Board at the bars final blog

First off a little update of how my recycling, reducing, and reusing has been going in my own home is this:
I have been doing pretty well. My roommate and I decided that we would switch out all the light bulbs to energy saving bulbs. We turn the lights off when we leave the room/house. If we leave a light on and the other person catches it then we had to put a quarter into the piggy bank. After a month or so of this we have filled up an entire piggy bank jar…now what I should spend it on We also turn the fans off when were not home and use more natural sunlight vs. lamps. We turned the heater off completely and use blankets when were cold. Our electricity bill was about $300 a month when we used the electric heat. Also we have brought our electric bill down from $80-$150 a month down to $42 a month. We were so excited! I reused things I once would of thrown away like butter and yogurt containers to put leftover food in. Also any old clothes I wanted to throw away I made into rags to clean up messes instead of using paper towels that are single use. I also made several pairs of my too far gone jeans into shorts and skirts. I am still keeping up with my recycling at the house. I stopped all my bills and switched to paperless billing. I’m recycling all the paper and newspaper thats in our home. My consumption of aluminum cans has decreased incredibly. I’ve stopped eating out everyday and am learning to cook. I’m actually using the foods that are in my pantry instead of going and buying new things. Lastly my garbage has decreased from 7-10 bags of trash a week to 1-2 bags (13 gallon). I really feel like by not only recycling things, but also reducing and reusing what I have/do has made a big difference.
My project for recycling cardboard at the bar I work at kind of backfired. Some people didn’t know about the recycling or didn’t get the memo. There fore some boxes got thrown away or not stored where they were supposed to. When I took the boxes to Howies I was so dissapointed that they didn’t even really acknowledge me. I brought in loads of boxes and all they did was tell me to “throw them over there”. Not only did they not weigh the amount of boxes I had but they don’t pay you for them either. I was really hoping to start a sort of fund for the money I’d get from this but this just ruined my dream. Then to top it all off I find out from the owner of the bar that they think that storing the boxes makes the place look unkempt. They think it’s too much work and don’t want me to recycle anymore. This made me so mad and sad at the same time. I’m still hoping to get some sort of a movement for the bars to all have to recycle cans, glass, and cardboard. They have to sort everything out at the end of the night anyway how hard is it to take that little effort and put it in the right bins?? If they would pay for a bin from Howies to put cardboard in and glass then it would really make up for it in the end. Is this too much to ask? Or is all that these bar owners care about is themselves????
From this lived experience I have learned that I am privledged. I am so privledged to have to opportunity to HAVE things to recycle, and reduce and reuse. I am so privledged to have more than I need and am able to want to change that. This lived experience relates to ecofeminism because I tried to make my life and the people that surround me more earth friendly. I am making a concious effort to save the Earth and respect her more. I plan on continuing my recycling, reducing and reusing within my own home and have high hopes of changing how things are done at the bars.

Every little bit counts

An update on my progress with my recycling. Spring break was a bad week for me. I drove 33 hours straight to Miami. I bought a bunch of non-perishable foods like chips and candy and water bottles for the drive/trip. My goal was not to eat out on the way there or hardly at all why we were there. I did pretty good but I felt the need for some hot food along the way and gave into some D.Q. Chicken strips and Burger Kings breakfast.

When we got to Miami I tried to redeem myself and went to the local grocery store and bought fresh fruits, vegetables and turkey meat, bread and some other goodies. We lived off of that for the most part for the next week. However I did take advantage of the amazing foods they have down there. EVERYTHING and I mean everything tastes better there. I tried lobster, shrimp, muscles, salmon, yellow tail snapper, along with all amazing fresh fruits and vegetables. I have never tasted tomatoes or salads that are so delicious. It really makes me think why eat processed foods anymore?? But beyond all the amazing eats we did try and save all of our aluminum cans. We would put them in seperate bags and give them to the front desk people when they were full.

SINCE SPRING BREAK

I decided in addition to trying to recycle and reduce consumption that I would stop drinking pop and beer. I no longer have any aluminum cans in my house and that was a big step for me. Ha ha. This no beer thing lasted about a week. I decided I would limit my drinking to only one day a week but only at the bars. The bar I mostly hang out in is the one I work at. We already recycle aluminum cans so it makes since to drink there.

I also have started my attempt to reycle all the cardboard that the bar gets. I had the manager text everyone letting them know to save the boxes and that I would pick them up several times a week. We also put up notes and I talked to some of the door guys. (since they will be the ones that have to do this) So far everything is going good. Granted this has only been active for a week yet but tomorrow I go to take the boxes to Howies and see what good I’m actually doing. I’ll let you know how this continues to go!!

You can get involved right here at K-State

On top of the options at Howie’s Recycling and surrounding cities there is also the option of K-State. When I was researching everything I thought well what about here at K-State; What do we do to help with recycling? I’m sure you’ve seen the bins around campus with the slots for newspaper, bottles, aluminum cans and such. I wondered who actually puts all of this together. I searched through k-states webpages and found @ http://www.k-state.edu/facilities/recycling/#student%20employment%20opportunities

The Program is now being restructured to better serve the University community. We are relocating existing receptacles, adding new receptacles, including new products and increasing staff in order to improve recycling efforts. In 1999 the Recycling Program began receiving City/University Funds to improve recycling efforts. This funding provides recycling receptacles for outdoor use, educational programs and student wages. Riley County, the City of Manhattan and K-State received a Grant from Bureau of Waste Management Kansas Department of Health and Environment in 1999 to purchase two trailers to collect recyclable material.

In the Fall of 1998 a Campus Recycling Committee was formed to coordinate and enhance recycling efforts on campus. Steve Galitzer, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, is Chairman of the Recycling Committee. The Recycling Program will strive to accomplish the following Goals that were established by the Recycling Committee.

Recycling receptacles have been placed at strategic locations on campus to expand the collection of recyclable material. Most of the sites have three receptacles for the collection of aluminum cans, PETE# 1 plastic bottles and newspapers. The labeled receptacles are located next to wooden trash receptacles so individuals can deposit materials appropriately

K-State Recycles



Aluminum cans

Cardboard

*Green bar computer paper

*Magazines

*NewspaperOffice Mix

Includes both white and colored paper, letterhead, unbound reports, white forms, index cards, envelopes (w/out plastic window) and green bar computer paper

Pallets

*Phone Directories – Seasonal

Plastic #1 PET

Rubber bands

Shredded Paper

Environmental Health and Safety Department

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety offers a specialized recycling or disposal service for materials of a security or safety nature.

Batteries – Acid and dry cell (all sizes)

Chemicals – Reusable chemicals

Computer media – Floppy disks and tapes

Transparencies – Overhead transparencies

Photographic – Fixer, film and paperSecurity or

Confidential material – shredding service for ten cents per pound.

Call 532- 5856 for additional information

K-State Does Not Recycle



Adhesives

Garbage

Bright Fluorescent paper

Wrap from reams of paper

Binders

Brown Envelopes

Carbon paper

Paper towels

Food

Tape

Food wrappers

Plastic or Styrofoam cups

K-State’s Goals



Waste Reduction – 15 percent reduction of materials taken to landfill each year for the next three years.

Materials Targeted for Recycling – paper and cardboard in first year; plastic in the second year; organic (including manure) waste in the third year; and wood in the fourth year.

Buy Recycled Products – increase emphasis on buying recycled paper; plastic wood; toner cartridges; surplus property; and computer media and overheads.

Education – achieve 90 percent awareness in the first year and then annual marketing effort; develop an annual Recycling Award in second year; and buy recycled products the third year.

This was last updated in 2002 so if anyone has any newer info or updates that would be great. There are also charts and graphs on this webpage I gave you If you’d like to check that out.

SEA



Students for Environmental Action is another resource we have here at K-State. I know some of you are involved in this if you’d give me an update of current projects and goals that you have!

www.k-state.edu/environment/links.htm

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Howie’s can recycle it!

Last time I had told you I was going to check into the where and what exactly Howie’s does. I used our nifty internet and googled recycling centers near Manhattan KS. Supprisingly it came up with a lot of results.

Here’s what I found:

Recyclingcenters.org is a website that you can type in your zipcode and it will give you listings of all the trash/recycling centers near you. It tells you whether that company recycles or just does trash etc. It also gives the websites and or phone numbers if available. So with the results for Manhattan Kansas we have more than one option.

Howie’s Recycling

Located at 625 10th St. Manhattan KS,

785-776-8352 785-539-3202

www.howiesrecycling.com/services

Burch Recycling and Salvaging

Located at 305 Hoover Rd Junction City, KS

785-238-2583

JC Sanitation Agency Incorporated

421 E Flint Hills BlvdJunction City, KS

(785) 238-3321

Tire Cutters

604 4th StCentralia, KS

(785) 857-3253

I went to the website for Howie’s and found out that they recycle:

Basic materials:
aluminum cans
food & beverage glass
plastic jugs & bottles #1 and #2 Only
steel cans
paper/ magazines
cardboard
newspaper

Scrap metals:
aluminum
copper
brass
stainless steel
lead
steel
transmissions
radiators
car batteries

Some questions that you may have about their services:

Is there a minimum amount of material I can bring into the center?
You may bring in any amount of material, but to be paid for your non-ferrous metals there is a five pound minimum. Their prices depend upon the market value for each item recycled.

How long must I wait for my money?
The entire recycling transaction from start to finish normally takes less than 10 minutes.

May I donate the proceeds of my recycable materials to a special project in the community?
Yes. We will set up an account for any group that contacts the center with this type of request.

Not only does Howie’s take care of your trash disposal and recycle your unwanted things but they also help with Spring Clean Up in early April and Earth Day on April 22nd. The Riley County’s Household Hazard Waste mobile trailer collects household hazardous waste at Howie’s Recycling on the second Saturday of each month from 8:00 a.m – noon.

Riley County Webpage:

http://www.rileycountyks.gov/ was another very informative website I found. On their website they told of other recycling opportunities available through Howie’s which I thought were very awesome.

Used Oil and Filter Recycling Program:

Farmers in Riley County can take advantage of this program by calling the Household Hazardous Waste office at (785) 539-3202. This program offers each farmer an opportunity to participate in the program which includes a 55 gallon used oil drum and a 20 gallon oil filter drum to be used for collections. Household Hazardous Waste will deliver these drums to your farm and when they are full, just give them a call and they will pick them up and deliver you new drums.

Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program

The Plastic Pesticide Container recycling program allows farmers and commercial applicators to recycle their plastic containers.
Containers must be triple rinsed in accordance with the label .
Best if rinsed at the time you fill the sprayer and rinse water is added to the spray solution
Bring the empty containers to 6245 Tuttle Creek Blvd, Manhattan
Arrangements can be made to have large numbers of containers picked up by calling the office at (785) 539-3202 and making an appointment.

The containers are then delivered to a holding area at the Pottawatomie County Weed Department where they are stored until fall when a recycling company brings a plastic container chipper to the site.

Products Made from Recycled Containers:
pallets
boards
posts
parking blocks
picnic tables
park benches

Latex Paint Recycling:

Riley County HHW has recycled latex paint to give away. The paint is packaged in five-gallon buckets and comes in a variety of colors as long as you like shades of beige and gray.
Latex paint that comes to the HHW facility for disposal is inspected to find paint that is still usable. The paint is then bulked in a 55-gallon drum, mixed and then packaged in five-gallon buckets. This allows for at least ten containers of a consistent color.
Latex paint samples may be viewed on our color board at the facility. Some of the bulked paint may not yet be packaged and you may need to return to pick up your paint the day after selection. If possible, we would like the buckets returned so we can recycle them again.
The HHW facility also has a selection of oil-based paint products available for recycling. These paints, stains and varnishes are in their original containers and come in containers ranging from ½ pint to one gallon in size.
The number one problem with latex paint being unusable is freezing. Since latex paint is water based, when it freezes it dries out the water carrier. When this happens, the paint is no longer usable. Remember to store latex paint where it will not freeze so that it can be used for its intended purpose.

I hope this was a very informative blog and I hope that you will take advantage of these websites and recycling centers to help save our planet!!

This isn’t as easy as I thought

Well I’ve started my recycling project. I wanted to be really organized so I went to Wally world to find some containers to put my recyclables in. While Wally’s world seems to have everything for a low low price I didn’t really see the type of containers I wanted. I decided to go to K-Mart and check out their selection. Wow I thought they were a cheaper place but turns out each trash can was between $20-30 bucks. Are you kidding me? Just to hold my trash or recyclables?? Jeeze… So I decided since I’m trying to reuse things that I would look around my house. Turns out my landlord or old tenants left a big trashcan like they use at the bars… I was excited. Since most of what I consume that can be recycled is aluminum cans (mainly beer, and soda pop) I decided I’d use that one for it. Then I found an old Tidy Kitty Litter Box. I’m using that one for plastics. I just have the two containers since that is a majority of what I end up throwing away.

So far things are going good. I get a lot of use out of the aluminum cans trash can. It is filling up a lot faster than the plastics…lol I see that a lot of what I consume is yogurt containers or the packaging from meats or pasta boxes. I find that I eat at least 7 meals a week out. Most of those are at the bar or resterunts that I work at. This is mainly because I get it free or half off.

Before I started recycling I found that with me and my roommate and my two dogs I usually throw away 1-2 bags of trash a day. Now these are 13 gallon trash bags and a lot of what took up space was to-go boxes or my soy milk/orange juice cartons. So far I have been averaging 1-2 bags a week.

My next step is to contact Howies and find out what things they will recycle there and what the refund will be. So far I havn’t spend any money on recycling. I need to focus on how to buy less. More fresh fruits and whole grains with little or no packaging. I will find out about what Howies’ recycles and let you know!!

First things first

Hello Everyone~

For my project I will be doing what one person can do. I want to see if it is possible for me to recycle, reduce and reuse things in my home. I’ll begin by buying the containers needed and finding out where I go to take the recyclables or whether to pay someone to pick them up. I want to find out if After I get this in control and going if I can get a bar in Aggieville to recycle all their cardboard. I work at this bar so it will be a little easier. I will first have to okay it with the owner and managers, then I will have to figure out how exactly I can make this happen. I’ll keep ya posted.