Get paid to recycle! 15 green tips for the lazy

Short on time? No more excuses. Here are easy ways to live a greener life
As I work toward living a greener life, I’ve discovered that I not only possess a talent for organizing my family’s recycling — blue bin, black bin, silver bin, glass, plastic, paper — but I’ve also uncovered a flair for excuses. I’ve become highly adept at creating reasons why I can’t make a wiser green choice. Sometimes it’s convenience. Sometimes it’s time. Often it’s money.

In tough economic times it’s been easier than ever to use financial constraints as an excuse for ignoring environmental concerns. But those days are gone — thanks in large part to Josh Dorfman. The spokesman for lazy environmentalists everywhere, Dorfman has come up with simple ways to make choices that are easy on the environment and your wallet. He’s compiled those tips into his second book, “The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget,” and in honor of Earth Day, has shared a list of his favorite ways to go green without breaking the bank. No more excuses.

1. Use a remote-control power strip.
The Belkin Conserve is an eight-outlet power strip that comes with a remote control device to help you easily turn off electronics — and completely kill the power (no vampire power drain) — without having to bend over or reach behind your desk to unplug them from the wall. Save energy, save money, save your back.

2. Use natural cleaning products.
Safe cleaning products don’t have to be a luxury. Green Works natural cleaning products are made of plant-based, biodegradable ingredients like corn, coconut and lemon (which leave no harsh chemical fumes or residue) and are affordable and accessible — you can find them at supermarkets, drugstores and mass-market retailers.

3. Get your magazines digitally.
Zinio.com offers digital versions of more than 500 magazine titles like BusinessWeek, Cosmopolitan, Car & Driver, Men’s Health, Dwell, Outside and Yoga Journal. Download the Zinio Reader and read the magazines on your personal computer or access your subscriptions online from any computer at Zinio.com. Owners of iPhones can even access entire magazines through their phones. And in the spirit of budget consciousness, Zinio is offering a free one-year trial subscription to a wide selection of magazines so people can try the service.

Resin identification code 1

Polyethylene terephthalate (sometimes written poly(ethylene terephthalate)), commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination with glass fiber.

Depending on its processing and thermal history, polyethylene terephthalate may exist both as an amorphous (transparent) and as a semi-crystalline material. The semicrystalline material might appear transparent (particle size < 500 nm) or opaque and white (particle size up to a few microns) depending on its crystal structure and particle size. Its monomer (bis-ß-hydroxyterephthalate) can be synthesized by the esterification reaction between terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol with water as a byproduct, or by transesterification reaction between ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate with methanol as a byproduct. Polymerization is through a polycondensation reaction of the monomers (done immediately after esterification/transesterification) with ethylene glycol as the byproduct (the ethylene glycol is directly recycled in production).

The majority of the world's PET production is for synthetic fibers (in excess of 60%) with bottle production accounting for around 30% of global demand. In discussing textile applications, PET is generally referred to as simply "polyester" while "PET" is used most often to refer to packaging applications.

Some of the trade names of PET products are Dacron, Diolen, Tergal, Terylene, and Trevira fibers,[1] Cleartuf, Eastman PET and Polyclear bottle resins, Hostaphan, Melinex, and Mylar films, and Arnite, Ertalyte, Impet, Rynite and Valox injection molding resins. The polyester industry makes up about 18% of world polymer production and is third after polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Chemical structure of polyethylene terephthalate.

PET consists of polymerized units of the monomer ethylene terephthalate, with repeating C10H8O4 units. PET is commonly recycled, and has the number "1" as its recycling symbol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate

Universal Recycling Symbol

The SPI resin identification coding system is a set of symbols placed on plastics to identify the polymer type. It was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, and used internationally. The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different polymer types for recycling.

The symbols used in the code consist of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a rounded triangle and enclosing a number, often with an acronym representing the plastic below the triangle. When the number is omitted, the symbol is known as the universal Recycling Symbol, indicating generic recyclable materials. In this case, other text and labels are used to indicate the material(s) used. Previously recycled resins are coded with an "R" prefix (for example, a PETE bottle made of recycled resin could be marked as RPETE using same numbering).

Contrary to misconceptions, the number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It is an arbitrary number and has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic.
The Unicode character encoding standard includes the resin identification codes, between code points U+2673 and U+2679 inclusive. The generic material recycling symbol is encoded as code point U+267A.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

Single Stream Recycling

Single stream (also known as “fully commingled”) recycling refers to a system in which all paper fibers and containers are mixed together in a collection truck, instead of being sorted into separate commodities (newspaper, cardboard, plastic, glass, etc.) by the resident and handled separately throughout the collection process. In single stream, both the collection and processing systems must be designed to handle this fully commingled mixture of recyclables.
Advantages
Proponents of single stream note several advantages:
* Reduced sorting effort by residents may mean more recyclables are placed at the curb and more residents may participate in recycling;
* Reduced collection costs because single-compartment trucks are cheaper to purchase and operate, collection can be automated, and collection routes can be serviced more efficiently;
* Greater fleet flexibility which allows single compartment vehicles to be used for refuse or recycling, providing greater fleet flexibility and reducing the number of reserve vehicles needed. (To avoid confusing customers, use a large sign/banner to distinguish when a refuse truck is being used for recycling);
* Participation and allows you to spend less time recycling volume per household may increase and worker injuries may decrease because the switch to single stream is often accompanied by a switch from bins to cart-based collection;
* Changing to single stream may provide an opportunity to update the collection and processing system and to add new materials to the list of recyclables accepted; and
* More paper grades may be collected, including junk mail, telephone books and mixed residential paper.
Disadvantages
Potential disadvantages of single stream recycling may include:
* Initial capital cost for:
o new carts,
o Different collection vehicles,
o Upgrading of processing facility
o Education of residents;
* Processing costs may increase compared to multiple stream systems
* Possible reduced commodity prices due to contamination of paper;
* Increased “downcycling” of paper, i.e., use of high quality fibers for low-end uses like boxboard due to presence of contaminants;
* Possible increase in residual rates after processing (due chiefly to increased breakage of glass)
* Potential for diminished public confidence if more recyclables are destined for landfill disposal due to contamination or unmarketability.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-stream_recycling

Full Depth Recycling

Full depth recycling or full depth reclamation (FDR), is a process that rebuilds worn out asphalt pavements by recycling the existing roadway.

Old asphalt and base materials are pulverized using a specialized machine called a reclaimer. On top of the pulverized material, water is added to reach the optimal moisture content for compaction and then a variety of materials, such as dry cement, lime, fly ash, or asphalt emulsion are incorporated for stabilization. A reclaimer is used again to mix all the materials. After shaping and grading, the new base is compacted to produce a strong, durable base for either an asphalt or concrete surface.

This method recycles the materials in situ, there is no need to haul in aggregate or haul out old material for disposal. The vehicle movements are reduced and there is no need for detours since it can be done under traffic, making this process more convenient for local residents.

FDR with cement saves money while preserving natural resources by using existing materials and conserving virgin aggregates. The road performance is improved through better stabilization, building a stronger, low-maintenance road that will last for many years.
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Depth_Recycling

Creative Reuse

Creative reuse is the process of taking used or recycled materials and turning them into a creative pieces of art, home decoration, or other useful items.
Although typically associated with creating something from throwaways from commercial offices, creative reuse projects can be big or small and can be made from anything that would otherwise have been thrown away. Creative reuse can be items or artwork that are sold for profit, for non-profit causes, or just for fun.
There are several creative reuse centers in the United States, such as the East Bay Depot in Berkeley, California, the Creative Reuse Warehouse in Chicago, Illinois, The Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse in Long Beach, California and Fresh Heirlooms Construction Junction in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and SCRAP in Portland, Oregon. Others exist in the United Kingdom.
Another way creative reuse comes into play is through environmentally friendly gifts or "green gifts". Buying eco-friendly gifts made from recycled materials and hand-crafted into something unique and useful is becoming a chic new and environmentally friendly way to shop for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and the holidays.
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_reuse

Types of Recycling

Types of recycling

1. Creative reuse
2. Full Depth Recycling
3. Ship-Submarine recycling program
4. Single-stream recycling
5. Thermal depolymerization
6. Chemical reclamation, for example hydrochloric acid regeneration