If you are at all artistic or crafty it can be great fun to make your own Christmas decorations, cards and stocking fillers. Here are a few ideas.
Pine cones can be "improved" with a little paint, glitter or artificial snow. Just attach a small piece of ribbon with some hot glue.
Homemade Christmas decorations such as stars and moons can be made for your tree with standard play dough or construction paper. Use cookie cutters or stencils for shapes. Be Creative!
Send Green Christmas Cards. There are now lots of charities which sell cards for a variety of good causes. If you really want to by-pass all that envelope stuffing, send an e-card. This isn't so great if you like to display your cards, but it's a great way to be a little more environmentally conscientious. Homemade Christmas Cards are easy to make. Recycled coloured paper or card, glitter, scissors, glue pens or sticks and a few fancy coloured pens are all you really need. Be Creative!
Gift Wrapping. Homemade wrapping paper is cheap to make. Use stencils and brightly colored paint to liven up your paper. Large sheets of thin white paper are generally cheaper than all but the cheapest of wrapping papers. If you save re-usable bits of wrapping paper you can use it for cut outs to stick on your homemade paper. Use the newspaper comic strips, the full-color comics are already decorated for you. Use Cloth Gift Bags. If you can sew a straight line with a sewing machine, use old pillowcases, sheets, curtains and any other material you have lying around to make cloth gift bags. You can make them to fit specific gifts. Re-use Wrapping Paper, Boxes and Gift Bags. If you saved any of last year’s wrapping paper, you can re-use paper that’s not torn or damaged. Gift boxes often don’t even need to be wrapped in additional paper and are easy to save and store to use for next year. Gift bags, especially, can be re-used again and again. Just be sure to save them from the trash when it’s time to clean up all the wrapping paper! Recycled Gift Tags. To make gift tags for your presents, look through your old Christmas cards and cut out pictures. Recycle What You Can’t Reuse. To reduce those bags of garbage, don’t crumple up the gift wrap and stuff it into plastic bags. Take a few extra minutes to flatten it, fold it and put it in the recycling bin. It won’t take away from your holiday cheer and will spread some good will towards the Earth. Eco-friendly gift boxes and gift bags can be found at Tiny Box Company. This company is the only company in the US that uses 100 percent recyclable products in the production of their gift boxes and bags.
Buy Energy-Saving "LED" Christmas Lights. You can decorate your house with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights, and can save up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season! LED lights are available at many major retailers. Some retailers sell LED’s at a discounted price when you bring in your old Christmas lights for recycling!
Food
Buy an organically farmed turkey or goose. Whether you prefer turkey or ham, check out a local supplier and find some good organic food. The best birds are grown slowly and are well fed with organic food. They are allowed to roam free and have access to natural foods as well as eating carefully formulated organic feed. Wild meat is also a very green and sustainable. Wild fowl is far lower in fat than most farmed birds.
Vegetarian Christmas meal. An organic nut roast is a very acceptable alternative to most vegetarians. Create your own organic Christmas mincemeat. This is a fun job, especially if the kids help. Homemade mincemeat is far more flavorsome than the store bought stuff. Organic Christmas recipes.
Homemade Cooking. Nicely presented homemade cookies, chocolates, truffles, tarts and any other tasty goodies are always very popular. Present them in a reusable basket, box, jar or cloth bag.
Gifts
Give Environmentally Friendly Gifts During the Holidays. Recycling, handcrafting, buying locally and giving experiences as gifts are all easy and fun ways to have an environmentally friendly holiday. For many, Christmas is a time to pull out all the stops when it comes to gift-giving. With growing awareness of the risks involved with burning large amounts of fossil fuels to manufacture, package and transport goods, many people are looking for ways to "green" their lifestyle. Going green can be a powerful statement of your beliefs. When you are trying to pick out a green gift, give the recipient something they need; this may seem obvious, but buying people necessities is much more environmentally friendly than giving them "stuff". Buying necessities doesn't have to be dull or boring. Here are some ideas to help you and your family have a green Christmas this year.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Instead of buying something brand-new, try making gifts and wrapping by using recycled or salvaged materials. Gift bags can be made by using scrap pieces of colorful cloth. Instead of buying a brand new book or CD, see if you can find one in good condition at a second-hand bookstore. Be creative! Going green means you're saving useful materials from the landfill and avoiding the environmental impact of buying something brand new.
Give Handmade Gifts. Ask yourself what kind of crafty skills you have, and use those skills to make gifts for friends and family. Most people are happy to receive a handcrafted gift because of the investment of time, love, and creative energy it represents. If you excel in the kitchen, try making preserves, cakes, pies or bread. If you like to work with wood, use your skills to craft a CD racks, spice shelves, or piece of furniture. If you knit, try stuffing a pair of hand knit socks into a stocking this year. If you're not comfortable making gifts, or lack the time, you can give something green by buying products made locally. Buying gifts made by local artisans and craftspeople support the artists in your community and boosts your local economy, as well as avoiding the carbon emissions caused by shipping. Be Creative!
Share an Experience. What do you give those people who have everything? Instead of buying them another gadget that they might already have and probably don't really need, give them an experience. An afternoon of horseback riding, a massage or pedicure, a session in a pottery studio or tickets to a concert or play are all environmentally friendly gift ideas. Many gifts given each Christmas end up buried in the back of the closet by January, and eventually make their way to the landfill, but an experience will last forever in someone's memory. Be Creative!
An internet subscription to a magazine or news service is good for saving paper. Online subscriptions have the added advantage of links to archives and to other web sites.
Give Something to Encourage Self-Sustainability. Gifts such as packets of tomato seeds or newspaper pot makers encourage the recipient to buy less in the future, as well as teaching valuable and rewarding life skills.
Gifts With Humanity. Imagine taking discarded flip-flops, cleaning them up and converting them into pieces of art. The organization Gifts With Humanity is doing their part to make that happen. Kenyan artisans have created colorful coffee table art, mantelpiece figurines and hip reusable jewelry with the unused flip-flops. The artisans, for the most part, are financially underprivileged individuals who collect, clean, and turn the old discarded flip-flops into beautiful pieces of art. The process of transforming these otherwise land pollutants is the means by which they earn money to put food on the table. Gifts With Humanity is making a difference, one purchase at a time. They are doing their part to help communities worldwide by providing a place where these goods can be sold. Anyone with an internet connection can take a look at the gifts offered by Gifts With Humanity. You can browse through the unique collection of gifts ranging from attractive bowls made in South Africa from discarded telephone wire, to hand bags from the Philippians made out of old juice boxes. These unique items add a whole new meaning to social and environmental awareness. For the truly difficult to please person, a Gifts With Humanity gift might be the answer.
Give Gifts to Change Habits. These days everyone is aware of the environmental impact of disposable products, however, sometimes it can take a little push to get someone to make the change. Many green living alternatives are simpler, cheaper, and more enjoyable than the mainstream way. Providing the means to change can be welcomed by the friend who simply hasn't gotten around to making the switch. Canvas tote bags for the supermarket are a green alternative to plastic bags, cloth napkins, or a picnic set with reusable cutlery and crockery, to just name a few.
Give A Gift With Love. As sneaky as some of the above tips appear, the idea is not to judge or force ecological awareness on the recipient. Make sure the present is something the recipient will love. If you can't think of any “eco-gifts” that would be appreciated, try a voucher for some fun activity, perhaps a wildlife park, or zoo.
Other Gift Ideas.
Buy a cloth grocery tote; help reduce the presence of plastic bags in landfills that can take thousands of years to decompose. Your loved ones will think of you every time they shop for groceries.
Do you have a book lover on your list? Then pick a book focused on energy reduction, alternative technologies, or sustainable practices.
Shop for organic bath sets or organic-based make-up products.
Consider glassware made from recycled glass.
Maybe this is the year you make some of your presents. Do you knit, paint, carve?
Give the ultimate gift and feed a family, plant a tree, or save an acre of rainforest. Unusual gift opportunities abound, like those from Heifer International and Project Concern. More information is also available at Alternative Gifts International.
Eco-Friendly Places to Buy Gifts this Christmas Season
Eco-artware.com offers a wide variety of gifts, all made from recycled, reused, or all natural materials. The site showcases everything from wonderful multi-colored telephone wire baskets, to purses made of vintage record album covers. Even children’s items, like stuffed animals made from recycled sweaters, and handmade knit dolls.
Gifts.com offers eco-friendly green gifts, which range from modern recycling systems, to solar powered backyard lighting, sure to excite any environmentalist.
Earthinspire.com is a site that’s all about inspiration. Environmentally sound products ranging from carved stone wall plaques, to tiny, intricate treasure boxes, feature inspiring quotes, and artwork from around the planet.
Ecoexpress.com features a wide variety of organic wines, and gourmet products. From organic chocolates, to organic fruits and nuts, as well as fine organic bath products for the home spa, this site has everything needed to pamper the person who has chosen a green lifestyle.
Thegroovymind.com features many “fair trade” products. These products are made by locals in areas such as Rwanda, and Columbia, where workers are given alternatives to poaching, by having opportunities to work for a fair wage, and produce goods that are being sold around the world. From the “Rwanda Peace Fortunes” to the “Groovy Finger Puppets” for children, purchases of these products go back into the local economy, and provide viable alternatives for natives of these regions.
Babybear.com offers a selection of gifts for mom and baby. The web-sites mission statement reads “We believe that everyday is a new chance to make the best choices for our children, their future and the world we live in.” Gift selections include “Organic Softies”, pixies or best friends. These huggable dolls are available in different colors and styles.
Love-eco.co.uk is a excellent source for innovative and exclusive products, that support and sustain the environment. From the “Wattson” a gadget which measure the exact amount of energy use in your home, to the Luau Portable Lantern, this site offers a variety of gifts for both children and adults.
Fullmoonfamily.com offers a wide selection of eco-friendly and organic fashions, from tee shirts to dresses and skirts. Also find hand crocheted, sweatshop free hats, scarves, and ponchos, plus blown glass items and much more.
Recycledproducts.org.uk is a huge on-line resource list of eco-friendly gifts and products. Covering items from bathroom accessories to sports and play equipment, everyone is sure to find something on this list of products.
At various times throughout the year it has come to the attention of Clean Green Rush that the recycling containers located next to Kroger and the Sheriff’s back garage are being used to dispose of non recyclable garbage (i.e. lawn furniture, dirty diapers, wax faced cardboard, paper plates & utensils, styrofoam, used hamster bedding, etc). Dumping non-recyclable products (garbage and trash) into the recycling containers takes up valuable space for legitimately recyclable materials. As you may have noticed, the recycling containers are emptied three times a week yet are often overflowing with material. Eliminating non-recyclable materials in these containers will not only open up more space, but it will also reduce sorting and processing costs. Garbage and other non-recyclable items contaminates the collection and all of the contents become trash and increases costs, Because this is paid by your tax dollars, keeping costs low is critical to keeping the service place.
If you are in a situation where you cannot determine whether the materials you have are recyclable, then feel free call or email the Clean Green Rush office. If you have materials that are not accepted at the recycling bins, then get in touch me at the office, chances are I can tell you what to do with it, or put you in contact with someone. Also, a quick and easy way to determine if what you have is recyclable is to look at the, “What do I do with…” link at the top of this page. Please do not treat the recycling center like a county dump site.
Also remember, all paper materials should be put in the long container with the white banner stretched across the front (often times the container itself is white, but sometimes green). Separating paper items from the co-mingled (plastics, glass, aluminum & steel cans--no need to sort) further helps to reduce recycling costs. Paper materials that are mixed in with plastics, glass, and cans are often soiled by liquids remaining in those containers and may render that paper unrecyclable. Don’t let your good intentions go bad.
For more information, contact the Clean Green Rush office at 765-938-1342 or recycle@rushcounty.in.gov
If you find a propane tank or cylinder of unknown origin, don't assume it is harmless. Exercise extreme caution. don't move it. and let law enforcement or your fire department know its location immediately.
Also beware when purchasing a propane tank from exchange service without a close check of its condition. Methamphetamine cooks are buying propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc., and emptying them of the propane gas. Then they fill the propane tanks with anhydrous ammonia for using in their recipe for methamphetamine.
After they are finished with the propane tanks, some cooks return them to the store. The stores refill the tanks with propane gas, unknown to them that the improper substance was inserted in the tanks, and sell them to their consumers.
Anhydrous ammonia is very corrosive and weakens the structure of the tank. It can be very dangerous when mixed with propane gas and hooked up to a grill, recreation vehicle, etc. You should inspect the propane tank for any blue or greenish residue around the valve areas. If there is evidence of these substances, do not purchase the propane tank and immediately advise the vendor of your findings. Here is a safety alert from the National Propane Gas Association:
Anhydrous ammonia and propane cylinders
SAFETY ALERT
INTRODUCTION: Readers of this bulletin should consult the law of their individual jurisdictions for codes, standards and legal requirements applicable to them. This bulletin merely suggests methods which the reader may find useful in implementing applicable codes, standards and legal requirements. This material is not intended nor should it be construed (1) to set forth procedures which are the general custom or practice in the propane industry; (2) to establish the legal standards of care owed by propane distributors to their customers; or (3) to prevent the reader from using different methods to implement applicable codes, standards or legal requirements. The National Propane Gas Association assumes no liability for reliance on the contents of this bulletin. It is offered as a guide only to assist expert and experienced teachers and managers in training in service personnel in their organizations.
Caution!
The brass valve in a propane cylinder will be damaged if it comes in contact with anhydrous ammonia. This deterioration will lead to cracking of the valve body or its components and can ultimately result in a violent, unexpected expulsion of the valve from the cylinder, causing personal injury or death.
Background and Recommended Action
It has come to the attention of the National Propane Gas Association that propane cylinders are being used in the manufacturing of Methamphetamines. This drug is commonly referred to as 'crank'. Manufacturers of this illegal substance are using propane cylinders for the storage and the use of anhydrous ammonia. These cylinders have been found in many states at cylinder exchange and refilling locations as well as in hotel rooms and mobile laboratories, where the manufacturing of this illegal substance takes place.
A blue-green stain on any brass portion of a service valve is evidence that it may have been in contact with anhydrous ammonia*. The pungent odor of ammonia on or near the cylinder is also an indication. If you suspect that a propane cylinder contains or has contained anhydrous ammonia, exercise extreme caution and restrict access to the area.
It can be dangerous to move the cylinder due to the unknown integrity of the cylinder's service valve. If you determine that it must be moved, keep in mind that hazards due to valve expulsion can be reduced by pointing the end of the container in which the valve is placed away from yourself and others and towards the most safe direction.
Immediately contact your Fire Department, Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Unit or the nearest office of the United States Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for information on properly disposing of the cylinder. If these respondents are not sure what to do. .
*Note: Sherwood valves contain a green coated valve stem. Additionally, a green thread sealing compound is used on some valves. These valves should not be confused with those that have been exposed to anhydrous ammonia
Be careful when you recycle a pizza box. Since it is made from corrugated cardboard it seems like something Ithat should be recycled. Maybe.
While the box itself typically is recyclable, once it gets soiled with grease or food that portion is no longer able to be recycled. In fact, if you recycle paper products, like cardboard, that have grease or food on them you can be doing more harm than good. Contaminated cardboard can ruin an entire batch of recycling. It can even increase the cost of recycling for a municipality because of damage to machinery, disposal costs for the non-recyclable material and wasted time, materials and efficiency. To avoid this problem and do the right thing with your pizza box, you can tear off any portion that has not been touched by food and recycle it. Be sure to tear off any adhesives that may be on the box (i.e. coupons or advertisements) because these can mess up the recycling process just like food.
I frequently get calls about the disposal of household batteries. First a word of caution about any batteries: make sure the batteries are separated so that their terminal ends cannot touch as they might spark a fire. The risk is minimal; however the Departement of Transportation has very strict regulations about the shipment of batteries because the risk exists. Therefore it stands to reason to take a least a little caution while they are in your possession.
You can drop each battery in a plastic bag or put a piece of tape (any kind) over the terminal. Little button batteries can be placed on a strip of tape and another strip of tape over the top. You devise whatever creative means you like to avoid the batteries making contact. This applies whether you are trashing or recycling.
Residents are advised to dispose of Alkaline batteries (non-rechargeable) in their regular trash. This is a change in policy from previous years because now there is very little metal in U. S. made alkaline batteries. Perhaps that's why they seem to lose their charge so quickly.
The following are batteries that need to be recycled because of their hazardous content:
Lithium (Li-ion) - typically found in digital cameras and laptop computers. Rechargeable (Ni-Cad nickel-cadmium) batteries are hazardous materials. Sealed Lead Acid --Small sealed lead acid batteries found in computers , electronic equipment and children's toys.
All three of these can be recycled in the Call2Recycle boxes. The box has plastic bags for separting batteries before dropping them in the box. There is a box just inside the First Street Entrance of the Courthouse next to the vending machines or batteries can be brought to the Clean Green Rush Tox-Away Center for first Saturday morning of each month (weather permitting) from 8 a.m. to noon.
Zinc Batteries Like Alkaline batteries, these are not hazardous, and may be disposed of in the garbage.
April 22 has been designated Earth Day around the world. However, let's consider a more inclusive community wide “Earth Celebration” in 2010. Clean Green Rush & the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has determined April 22 – May 15, 2010, to be the time in which Rush County will celebrate the earth. The theme for this celebration is, “Living Sustainably in RushCounty.” We are currently in the planning stages of this event and are open to any and all ideas, big and small, that members of the community may have. We welcome to hear feedback from community organizations, churches, businesses, school organizations, educators, farmers, media outlets, local government, or anyone who has idea about possible events. We are also in need of the same organizations, listed above, and community members to organize, host, and sponsor events. Remember, Clean Green Rush and the Citizens Advisory Committee is a very small operation with a limited budget, which is, in part, why we are asking for the help of the community. We also need the communities help to come up with new ideas, CGR and the CAC have come up with a limited list of possibilities, but we know that there are unlimited possibilities that we have not thought of, and that is why we need your help.
If you, or someone you know, would like to be involved in this endeavor, the next CAC meeting is January 11, 2010, at 4p.m. in the Courthouse Assembly Room. If you would like to see our list of ideas thus far, please contact me by email or phone and I will gladly send a copy to you. If you have ideas or want to participate, let me know. You can respond to this blog entry, email me at recycle@rushcounty.in.gov, or call 765-938-1342. It is not too soon to make plans. This will be FUN!!
We have also adopted a mission statement that articulates very well the purpose and goal of this celebration: “To transform RushCounty into a sustainable area where the needs of the present are met without compromising the needs of future generations. By promoting sustainable living practices we act as a catalyst in creating healthy communities. We lead by example and serve as an information portal that educates, connects, and inspires individuals, families, schools, businesses, communities, governmental, and other institutions to live more sustainably.”
February 21, 2009 was our last eScrap event where we collected 13,617 pounds of electronics for recycling. Many of you ask where we take them. This shipment (transportation courtesy of Fraley & Schilling Trucking, Inc) went to Recycle Force, LLC at 754 North Sherman Drive in Indianapolis. This group takes apart the items completely and recycles the material. The CRT tubes and television tubes are shipped to Arkansas to be incinerated in a special facility. This is a large part of the cost of recycling responsibly so these tubes are not packed in a shipping container and sent to China.
Phones calls have been coming in two or three times a week asking when the next collection will be held. No date has been set yet. My best guess is sometime in mid-to-late September. The lack of storage space prevents us from accepting them at our Tox-Away Center day (the first Saturday of each month).
P. S. Click on the link to Recycle Force, LLC to learn more about this interesting group. The electronics you add to our collections helps these workers gain a new life for themselves.
Living in a more environmentally friendly way is a choice many of us are making. Even I am amazed how little effort some of these changes require. The challenge for me is remembering and practicing until the change becomes a habit. We "old dogs" can learn. And, you need not feel like you must do everything green. Rather pick and choose what works best for you.
Today I received my January/February 2009 copy of Indiana Living Green, a hoosier's guide to a sustainable lifestyle. This magazine is published by Lynn Jenkins and edited by Jo Ellen Myers Sharp. You can read their publication online at www.IndianaLivingGreen.com or take a regular subscription. Topics in this issue include articles on wind power, saying 'I Do' to green weddings, and no idling anytime. Lynn has a weekly segment on Fox 59 morning show and gardeners will recognize Jo Ellen from her gardening columns in the Indianapols Star.
Have you found a website or a publication that others might enjoy? Perhaps you have a tip that saves energy or that makes recycling easier. If so, click the comment button and share.
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