Another Small Step

Want another small idea that could help the planet? This one has even caught the eye of U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu: paint every roof and road white. Simple, right? Sure, it could look a little weird at first, but we'd get used to it quickly and Chu says it could be the equivalent of taking every car in the United States off the road for eleven years.

Wow! Eleven years. Just think of the advances we could make in that time. I'm all for white roofs and roads but how do I get my city to convert? Does anyone know of a community that is actually painting roads white?

My roof will need replacing sometime in the next five years and I'll definitely be looking into the white roof option. Stay tuned . . .

Statistics

33% of our trash is recycled. Sounds decent enough, until you realize that 80% of our trash is recyclable. Why are we sending the other 47% to a landfill?

Landfills cost $304,479 per acre to build.

I know it isn't always convenient, but let's take advantage of recycling. Use your city's curbside program, take your used batteries to Best Buy, your CFLs to Ikea, send your old electronics to Gazelle.com, and your yard waste (if you don't compost) to your city's green waste facility.

We can do more.

There are other retailers that help recycle--I just listed my favorite.

Thanks to Reader's Digest for the statistics

I Remember

I just wanted to let you know that I remember. I remember exactly where I was, eight years ago. I remember exactly when I started crying and when the crying turned into sobbing. I remember how proud of my country I felt. I still feel that way. Politics are profane; the sacrifices on and because of 9/11 are sacred.

I remember. I support my country. And the fact that this is still a country where I can raise my family and start my own business and worship how I chose and be friends with people who are very different from me is a victory.

I don't know what the goal of those terrible attacks was, but know this: I have not forgotten and I am not afraid.

I'm Back

I'm sure you all thought I had abandoned this blog by now. (You all? How many readers do I actually think I have?)

Here's the business update: The business is still on hold indefinitely. I've moved to an area that does offer curbside recycling and I'm loving it! But the business entity is still in my possession. After I settle in, maybe I'll pick it back up. In the meantime, if you want the name, make me an offer. I could be enticed to sell.

Did you know that Habitat for Humanity of Utah County offers recycling? You're helping two great causes at the same time (the planet and Habitat)! They accept home and business building materials, aluminum materials, paper and cardboard materials, and cars. Also, you can donate (or buy) your used home materials (paint, doors, cabinets, porch lights, yard tools, etc.) to Habitat's Restore. Again, recycling and helping your neighbors. It's win-win.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, one and all. And a special thank you to all those who have served or are currently serving in our military. I am a blessed woman because of your sacrifice.

The business is still on the back burner of my mind, but recycling is always a good thing--no matter who you pay to pick it up. Check out breathing earth; it's an interesting way to view how we consume resources.

Life Got More Complicated

Well, I got my home-based business license from the city of Pleasant Grove. Thank you very much to the city employees for getting it to me faster than I expected. But here's my hang-up: I'm going to be moving in about five weeks. (That is, unless life gets even more complicated.) So do I start up the business and commute? That kind of trashes the whole work-from-home scenario I was liking so much.

Another wrench in my plans: Pleasant Grove is now accepting proposals from recycling companies to see if curbside recycling is feasible in the city. This is great news! Curbside recycling is wonderful because the programs can handle so much more than just paper. They are easier for the customer because you don't have to bundle your recyclables--you just toss them in the blue trash can. I hope Pleasant Grove offers curbside recycling soon and I hope lots of people sign up for it. It doesn't even really mess with my business plan very much because Unpaper Route is "a recycling solution for small communities" which I had originally intended to be apartment, condo and townhome communities--places where curbside recycling isn't an option anyway.

Really, I just have to decide if I want to go ahead with this or completely move on--physically and emotionally. I'm not sure what I think. What do you think?

Think You Don't Make a Difference?

You're wrong. The average American generates 4.5 pounds of trash each day. That's a lot of garbage. And do you know how much of the average landfill is taken up by paper products? 40%. So that means that the average American sends 1.8 pounds of paper products to a landfill every day. That's 657 pounds per person every year. 657 pounds of paper products. Those are recyclable, folks. If you live in a town with curb-side recycling--use it! For those of you in Pleasant Grove, Utah, I'll come pick up your paper recyclables weekly for $5 each month. Just email me at chelsea.unpaper@gmail.com and give me your name, street address and email and I'll set you up with a pickup day.

657 pounds per person per year. Let do something about that.

If you think I'm making up those numbers, I'm not. The statistics are courtesy of The Green Gardener's Guide by Joe Lamp'l.