Cycling Back to Cycling Back to NatureNature

Presented by:

Jeannie Mueller

Aluminum cans rather than glass bottlesAluminum cans rather than glass bottles

Plastic instead of paper Plastic instead of paper bagsbags

Styrofoam packing to protect foodStyrofoam packing to protect food

Convenient water bottles Convenient water bottles rather rather

than water from a faucetthan water from a faucet

A Little History…A Little History…1964 Royal Crown Cola bottles soda in 1964 Royal Crown Cola bottles soda in

cans cans 1970 First Earth Day1970 First Earth DayRecycle symbolRecycle symbol

Plastic bags (1Plastic bags (1stst introduced in 70’s) introduced in 70’s) now account for four out of every five now account for four out of every five bags handed out at the grocery store. bags handed out at the grocery store.

1987 - Soy ink used successfully in 1987 - Soy ink used successfully in printing newspapers (95% now use)printing newspapers (95% now use)

1990 – McDonalds bows to consumer 1990 – McDonalds bows to consumer demand and environmental groups demand and environmental groups and begins phasing out polystyrene and begins phasing out polystyrene packaging packaging

in favor of paper in favor of paper

1990s - Hand held cell phone and the 1990s - Hand held cell phone and the disposable plastic water bottledisposable plastic water bottle

Aluminum CansAluminum Cans It takes 95% less energy to recycle It takes 95% less energy to recycle

aluminum than to create it from raw aluminum than to create it from raw materials.materials.

Recycling one can saves enough energy to Recycling one can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours or arun a TV for three hours or a

100-watt light bulb for four hours. 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

Recycling 40 cans conserves the same Recycling 40 cans conserves the same energy as one gallon of gasoline. energy as one gallon of gasoline.

Plastic BagsPlastic Bags Estimates say that somewhere between

500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.

Americans use 100 billion plastic shopping bags a year -- that’s more than 330 a year for every person in the country.

A plastic bag can take as long as 1,000 years to break down in a landfill.

Water BottlesWater Bottles

1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used 1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used to produce plastic water bottles in the U.S. to produce plastic water bottles in the U.S. each year. This is enough oil to heat each year. This is enough oil to heat 250,000 homes or provide gas for 100,000 250,000 homes or provide gas for 100,000 cars for a yearcars for a year

86% of water bottles are land-86% of water bottles are land-

filled, incinerated or litteredfilled, incinerated or littered

Paper/StyrofoamPaper/StyrofoamAbout 14% of land-fill content is About 14% of land-fill content is

newspaper; paper in packaging newspaper; paper in packaging another 15-20%another 15-20%

1960s newspapers still readable1960s newspapers still readable35 of every 100# of trash is paper35 of every 100# of trash is paperA ton of recycled paper saves 7,000 A ton of recycled paper saves 7,000

gallons of water and 17-31 treesgallons of water and 17-31 trees2508 – plastics and Styrofoam might 2508 – plastics and Styrofoam might

still be aroundstill be around

Talking Trash…Talking Trash…Americans generate about #4 pounds Americans generate about #4 pounds

per day per person of trash – 600,000 per day per person of trash – 600,000 tons per day or 210 million tons per tons per day or 210 million tons per yearyear

Almost twice as much as most other Almost twice as much as most other major countriesmajor countries

How is trash handledHow is trash handled 27%27% recycled or composted recycled or composted

16%16% burned burned57%57% buried buried

Cycling Back to Cycling Back to NatureNature

Compost Recipe Compost Recipe IngredientsIngredients

AirAirWaterWaterBrown StuffBrown Stuff –– dead dried plant parts dead dried plant parts

like leaves and pine needles (carbon)like leaves and pine needles (carbon)Green StuffGreen Stuff – fresh living parts like – fresh living parts like

grass clippings, kitchen vegetable grass clippings, kitchen vegetable scraps, and other plants (nitrogen)scraps, and other plants (nitrogen)

Build the Compost PileBuild the Compost Pile

Brown StuffBrown Stuff•Dried Dried leavesleaves•Pine Pine needlesneedles•NewspaperNewspaper•SawdustSawdust

Brown StuffBrown Stuff•Dried Dried leavesleaves•Pine Pine needlesneedles•NewspaperNewspaper•SawdustSawdust

Green StuffGreen Stuff•Food scrapsFood scraps•Grass Grass clippingsclippings•Coffee Coffee groundsgrounds

Green StuffGreen Stuff•Food scrapsFood scraps•Grass Grass clippingsclippings•Coffee Coffee groundsgrounds

Don’t UseDon’t Use

MeatMeatBonesBonesCheeseCheesePet Pet

DroppingsDroppings

Milk Milk FatsFatsOilsOilsDiseased Diseased

plantsplants

SoilSoil + + WaterWaterAdd the SoilAdd the Soil

Use garden soil not potting soil since garden Use garden soil not potting soil since garden soil contains the microorganisms needed soil contains the microorganisms needed to break down the ingredients into humusto break down the ingredients into humus

Sprinkle with WaterSprinkle with Water

Mixture should be kept moistMixture should be kept moist

but not soggy! but not soggy!

Finished CompostFinished Compost

Dark, earthy smellingDark, earthy smellingRich in nutrientsRich in nutrientsTeaming with living thingsTeaming with living thingsUse as a potting mixUse as a potting mixUse as a mulchUse as a mulch

Reasons Not to CompostReasons Not to Compost It's too much work. (Mowing the lawn and It's too much work. (Mowing the lawn and

washing the car are work, too, but we choose to washing the car are work, too, but we choose to do these activities because they're satisfying - so do these activities because they're satisfying - so is composting! And composting has a positive is composting! And composting has a positive impact on the environment, which can make us impact on the environment, which can make us feel good.) feel good.)

You'd have to run outside every time you eat an You'd have to run outside every time you eat an apple or peel a potato. (Just place the scraps into apple or peel a potato. (Just place the scraps into a plastic container with a lid. Keep the container a plastic container with a lid. Keep the container in or under the kitchen sink, then take the waste in or under the kitchen sink, then take the waste to the compost pile whenever the container is full. to the compost pile whenever the container is full. It is good exercise, too!) It is good exercise, too!)

There's no place. (Start small and growThere's no place. (Start small and grow…)…)

Benefits of CompostingBenefits of Composting

Doesn't require the purchase of expensive plastic Doesn't require the purchase of expensive plastic bags often used for disposing household and yard bags often used for disposing household and yard wastes. wastes.

Saves the cost of transporting wastes to and Saves the cost of transporting wastes to and handling wastes at the landfill or incinerator. handling wastes at the landfill or incinerator.

Reduces pollution from landfill (leachate and Reduces pollution from landfill (leachate and methane gas) or incinerator. methane gas) or incinerator.

Creates nutrient-rich humus you can use to Creates nutrient-rich humus you can use to improve the texture of your yard and garden soil; improve the texture of your yard and garden soil; saves money you might spend on mulch. saves money you might spend on mulch.

Recycling SurveyRecycling Survey

Do you know the meaning of the term "recycle"? Do you know the meaning of the term "recycle"? Do you recycle? Why? Do you recycle? Why? Why don't you recycle? Why don't you recycle? Do you think you should recycle? Do you think you should recycle? What materials do you recycle? What materials do you recycle? How do you recycle? How do you recycle? Where do you recycle? Where do you recycle? Do you get paid for recycled materials? Do you get paid for recycled materials? How much time is devoted to recycling each day How much time is devoted to recycling each day

or or week? week? Do you think you could recycle more?Do you think you could recycle more?

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