Archive for June, 2009
This blog is about plastic, but the longer we are involved in the green movement the more apparent our disposal of almost everything that we use has to be examined, discussed, & improved!
OK, we’re a 100% digital. Now what? In others words, what is going to happen to all of those “old” TV’s? The truth is most of us are terrible at recycling and reusing ANYTHING . . . take plastic bags, for example. It’s once and done. Impact on the environment . . . say what?
So, how many TV’s are headed to the dump? This is from a past article written in Popular Mechanics:
[...]
How many CRT televisions are out there? It’s hard to say. People don’t always dispose of old televisions. Many still work, but have been pushed into attics or closets by fresh-off-the-shelf HDTVs.
… Environmental Protection Agency
estimates on televisions are staggering. The EPA has sales figures back to 1980, and since then, 704.9 million CRT televisions have been sold in the U.S. An estimated 42.4 percent of those are still in use.
- In 2008, the EPA estimates that 23.9 million tube TVs will be disposed of by Americans (that’s 711,029 tons of televisions).
- Numbers for end-of-life TVs have been over 20 million per year since 2005, and are expected to go up to almost 25 million by 2010.
- Compare this to 10 years ago, when the numbers were closer to 12 million sets disposed of per year.
Most of us rarely give a thought to the components that are used to manufacture the electronics we use. It’s probably time for us to grow up because our actions . . . or should I say our thoughtless actions have consequences! We need to give some thought as to the disposal of our old analog sets AND other electronics that no longer work from the switch to digital.
This is from Peachy Green:
Each cathode ray picture tube releases three to eight pounds of lead into the environment as well as mercury, cadmium and other toxic substances. So it is really important that you do the right thing with your old set.
If not disposed of properly, analog TV sets can dangerously contaminate air soil and groundwater.
Don’t let one of them be yours. Recycle instead. It’s easy and with so many TV sets being discarded, it can make a big difference to preserving the environment.
Don’t know where to go for the information about responsibly disposing of your old TV? Check out … Earth911.com . . . it great! Put your zip code in and the site will give you information about where to recycle in your area!
Monday, June 8th 2009, was World Ocean Day. Few in the MSM noticed. Weren’t all these guys eco-friendly advocates just a few weeks ago?
It seems talk is cheap. Big name media corporations, like Universal’s NBC & MSNBC, tied themselves to Earth Day recently. They were shouting to the world, “See how green we are?” To which I answer, “no you are not green! ”
Your on air personalities over at MSNBC’s Morning Joe continue to drink out of plastic containers while on the air! This is green? Come on, who are you kidding? Not Me.
This is a powerful and cogent video on plastic pollution just released to coincide with World Ocean Day. The first 45 seconds lay it squarely on the line.
I find it impossible to believe that after looking at these pictures anyone would want to continue using plastic bags or bottles indiscriminately. Sorry for the mini rant. I keep thinking about the astronomical numbers of bags and bottles that have been produced, just in the last hour.
That having been said, please click on the Ocean Keepers tab and consider purchasing your very own reusable reminder kit. Part of the money will go to Ocean Keepers on-going effortto get the message out.
WRONG!
It is so easy to think that one person’s usage of plastic bags has no significance . . . and nothing could be farther from the truth. As this short video demonstrates:
Remember using just one reusable bag each week can save the following:
. . . 6 plastic bags a week
. . . that’s 24 in one month
. . . that’s 288 bags a year
. . . that’s 22, 176 plastic bags saved in a lifetime!
Taking time to reuse and recycle plastic bags can prevent this!
Tell me again, how it’s just a plastic bag!
