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Although we haven’t found any figures on the recycling of electronic waste in Texas, from a recent item in the Resource Recycling eNewsletter, we find some interesting figures for a couple of states on the west coast.
“E-Cycle Washington, the Evergreen State's electronics recycling program, kicked off its third year by recycling over 3 million pounds of TVs, computers and monitors during the month of January.”
And just south of its border, “Oregon E-Cycles announced large gains in its electronics recycling program in 2010, with Oregonians recycling 24.15 million pounds of televisions, computers and monitors, exceeding the program's goal of recycling 21.5 million pounds of covered devices.”
(That’s a lot of recycled electronic items in both states.)
Speaking of Oregon, in the Plastics Recycling Update eNewsletter, we find: “Oregon's proposed ban on plastic bags slowly was sent to a legislative committee for a hearing on the measure, which is intended to cut down on the litter on roads, beaches and waterways and to reduce headaches of recycling plant owners.”
Also on plastic bags, “Out in the Pacific Ocean, the EPA is praising the mayors and county councils of Maui and Kauai in Hawaii for banning plastic bags, which the agency says is a step toward reducing the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch."
Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest said, "This will not only decrease the amount of plastic in the counties, but it will reduce the number of bags that end up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – an enormous area of floating plastic waste."
(We heard about this island in the Pacific made up of nothing but plastic waste. Here at home, we still like paper bags; they don’t slide around or tip over in the vehicle... Course we try to use the cloth bags when we remember to take them in.)
Switching subjects, received an email from a contact in Austin (thanks Holly) about an upcoming event there you might want to note on your calendar.
In part the e-mail stated, “Two of Austin’s most respected green professionals — the city of Austin’s Chief Sustainability Officer Lucia Athens, and Enviromedia Co-Founder and CEO Valerie Davis — share details on their organizations’ sustainability efforts in a series of in-depth interviews leading up to the first annual GoGreen Conference in Austin, April 6, 2011 at the Austin Convention Center...”
The e-mail went on to explain some things about the conference:
• It was sold out for four years in Oregon State and two years in Washington State
• They are expecting between 600 and 1,000 attendees for this first annual event in Texas
• It will feature over 15 sessions focused on key sustainability issues for business owners
• More than 60 speakers will be showcased
• More information is available at austin.gogreenconference.net
(Sounds interesting. We will also try to put more information on it in this column as it becomes available.)
Till next week, do have a great one...
Gloria and Ollie are local citizens concerned with the environment and helping others. Ollie, a retired Air Force fighter pilot and instructor pilot, is a graduate of Leadership San Marcos. They both received higher education at Texas State University and worked on staff before retiring. For questions or comments, please call them at 353-7432 or e-mail omaier@TxState.edu
Columns
A Word About Recycling-Feb. 20, 2011
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A Word About Recycling - May 6, 2012
From the latest Resource Recycling eNewsletter, a few items we thought were interesting. Here are parts of them.
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Life's Like That - May 6, 2012
For five years I worked in “the City,” Washington, District of Columbia, at 1100 Independence Avenue, in the James Forrestal Building.
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Life's Like That - April 29, 2012
Over the past few years I have written often about being an overcomer when life tries to get you down.
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A Word About Recycling - April 29, 2012
Today we will include several pleasing items from the recent Plastics Recycling Update eNewsletter.
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SIFE helps organize 5K fundraiser
Texas State University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Caritas of Austin recently partnered to provide a 5K run to help provide a service continuum for those experiencing poverty.
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A Word About Recycling - April 15, 2012
Many of you older folks (my age) may remember being advised by our parents. who lived through the great depression, "Waste not: Want not."
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A Word About Recycling - April 8, 2012
Earlier we mentioned we would give a report in this column on the success of the event sponsored by several Texas State University departments, student organizations, and helpful businesses to collect obsolete or unneeded electronic items for recycling.
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Life's Like That - April 8, 2012
This is an Easter thought from the last century. It was my first pastorate in an old church on the south edge of Alexandria, Virginia.
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Life's Like That - April 1, 2012
Can you imagine the looks on the rough Neanderthal faces the first time someone asked, “What time is it?”
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A Word About Recycling - April 1, 2012
Found the following item contained in a recent Resource Recycling eNewsletter interesting, especially since it is aimed at stewardship. This is because we believe we should all try to be the best stewards possible of what we have been blessed with.
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A Word About Recycling - May 6, 2012
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