Recycling Batteries in Rhode Island

Below is an email I received from Annemarie when someone was looking for resources in Rhode Island for Recycling batteries.  There is one option which is to take the batteries to the ECO-Depot and the RI Resource Recovery in RI.  But this individual wanted to know if there were other options in our state.  Annemarie is a recycling coordinator for a local farmet’s market…. here is her response to the battery issue.

I don’t know about Best Buy, but I’m fairly certain that the only batteries that Radio Shackand Staples take are RECHARGABLE batteries. Some stores used to take any and allbatteries, but that has not been the case for a number of years now; the only place todispose of them safely in RI is at the Eco Depot at the landfill, or at one of the satellitepick-up days they schedule in various communities thoughout the year.It’s unfortunate that so many places make a lot of money selling these batteries, but wantno responsibility for the waste created. I have tried to replace all my batteries with rechargables, but sometimes that isn’t practical or safe (in smoke alarms, for example). As with electronic goods in general, manufacturers and retailers need to step up andenable consumers to recycle or safely dispose of these batteries which last only a short while and are required to power so many things. As citizens, we need to demand that our cities and towns set up more effective recycling and disposal programs to keep these hazardous items out of the landfill. As consumers, we should complain to stores and manufacturers, and try to to buy goods that use rechargable batteries that can be easily returned for recycling.  Sorry to go on; the whole battery dilemma infuriates me! Like the first poster, I have several pounds of dead batteries that have never made it out to the EcoDepot. They just sit there waiting for the day that someone gets tired of seeing them there in the cabinet  under the sink and throws them in the trash while I’m not home.

Good luck with your batteries!

Annemarie

What is Rhode Island Doing to Save Energy

One Step Closer to Wind Energy

Here’s some info directly from the Governor’s website.  I think RI could be doing a lot more.    At the May 27th deadline, seven companies had submitted proposals to the State of Rhode Island to construct and operate an off-shore wind farm designed to generate 1.3 million megawatt-hours per year of renewable energy. “Every day, Rhode Islanders feel the financial pinch of heating and powering their homes. If we reach the goal I set of achieving 15% of our energy from wind, this burden will be relieved and we will reap long-term benefits for the environment.” the Governor said. Under Governor Carcieri’s plan, the state will review bids on the basis of total cost to Rhode Island ratepayers, the qualification and experience of the bidder in constructing wind projects, and the number of jobs and the amount of tax dollars to be created. The state plans to award a contract to the best bidder, who will then begin the process of seeking the necessary regulatory permits. An evaluation team will review the seven proposals over the next couple of months.

Organic Lawn Care for New England

Be Good to Your Lawn – and the Environment

There are many things we can do for our lawns that are better than putting chemicals on it.  If your overseeding your lawn or starting from scratch – you need to use high quality grass seed.

Check out these articles about a blend of grass seed created specifically for New England lawns.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/weymouth/archive/x1681300142

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/archive/x914623662 

 

 

Recycling CFLs

How to Recycle Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

CFLs should not be thrown in your regular trash that is headed for the landfill and SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE USED WHEN A CFL bulb breaks.  The bulbs contain mercury which is harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. 

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and cannot be toss out with your regular trash similiar to batteries, computers, cell phones, and thermostats.

RI Resource Recovery have special dates scheduled for their Eco-Depot.  They accept the CFL bulbs for recycle.

Landfill – Trash troubles in Rhode Island

Highlights from The Providence Journal, Sunday April 20, 2008

“Troubles by the Curb”

I learned many things when I read the article called “Troubles by the Curb” in the April 20th Providence Sunday Journal.

I learned that:

·   The Landfill in Johnston is almost full -  At this rate, the landfill will reach capacity in two years. 

·   Rhode Islanders are not very good about recycling when compared to the rest of the nation.

·   State Government, Schools, and businesses are even worse when it comes to recycling. 

 

 

 Here are some of the highlights from this article:

Every year 1.2 million tons are added to the gigantic trash heap. RI Resource Recovery is seeking a $70 million expansion which would consume 100 more acres and extend the life of the landfill until 2020.  Has our Governor taken this into consideration as he cuts many state programs? 



In 2007, over 100,000 tons were recycled.  The equivalent to one month’s total dumping.  If RI matched the national recycling average of 32%, it would divert about 3 month’s worth of waste.



What are people thinking when they say “Recycling doesn’t Matter”?



“Only about 4% of commercial waste is recycled.  Existing commercial recycling laws are hard to enforce because DEM can’t assign enough people to the task.”



Loads arriving at the dump are sent to different parts of the landfill depending on the contents.

 

·   Green and Blue bin goods are sent to the Materials Recycling Facility to be sorted.  Workers frantically and monotonously separate the nonrecyclables – clear plastic takeout trays, yogurt containers, motor oil jugs – from the recyclables as the objects move on the swift-moving conveyer belts.

·   Dirty commercial loads, such as restaurant waste, can’t be sorted but many other loads contain significant amounts of accessible recyclable materials.

·   Those are dumped on the concrete floor of the tip facility where workers in soiled orange jumpsuits and small cranes root through truck after truck of business waste.  The purpose is to pull out recyclable goods and save them from taking up space in the landfill.

·   Only about 1 percent of recyclable goods from the commercial waste stream are recycled.  This includes rubbish from schools, government offices, and apartment buildings and accounts for 60 percent of the annual trash produced in the state.

·   In another area workers sort through mounds of paper products and pull out the occasional piece of cardboard that ends up in the load.

·   Over the last 15 years, recycling habits and poor enforcement of commercial recycling laws have not improved.

·   Items that are biodegradable can take decades to decompose buried in the landfill without air, water and sunlight.

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

riding the bus instead of driving

With gas prices hovering just above $4 a gallon I am going to switch to public transportation.  And I think it will be a good decision.

 

First of all, instead of driving in traffic I’ll be riding in traffic.  I can relax, read a book, or do some writing.

 

The next thing is that I won’t using my car therefore not putting more wear and tear on it and nor will I be emitting harmful exhaust.  (If it was possible, I would ride my bike to work instead.)

 

I will also be saving money.  My company pays for my parking but if I take the bus they will pay for my bus pass.  Therefore I’m not using my car and it’s free for me to ride the bus.

 

I consider myself lucky that I live close to the bus lines.

create less trash at your cookout

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Create Less Trash at Your Next Cookout

 

I attend a cookout this past weekend and noticed how much trash is generated.  Not only that, but we consume a lot of items as well.  What can we do in order to not generate a lot of trash at our next cookout?  Can we also buy less stuff?  How about trying some of these ideas?

 

• If you buy plastic utensils – buy some heavy duty ones and wash them to use again.  I know – who wants to wash all that stuff?  Just fill the sink, let me soak, and see if the guests will pitch.
• Buy some inexpensive silverware for when you have more people to feed.  Then you’ll never have to buy plastic again.
• Are there other options besides paper plates?  You could buy some washable plastic plates and cups or an inexpensive set of extra dishes.  Again, you can use them over and over again.
• You can shop for many of these items at consignment shops and yard sales.
• Instead of buying bottles of waters, cans of other beverages, juice boxes, etc., trying buying large containers so folks can pour themselves a drink.  Again, try to use drink containers that can be reused.

 

There is so much more that folks can do with a lot of extra work or sacrifice.