Way back in 2006 I wrote about an enterprising Australian converting his old television into a working aquarium. Now there's a web page documenting how to tackle this project. Amazing what the Internet makes possible. Considering there are two televisions for every citizen in America, there are a lot of potential aquariums out there, which can potentially save a lot of space in our nation's landfills. This is a great example of reuse and recycling, so have at it do-it-yourselfers!
When you think of countertop material, paper probably comes far down on the list, if at all. But Shetka Stone of Minnesota manufactures countertops made entirely of recycled waste paper. The kitchen countertops are durable; scratch-, stain- and water-resistant; and, perhaps most surprisingly, class A fire rated. Check out their web site for more information on this clever use of recycling.
For Earth Day as an American, I have decided to celebrate, by thanking it. Thank you for all you have given me, including:
The Mesozoic jungles that have given me the gas for my car and the coal to fuel the electric generating plant that propels my air conditioner. Thanks to the ancient forests of Canada, today being pulverized so I can read my morning paper. Thanks to the people of Third World countries that grow my fruit that is flown in fresh so I can eat it for breakfast. Thanks to giant retailers that can buy globally so my clothing does not need to be made anywhere near my home. Thanks to China for their lax environmental codes so that my solar panels and other “green” goods can be produced in a place where the wastes from the making of these products does not tax my local ecosystem. Thanks to eons of fresh snowfall in the Alps so I can have a bottle of clean water shipped from Europe. Thanks to rainforests producing the oxygen I need to burn off the massive caloric intake I consume eating my fast food diet. Thanks to the oceans for consuming much of the fertilizer runoff from my lush green lawn. And thanks to the U.S. government that lets me do this to my planet, my Earth, my home.
Seriously. Let’s not forget the real heroes of Earth Day, the plants and animals that make our existence possible.
Every home will soon have a laptop. So, where do the recycled laptop batteries go? I am on my fourth laptop in eight years. I have changed companies so the turnover has not all gone to the landfill. However, on the two IBMs, the Dell and my new ASUS model the thing that seems to go first is the battery. While the current one I'm using is not out completely, the cycle times have decreased. There are only so many times a battery can be recharged (300 to 500, depending on type). New batteries seem to be the most expensive thing to replace on my laptop. Well, maybe not, but it seems to be what I am spending the money on. It seems we get nothing back on the recycling of the battery except to “feel good” that I did not put it in the trash. Where is that battery going and is it just being crushed and thrown in a landfill in another country? I want to decrease my footprint, not just move it to another country.
I did find an interesting article on refurbishing a laptop battery yourself, though I have yet to try it. There is also a company mentioned in this article that will take out the dead cells and replace them. And here is an article on simply what happens to the battery when you send it to be recycled.
Sad to see the end of winter? Sorry to see your skis packed away for the season? Well, one company's innovative design lets you use them year-round. Green Mountain Ski Furniture
recycles old skis and snowboards into "usable art" such as Adirondack ski chairs, ski benches and outdoor furniture. They'll even custom-design and build products with your own old gear. Not only is the furniture attractive and practical, but the company's helping the environment. They pick up any old equipment for free in Vermont, where they are located, and encourage people from outside the state to mail anything to them to donate.
