Recycling

From April 2007 to February 2008, the city of Odate, Japan gathered about 17 tons of e-waste (according to a report from Harufumi Mori in Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper). The gadgets collected range from broken appliances to hair dryers to cell phones -- all too small to fall under the scope of recycling laws in Japan. By putting collection bins outside supermarkets and community centers the city diverted small electronics from landfills and turned their e-waste into cash.

After looking through just over one-third of the waste, Mori reports that Odate might find as much as half a kilogram of tantalum, one kilogram of gold, and as much as 4 kilograms of silver and palladium. All of this in less than one year of collections  in a city of 80,000 in a country with over 127 million residents. Imagine what a city the size of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles could recover?

The United States generates more e-waste than any other nation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Some of that waste is recycled. For example, steel, aluminum and copper are often stripped from outdated machines and reused in newer models.

But even recycled parts come at a price. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of e-waste collected in the United States for recycling is exported to areas such as China, India or Pakistan, where workers taking apart the old machines are handling toxic chemicals that can pose serious health problems.

Some manufacturers are beginning to assume greater responsibility for what happens to their products after they become obsolete. For example, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, IBM, and Sharp have programs to collect old computers, monitors, televisions, and other electronics.
Japan and the European Union have adopted progressive e-waste recycling laws. The European parliament approved legislative mandates to require manufacturers to cover the recycling and collection costs for their own take-back programs.

Europe's Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive are setting the global standard for computer recycling. Under the RoHS initiative, any manufacturer who wants to do business in Europe has to produce lead-free products.

The Computer Report Card from Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition says that some U.S. companies have a double standard when it comes to recycling. While some companies have implemented recycling policies in the European Union and Japan, where such programs are mandated, they've yet to do so in the United States.

Our favorite resource for recycling information is Earth 911 - your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash. Earth 911 was founded in 1991 and started off as a hot line for recycling. It has grown into a mature, intelligent and attractive site. They also maintain a bilingual hot line, 1-800-CLEANUP.

The Earth 911 recycling database can help you find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country. With information provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations and everyday consumers, you can recycle hundreds of products from packing peanuts to computers.

Let one of your goals for 2009 to be learning the four R’s: (From Earth 911)

Reduce: Waste reduction is the process and the policy of reducing the amount of waste produced and ultimately disposed. Waste reduction or waste minimization, also known as source reduction, is simply reducing waste at its source. In the waste management hierarchy the most effective policies and processes are mentioned first. Waste minimization is also strongly related to efforts to minimize resource and energy use. The fewer materials used for the same production output means that less waste is produced.

Reuse: When you use an item more than once, it is called reuse. Conventional reuse is where an item is used again for the same function, like when you refill a coffee cup instead of throwing it in the trash. It is also reuse when an item is reused for a different purpose, like when you use a 2-liter soda bottle as a seed-starter greenhouse.

Reuse helps the planet, but it also saves money. Today’s consumer is becoming more aware of environmental concerns and this awareness is gradually changing business and government policies, and consumer attitudes about what the convenience of a disposable society is really costing us.

Recycle: Recycling is the processing of making used items into new raw material. Recycling conserves our natural raw material resources, and typically uses much less energy. Saving energy means that smokestack emissions of greenhouse gas and other pollutants like mercury are reduced at the power plant, and our energy sources are not depleted as quickly. Recycling is critical to today’s waste management programs.

React: Conscientious Earth citizens have the ability to learn about the right things to do. After you learn, get out of your chair and actually do something about it: React! Make today the day YOU start to do something about it.

Until next time…become the change you imagine.

Christmas does not have to be a burden on the environment. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season. Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while caring for the earth:

Food & drink at Christmas
1. Buy local, seasonal, winter vegetables (these include sprouts, carrots, cabbage, leeks, onions, parsnips, and potatoes).
2. Support your local farmers' market (visit Local Harvest to find out your nearest farmers' market )
3. Look for meat from traditional breeds of sheep, beef or poultry, raised naturally and locally. Ask your butcher about the history of the animal. If you choose a bird opt for free-range organic or even try an alternative like goose.
4. If you can't buy local, buy fair trade products such as fruit, nuts and chocolate
5. Buy wine with real corks - not a single tree is cut down in their production and it is one of the most environmentally-friendly industries possible. The Natural Cork Quality Standard website has more information and guidance.
6. Try to buy food and drink packaged in materials that can be recycled in your area, such as paper and glass and avoid disposable items on the Christmas table such as paper serviettes.
7. Compost vegetable leftovers – try vermiculture
8. Use 100% recycled aluminum foil or baking paper for Christmas cakes

Christmas Trees, decorations, cards & wrapping paper
1. If you buy a real Christmas tree, check that it has the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo, which guarantees it has been sustainably farmed.
2. Buy a small pot grown tree and plant it out after Christmas.
3. Buy LED Christmas lights which, as well as lasting longer than conventional lights, use can 80% less energy.
4. Solar powered Christmas lights are also a great alternative - they can be bought in a number of online shops now, just search for them in Google.
5. Use old cards to make gift tags.
6. Send an E-card.
7. Wrapping paper is often treated, colored and sometimes covered in glitter which isn't easy to recycle - choose cards and wrapping which contain recycled paper.
8. Check to see if your community recycles real trees.
9. Recycle cards and wrapping paper.

Now that it is almost Christmas and everybody is busy shopping for gifts, I thought it was a timely matter to post this information on ewaste recycling.  It is a fact that electronics are tops on the list of popular gifts and what your kids want most.  But please don't put the old ones in the trash!  Read this and remember to recycle, always!

Here are some great tips on how to recycle your old electronics.  You must start doing this because electronic waste is dangerous to the environment in too many ways and can easily be recycled.  Most companies show responsible stewardship in creating their own recycling programs.  There are a few independent companies who will pay a stipend and pay the shipping for the delivery of your used, old or broken electronics.  These companies recycle the electronics by either fixing them and reselling them as refurbished, by donating them to charities here and overseas, by donating them to schools for reuse or by breaking down the units for parts that are then used in the repair or refurbishment of other electronics.  Either way, if you take advantage of these programs, you will keep the junk out of the landfill and do something good for the less fortunate, as well.

Here are some facts about electronics in America: During the holidays, every year, people clean out their old gear in favor of the new shiny toys and appliances they have just received, or purchased at after Christmas discount sales. With the upcoming 2009 change in TV transmissions from analog to digital, a mountain of e-waste will be created and not limited to the thousands of analog sets that people will simply dump.   And consider as well that the average cell phone user changes handsets every 18 months, putting the old phone into a dumpster or trash can along the way.

Recycling is a necessity, considering that 20 to 50 million tons of electronics waste (often called e-waste) is discarded globally every year, according to Greenpeace.  E-waste is the fastest growing component of and currently makes up five percent of all municipal solid waste.  Until recently, no one thought of recycling computers and other electronics. The only option was tossing them on the curb. But these days Engineers have taken notice that electronics contain a wealth of valuable materials. Plus, recycling almost always means lower net carbon emissions and a lot less lead, cadmium, brominated fire retardants and plastics ending up in the ecosystem where they can leach toxic breakdown products that end up in our water supply. 



The Consumer Electronics Association, which represents electronics manufacturers, encourages people to recycle their e-waste, and has set up a handy Website to make the process simple. Log on to www.mygreenelectronics.org, where you can search for local recycling drop-off points by zip code and product category. You'll also find tips and info on electronics recycling, and a cool energy calculator that will show you how much juice each product uses.

How to Recycle Items by Brand or Manufacturer:

Apple/Mac Recycling Program:

Apple offers a free U.S. recycling program for old computers and monitors - with the purchase of a new Mac. There is also a free iPod recycling program conducted through Apple's retail stores (earn a 10% discount).

Additionally Apple has instituted a trade-in program for educational and business customers in the United States.

In 2006, Apple recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste, the equivalent of 9.5 percent of the weight of all products sold seven years earlier. The company says it expects this percentage to grow to 13 percent in 2007, and to 20 percent in 2008. By 2010, it predicts it will be recycling 19 million pounds of e-waste per year - nearly 30 percent of the product weight sold seven years earlier.

More on this at http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/ipodrecycling/
To recycle batteries from Apple electronics: http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/
Recycling offer from Apple http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/program/index.html

Dell Computer Recycling Program:

Dell recently announced its goal of becoming the first major computer company to go carbon neutral and at the same time implemented systems to both recycle and reuse old computers.

Through the company's partnership with the National Cristina Foundation, any consumer or business can donate working, used computer systems to charity in exchange for a possible tax deduction. The foundation then places the donated technology with local nonprofits and public agencies that service disabled and economically disadvantaged children and adults. Dell and NCF provide this work in Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The company also offers its customers free recycling of any Dell-branded computer equipment at any time.  With purchase of a new Dell computer or printer, consumers can also take advantage of free recycling of other brands of used computer equipment. The recycling is managed by Dell's selected partners, who are required to adhere to Dell's high environmental standards.

Learn more about recycling Dell products: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/about_dell/values/environ...

Sony Electronics Recycling Program:

Sony will take back your old notebook or PC for credit.  You can use this program by going to www.sonystyle.com or at any Sony Style retail outlet.  Simply take your old Sony Notebook Computer to any SonyStyle outlet or mail it in to  Sony.

Sony products can also be taken to any Waste Management Facility in the US.  Just drop it off there and they will be recycled for free. 

Sony says the ultimate plan is to have a recycling center within 20 miles of most U.S. residents.  To learn more, and locate a site near you, http://www.sony.com/recycle.

Hewlett Packard Recycling Program:

Hewlett Packard is a leader in the green movement.  The company has been recycling old computer products for over 15 years now.   Currently, HP customers have several options to make sure their old e-waste doesn't end up polluting the planet.

HP has a trade in program that offers fair market value for aging technology and an upgrade to new HP technology.  Every product category is covered, HP and even non-HP products.

Companies can earn money for aging qualified computer equipment that is turned in. That in turn will be wiped clean of data, refurbished and resold.

HP will also take back used printer cartridges for recycling for no cost to the consumer. Many cartridges currently sold come with pre-paid return labels to simply the process.  Or you can just go the HP website and print out pre-paid return labels online. Rechargeable batteries can also be recycled for free at various locations; go to http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/ website to locate one near you.

HP will also recycle any brand of computer hardware. You can register on the website and get set up to do this.  The cost is minimal, ranging from $13 to $34 per item, depending.

HP also facilitates donations of older equipment to the less fortunate, through the National Cristina Foundation.

Learn more about HP's recycling program go to http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/return/index.html

Gateway Computers Recycling Program:

Gateway has a trade-in program in which customers get Gateway credit if they recycle their old PCs.They also have an innovative program in which recent Gateway customers can get cash for sending in preowned, working technology products. The initiative is managed by www.dealtree.com.

Gateway also has a program in which people can ship in e-waste for proper recycling.  The fee for this service depends upon the weight of the item. 

Learn more about Gateway's recycling program here: http://gateway.eztradein.com/gateway/.

Best Buy Electronics Recycling Program:

Best Buy is making progress in their recycling efforts, recycling more than 20 million lbs of electronics in 2006.  They are pioneers in new ways of recycling products, including drop-off kiosks that can be found inside the front door of every Best Buy in America.  Customers can drop off old cell phones, rechargeable batteries and ink-jet cartridges at no cost.

Best Buy also has an appliance recycling program.  They will come out and remove old appliances from your home and send them to recyclers. Harmful materials will be separated and disposed of, such as CFCs, usable parts will be salvaged, and other materials will be recycled for scrap.

Also, every cell phone customer will receive free, postage-paid envelopes to mail old phones to ReCellular. In turn, ReCellular donates dollars from its recycling program to Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

In addition,  Best Buy is known for hosting recycling events at its store parking lots, during which people can come drop off a wide range of items for recycling.

Learn more about Best Buy's recycling program go here: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/recycling.

Going plastic-free has not been a huge burden, for the most part. We've got awesome bulk foods stores here in the Bay Area and farmer's markets, and most shops are happy to package purchases or leftovers in my reusable containers. But a few changes I've made have been actual sacrifices, and ordering iced drinks without straws was one of them. Ice hurts my teeth. Cold drinks are just so much more pleasant and fun through a straw. But I gave them up when I gave up plastic. And now, thanks to a tip from FPF reader Lisa Sharp, I am straw-free no longer!
(And yes, I'm aware there are those who will say drinking iced cold beverages is no good for the digestion in the first place, but to me, a little iced tea in the summer is a beautiful thing.)

According to GlassDharma's web site, its drinking straws are made from the strongest glass commercially available and can be used over and over again indefinitely. I'll admit I was a bit skeptical, so I wrote to the company, and they were kind enough to send me a sample to review on Fake Plastic Fish.


Not only are the straws strong, but they are also beautiful, with decorative colored accents. And they come with little cleaning brushes, because how else would you clean out a drinking straw? Of the various sizes and shapes, I thought my favorite would be the long bent straw, but actually the regular-sized straight one feels the best to me. And the short one will be great the next time I have a cocktail at The Mint -- as long as I can remember to request "no straw" when I order.

Yay! Combined with the fizzy water from my Penguin, which by the way, is still awesome, GlassDharma makes plastic-free drinking fun again.

The packaging of these straws is almost perfect. Plain cardboard boxes without excess filler. I actually didn't believe they'd make it through the mail without any breakage, but make it they did. The only plastic was the packing tape, and David Leonhardt, the owner of GlassDharma, addressed that issue in his email to me before I even asked the question. Here's what he wrote when I asked him about his company and philosophy:

I’ve been a lampworker (glassblower) for over 10 years. I was doing some work for a local glass shop in town and noticed that the owner had glass drinking straws for sale. I had never heard of these before and was always intrigued by something made out of glass that I hadn’t thought of.

As most of us know, the abundance of scientific reports warn us about the dangers of plastics leaching toxins into our food supply. This has increased demand for better alternatives to safeguard our health.

I immediately recognized that here was a partial solution to our “plastics problem” that was amazingly simple. So I embarked on an adventure to “Save the World – 1 Straw at a Time”. It has been an amazing experience.

As a teen in the 60’s, I saw how our society was trashing the planet, but felt helpless to do anything about it, and became rather apathetic. Since starting this project, I find my eyes are opened more every day as to the small, simple things we all can do. I also realize that as a manufacturer, my effect on the planet is far more reaching than that as an individual.

For instance, as I recently received a new shipment of packaging tape, I realized that there are better solutions to ship products with. I will soon be educating myself as to the most feasible method of shipping without the use of toxic tape.

Another unexpected benefit that has emerged from this project is being able to help those with special needs. From stroke victims, quadriplegics, cancer victims (and survivors), there has been quite a few requests for unique diameters, lengths and shapes to assist those who’s options are limited. I feel blessed to be able to serve in this capacity

These things have been the driving force that motivates me, especially when entering uncharted territory as the business grows. I have said since starting GlassDharma that “I would be happy to provide 2% of the population in this country with glass drinking straws”. (That’s about 6 million straws) I think that is a worthy goal.

GlassDharma straws are made in Fort Bragg, California and come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage. GlassDharma has also begun selling little carrying cases ("straw cozies") to protect the straws while in a purse or backpack. But, I didn't need one. One or two straws will fit perfectly in the To-Go Ware utensil case that I already carry with me. In fact, a few nights ago while having dinner in a restaurant with Michael, I was able to whip out my glass straw and say, "Please don't bring me a straw. I have my own."

And I do want to address the concern of one anonymous commenter who responded to my mention of glass drinking straws in a previous post, "But... what's the point of reducing plastic just to buy more little items?"

While I do agree wholeheartedly that it's important to reduce our consumption and purchasing overall, I am not a Spartan. I do enjoy having some nice, quality things that will last a long time and give pleasure. And I see no problem with supporting a domestic company that is handmaking items to help us reduce our dependence on disposables. Frankly, drinking cold drinks without a straw sucks for me. In a comment a few months back, Crunchy Chicken coined the term "hairshirt environmentalism,". She was referring to washing my hair with baking soda, which has not been a struggle at all. Going strawless? That was my hairshirt.
 

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Posted By Fake Plastic Fish to Fake Plastic Fish at 9/08/2008 10:15:00 PM

Last night, I had a wonderful meal with some new friends who are working to create an alternative online community. We ate at Red Sea, an Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant down the street from me. As we sat before a giant communal platter of food: meats, vegetables, lentils, fish, all spread across sour injera bread, I marveled at the bounty before us and the irony that this amazing cuisine comes to us from a part of the world where the majority of citizens would be eating far less and far fewer dishes in one meal, and would certainly not have the need for a stainless steel tiffin in which to carry home leftovers.

To be able to eat until our bellies are full, to have food leftover, and to feel secure that there will be more tomorrow, this is affluence. And whether we choose to overindulge or to eat simply, the fact that we have a choice is also affluence. Whether we live in a single family home or palacial estate or studio apartment, those of us who have a roof over our heads and are not worried about ending up in the streets are affluent compared with the 85% of people worldwide who earn less than $2,200 per year and whose lives are less certain.

Affluence is the topic of this month's APLS blog carnival. What does it mean and why is it important? So, as I did with last month's topic, Sustainability, I looked at the derivation of the word to gain a better understanding. Affluent comes from the Latin "to flow toward." Having affluence means that the good things in life flow toward you. But if affluence is flow, then do those of us lucky enough to have been born into great (relative) wealth have a responsibility to keep the waters moving, to sustain (our word from last month) the flow? Or is it our right to dam it up and stop it, thinking we can keep all the goodies for ourselves?

Coincidentally, there is an advertisement on my blog this week for a new documentary film entitled, Flow, which looks at the "growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply" and asks the question, "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?" And in fact, right now my own state of California is fighting the Nestle Corporation in court over its plan to build a water-bottling plant in Siskyou County to capture "1,600 acre feet of spring water per year (and an unlimited amount of groundwater) from the McCloud river under a 100-year contract." Forget about all the plastic bottles for a minute, how does this private company have the right to stop the flow?

Sustaining the flow means directing our resources in such a way that they continue to benefit the rest of the world as they travel from one hand to the next. If we're talking about money, then it means using our wallets to support a healthy world. Not buying the bottled water, just because we can, but choosing organic, fair trade, least toxic products and avoiding those that in some way cause harm. It means that if we make enough money to save for the future, investing in socially and environmentally responsible companies. And it means, to the best of our ability, supporting organizations that are working to create positive change in the world.

There are all kinds of ways we can keep our money flowing to create positive change in the world. But flow is not necessarily only monetary. It's also the time that we have available to live on this planet and what we choose to do with it. I am very fortunate to work only 3 days per week and make enough money to live comfortably (meaning organic food, shelter in a relatively safe neighborhood, a nice computer and Internet access, healthcare, ability to pay for "extras" like concerts and plays and meditation retreats.) I live in a modest rented apartment and don't own a car. But those are choices. I have the luxury of trading free time for material possessions.

For several years, I wondered what it was I was supposed to do with all this free time. I watched a lot of movies. I learned to knit and made silly things for everyone I knew. I trained for and ran a marathon. I planted a roof garden. I learned web programming and made funny flash animations. I got addicted to playing The Sims (a topic for a possible upcoming post) and stayed up many nights in a row making sure my little people ate and showered and peed and slept and chatted so they would be in the mood to go to work and make enough Simoleans to buy new stuff and "move up" in their world. And I came home nearly every night depressed because I felt that all this free time was a gift that I was squandering.

And I was stagnating. The waters were dammed up. The projects I jumped into felt kind of pointless when I considered their impact (or lack thereof) on the rest of the world. And then I found what I thought was my calling. Plastic. This blog. Fake Plastic Fish. And suddenly, instead of keeping all my free time for myself, I was creating a positive force in the world. Not only learning for myself, but passing on what I learned to others. Creating connections. Joining with others. But even this is not the end of the story.

No matter how many good things I had or how many good things I did, there was still me, struggling.

So I'm learning slowly and painfully, there is another kind of affluence that is not based on having anything at all. Money or time or friends or even health. It's the affluence that all of us share: the privilege of simply being. And the recognition that none of us is truly separate from the other, that in reality, there is no other. Whomever and whatever we harm is ultimately ourselves. And when we stand in the way of the flow (or, some might say tao) there is nothing real to win anyway.

For me, it's actually easy to focus on environmental issues and giving to charities and buying organic and petitioning companies and governments and riding my bike instead of driving and volunteering my time because those things build up my ego and give me a sense of self-worth. It's easy to use the affluence I was born into in these ways to make a better world. And it's important. It's my responsibility as a member of the global rich.

But simply being is the greatest affluence of all. And awakening to that fact is truly all that is necessary to save us. All other right actions flow from that source.
 

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Posted By Fake Plastic Fish to Fake Plastic Fish at 9/09/2008 12:46:00 AM

I recently bought a mattress at a store called Keetsa in San Fran.  It seemed very green and I was quite pleased as green mattresses are so expensive and I couldn't have afforded it otherwise. I thought it especially important as I was eight months pregnant. Lo and behold, I actually went into early labor like an hour after ordering the mattress.  My husband brought the body pillow I ordered from Keetsa as well to the place we were staying after I gave birth.  I was so upset to see the label on it....it was made in China.  In addition, the inner part of the pillow is 40% polyurethane foam. I haven't seen the tag on the mattress, because my husband had to set it up while I wasn't home, but I'm so sad about the pillow....it doesn't seem like
a green purchase at all. Do you have any experience with this company?  Is it truly green? I know they use a lot of recycled material, which is great, but is recycled plastic made in China a healthy purchase? I am suspicious.-Kristin

WoollyM.

Congrats on your new baby Kristin! I called Keetsa to find out a bit more about their mattresses. Here is what I found out. Their mattresses could be potentially better for the environment than conventional mattresses. They claim that because of their makeup, natural fabrics and content etc..their products are more recyclable. The springs contain recycled steel in them and they are resourceful and use foam scraps from their mattresses for the support foundation. Their mattresses have a numeric rating called the "Keetsa Quotient™" which is " a composite score of how much each product contains a green-factor ingredient: use of recycled material or recyclable materials, use of sustainable materials such as bamboo or unbleached cotton. Some products have higher scores because they try to optimize the green-factor as much as they can while still delivering high levels of comfort." They also try to make a smaller carbon footprint when producing their mattresses. They send the mattresses as efficiently as possible rolled up in a recyclable cardboard box printed on with soy inks, however the box is still not made from recycled content.

So from an environmental standpoint this seems pretty positive, but are the mattresses better for our health than conventional ones? Are they safe like an organic one?

Their mattresses do contain a petroleum based memory foam inside of them. They feel that the memory foam is a necessity and dissipates pressure of one's body to some degree, making it better for your back. That is one of the reasons they use it at all. As you know, petroleum based products aren't the most environmental as petroleum products don't recycle well and they might not be the best for our health due to possible toxic VOC (volatile organic compounds) that petroleum can let off for one to breathe in. To reduce this typical toxic offgassing due to chemicals in petroleum, they have reduced the amount of petroleum oils in their based foams by 50%. They cut down on the formaldehyde and petroleum oils in the foam by putting it through a special process and replacing some of these oils with different derived ones from food ingredients such as one from green tea called "catechin" (also known as EGCG). When the this extract is added to the memory foam, it is supposed to be good for you and at the same time create odor control." They use non-toxic food preservatives to reduce flammabilty and to lower the amount of harmful offgassing of chemicals and still are able to adhere to the stringent flame retardant laws in our country. They claim their mattresses etc... are still 70-80% organic in a sense because of Keetsa's use of non pesticide ridden cottons and other natural fabrics. However, they cannot get an organic certification because of the petroleum foam inside the mattresses.

After Life Recyclability?

Keetsa does provide you resources of where to recycle your old mattress on their site before you buy their brand. They will not take their own old Keetsa mattresses back at the end of their lifecycle which is apparently 20 years, a 20 year warranty. You must dispose of them at the appropriate waste sites as well.

Fair? and Made in...?

They claim they are fair labor even thought they are manufacturing their mattresses in China. The CEO who started the company went to UC Berkeley and used to work for Seelies. The mattresses are made by machines in a lab in the Northern Provinces of China. They import all their materials from Korea and Europe.

My Feelings.

So those are some of the facts. Now my feelings. Their goal is to be as healthy and natural as possible. I totally appreciate that, but I'm not sure I feel that any use of petroleum is particularly healthy or natural, but as it stands I wouldn't send it back unless you absolutely can't live with these facts I talked about above. I guess if you feel more anxiety sleeping on this mattress then if you would if you forked out the extra money to spend on an organic one, then you should definitely send it back for sure. Seeing as you have had such a big year this year as well, maybe you could try to accept it's small amount of petroleumness and keep it. Maybe buy an encasing for the mattress that zips around it when the funds for this are available and eventually a topper. It is frustrating that in your time of dire mattress need they weren't completely upfront with you about the petroleum aspect of the mattress. But maybe they aren't that informed on the health aspects of their productsin the first place. But these are the lessons we are all learning in this day and age, a bit of "greenwashing" could be rearing it's head here as polyurethane of any kind isn't green. It is hard to know all the facts about every product on every shelf in our lives, this is one of our biggest challenges. Finding honesty in a world of just trying to make a quick buck. Green product certifications maybe could help protect us a bit better. But are they thorough enough? There is Greenseal and Co-op America and several others. Can we identify a safer green product by it's price? Organic is usually identified by a heftier price. Does this make it safer? Don't know. One would hope that eventually truly organic, green and healthier product's prices could compete fairly with conventional ones and create massive demand for them eliminating unhealthy conventional products.

So really, I would say keep your stuff and try not to worry, but definitely be skeptical next time you buy a product that calls itself green. Stick to your intuition, try to inform yourself, look for certifications that you agree with and ask as many questions as possible. Or email me! I would love to help you if you don't have the time! Good luck with your new babe! Woolly M.

Arya can has plastic? Well, after cooping you up in a cage for so long, I wish I could give you anything you want. But no, little kitty, u cant has plastic. Give it back pleeze.  Okay, here's this week's tally. Plastic items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:

• 1 prescription bottle and cap. Finally used up. And as I've mentioned before, Rx bottles cannot be refilled in the state of California. Even the vet won't reuse them.

And the new plastic waste:

• 1 prescription bottle and cap -- Arya's. Kitty morphine. Fun while it lasted.


• Plastic tape from a package received this week. More on this tomorrow when I write about something I found to make drinking fun again. Soda, that is. Or iced tea. Okay, mai tais. Whatever. Are you curious?

It's Labor Day, and I'm resting from labor. Bye.