The Green Apple

Full Circle, Part 3: TerraCycle

This is the third entry in "Full Circle," a series that will be profiling companies and organizations that offer biodegradable and recyclable products or services -- both in the New York City area and beyond.

This "upcycled" backpack is made from Capri Sun drink containers. School supplies are the top-selling items for TerraCycle, accounting for close to 30 percent of its annual product sales. Photo courtesty of TerraCycle.

Albe Zakes will admit it. While in school at the University of Colorado, he was a “frustrated environmentalist.”

“I felt like too many environmental non-profits [organizations] refused to work with major companies,” he said. “It was always petition, letter-write, protest, and picket instead of coming to the board room table and trying to work with them.”

Luckily, Zakes found an upstart company that shared his passion of making mainstream big-box stores more eco-friendly: Trenton, N.J.-based TerraCycle. Since its founding in 2002, the company has been able to forge multi-faceted partnerships with major retailers and manufacturers through an innovative business model that interweaves making and selling of upcycled products, recycling and donating to non-profit organizations. At the time of this posting, the company had more than 26 million people collect more than 2.3 billion waste units and raise more than $3.4 million dollars for charities around the world.

#OWS Solution: Protect water quality and create green jobs

Photo courtesy of Matt and Kim Rudge on Flickr's Creative Commons.

I love water. I like to talk about it. I even made storm water my thesis in graduate school. And I recently read a new proposal about water and the creation of jobs. This new report suggests that finding new ways to preserve water quality might solve more than just clean water concerns. This proposal that suggests upgrading water infrastructure would keep be a green practice that protects water quality and creates jobs! 

Want to create 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy? Upgrade our water infrastructure. That's the message of Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment, a report by Green For All, in partnership with American Rivers, Pacific Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute. The report looks at an investment of $188.4 billion in water infrastructure -- the amount the EPA indicates would be required to manage stormwater and preserve water quality. That investment would inject a quarter of a trillion dollars into the economy, create nearly 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs and result in 568,000 additional jobs from increased spending.

Photo courtesy of bgottsab on Flickr's Creative Commons.

Basically we could resolve the complaints in Occupy Wall Street that there are no jobs available and at the same time, protect water quality. Who isn't pro-environment? These would be green jobs. We all want clean water. This would help water quality. Everyone agrees we need more jobs in American cities. But, even if it is green, environmentally friendly work, what kind of jobs are we willing to do?

It's an interesting proposal and I agree with the need for infrastructure. I really think it make sense. But I'm not convinced the people looking for jobs in Occupy Wall Street are interested in improving water infrastructure. What do you think?

To get information on my storm water alert research, emailme at amy.e.freeze at abc.com.

 

Cruising with the right pressure keeps you green

I'm walking a lot more than I'm driving in NYC but I still have a car (a debate for another blog!) and so when the season changes the car needs a little more attention.  After one of NYC's hottest (and wettest) summers ever, it's about to get cool!  Some people will drive more than they walk in the winter months so make sure your car is ready to cruise.  Instead of feeling guilty for using your car when the weather turns cold -- make it as efficient as you can...  Start by checking your tire pressure!

Photo courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker on Flickr's Creative Commons.

You might be surprised at the difference the temperature makes in whether the air in your tires has expanded which keeps the pressure high, or contracted, which can leave the tires under-inflated.  The bottom line is a drop in gas mileage!  If you are aware of the fuel efficiency of your car and you carefully try to lower your carbon footprint, or if you are just someone who wants to pay less at the pump, get out that tire gauge!

First thing in the morning, stop by the gas station –- this time to save money, not spend it –- and give your tires a puff or two of fresh air.  

And for more tips, here's a link to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's green vehicle guide.

Be Green!

Stay COOL! 

Meteorologist Amy Freeze

amy.e.freeze at abc.com