Green Shipping Containers – How Green Are They?

Now I don’t mean by this that I am going to talk to you about painting your second hand containers green so it blends into the countryside. This blog is about how by buying a shipping container you can flex your environmentally friendly muscles and feel good about the fact that you have done your bit to help the planet (and got a really good product into the bargain!!).

If you decide to buy second hand containers then, obviously, you are recycling an industrial product by giving it a new life. Most people use their ex-shipping containers as a means of storage. With the addition of a lockbox and a hardened steel shackle padlock you have a storage container that is not only extremely secure but has a whole new useful purpose.

New/once used shipping containers also can be environmentally friendly. When used as part of a construction project these containers can be erected in much less time (and therefore use much less energy) than traditional construction methods. A recent well known example of this was the Travelodge in Uxbridge. Costs were a third . less than a traditional build, and construction took a matter of months. All achieved by using purpose built containers which were put together in no time on site.

Both a new shipping container and used storage container can be converted into affordable housing that is ideal for enabling nurses, teachers, students etc to live near to their place of work/study. This reduces the carbon footprint by abolishing the need to commute.

On the subject of accommodation, shipping container conversions slot easily into towns and cities without requiring much – if any – additional infrastructure. They can be easily transported onto brown field sites and connected up with minimum disturbance to their surroundings.

The flat roof of a new shipping container or second hand containers is ideal for housing solar panels or growing a “green roof”. The use of ceramic thermal paint for insulation means that the containers themselves are often better insulation than traditional houses.

Shipping Containers are often used as receptacles for recycling. Think of the containers where you put your old newspapers in car parks for example. 10ft containers are frequently used to recycle clothes, shoes and the like.

Charities re-use shipping containers to transport items such as medical equipment, classroom furniture, books and clothes (all of which are being recycled themselves) to Africa etc. Afterwards the container is often used to provide the community with additional covered space.

At the end of a used storage container useful life it can be totally re-used by recycling the steel and wood and turning them into something else.

These days going green and doing your bit for the environment has never been so popular. Often, however, it involves additional effort and compromise. With a new shipping container or second hand containers not only are you going green by giving an essentially industrial item a new purpose but you will have a supremely adaptable and long lasting practical product helping you in your everyday life – in whatever role you have chosen for it!!

Find helpful hints in the sphere of free website traffic – this is your own knowledge base.

Technorati Tags: Affordable housing, Carbon Footprint, Waste management

What You Should Know About Curbside Recycling

Hopefully, you get to see those curbside recycling bins in action each trash day. If you do see them, then that means there is a recycling program in your area. If you do not, you need to take steps to see that one is implemented. Everyone wants a cleaner earth because this is the only one we have and without a concentrated effort by individuals such as you, this planet does not stand a chance. Thankfully, you are not alone. Other people are catching onto the recycling movement and want to do something to help protect the planet.

The curbside recycling program allows people to recycle and leave their recyclables out on the curb with the rest of their trash. There may be designated pick up days for each type of material, such as glass, plastic or paper products. You will have to check with the local recycling services to find out the designated days for pick up of your aluminum cans, plastic bottles and such.

Doing your part has never been easier. You can easily separate your garbage as you throw it away, if you utilize waste bins to collect the trash. The most important tip for dealing with garbage is to always rinse out any containers that you throw away. It will definitely keep the smell down and help out the collectors just an extra bit. But simply putting your garbage out on the street may not be good enough for you. Perhaps you need to know how your recyclable material is actually used. You may be surprised by all the ways recycled material is put to good use.

These days, in many playgrounds, you will see rubber mats beneath the playground equipment. These rubber mats are made from old plastics and other rubber goods that have been recycled. While you are at the playground, also take a look at the benches. Many benches are being made out of recycled plastics but it does not stop there. That note the kids are passing may be written on recycled paper. The parking lot may be made from recycled glass and asphalt.

The different ways curbside recycling programs work is astounding. It is one thing to put your plastic water bottle into a bin and quite another to see the marvelous ways it is being reused. It is positive reinforcement that your actions are helping the environment in very great ways and is a great example to be teaching our children. Keeping this planet clean is our number one priority and should be pursued actively.

Technorati Tags: aluminum cans, compost, Curbside Recycling, landfills, recyclables, recycle bin, recycled materials, recycling centers, recycling services, waste reduction

Recycling Cans Could Help The Enviroment

Food and drinks cans make up around three percent of household waste that is thrown away by households in the UK on a daily basis. Around 75 percent of all drinks cans in the UK are made from aluminium although there are still almost 2 billion drinks cans that are made from steel. Food cans are often called tins because although they are made from steel, they have an ultra thin layer of tin that surrounds them.

If we consider that an average household goes through around 600 steel cans and 200 aluminium cans a year then it isnt hard to imagine the staggering amount of waste that is being generated by each and every one of us annually. We cannot go on burying this waste in landfill sites as the pressure on landfill sites is now nearing capacity and the estimations are that we will run out of space for new landfill sites within the next decade. For more information visit Enviromental technology

At the moment, approximately 80 percent of our household waste goes to landfill sites and as the amount of waste we produce is increasing each year we have to find new and creative ways of disposing of our waste. Landfill is no longer a viable option, not only because there isnt any space, but because landfill sites are not pleasant. There are risks associated with landfill that include the risk of explosion and also a risk of leakage of toxic pollutants into the surrounding earth and waterways which can present a health risk.

Basically, landfill sites are a threat to the environment so disposing of our waste in an environmentally friendly way that saves resources, energy and costs should be a matter of concern for all of us. Fortunately, more and more people are waking up to the idea of recycling. Local authorities also recognise the advantages of recycling and so roadside collections and the number of collection banks where you can deposit waste is on the increase.

Why recycle cans?

Cans are one of the easiest items to recycle and the fact is, each and every can that ends up in landfill is a waste of a valuable resource and heres why. Producing new metal to make new cans depletes the earth of natural resources, such as iron, coal and water to make steel and bauxite to make aluminium and basically it costs more to produce new metal than it does to recycle it.

For example, recycling aluminium not only uses 95 percent less energy than it does to produce new aluminium if we recycle just 1kg of aluminium it saves 6kg of Bauxite. Similarly, if we recycle 1 tonne of steel it saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, half a tonne of coal, and uses 75 percent less energy than it does to make new steel. Recycling any type of metal reduces the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere, reduces water pollution and massively reduces costs in general. For more information visit enviromental products

Cans are also 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled almost indefinitely without any loss of quality to the metal itself. Recycling metal is also a relatively simple process, in fact; it can take as little as six weeks for aluminium cans to be back on the supermarket shelves after collection.

One of the barriers to recycling other materials is the demand for the product. Take plastic for example; it can be cheaper to produce new plastic than to recycle it so there is less of a demand for used plastic. However, there is a great demand for used metal, so much so that there are schemes in operation that will pay you cash for your used aluminium cans.

Another barrier is sorting the waste. Sorting broken bits of glass can be a complex process but sorting aluminium from steel is not difficult. You can tell the difference between aluminium and steel using a simple magnet. If it sticks it is steel, which makes separation of steel very easy as magnets can be used to extract it.

So bearing in mind all the advantages involved in recycling cans, why are any food or drinks cans still ending up in landfill?

How you can make a difference

The truth is that we can all do more to protect the environment if we remember that each can dumped in landfill is a real waste. You can make a difference at home and at work by making sure that your cans are recycled and are not disposed of along with other rubbish. If kerbside collection is not available in your area yet, find out where the nearest collection bank or collection scheme is and deposit your cans there. If we all do our bit we can all benefit from a healthier environment and can preserve the earths resources for future generations.

Refer to environmental for more information.

Technorati Tags: Landfill, Municipal solid waste, Waste management

Compost Bins – A Useful Resource For Recycling Organic Materials

Organic gardening

With the recent emphasis on the importance of recycling, composting has become more and more popular as a way to deal with organic waste items. And, on top of being a good way to recycle, composting also produces a wonderful soil additive that can be used for potting soil and organic garden plantings as well. Compost bins provide the best way for people to get started in managing and containing the composting process.

There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening. In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic materials themselves.

Of the different compost bins available, some are known as holding units. These low maintenance bins are a very good option when space for a home composting project is limited, such as those who live in apartments or homeowners who simply don’t have much room. Holding units do not require turning of the compost pile, but the resulting lack of aeration means the composting process will take longer, usually from six months to two years.

Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart, moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and mixed with this kind of bin. Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.

One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap. Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning units because there are less odor problems because of the improved ventilation.

Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally cost most, are harder to build and require more space. The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to the correct level and once it is full and the composting process begins, new materials cannot be added.

Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple times a month.

The placement of compost bins in your backyard will depend on both aesthetic considerations and functional needs. It is best to place it in an area with good air circulation and in partial shade if available. It is also helpful to locate it near the garden area and a watering source. You can screen your compost pile with shrubs or simple fencing and you will want to position it away from your outdoor entertaining spaces.

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What’s the Basic Recycling Process for Paper

Most of us don’t think about recycling much past when the driver picks it up or we drop it off at the local recycling center.  Of course, the process of making new material from used items is important, but in the course of everyday life it just doesn’t make it through all of the other concerns in the day.  You could schedule a visit to the closest recycling plant and see what the recycling process for paper looks like up close and personal.  Most companies are more than willing to share the process and information behind taking scrap paper and making it usable again.  After all, that is the best way to really show people that their efforts matter.  However, it’s a little faster to learn about the recycling paper process by reading about it.

Nothing can happen in the recycling paper process without one very important element.People willing to make the time and save their paper products are vital to the success of any recycling effort.The entire recycling process starts with you, the consumer, in other words.  Whether you drop your stuff off at the handy recycling bin or have it picked up by a service, the process can’t start until you become a part of it.

Once the paper makes it to the center, the first step is pulping.  In the recycling process for paper, this means that water is added to large amounts of used paper and agitated to produce pulp.After the paper is sufficiently broken down, the pulp is pushed through a series of screens to separate the larger pieces of contaminants from the useable paper pulp.  The somewhat clean paper pulp is then placed in a machine that uses centrifugal cleaning to spin more of the debris from the paper pulp.

The next step in the recycling process for paper is to remove the ink.  The water and paper pulp mixture is treated to a flotation treatment.Surfactant causes the ink to release from the paper and float to the surface for easy removal.The pulp is now ready to be kneaded and broken into fibers further.he final washing is done with clean water, removing any contaminants or particles that is still hanging on.If the paper is intended to be non-color, workers will initiate a bleaching process.

The recycling process for paper is then concluded with presses to form the new, paper into its proper shape and size.As you know, recycled paper and paper products bear the famous recycling logo so you can pick products that were made with environmentally safe techniques.

Technorati Tags: auto, bulb light recycling, carbide insert recycling, Composting, computer recycling, ecology, ecosystem, electronic recycling, equipment, glass recycling, metal recycling, oil recycling, paper recycling, plastic recycling, Recycling, Waste management, water recycling

Recycling Can Mean Anyone Can Do Their Bit For The Planet

You have a home and it is so much more than the roof over your head. This home provides you food, water, shelter and the very air you breathe. Your planet, my planet and our planet is home to billions of people spread out over hundreds of countries. But it will not be much of a home unless we start recycling our garbage, and take the “reduce reuse recycle” idiom to heart. No one wants to live in a dirty, filthy home overrun by garbage. The Earth is no different.

Global climate change is a very real threat to the preservation of this planet. You have probably seen television ads focusing on new hybrid vehicles that can help save the environment by producing less toxic byproducts from the burning of fossil fuels. Does the burning of trash cross your mind as ways you can help save the environment. Our landfills are becoming overflowing with hazardous waste and other products that are not biodegradable. Plastic water bottles, disposable diapers and styrofoam containers, to name a few, are all becoming huge problems in most areas of the world.

If you are going to be recycling, then you will need to make sure the recyclables go into the appropriate destination containers. Plastics, glass, aluminum cans and paper products will each have a separate container. You should also consider making a compost if you live in a house that has a yard, that will utilize any yard trimmings and left over food waste.

If every person did their part to help combat overflowing landfills, then we could reduce our waste by fifty percent. That is half the amount going into landfills today. Perhaps there will come a time when we no longer have to continuously find new places to bury our waste. Plastics would be reused. Organic materials would be turned back into the soil to enrich the ground for crops. It is a lovely sentiment and thought but not enough people are doing their part to help make this a cleaner world and prevent global warming causes.

Recycling is a huge responsibility that each and every person should take upon themselves to help keep our landfills free of recyclables that could be better used elsewhere. If you do not know how to recycle, then there are resources in many places to help you getting started. Your local sanitation program can give you information on learning how to recycle and you can find a plethora of information on the internet.

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Future Improvements In Recycling and Waste Management

Waste Management

The New Focus With Water Recycling Waste Management.

Most people who have trash service are familiar with the idea of recycling plastic bottles. After all, they are the most common type of plastic product that people deal with on a regular basis. When you attend a sporting event like a soccer game, inside the stadium you can find recycling bins for them just about everywhere.

The other type of plastic that also typically finds its way into our hands, as consumers is plastic bags. Fortunately, there are tons of ways you can reduce plastic bag usage and recycle the bags.It’s easy to start with the plastic bags recycling centers will accept.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that plastic bags with a mark of 4 or 2 are completely recyclable. Another tip to keep things going smoothly with your recycling efforts is that every bag to be recycled should be clean and dry.

One thing that gardeners tend to forget is to recycle their container soil. When you need to replant your vegetable containers you should remove the old soil and distribute it out in the garden where the soil level has gone low or create an organic compost pile for a future use.

A Growing Problem With Recycling Recycling Glass

Throughout the world waste is contributing to a growing problem of disposal that doesn’t have a strong solution in the immediate future. As the economies of China, India and other developing countries grow with no uniform policies put into place that examine and identify disposal in ways that involve recycling metal , recovery and minimizing the impact on the population and the environment, there exists a trend towards pollution that is likely to expand and get out of hand.

Waste management worldwide is a growing concern. Many developing countries have a promising future, but one of the ways in which the country must adapt to their growing culture and civilization is to provide modern and sufficient waste management services that can meet the needs of the country while adapting positive strategies for the future.

Future Improvements in Recycling Equipment Computer Recycling

So, what does our future hold for water recycling? In the sort term, countries with increased investment in recycling infrastructure and over all improvements in the ease at which they recycle should continue to benefit. More and more cities are going to semi-automated sorting and co-mingled collection, even when self-sorting had been a long-established norm.

However, over the long term, the goal of increasing the number of products that are biodegradable and can be recycled is the most important. New and exciting increases in recycling efficiency and the ability to create an even more pure recycled product is also in the cards.

Over the next few decades, there will be a increase in the price of energy as the world population grows. As such, the need for recycling and reusing will continue to make it a more attractive option. Increases in energy efficiency in the water recycling process will also be major area for researchers and investors.

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Household Waste Management And Environmental Protection

Household Waste Management

If it were a race to produce the most waste, then the United States would be leading the pack. Over 18.5 million tons are produced each year and a majority of this could be avoided by citizens joining in a recycling program using recycled materials with a household waste management plan.

Yes, Americans have made great strides towards environmental protection, as 35 percent of people recycle their garbage each year and help landfills avoid the constantly overflowing recyclables that clog up the landfill. But it is not enough. Show others how recycling is done and how easy it can be.

Environmental services
It is amazing how simple recycling can be once you know what to do. Your first step is separating your garbage waste from the recyclables. Environmental protection begins at home with you dropping the appropriate trash into its special waste bin. This means that you are going to need a bin for glass products, paper, aluminum cans and plastics. You take in a bag filled with cans and you get money back. How great is that?

Many schools and work places are not part of a recycling program. However, if recycling bins were supplied and appropriately labeled for glass, aluminum cans, plastic and paper, then no doubt people would join in the recycling movement and place their garbage in the appropriate containers. Have your employer send out a memo asking them to join a waste reduction program. Lead by example and always do your part. If others see your commitment, then they will likely follow suit.

Waste disposal
Make sure you buy recycled goods. This helps recycling industries know that there are people out there who are concerned with environmental protection. Many of our day-to-day products can be purchased that contain recycled materials. You can buy notebook paper made from recycled paper goods.

Many detergent and household cleaning products come in bottles made from recycled plastics. By taking this small step into consumerism you can help further the cause and still have the items you need for your home.

Environmental protection should be first and foremost when it comes to waste management. Educating the masses on the “reduce reuse recycle” environmental benefits will no doubt drop the United States from the top of the…well garbage heap. And the sooner, the better. We can do it and make a difference to the rest of the world.

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Technorati Tags: Household Waste Management, Landfill, Waste minimisation

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: We need to each do more… our planet depends on it

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

We’re wasteful. Not just on an individual level, but on a much broader scale. Our lifestyle is simply unsustainable in terms of the world’s resources we consume. So get the habit: reduce, reuse, recycle …

The subject of unnecessary waste in our society came sharply into focus for my wife and me over the last couple of years due to numerous trips to take garbage to the county dump.

When renovating our cabin we regularly took construction scrap to the dump (along with our wet garbage). We began to notice a considerable number of perfectly good items that had been thrown out. After seeing this for some time (and rescuing numerous perfectly good items along the way), we started to ask, “What can we do about it?”

We started changing our habits to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Although we may think we can’t make a difference individually, small steps taken on an individual level can and do make a difference. We must each do our own small part to minimize the waste and excess consumption in our society. Change is possible… indeed, it’s absolutely necessary.

One of the greatest challenges in doing this is the constant bombardment from the media… the non-stop stream of powerful advertising attempting to convince us that we need the latest and greatest gadgets, toys, electronics, cars, and on and on. It’s a powerful and extremely effective influence.

And it seems that, unfortunately, a lot of people are too lazy and/or simply don’t think about the fact that something that they are throwing away could be used and appreciated by someone else. Nor do they think about the landfill being taken up by perfectly good and useful items.

Our dump experience spawned the idea of a series of short video vignettes that would highlight this sad situation. Yes, it’s a serious topic, but we wanted to have a little fun with it in order to highlight the number of perfectly good items that were being thrown into the dump every week. Thus was born “Adventures with Fitzgerald the Dump Truck”. The episodes can be seen on the Rustic Lodge Lifestyle home page.

What can you do?

Are you concerned about rampant consumerism and the corresponding waste? If so consider taking some of the following steps:

Turn off

Break free of commercials by limiting your exposure to them… and if you have children, this is even more important. Setting a good example is paramount in teaching the next generation that it is not necessary to have the newest, most recent model of everything!

Teach them that happiness does not come from a store! We limit our exposure to the constant barrage of commercial messages. We rarely watch TV, we listen to public radio, and have very few subscriptions to magazines that come to the house.

Consequently we are blissfully unaware of so much of the product marketing and thus are not even tempted to rush out to buy this or that “must have” gizmo. We’ve never had a TV at our country lodge, so when the grandchildren visit, there is no temptation to watch it… it just isn’t part of the “lodge experience”.

Critically assess your habits

What are you throwing away? Get in the habit of looking critically at all of your household waste. Is it really garbage? Can it be used by others? Can you compost your wet garbage? Are you recycling everything that is possible to recycle? We have two or three charities that call us regularly to ask if we have any donations they can pick up. Some of them let us know we can call them any time for an additional pickup of clothing and household items. Check for charities that offer this service in your area.

Taking this simple step would see items such as stuffed toys (we’ve seen full boxes of perfectly good ones at the dump – some brand new with the tags still on),  other toys, bikes, folding chairs, lamps, tables, furniture, and much more, put to good use.

Episode one of the “Fitzgerald” series highlights many of the items that we rescued from the dump. Other episodes show many perfectly good items that had been thrown away, but which we personally didn’t take.

Challenge each other

Families can get together and set up challenges to minimize waste. At the office, organize a waste awareness day. Get your boss involved… or if you are the boss, you set the tone. Even neighborhoods can activate to increase awareness.

These are just a few suggestions to start the creative juices flowing. Each one of us must start taking individual responsibility to reduce the resource footprint on our fragile planet. Reducing our personal waste by limiting unnecessary consumerism, and through reuse and recycling are important actions for all of us.

Technorati Tags: dump, footprint, lifestyle, Recycle, Reduce, Reduce Reuse Recycle, resources, Reuse, waste

Placing Your Recyclables With Curbside Recycling On Collection Day

Curbside Recycling

Do you know how to use a curbside recycling program? Surely you already know the incredible benefit you are providing your planet because, if you do not, then you need to see those benefits in action.t is a great thing because there is just so much room at the landfill site and only so much trash can be put there. Plastics and other recycled materials can take decades to break down. You can do your part by taking part in a great movement to help save the environment.

Curbside recycling

Curbside recycling works when people separate their regular garbage from compost materials and recyclables and put it all out for the sanitation department to pick up. The downside is that some areas, especially in small towns, do not have a recycling program.

This means that you may have to drive to a larger area and take your recyclables to their local processing center. The best advice is to contact local recycling centers to see what they take and when is best to either drop-off or to get a pick-up.

Environmental services
Doing your part has never been easier. You can easily separate your garbage as you throw it away, if you utilize waste bins to collect the trash. The most important tip for dealing with garbage is to always rinse out any containers that you throw away.

It will definitely keep the smell down and help out the collectors just an extra bit. But simply putting your garbage out on the street may not be good enough for you. Perhaps you need to know how your recycling bins is actually used. You may be surprised by all the ways recycled material is put to good use by waste disposal programs.

These days, in many playgrounds, you will see rubber mats beneath the playground equipment. These rubber mats are made from old plastics and other rubber goods that have been recycled. While you are at the playground, also take a look at the benches.

Recycling bins
Many benches are being made out of recycled plastics but it does not stop there. That note the kids are passing may be written on recycled paper. The parking lot may be made from recycled glass and asphalt.

The different ways curbside recycling work is astounding. It is one thing to put your plastic water bottle into a bin and quite another to see the marvelous ways it is being reused.

It is positive reinforcement that your actions are helping the environment in very great ways and is a great example to be teaching our children. Keeping this planet clean is our number one priority and should be pursued actively.

More on curbside recycling:

Technorati Tags: Curbside Recycling, Waste management

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