin gallate (you can just call it EGCG) is the most powerful of these antioxidants.
Milligram for milligram, EGCG has 25 to 100 times the antioxidant power of vitamins C and E. A cup of green tea has more antioxidants than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries.

These abundant antioxidants power the benefits of green tea extract. They keep DNA intact and they stabilize the membranes of cells. These effects of green tea make it a powerful support in many health conditions. Let’s look at the benefits of green tea supplements in more detail.

Green tea has been shown to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels.

Who would have imagined that simple green tea could be as potent as Lipitor or Zocor or Crestin with none of their side effects? Scientific studies show that middle-aged men and women in Japan who drink 2 or more cups of green tea a day almost always have normal cholesterol. Scientists have also recently reported that if you drink green tea after you eat a fatty food, less cholesterol will go into you bloodstream.

And if you have high cholesterol when you begin taking green tea supplements, your body will convert less of it into a form that clogs your arteries.

Green tea protects your joints against osteoarthritis.

This is one of the least known but most beneficial effects of green tea extract. Green tea prevents inflammation. When there is less inflammation, there is less wear and tear on your joints.

Green tea prevents the growth of cancer cells.

The EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme. This health benefit of green tea is especially important in cancers of the prostate, breast, and lung.

Researchers studied two groups of men who a pre-cancerous condition of the prostate. One consumed the equivalent of 12 to 15 cups of green tea a day. One did not. One year later, 30% of the men who did not consume green tea supplements developed prostate cancer. Only 3% of the men who took green tea supplements developed cancer.

Another of the benefits of green tea extract is support for women who have breast cancer. Green tea provides chemicals that bind estrogen. This hormone is not then free to stimulate breast cancer cells.

Women who consume the greatest amount of green tea before menopause have the least severe forms of breast cancer when the disease occurs. Women who drink green tea are less likely to have recurrences of breast cancer after treatment. And most important of all, women who consume green tea are 50% less likely to develop breast cancer at all.

Another of the benefits of green tea extract is protection against lung cancer.
The Japanese have both the highest rate of smoking and the lowest rate of lung cancer in the developed world. Japanese smokers who consume a lot of green tea seem to be protected against lung cancer.

And green tea can even help you lose weight. In a clinical trial, men eating a high-fat diet were given enough green tea provide the caffeine in a single cup of coffee. Although this amount of caffeine has no effect on weight loss, when the caffeine comes from green tea, it is highly significant.

The green tea supplement boosted the number of calories burned by 4.5%. While this is just 135 calories a day, the study showed that taking green supplements could help the average man on a high-fat diet lose 18 lbs (8 kg) in a year’s time. It could help the average woman on a high-fat diet lose 11 pounds (5 kg). This is without eating less or exercising more.

How Can I Take Green Tea?

The benefits of green tea extract are greatest if you take green tea supplements rather than drink green tea. A study in the December 2004 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirmed that green supplements get more antioxidants into your bloodstream that drinking green tea. Two capsules of green tea extract a day can provide all the benefits of 20 cups of green tea-all you need to support even difficult health conditions.

Green tea is safe and effective. Take 1 to 3 capsules of green extract every day. It is better to take green tea supplements in the morning or afternoon rather than at night. In the unlikely event of stomach upset, take with food.

Oktay zadam has an avid interest in health and well-being and is a senior editor of Nutritional Supplements Health Guide. The site discusses about vitamins, minerals, medicinal herbs, and other health supplements.

Copyright http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com All Rights Reserved
You may use this article in its entirety with the Author Bio and with all links intact and hyperlinked properly.

Author: Oktay Ozadam
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Recycling by University of Washington, Seattle students. It’s easy to recycle. UW students share facts about recycling and garbage. Take the extra step to recycle, your actions DO make a difference. Recycle everyday, to the music of Bonnie Tyler.

Here are 8 ways to recycle a 2 liter soda bottle. Save the earth, recycle today! Did you know…Americans throw away 2 million plastic bottles an hour. We throw away… More» about 868 million pounds of it annually (about 75% of what’s produced). That’s an estimated 0000000 worth of plastic!

Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world. Here in the US wind farms have popped up in more than 30 states, producing enough energy to power an estimated 2.5 million homes a day. Thanks to growing concerns over natural gas prices, a desire for energy independence and incentives for renewable energy production, it’s expected this trend will continue. Interviews with Eric Silagy, FPL Energy and Mike Revak, Siemens Power Generation. Footage of Horse Hollow wind farm. www.powergeneration.siemens.com

how does the global warming is going to affect our planet? What can we do about it? Is it as real as people say it is?

So i know you can recycle: Plastic, Paper, Glass, and Pop cans……. but can you recycle like metal cans that soups, vegetables, etc. come in? I really want to start recycling but I don’t know everything that can be recycled! If i am missing something or you have tips on recycling let me know!

Go green easily and buy in bulk with friends at a grocery warehouse.  You save time, money and fuel just for starters.  Most grocery warehouse stores charge $45-50 for a yearly membership and allow up to three people to be on the main member’s non-corporate card.  When split three-ways it comes out to a little over $16.00 per person to join.  The average savings buying in bulk from these kinds of stores is 33 to 38% on fresh vegetables and fruits, up to 43% on fresh meats or poultry or fish and up to 55% on canned goods and staples such as flour, rice, sugar and coffee.  These discounts include the organic foods more of these stores are carrying.  While these stores keep a basic inventory of popular items in stock, they do switch brand names, quantity sizes and rotate seasonal items quickly.  Most send out flyers in the newspapers or put on their website special deals or things being offered for a short time so check those out before you go.  

Go green easily buying in bulk with your buddies and keep your friendships enriched.  One of the beauties of bulk purchasing with people you like is how you spend more time together just by doing a necessity.  You get to hang out writing the shopping list, making the purchases and then dividing it all up.  The other nice thing about shopping together is that impulse purchases are kept at bay.  Having a friend there to remind each of you that it’ll be harder to separate out the cost and taxes on that cute bird feeder or the complete Beatles compilation keeps everyone feeling more on task.  The free food samples can be a bit distracting but if you go there hungry, after 15 minutes of wandering the aisles, you’ll be full; we all know how important it is not to shop on an empty stomach.  

Go green easily buying as a co-operative with neighbors, family, or even coworkers.  What’s not to like about something that saves you money, strengthens your bonds of friendship and helps the planet?  Your bank accounts stay as full as your cupboards, you can reuse containers from past purchases (good for the earth) as you divvy up the goods, take one car and turn a boring chore into a fun day.  There’s strength and savings in numbers so round up your posse and get your “green” on.

Go green easily by using second-hand and consignment stores.  The current economic downturns most of us are feeling has taken some of the stigma off buying preowned items.  Yard sales are hot shopping spots, on line classified ad sites are cropping up in droves and community swaps are growing in popularity.  Second-hand is NOT a dirty word.  People of all classes are realizing that there are great finds on the racks and shelves of consignment stores and thrift stores.  The old adage of “One man’s  trash is another man’s treasure.” has taken on new meaning and new value.

Utilizing stores that clean, refurbish, rewire or simply sell items as-is eliminates the need to ship merchandise from around the country.  There’s no added cost to the price tag for fuel fees, warehouse handling fees, trucking companies fees nor the big charge for buying a name brand article at full price.  Donations are tax deductible with receipts from the organization stating the estimated value of the items; you save when you give as well as receive.  Many charity organizations use their resale stores for training.  The developmentally disabled, recovering addicts, the homeless and others in need of marketable skills learn how to rewire appliances or do reupholstery work or succeed in retail so they can support themselves.

Go green and get greenbacks by putting consignment stores to good use.  Last year’s fashion staples, brand new stock from retired businesses or an extra toaster oven from a newlywed’s gift collection are found treasures.  As a rule, only clean, like-new products are acceptable for consideration at these stores.  Finding original price tags on packaging is very common.  Consignment stores will either pay you a flat rate for your items or take a small fee on what they sold for.  Many will even give an in-store credit or let you trade some of your things for same-priced merchandise.  Building a good relationship with the owner or manager can garner you some nice perks, like getting a first look at new arrivals before they go out onto the sales floor.

Going green and second-hand buying go hand-in-hand so remember, second-hand is NOT a dirty word.  These stores serve their communities by employing from within the area, giving new life to gently-used or even never-used things and keeping their corner of the local economy going.  Thrift stores are usually a training and financial source for charities while consignment stores put cash in your pocket but both do the same service; keeping usable items out of the dumps.

A soak in the steamy tub, surrounded by candles certainly seems like a good solution to loosen up. Nonetheless brand new research suggests that burning particular forms of candles may perhaps generate inside air pollutants.

Regularly lighting several candles in an unventilated area could lead to complications, state researchers.

Research workers from South Carolina State University researched paraffin-based as well as vegetable-source candles to discover their pollutants. The researchers allowed candles from various manufacturers burn for as much as 6 hrs in the small container about (8 in. x 8 in. x 26 in.), after which they collected as well as analyzed contents launched into the air.

The researchers found that paraffin-based candles — typically the most popular type — emitted deadly chemical substances such as toluene as well as benzene. Soy candles didn’t, in accordance with the analysis, which was presented.

The researchers say that burning a paraffin-based candle occasionally will be unlikely to present a well being risk. Even so, regularly lighting several candles inside an unventilated living space may lead to issues, and might worsen asthma, result in allergy-like symptoms, or irritate the respiratory system.

Nevertheless, whether or not some candles are less hazardous than others remains debatable, based on some experts. Nevertheless there does appear to be sufficient proof out there to point out that some types of candle waxes are far better than others.

Researchers urge individuals to become prudent about lighting any form of candle — regardless of whether it’s paraffin, beeswax, or soybean — in an enclosed room. “Simply lighting a match to begin a candle generates sulfur air pollution inside the air. Lighting matches is one of the major sources of sulfur from the indoor environment, so employing a lighter most likely be cleaner. Once again it is highly recommended to utilize some type of gas lighter in order to initially light your candles no matter what wax they are manufactured from.

Although you aren’t placing your life on the line by burning a candle, you need to exercise at the very least some caution. You should really try and decrease your own exposure to paraffin wax candles. Plus whenever you burn any form of candle, you could turn on the exhaust fan; regardless of whether it ruins the ambiance, it vents away the toxic gases. Folks merely ought to make use of common sense.

Not every person is familiar with soy candles since soy candles really have not been on the marketplace much earlier than the actual mid-1990s. Nevertheless soy candles are something which is attaining more popularity because of their eco-friendly nature. Soy candles can be created in all colors and scents comparable to the paraffin-based candles.

For your wellness as well as the atmosphere, give scented soy candles a try upon your next purchase.