2.  Think before trashing your old electronics. “Call2Recycle provides a free and convenient way to recycle old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products such as laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, cordless power tools, mp3 players, PDAs and more,” Briana Papa of Call2Recycle, said.

“There are more than 30,000 retail, community and business collection sites enrolled in the program throughout the U.S. and Canada. Consumers can simply drop their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in branded Call2Recycle collection boxes at participating retailers such as Best Buy, Target, RadioShack, The Home Depot and Lowe’s. Call2Recycle is operated by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service agency dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries.  For more information on the program and to find a comprehensive list of collection sites, please visit www.call2recycle.org.”

3.  Rather than spending your Sunday mornings clipping coupons, only to leave them at home when you go to the store, why not keep them close in a convenient way?  Try TheSavingsPost.com, “a local coupon site that allows consumers to text message local coupons to their cell phones.”

“Consumers always have their cell phones with them so they always have their coupons with them,” Dan Sexton, president of TheSavingsPost.com, said.  “Consumers are not only saving on paper, ink, etc….but they are also saving money while they shop locally.”

4.  Want to wish your friends and family “happy birthday” and stay green?  There’s an option for that now with BirthdayDialer.com.  This “new website allows the user to select from a menu of fun musical birthday greetings and send one directly to their friends’ phones for free,” Heidi Glauser of www.birthdaydialer.com, said.  Fun, free and green.  That’s hard to beat.

5.   Are you drowning in foil, plastic wrap and paper towels?  Make your household a little greener and “look for glass containers that are sturdy, sealable and reusable and use cloth napkins,” Shelby Zadow, marketing director for BioAg.com, said.

6.  Want to make your razor last longer? “Corrosion causes most razor heads to go bad not dullness,” Raddenbach said. “My wife and I use manual razors with disposable heads. After each shave we use a spray bottle to clean the heads out thoroughly and blot it dry with a towel, and we don’t leave the razor in the shower.”

7.  We plan our hectic schedules around our work, so why not our errands as well?  Group your trips for less stress, both on you and the environment! “Whether it’s by car or public transit, planning your trips to the store or to run errands can be most efficiently accomplished with the least environmental impact if you make sure you’re not backtracking or running one errand a day,” A.J. Dax, green lifestyle expert, said.  “Best of all, of course, is planning you errands so you can do them by walking or bicycle whenever possible.”

8.  Similarly, Dax recommends planning your cooking.  “Because I have an electric stove, I time my cooking with how long the burner will remain hot so I’m not letting the heat from the burner go to waste.  I also recommend Staub and Le Creuset cooking pots (or similar enameled cast iron).  Once these pots get warm, they retain their heat and cook similarly to a slow cooker.  So you don’t have to have the burner turned up on a higher setting until the cooking is done.  That said, people should also remember to use lids properly when cooking.  So many people forget that if they’re boiling water or other items, they will heat faster and use less energy if you put a lid on the pot to hold the heat in.  Those old fashioned tips really do work a lot.  Grandma knew her stuff!”

9.  Start thinking “functional chic” when you shop for your home rather than “fashionable chic,” Zadow said.  “I think the biggest change has been in my mind set.  Areas I would typically want to redecorate (remove out dated tile etc), I’ve decided instead to find ways to decorate around instead of creating more waste.”

10.  Clothing and shoes, however, can be another deal entirely.  You can still be fashionable and green.  Dax created and continues to follow his own shopping rules. “If I see a great new pair of shoes and those shoes aren’t replacing a pair that has worn out, I buy them.  But when I go home, I have to pick a pair of shoes that will be donated to charity.  The same goes for clothing.”  This is a great way to recycle your clothes and shoes for a greater purpose while still buying what you want.

Thanks to all of these great ideas from the HARO contributors!

Have green tips for SocialYell?  Tell us today at SocialYell or tweet about it to SocialYellBlog on Twitter!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She loves reading the green tips people send out!

In the rush to go green through every possible venue, we have all largely overlooked the pink elephant in the room.  Shopping seems like such a benevolent thing to do in this economy.  (RED) signs in the Gap window assure us that our purchases are helping others in another country.  Wearing TOMS shoes gives us the ability to put shoes on someone’s bare feet.  These are great ideas, just some of the few available under the giant umbrella of the fashion industry.  But what about the rest of it?

So, just how responsible is the fashion industry, on the whole?  For years, textile and clothing companies have been accused of exploiting foreign labor.  Fashion also drives consumer demand and consumption.  Even “eco clothing” purchases are often discretionary consumption.  So, what are our options?  How do we improve the fashion industry while we continue to use it?

First of all, we have to take the fashion industry seriously.  Just hearing the word “fashion” calls up images of pouty models, haute couture and glossy magazines covered with airbrushed, smiling faces.  Beneath this timeless veneer is the root of our biggest obsession and consumption.  Fashion needs to be taken seriously and handled with care.  That is just what the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. plans to do.

Christine Brooks-Cropper, the president of this organization, “has made considerable strides in creating a Fashion Caucus to represent the voice of the Fashion Industry in Congress nationwide,” Jessica Hoy, senior associate, said.  “The interesting thing about this Caucus is it could represent everything from trade issues and sweat shop regulations to Design Piracy and fashion week locales.”

“[Brooks-Cropper] is trying to mobilize the fashion industry and give it a voice on a law making level so issues can be discussed and resolutions can be made,” Hoy said.

What exactly are the issues that need to be dealt with in the fashion industry?  Consumers and designers alike weighed in.

“The issue that I really care about is producing clothes by sweatshop labor,” Lidia Wachowska, proprietor and designer of Evil Kitty, said. “I understand that 95 percent of clothes are produced oversees, mostly in sweatshop condition. I’ve been told so many times that I have to outsource and go abroad; otherwise there is no future for my label.”

Wachowska, however, disagrees.  “I believe you can be successful and keep your production local. Evil Kitty is a socially responsible company. I use a local Chicago manufacturer, who is located 5 blocks from our studio. We reduce the carbon footprint to the minimum there and at the same support the local economy. All of our fabrics are purchased from U.S. mills or local distributors and fabric stores. I also believe in making a quality garment, a piece that you can keep for years, and will not go out of style.”

Designers are also looking to consumers as the next big trend in turning the fashion industry’s practices on its ear.

“People need to become aware of where things are being produced and become more conscious shoppers,” Kate Robertson, owner of Mayu Hand-Knit Alpaca, said.  “Consumers have power.  If consumers would just realize and value the practice behind the product, then they would be showing the fashion industry consumer responsibility.”

For some, it is a matter of balancing the trends and desires of consumers.

“I feel the fashion industry, though having a myriad of influences itself, greatly influences consumer behavior,” Adrien Edwards, owner of TheNakedHippie organic t-shirts, said. “But at the same time, I think the chicken and egg argument has to be determined for two very different factions of the ‘Fashion Industry.’”

“The fashion businesses that influence the trends more tend to be the ones with the most well funded marketing departments, such as Gucci, Armani, Gap, etc…. Whereas the more subtle businesses such as Snorg Tees, Tom’s Shoes, ecco or Ugg back in the day, and of course TheNakedHippie, tend to be directed more by the consumer’s desires.  Many of the ladder style businesses were erected as a result of an existing trend,” Edwards said.

There are other sustainable and eco-friendly designers forming a grassroots effort to save the planet and still make people feel individual through expression.  Activist fashion house Vaute Couture, which makes vegan coats, Rising Tide Fair Trade, an ethical fashion company and LAVintage, a company that deals in “recycled” clothing, are just some of the better choices available.  But what about the other designers?  How do existing designers “go green”?

Kathleen Fasanella just may be the missing link.  In addition to blogging about the fashion industry “from a sustainability standpoint,” Fasanella “leads, instructs, and teaches designers about how to produce responsibly.”

However, Fasanella and her small team at Fashion-Incubator can’t do it alone.  It all comes back to the consumer.  We have a voice, and it speaks even louder through our wallets.  If we educate ourselves on what we’re buying, then perhaps our dollars will do the talking.  Eventually, we just may turn the fashion industry around.

Remember that in this day and age, knowledge is the new black.  People aren’t paper dolls and it’s time we let the fashion industry know that the days of irresponsible silence are over.

Check out some of the fashion discussions going on today at SocialYell!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She is now seriously considering buying a vegan coat.

Waste Not, Want Not

Recycling itself is a creative way of dealing with our own waste as human beings, but some are taking this creativity to new levels of sustainability.  Greg Benson, CEO of Loll Designs, has turned recycling into a business.  His company makes outdoor furniture from recycled milk jugs!  He knows firsthand the impact of recycling plastic, but believes that we need to eliminate using plastic entirely.

“It seems what needs to happen is more people need to NOT use containers and materials that cannot be recycled or reused,” Benson said.  “The entire system for collecting recyclables is really an end of pipe solution and it is not very efficient. The responsibility needs to start with the manufacturers who create the packaging and products first, but the consumer needs to voice their desire for a change.”

Other companies similar to Benson’s also give up nicer materials in favor of biodegradeable or 100 percent recycled material just because it helps the environment.  Tina Hill, the owner of Kidzsack, sells eco-friendly backpacks for kids that are made from 100 percent recycled cotton and plastic bottles.  She purchases this unique fabric from a company called Ecotecyarn, and while this material is more expensive than canvas, Hill believes that our world is becoming greener by the day and that the idea behind recycled fabric far outweighs the price.

“I love the idea of using recycled fabric and doing my part to make a difference,” said Hill.  “How cool is it that kids can learn something from the craft/activity that they are using!”

And what about companies that use recycling as the basis for their products?  “Recycling is necessary and I believe it will open more industry as well,” Hill said.

Recycling Alternatives

The biggest problem with recycling is accessibility.  Some towns just aren’t close to recycling facilities.  Recycling actually requires us as consumers to be more active in the ways we dispose of our containers.  But others are even questioning the safety of recycling some products.

Ron Hayes of Pacific Steel and Recycling in Montana said it best: “If it puts more pollutants into the air and/or uses more energy to process and ship the material to a mill that makes new material, then we should re-evaluate whether it makes sense to recycle it.”

Others believe that recycling may not make the most of our energy efficiency at this stage.  Pablo Solomon, a  noted conservationist, believes that if we can find a way to cleanse smoke stacks in the first place, burning our recycled products could provide a nice energy source.

“The real weak spot in technology is smoke stack cleaning,” Solomon said. “We could burn our trash at high temperatures to generate cheap electricity and end the need for landfills–actually we can do it now. It works very well. The problem is the polluting smoke. There is technology being developed to cleanse the smoke released from burning coal that is very promising.”

Technology is definitely a factor that needs improving when it comes to recycling, but what else comes in to play concerning this green practice?  In the world of paper recycling, Verne Wheelwright, Ph.D. of the Personal Futures Network, identifies these factors as major players: transportation and fuel costs, supplier payments, politics, cheating (shipping trash or wet paper) and markets and market cycles.  But when it comes to all recycling, economy is the main factor across the board.

The Greenbacks in Going Green

Have you ever considered the true value of your recyclables?  Aluminum ranks at the top, while glass grazes at the bottom and paper and certain types of plastic float around in the middle.  Moving all of these around costs money, “but there is so much more than just what an item is worth on the open market,” Derrick Mains, president of Green Nurture, said.

So, should we recycle?

“As for energy, in some instances it is easier and cheaper to just go get new stuff, but again resources are finite – some day we will not be able to get that new stuff, so reusing and recycling today is better for the future,” Mains said.

“Some countries (like Mexico) have even gone as far as to start to mine their landfills, digging them up and sorting them looking for metals and plastics that can be recycled. This is a great step in the right direction. We can’t just keep using and expect those resources to always be there. We need to start closing the loop and using items over and over again. Today it might cost us a bit more than we like – but the true payout is in the future.”

People who are recycling know this to be true.  They see the results every day.  But common recycling has taken as big of a hit as the economy, although it is recovering.  Does this encourage others to recycle as well?  “Absolutely!” Lillian Brummet, “Trash Talk” columnist, author and radio host, said.  “In fact recycling has swooped the North American continent and been embraced like no other sport or past time. While it is true that not all ‘recyclable’ items are included in every region’s programs, the rate of recycling is increasing and technology and efficiency are continually improving with a goal to enable the industry to match the demand for these valuable resources. Enough energy is saved by recycling one single tin can to power a television for three hours!”

Becoming Aware of Our Actions

What seems to be increasing evermore is simple awareness, which brings about these innovations in the recycling industry.  SocialYell put out a discussion on the dangerous effects of Styrofoam at the beginning of the summer and now “a number of communities are banning Styrofoam in the next 18 months,” according to Michael Saltzman in California.  “20 cities in California, Seattle and Portland” are the first on a growing list to get rid of one of our most lethal containers.  Richard Feldman, of G4 Packaging, is ready for the shift, supplying food packaging that is made from sugar cane and has no impact on the environment.

We may not be diving into our landfills to pull out recyclable materials like in Mexico, but recycling could save you some money in the future.  Brigitte Casemyr, a member of her Westborough, Mass. Advisory Finance Committee, shared this fact about just how much cash you can save: “The Town saves approximately $108.00 for every ton of trash that is recycled. Increasing the recycling rate has a direct savings effect on the trash disposal budget. (Last year the Town saved over $70,000 by recycling).”

To recycle or not to recycle is your own personal choice, but in the end, I believe it has the greatest benefit that we can give back to our Earth.  Reusing our materials rather than taking up space with our trash will ultimately help us in taking care of our one home.

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She is one of many recycle-happy college students at UGA.

Are you a bottled water kind of person or do you take your water from a filtered tap?  Not sure what you do and don’t know about safe drinking water?  Check out what the experts have to say!

1.  “The best way to ensure your water is safe to drink is to have it tested with a certified laboratory.  At a minimum folks should have their water tested once per year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, lead and, depending on risk factors, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).  If any contamination is found, it can be treated.   Americans spend billions of dollars on bottled water which may be no safer then their own tap water,” according to Sara Kuzma of Suburban Water Testing Labs in Pennsylvania.

2. “Boiling controls most harmful microorganism. Refrigerator filters are only as safe as the water supply or water line entering your refrigerator,” says Mark Latimore, Jr., an Interim Dean and Soil Microbiologist of Fort Valley State University.

3. “If your home is connected to a public drinking water system you have two fairly easy ways of getting information about the quality of your drinking water.  All public water systems are required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to prepare and distribute an annual Consumer Confidence Report that discusses the levels of various contaminants in that system’s drinking water.  The report can often be found online on the water system’s webpage, if they have one.  Another way you can get information on your local water quality is through the US EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS).

“Between these two sources of information you can find out a lot about your local water. You would have a hard time finding equivalent information about your bottled water,” says Craig Mains of the National Environmental Services Center.

4.  Curious about home filters?  “Your Consumer Confidence Report can provide information that could indicate whether you need a filter or not.   A carbon filter can be installed at just one sink so it isn’t necessary to have an expensive unit that treats the water for the entire house.  A carbon filter won’t necessarily remove every contaminant that might be in your water but it will remove some contaminants in addition to chlorine. In most cases I think it is the only type of filter that would be needed for a household on a public water system,” recommends Craig Mains of the National Environmental Services Center.

5.  Try to find a local, safe source for your water!  “My personal solution is to purchase 5-gallon jugs of real spring water from a local source I trust explicitly and that publishes their raw testing results, which cover hundreds of potential contaminants. The water I buy comes from a single, naturally free-flowing spring here in Maine. The water starts out as pure as it gets and is tested regularly for hundreds of potential contaminants.

“By buying the bulk jugs and filling my own reusable bottle I minimize waste. The jugs are cleaned and used hundreds of times before being recycled. And most importantly I know where the water I drink comes from and what is and isn’t in it,” shares Sheldon Perkins of Maine.

6. “Water filters currently provide the best and healthiest solution to the problems of both bottled water and tap water.  Water filters remove more dangerous contaminants than any other purification method, and they are uniquely designed to work with municipally treated water. The water they produce is not subject to phthalate contamination, and they are able to remove cryptosporidium from drinking water, a feat that neither municipal water treatment plants nor bottled water companies have yet managed.

“Also, drinking filtered water is a much more economical practice than drinking bottled water. The pure water product of a water filter costs very little more than untreated tap water. Furthermore, because water filters use no more energy than is already required to propel water through a home’s plumbing system, they circumvent several of the environmental problems of the bottled water industry. If you are truly concerned about municipal water and how it effects your health a whole house filter system is the best solution because clean, filtered water emerges from every water source in the house,” says Dan Godfrey.

7.  Are you on well water?  Then, “you need to test your own water regularly. Metals, nitrates, etc. Also need to be conscious of risk of radon in your water,” cautions Jennifer Taggart of thesmartmama.com.

8. Are you curious about testing your water?  It’s “easy enough to get a $25 kit and send your [tap] water sample off,” says Jennifer Taggart of thesmartmama.com.

9. What about all of the places your water travels through?  “Know your pipes. Your pipes, fittings, faucet and aerator can contribute lead. A simple solution – let it run if water left standing more than 6 hours; don’t boil to drink; get a NSF certified for lead removal filter,” recommends Jennifer Taggart of thesmartmama.com.

10.  “An important water safety tip few people consider is not using plastic with your water. Plastic bottled water is a waste as nearly 80% of those bottles end up in the trash and not the recycling bin. Also, multiple tests have found plastics can leach toxins into your water. For 20 years, Lipsey Mountain Spring Water has been delivering purified mountain spring water bottled in glass,” says Kate Griffin in Atlanta, GA.  If you do chose bottled water, try looking for an option in glass, as it has been proven safer than plastic, but be sure to recycle when you’re through! 

Thanks to all of the HARO experts and participants who shared their knowledge for this blog!

Got ideas for tips, or do you just have a voice to share?  Let us know today at Socialyell.com!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She never realized how little she knew about water safety!

Go green when you go to college

Whether you’re just starting college this fall or the routine has become old hat, these are some great tips for going green while you’re getting your higher education.

The Go-To-School Green List:

1.  Try to find “Energy Star”-logo TVs, DVD players, computers and microwaves because they use 10 to 50 percent less energy.

2.  There are fewer options for compact refrigerators; look for MicroFridge, Danby Millenium (DAR254, DAR482).

3.  Of course, not having one of these products is even better; most residence halls have common area TVs, refrigerators and other appliances.

4.  If you must buy one of these items, but don’t want to purchase an”Energy Star” item, consider a used model. The production of new models adds to carbon emissions, too.

5.  Mind the “phantom load” — computers, gaming systems, stereos, TVs, cell phones, cameras and iPod chargers that draw electricity even when turned off. Unplug them when not in use, or plug them all into a power strip and turn off the strip when not using them. Flipping that switch off is probably the most important energy-saving measure you can take.

6.  Buy only compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.

7.  We love our cars, but a bike comes in handy around campus and for town use. (Some colleges lendbikes out, just like books).

8.  Bring your own reusable mug/coffee cup. Some schools offer free refills on beverages and help reduce disposable cup production.

9.  Bring reusable bags to carry books, groceries and other items you buy.

10.  Look for sheets, rugs and curtains produced without toxic chemicals and made of organic materials. Hemp and bamboo fiber are becoming more popular. And many of the companies using organic fibers recycle and use fair labor practices.

St. Lawrence’s go to school green list is available on its Web site for students to print out for reference (and for those of you who want to live green at your own university!).

http://www.stlawu.edu/green/sustainable-shopping

http://www.stlawu.edu/green/sustainable-shopping

Many thanks to Macreena Doyle of St. Lawrence University for providing these helpful tips for green living!

Have more suggestions?  Let us know at SocialYell!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She finds that it is easy being green while in college.

Tips to go green

1. Forgo using your dryer and hang your laundry outside to line-dry.  “Towels, sheets, cotton shirts, blue jeans, etc. all dry nicely in the sun and wind,” says Jean Ponzi, Green Resources Manager for Missouri Botanical Garden’s Earthways Center in St. Louis, MO. “You are not only saving energy but the evaporative effects of clothes drying outdoors will lower temperatures a small fraction—but it all adds up. Dryers not only burn energy, but add heat due to the exhaust,” says Pablo Solomon, famous artist and award-winning conservationist.

2.  Many are giving up their air conditioning and “green-proofing” their homes by using fans, sealing doors and windows to lock in energy, adding foam insets to electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls to prevent drafts.  Also, if you do use the a/c, be sure to change the filter once a month.  Otherwise, your unit is working overtime, which may result in costly repairs and a hefty bill.  You can try keeping your house between 78-82 degrees when you aren’t inside to save money on heating and cooling costs as well.

3.  Remember what your mama told you and turn off the lights when you leave a room!  It’s also a good idea to unplug your cellphone charger when not in use and any other electrical appliances, especially coffee makers and others that contain clocks you don’t use.  “Smart” power strips can sense when your appliances are off and they help to prevent “vampire” energy use.

4.  Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.  You can save money on your energy bill as well as preventing the nearly 85 percent of energy used when washing clothes in a machine.  Also, don’t forget to turn off the water when washing dishes and hands, shaving and brushing your teeth.  This saves water like you wouldn’t believe.

5.  Choose your time wisely when deciding to run the washer, dishwasher or even the dryer if you just can’t live without it.  Use them only when they are full and at night, if possible.  This will save you countless gallons of water and on your water bill as well.  “We use the dishwasher and run the dryer at night–after 9:00 because our local utility said it would help avoid having to build another power plant,” says Jeanne Cummings.

6. Showers are definitely a better choice than baths, but check to see if you have a water-efficient showerhead.  “If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model, which can save up to 750 gallons of water a month,” recommends Sarah Shank of Earth Day Network.  Also, check with Niagara Conservation for other efficient products that cut back on water, gas and electrical use.

7.  Windows may be one of the culprits concerning your high energy bills!  There are many options, from using transom-type windows that let heat escape from the top and allow in cool night air from the bottom to placing a clear solar control film on your windows or even choosing windows made from glass with high insulating performance ratings (check out http://www.southwall.com).  Window treatments are also a good idea, from shades and curtains to blinds and shutters to shades and awnings.

8.  Do you get too hot or too cold, no matter what the air is like inside your home?  Try changing your bedding!  Companies like WUL provide eco-friendly bedding that is hypoallergenic and is a comfortable fit for anyone, no matter their range in temperatures.

9.  Don’t waste water by pouring it down the drain when you can be using it!  Collect rainwater for plant watering and toilet flushing (did you know that pouring more water into your toilet can actually flush it as well as pulling the handle?  Thanks again, Pablo!).  You can also use the distilled water that collects in dehumidifier pans and use it in your steam iron, thanks to a tip from Jean Ponzi.

10.  Energy-efficient appliances are always a good choice, whether you are considering light bulbs or refrigerators.  Whether you prefer CFLs or LEDs is your choice, but have you considered a new alternative?  “The ArmorLite bulb appears like a standard store bought incandescent bulb. In fact, it is a CFL bulb hidden inside an incandescent light bulb. A silicon, unbreakable balloon-like skin is wrapped around the outer light bulb so if it breaks, the Mercury will be contained. In October, Clear-Lite, a small environmental friendly lighting company in Parkland, FL. will debut its ArmorLite CFL bulb,” announces Tom Irvine, CEO of Clear-Lite.

Thanks also to Sylvia Small for providing many of these tips through William Fadul of MOSAIC Group Architects and Remodelers in Atlanta, GA and all of the wonderfully helpful people who responded on HARO!

Be sure to check back with SocialYell next week for some more creative ways to lower your power bill and go green at the same time!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  After reading these tips, she is ready to be a lean, mean green-living eco-machine.

Are you curious about who is putting out greener electronics and who is failing miserably?  Luckily, Greenpeace has just released version 12 of their “Guide to Greener Electronics.”

“We first released our ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ in August 2006. The guide ranks the 18 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV’s and games consoles according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change,” according to Greenpeace’s website.

Out of the 18 companies, not a single one hovers in the 8-10 range for doing well.  There is only “better” and “bad.”  The list is updated every 3 months and the companies are ranked reflecting the demands of the “Toxic Tech” campaign.  These demands include that companies “clean up their products by eliminating hazardous substances, take back and recycle their products responsibly once they become obsolete and reduce the climate impacts of their operations and products.”  This does not include labor standards, mining or other issues, although these categories are recognized as important by Greenpeace.

Nokia scored with the highest rating, 7.45 out of 10, “for leading competitors on toxic phase out, with Samsung and Sony Ericsson close behind.  However, Apple, Sony, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Lenovo and Fujitsu are in the red zone, with Nintendo at the absolute bottom of the list.  Many of these companies have been criticized for greenwashing, backing out on green commitments or just lacking toxic-free products in the first place.

To consult the full list before you head out to buy any back-to-school electronics, check out Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics.

Want to rank these companies yourself?  Join SocialYell today and yell your opinions, rate businesses and help our world to become a safer and more sustainable place.

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in the journalism at the University of Georgia.  She is happy that Greenpeace is putting these companies in their place.

While a watchdog for our complex healthcare and food industries, the FDA has become a catch-all that doesn’t have the budget or the power to fitfully oversee what we are putting into our bodies.  With all of the stimulus money going in different directions, the FDA is being overlooked even as we face a “health crisis.”  Unfortunately, the debate is focused on healthcare rather than health in general, and perhaps our energy is better exhausted over where health problems stem from in the first place: what we eat!  And there is no longer an excuse for us to be ignorant about what is going into our bodies.  Even minor changes in the food industry would cause a rippling domino effect that could change each of our lives significantly.  How is this possible?  The proof is in the pudding, or at least that is what the new documentary, “Food, Inc.” hopes to show.

Filled with interviews of major foodies, advocates, farmers and organic grassroots, the film promises to dish up a heaping serving of shock and awe concerning the way we eat and how big corporations are actually just cards in the hands of consumers.  We call the shots, we make Wal-Mart carry organic products and we can revolutionize the way we eat if we want to.  Unfortunately, the monster corporations behind our food industry make unhealthy choices just for profit, i.e., treating all ground beef with ammonia to combat any chance of an E.coli outbreak.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t ingesting ammonia, a toxic powerful cleaning chemical, just as bad if not worse?

And as we take a closer look at the FDA, what about that curious catch-all, all natural? Hint: organic and all-natural are not the same thing. If the USDA gives a product an organic label, that means the product is 95-100 percent organic. And remember: what is on the front can be incredibly misleading concerning the actual label on the back. All natural, according to the USDA and FDA, “defines as natural those products that are ‘minimally processed’ and contain no artificial flavors or colors, or synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives.” However, “both agencies are reviewing their definitions of natural.”

Due to the rapid changes occurring every year in the food industry and the deception of companies when playing on people’s naievete, this review is necessary. MSG, a popular additive and flavor enhancer, subsequently goes by 25 different names that are not recognized by the average consumer and these changing names often slip by government agencies. The FDA even ALLOWS MSG to be cloaked beneath the prevalent ingredient in natural and organic products, “natural flavors.”  What in the world is natural about MSG, a chemical that is known to increase obesity, kill brain cells and even chemically alter the brain?  In this instance, trust yourself. Going by your instinct is best; if you can’t understand the ingredients, don’t eat it.

Perhaps it is time to put your money where your mouth is.  How we live our lives determines our health and if we haven’t go that, we haven’t got anything.  Hopefully, the FDA can get a slice of that stimulus pie going around the table.

Have a different opinion?  Tell us today at SocialYell, especially our forum on the U.S. stimulus plan.

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She is completely dedicated to her organic lifestyle.

1. Get rid of paper catalogs at www.catalogchoice.org

2. Makeover your mailbox with www.dmachoice.org or www.the-dma.org or https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action

3. Check out www.optoutprescreen.com to eliminate pesky credit card and insurance offers

4.  Look at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.shtm for a “helpful site to learn about opting out of mailing lists, which you can sort of do in bulk,” Natalie Stemp of Calliope Boutique says.

5. https://mymailstopper.tonic.com is a service you can pay for that helps eliminate some of the biggest junk mailers in the country.

6. www.greendimes.org: in case you have ever used this service, just know that it has now changed its name to mymailstopper.tonic.com!

7.www.obviously.com/junkmail is a great comprehensive guide for different ways to deal with specific types of junk mail.

8. Use the Abacus reporting program to opt out of having your name sold to this big catalog publisher: http://www.epsilon.com/Privacy-Policy/Epsilon-Consumer-Opt-out-Information/p152-l2

9. Anyone who wants to get off the blue Val-Pak regional coupons list can do so at www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm

10. http://www.simplifiedlivingsolutions.com/organizing-tips/reduce-your-junk-mail “It takes 20-40 minutes and $1-$2 to stop junk mail,” says Sue Anderson of Simplified Living Solutions.

Have a suggestion?  Let us know what you think at SocialYell!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She would love to find a way to get rid of all this junk mail that shows up at home!

2. “The bigger, brighter, and bolder the junk mail the better.  My 2-year-old chops those little suckers into neat little pieces (with safety scissors and responsible adult in attendance, of course!) for use at a later date,” says Roy Murphy from London.  Junk mail is a great way to interact with your kids by using them for “confetti or fun activity-colored paper for gluing down.”

3. Make hand-made paper from colorful junk mail to use with your kids or in scrapbooking.

4.  Use it for paper mache.

5. Wrapping paper! “I recycle all of the junk mail except for the calendars. I use those as wrapping paper. The calendar-wrapped packages are always a hit,” says Mary Choate of Monroe, NH.

6.  Introduce junk mail to your garden.  Red wiggler worms love to eat the paper and turn it into dirt.  Newsprint also makes for great compost.  And many find immense satisfaction in shredding their junk mail to mix it in with the compost, just make sure that the paper doesn’t contain a lot of dye so it won’t leech into the environment.

7.   Take a tip from these talented junk mail artists! :

a)   “I own a small jewelry and digital stationary business with my husband

( http://www.littleTstudio.etsy.com & http://www.littleTstudo.com ) and we have found that we get lots of credit card offers and magazine offers.  We shred everything that comes with the offer except for the pre-paid return envelope.  We create a professional looking mini flyer promoting our little business (4 flyers to one 8 ½ X 11 page – this also helps save paper!), and we insert the flyer into the pre-paid envelope and mail it back.  Its great advertising as someone on the receiving end of that envelope will be opening it and we’ve recycled the envelope in a way that helps to promote our business!” says Tonya from little T studio.

b) “I decided several years ago to start using junk mail and old magazines as the main medium for my pottery.  It is called upcycling — taking items of low value and transforming them into something with a higher value.  After about a year of trial and error on the technique, I began taking them in to the office and giving them to friends as gifts.  Eventually, I began to get requests to purchase the pots and vases.  Finally, just this month, I am about to launch a website dedicated to selling the upcycled paper pottery,” says Cathleen Savage.  You can find her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/blue_drift and Facebook as well.

These last three are supplied with a sense of humor by Roy Murphy, Creative Director at Halpern Cowan of London:

8. “Organize [a] Junk Paper airplane throwing competition on your street, bring down the local press, take some photos, name the worst protagonists, winner of furthest throw gets scary security guard on their porch for a week to reject any junk mail and brings it personally to sender.”

9.  “Making a community action protest scarecrow to shame junk mail senders into reducing. Set fire to it and film it for Youtube revolution protest (may need council permission for this one I think).”

10. “Collaborate with post office / mail on “JunkTrunk” initiative – i.e. put your junk in this trunk, simplify message about junk mail, don’t just stick it in with the rubbish etc…”

Thanks to all who participated via HARO and remember to keep telling us how you feel at SocialYell!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  She has enjoyed every minute of reading emails flooding her inbox that rant about junk mail.