Recycle

What do you do with items that are in good condition but are not needed any more? You could have a yard sale, throw them away, or try to recycle them, but Throwplace.com offers another alternative that both benefits the environment and people in need.

In 1999, Throwplace.com was developed by Lomangino as an internet site of exchange. The process is easy, fast, and simple. Charities, businesses, and individual people can all contribute. Anyone can list online possessions they are willing to give away. Then, interested people can take what they like for free.

This ingenious creation not only keeps many items out of our already overflowing landfills, but also keeps things out of recycling facilities. Recycling of course is good, but it is even better to reuse than the recycle. Remember, the order of preference is reduce, reuse, and recycle, in terms of the energy required for each process.

There are four sections to Throwplace: U.S. Charity, International Charity, Business/Individual, and Up-For-Grabs. Where you place your items depends on who you want the receiver to be, an official charity or anyone at all.

Some items that have turned up on the site include computers, furniture, and appliances. Other items I have noticed upon browsing include a shower caddy, women's attire, and a fax machine. Also, viewers are able to make requests for potential items, so donors have an idea of what is needed. Email addresses are exchanged so that the two parties can make shipping arrangements directly.

Throwplace has created a wonderful site that connects givers with receivers through the world wide web, where items are exchanged rather than tossed away. Visit their website, www.throwplace.com, to register for free.

For his Senior Project, Terrell Carter decided to study the environmental impacts of the pulp and paper industry, present some solutions to these impacts, and work to change his school’s purchasing habits and to increase paper consciousness. Carter succeeded in his goal of “Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling”: Lopez School faculty and students now give more thought to their paper consumption (for example, they print double-sided), reuse paper, and buy recycled paper.

Carter chose to focus on the paper problem because the American pulp and paper industry is among the most resource-intensive and highly polluting of all manufacturing industries. Moreover, most Americans don’t realize how much they damage the environment through paper usage: the paper industry is one of the largest consumers of raw materials, especially of water and wood. Throughout the production, bleaching, transportation, and decomposition phases, the paper industry emits greenhouse gases, degrades and destroys forests, lessens biodiversity, releases dangerous toxins as a result of fertilizers, and pollutes water and air.

Carter believed that something had to be done: people had to start to be more conscious about paper usage. He researched various kinds of recycled paper, possible suppliers, and what it would cost the school to switch to recycled paper. Then, he presented to the Board, the Budget Committee, and the faculty on his findings and his eco-friendly goals. In August 2007, the school first began purchasing 40% post-consumer waste recycled paper, which is processed chlorine-free, FSC certified, and made with 100% renewable energy. Soon after, the school purchased 100% recycled paper, and even went on to purchase 100% recycled paper towels and 20% recycled toilet paper.

Carter embodies Conscious Lifestyle’s ideas about individual and institutional social responsibility, and as a result of his efforts, Lopez School and its inhabitants are living a much more “conscious lifestyle.” If you would like to learn more about Carter’s project, please read his paper here (in this paper, he cites State of the Paper Industry and a paper calculator).

If Carter’s story has inspired you, and you have a project that increases individuals’ and schools’ social responsibility, consider applying to be a Conscious Lifestyle venture today! Or, if you want to support Conscious Lifestyle but not be a venture, you can support Conscious Lifestyle by using Good Search: every time you enter a search, Conscious Lifestyle gets funding!

Terrell Carter at the Lopez School desired to make a difference at his school- something that would enable the school to become more energy efficient and yet would be achievable.

He first came up with the idea of replacing the school's paper with recycled paper in August of 2006, and brought up the idea with the superintendent of Lopez School. Though school officials seemed hesitant about the chance of success, they readily agreed to his idea and encouraged him to do some research.

Terrell started researching different paper suppliers from all over the country, comparing costs. "Don't be afraid to make phone calls," he advises, "Just put yourself out there." He explored various aspects of each brand of paper, including the brightness and printer quality.

In May of 2007, the switch to 40% PCW paper was complete. However, Terrell was still not satisfied- he wanted 100%.

He presented his results to the school board and staff. "They were supportive," he states. The Lopez K-12 School is a small school with only 250 students in all. Terrell points to the size of the school as a major factor to his success. With a class of only 26 students, he was able to have easier access and better interactions with school officials, such as the financing agent and purchasing manager.

In fact, Terrell chose staff members to be his main target in reducing paper usage. He taught them tips on how to use less, such as printing text on both sides of a paper instead of only the front. "Faculty and the office use the most paper," he explained, when asked why he concentrated his paper-reducing efforts primarily on staff. However, he also tried to educate students by placing flyers around the school.

As the he became more involved, Terrell decided to make his activism into his senior project, a project that all seniors at his school are required to do.

Through more research and hard work, Terrell found a type of 100% recycled paper that satisfied all the requirements. This final change came about early spring of this year.

"It was a long process," he admits, but the results can be seen. At the end of the year, he will present his senior project to the school. Hopefully, all students can learn something from his passionate, environmentally-driven efforts.

Terrell advises other students who may want to undertake similar projects, "Gently push- but don't be a nuisance. Be firm, but know the reasons why you are doing what you are doing."

"It was nice to have outside support, like Conscious Lifestyle," he says. His number one advice? "Don't give up!" It is true. His project lasted two years; at times he was not sure it would be able to succeed. However, he kept at it, and now as a senior he leaves a legacy at Lopez School.

The picture is from Union.edu