Aluminum Can vs. Plastic Bottle

Soda can be purchased in either aluminum cans or plastic bottles made from PET and HDPE plastics. An aluminum can holds 12 fluid ounces; a 2-liter bottle holds 67.6 fluid ounces. An aluminum soda can can be recycled into another soda can; plastic from a soda bottle is "downgraded" to make a non-food container or product to insure sterile food packaging.

The energy required to manufacture an aluminum can with 50% recycled fibers is 80Btu per fluid ounce. Therefore, 30% of the enrgy needed to make the soda container is saved when 12 ounce aluminum cans made of recycled materials are purchased instead of 2-liter plastic bottles. Aluminum is a popular metal to recycle because it costs less to make a soda can out of recycled materials than out of new metal. In 1989, America recycled 60% of the 80 billion cans used.

One out of every four PET botles are currently being recycled. PET bottles are acutally a form of polyester so they can be recycled into carpeting, suits and fiberfill for ski jackets. HDPE can become flower pots and trash cans.

--University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service, Fact Sheet EES-77

Sustainable Sack Lunch

A sack lunch sandwich can be packaged in a variety of ways: aluminum foil, a ziptop baggie or a plastic sandwich box. The energy required to make these containers differs depending upon the material type and the amount of recycled fibers used.

Generally, when packing lunches using aluminum foil or baggies, new foil or a new baggie is used every day. By comparison, plastic sandwich boxes can be reused repeatedly. When a sandwich is packaged in a plastic sandwich box instead of aluminum foil or plastic baggies, over 80% of the energy used for sandwich containers is saved. This can lead to big savings over the course of a school year. There are approximately 185 days in a school year. If one studnet's sandwich for lunch is packed in a plastic box instead of a siptop baggie, the family saves $15 on sandwich wrappers, since one plastic box can be used all year.

There were 165,375 students in the 1990-91 first grade class in Florida. If the sandwich for each student was packaged in a plastic sandwich box for the school year instaed of baggies, the equivalent to over 125,000 gallons of gasoline would be saved annually. The energy in 125 thousand gallons of gasoline coulnd run a stereo for more than 19 million hours. Nineteen million hours is 2,231 years of continuous stereo sound.

--University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service, Fact Sheet EES-77

Trash Trouble

Trash - we are producing too much of it. The municipal solid waste foundin the home and office garbage can is a product of natural resources used to manufacture it. This includes energy resources both as base materials (feedstock) and as power for processing and transportation. The mining, refining and consumption of these energy resources creates a variety of pollutants. Given this information, it is easy to see how municipal solid waste is a triple whammy:
1. natural resources are used up, decreasing the quantity of thes irreplaceable materials;
2. energy is consumed, leaving less for the future while creating more pollutants and increasing the potential for global climatic change; and
3. efforts at municipal solid waste disposal are contaminating the environment in which we live.

There are three major methods of dealing with the solid wastes generated: landfills, incineration and recycling. Each method has capacity limitations. Therefore, the BEST MEANS of subduing the problems association with municipal solid waste disposal is to REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE CREATED.

--University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet EES-77

Study Circle #6 at LTC

I'm pleased to announce that the 6th study circle will be hosted at Lakeshore Technical College. Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30pm starting Feb. 19 and concluding on April 15.
To sign up for this circle, please email tprigge@manitowoc.org or call 686-6980.
It's inspiring what a group of people can accomplish when gathered together rallied around the same the topic.

Woodland Dunes hosts Study Circle #5

Woodland Dunes will be hosting study circle #5. A Wednesday morning session starting in February. If you'd like more info, visit www.manitowoc.org.
Go Green Manty!

Study Circle #4, Municipal Employees

Study Circle #4, the first circle for municipal employees, is under way.

Already some great ideas are being recommended from offering recycling options to public trash receptacles, including the director of Transit in the site plan review process to assure that bus routes are considered, and increasing the number of public bike racks available.

It is a great dialogue to be having and already has us thinking more sustainably.

Did you know that Maritime Metro Buses are equipped with bike racks? So even if you don't live adjacent to a bus stop, you could hop on your bike (a good, healthy way to start the day that promotes wellness), pedal to the nearest bus stop and throw your bike on the front.

Need assistance to figure out which bus will get you to your destination? Don't hesitate to call Maritime Metro Transit 683-4560

Interesting Eco-Discussions

to get further connected with the eco-community of cyberspace check out this link:
http://www.ecospace.cc/

Green Holiday Gift Ideas

For green holiday gift ideas visit Yahoo Green! at green.yahoo.com/holiday2007

Study Circle #3

Great News!!
Study Circle #3 is currently being coordinated. It will be facilitated by David Ellison at the Manitowoc public library. The early afternoon time will allow seniors to participate and be home by dinner as well as high school students enough time to arrive after school.

Study Circle #2 is organized

Justin Nickels will facilitate Study Circle #2 which is filling up fast.
If you'd like to join, let us know!!
tprigge@manitowoc.org

Changing your light bulbs might actually SAVE THE PLANET

Did that get your attention? Every year, 106 billion punds of preventable pollution is generated to power older-generation light bulbs. These incandescent bulbs use 4 times more energy than necessary to produce the light for your homes and businesses. Little changes spread across large numbers can really make an impact. Go ahead, change a light bulb. This one simple action can really make a big difference.
For more tips check out the state of Utah's "Green Choices" page at http://www.greenchoices.utah.gov/

Consumer Consequences

The earth couldn't support its 6.6 billion residents if everyone lived like a
typical American. Consumer Consequences will tell you how many planets it would take to support your lifestyle on a planetary scale, and provide some ideas for making your "footprint" a little smaller.
Check out this interesting tool at http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/

Musings of Einstein

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
-- Albert Einstein

The first study circle (#1) in Manitowoc is organized

STUDY CIRCLE #1
I am pleased to report that Manitowoc's first study circle will get under way starting November 19. The response to the call for circle participants was very impressive. All slots were filled in less than a day. Yeah!! People in our community care about learning more about sustainability.
If you are interested in participating in a study circle, please email tprigge@manitowoc.org.

Involve the Children

With a song like Jack Johnson's version of "3 is the Magic Number: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" even kids will enjoy being aware of sustainability.

Hop on the Bus Gus

Pick up a pass for Maritime Metro Transit and Make a Difference....
Emissions from road vehicles account for over 50% of U.S. air pollution. For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation uses less than one half of the fuel of private automobiles, producing 5% as much carbon monoxide and less than 8% as much as the other pollutants that create smog (such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides). Scientists estimate that public transportation already reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global climate change, by over 7.4 million tons annually. If Americans were to use public transportation at equivalent rates as Europeans, scientists estimate that U.S. dependence on imported oil would decrease by more than 40% and that carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by more than 25%.

Respect for All Living Things

I recently read that the Bhutanese government stated at the 1992 Earth Summit that in Bhutan they do not carelessly chop down trees because forests form the basis of the nation's culture. Miwako Sato then observed, "One can sense in these words more than a simple desire to protect the environment; they express respect for all living things, a respect rooted in the belief that deities dwell in every tree and blade of grass."

Reducing our Ecological Footprint

Americans use 30% of the world's oil supply yet only 2% of that comes from our own soil. By embracing renewable energy, we can significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Our 'ecological footprint' is the measurement of what we consume and the 'footprint' it leaves on the earth. A person who drives 50 miles to work everyday and eats at fast food restaurants 5 times a week has a larger ecological footprint than a person who takes the bus to work and cooks vegetarian meals at home. If all of us lived like the first person in our example, we would need roughly 7 Earths to support us sustainably, or forever. So, let's take an honest look at our level of consumption: Americans make up only 4% of the World's population yet we consume nearly 26% of its resources. Americans spend more annually on the purchase of garbage bags than the combined GDP of 90 of the World's developing nations.
Begin thinking of ways to reduce what you consume: bring canvas bags to the grocery store, buy yourself a travel mug and bring it with you to the coffee shop. Eat one less meat meal per week and buy local food whenever possible. If just ten percent of us where to take these simple steps we would make a substantial difference.

For more information check out www.campaignearth.org

Two quick tips to contribute towards sustainability: buy locally grown fruits and vegetables whenever possible (Manitowoc has a fantastic Farmers' Market) and doesn't use your clothes dryer on sunny days.

You Can Make a Difference

When was the last time you thought about how you had the power to make a difference? Through your business, you communicate with people every day. Why not start letting them know about your commitment to the environment and how they can help too. Together, we will make a difference.