ath3na's talking points: Going Green

Showing posts with label Going Green. Show all posts

Going Green :: Junk Snail Mail

2007-10-25

So I've decided on a few themes to concentrate on for the next few weeks of posting. The first theme is Going Green - tips, ideas, and strategies for being environmentally mindful. On with the show...

I don't know a single person that likes junk mail. And for once I'm not talking about the digital kind. I'm talking about the kind that clutters your analog mail-box everyday with coupons, fliers, and catalog's. I've noticed lately the mass quantities of junk mail not only gets delivered to my house, but also to neighbors, friends, and families houses. Did you know that some 4 million tons of paper junk mail gets delivered each year, and almost half of it is never even opened? For this reason and many others I'm sure we'd all like a way to at least reduce the amount of junk mail we get, right? Well look no further.

How to get rid of junk snail mail:
DISCLAIMER: This is not all of the possible steps you could take and I do not guarantee that you will be void of junk snail mail within any particular amount of time, but I can tell you that based on reviews and results, these methods work.

Register your name and address with the Direct Marketers Association (DMA).
It costs $1 but it's worth every penny. Think of all the trouble you're saving.
Opt-out of all those pre-approved credit card offers (OptOut).
Doing it online asts for 5 year's, and don't worry - you can always choose to opt back in should you want to. Choosing their snail mail option will opt you out for life for only the cost of a stamp.
The last resource (and reason I categorize it under the "going green" label) is called Green Dimes. And because it's so cool I must tell you their slogan... "Our planet-do you give a dime?" For $15 this website will reduce your junk mail by 90% AND plant 10 tree's on your behalf. Here are a few facts from their website...

100 million trees are cut down each year to create the approximately 4.5 million tons of junk mail in the United States
28 billion gallons of water go into the production of American junk mail annually
Your name is typically worth 3- 20 cents each time it is sold for a direct mailing

On average we will spend 8 months of our lives dealing with junk mail, why not take 20 minutes and get rid of it?

More Info:

Guide to ridding yourself of junk snail mail - www.obviously.com/junkmail/
Wiki-How - www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Junk-Mail
Queercents - http://tinyurl.com/2b8vab

1 comments

Doing my part to make the world a cleaner place.... or at least trying!

2007-05-31

So, I've recently started recycling.

I always wanted to, but it's a much more difficult process when you live in a home with 4 other working adults who are barely home. Recently though, I've moved, and this has introduced several new routines to my life (as moving always does). Pleasant routines, I might add. One of which is recycling. Which, might I add, I think everyone should do.

I've recently stumbled upon a product that would also help our world become a much cleaner place. It’s not just plastic bags that are wasteful and bad for the environment. Over 15 billion batteries are made and thrown away each year – equivalent to a column of batteries to the moon and back, causing significant CO2/Resource waste in manufacture and toxic landfill.

Environment and Recycling FAQs

Is the product packaging recyclable?

The card is fully recyclable, and we are working to replace the blister plastic with a biodegradable material. We suggest that the packaging be kept for future reference – it’s also useful for storing USBCELLs when not in use, and for sending for recycling at the end of their useful life.

Are USBCELL batteries recyclable?

Yes. Besides being rechargeable and therefore re-usable, USBCELL is a Ni-MH chemistry battery that can and should be recycled. For more information on recycling see the Recycling section of the User Guide

How do I dispose of USBCELLs?

USBCELLs purchased from USBCELL.com can be returned to Moixa Energy for recycling via a freepost address. See the Recycling section in the User Guide for details. USBCELLs should not be placed in the bin with other household waste or otherwise disposed of; they should always be recycled. Never dispose of USBCELLs in fire, as this will cause a hazard.

How environmentally friendly are USBCELLs?

We believe that using and recharging USBCELLs is significantly better than buying single use alkaline cells that are rubbish after only one use. Since USBCELL is so easy to charge it is also likely to be recharged many more times than regular rechargeables, further reducing wasteful battery disposal. The NiMH chemistry used in the cell is also better for the environment than other types of rechargeable batteries, in particular those with NiCad chemistry. It’s also inherently safer than lithium battery chemistry.

The USBcell is £10.99 (USD 20.51) for a 2 cell-pack of AA Batteries. I know, that seems a bit expensive, but if you think about the price of rechargeable batteries anyway, you're not paying much more really. Besides, isn't it worth it to know that you're thinking of our planet earth while powering all your toys, gizmos and gadgets? I think so. And since you've got all these toys, gizmos, and gadgets, why not power your batteries with your computer? We all have USB ports (yes, you have USB ports), so plug 'em up with batteries that can power everything else. Use what you've already got! If we'd have listened to the hippies back in the day we may not have a hole in our ozone layer (other results ensued however). So, do your part!

And, as I'm sure you noticed, as are most things... this wonderful invention hails from the Great Britain. [Check This!] Even more reason to make a purchase! So here's the site [http://usbcell.com/].... now, what are you waiting on? Don't we all need batteries?