EARTH HOUR - MARCH 27 - 8:30PM

This Saturday March 27th, you can take part in the World Wildlife Fund's "Earth Hour" by switching off the lights in your home for one hour - from 8:30pm until 9:30pm.

"Earth Hour" is a symbolic gesture meant to raise awareness about the effects of global climate change.  This Saturday night, you can join hundreds of millions of people across the globe by turning off electric devices in your house.  And hopefully you'll remember to conserve energy every day by turning off the lights when you leave the room, unplugging electric devices that aren't in use and purchasing energy efficient technology the next time you're in the market for a new appliance.

Here are some other places that will be switching off their lights this weekend:

- The Empire State Building

- Las Vegas Strip

- Broadway Theatre Marquees

- United Nations Headquarters

- Golden Gate Bridge

- Eiffel Tower

- Sydney Opera House

- Seattle's Space Needle

And many more!

Send a clear message to your neighbors that you care about climate change and want to see more investment in clean energy sources for a better tomorrow!  So turn off the TV and computer, light some candles (with your parents' permission of course!) and spend some quality time with your loved ones during Earth Hour this year.

MATTRESS FOLLOW-UP

In my quest to prevent a mattress from going to the landfill, I called several more numbers today to find a different solution.  The first number I called was a company known as "Eco-Haul" and wanted to charge me $80 to pick up the mattress and then recycle it.  I told them I was just a kid and didn't have $80.  Another company, which I will not name, wanted to charge $120 and would have just thrown the mattress into the garbage dump anyway.  (This was very confusing.)  Neither of these places had any idea what else could be done with an old mattress.

It seems as though just throwing our old stuff away is the cheapest and easiest solution.

My mother noticed my frustration and called a few friends to see if anybody wanted a free twin-size mattress in good condition.  In no time at all, she found someone to adopt it.  Somebody gets to sleep on a nice mattress and one less object is going to the landfill.  This makes me very happy--but I want to continue investigating why recycling is such hard work.

RECYCLE - EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT CONVENIENT

This week my mother wanted to get rid of a mattress.  So she put it on the curb to be picked up with the rest of the trash.  When I got home, I asked her if she would let me try to find some other place for it to go besides the landfill.  She put up a fight because she didn't want to haul the mattress back inside, but I was able to convince her.

My first idea was to donate the mattress to a charity.  It's in good condition and nobody has even slept on it for the past few years.  To my surprise, the Salvation Army branch in my town told me that they didn't accept mattresses.  I guess they're worried that the mattress might be dirty.  Next I called several bedding companies to ask if they knew of any mattress recycling locations nearby.  All three places I called treated me as if I was crazy.  I was confused.  Why would a business that sells mattresses not have any suggestions for what to do with an old one?

I found a few other numbers in the phone book and I will try them on Monday.  I hate to think that sending a big mattress to a landfill is the only option, but so far I have had no luck.  It turns out that going green isn't always convenient and getting the right answer may not happen on the first try.  Environmentalism takes work.

RECYCLE BY NUMBER - PLASTIC RECYCLING SYMBOLS

The next time you use a plastic disposable item, take a look at the symbol on the bottom to see what kind of plastic it is.  On most plastics, you'll see the recycling symbol (three arrows chasing each other in a triangle) and a number 1-7 in the middle.  Below you'll find information about each type:

Plastic #1:  RECYCLED?  Often. IS IT SAFE?  Yes.  However, it is known to have a porous surface that allows bacteria to accumulate, so don't reuse these bottles again and again.

Plastic #2:  RECYCLED?  Often.  IS IT SAFE?   Yes!  Very safe and has low risk of leaching.

Plastic #3:  RECYCLED?  Rarely!  IS IT SAFE?  No!  There are chemicals in this material, called phthalates, that interfere with hormonal development.  You should avoid the use of #3 plastic around food and never cook using food wrap, especially in a microwave oven.

Plastic #4:  RECYCLED?  Rarely!  IS IT SAFE?  Yes.

Plastic #5:  RECYCLED?  Sometimes, depending on your location.  IS IT SAFE?  Yes.

Plastic #6:  RECYCLED?  No!  Polystyrene, or Stryofoam, is difficult to recycle and most recycling programs won't accept it.  IS IT SAFE?  No!  Lots of evidence suggests that this type of plastic leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated.  Avoid Plastic #6!

Plastic #7:  RECYCLED?  Rarely.  It is difficult to recycle this weird mix-up plastic and most programs won't accept it.  IS IT SAFE?  Uncertain.  Use of #7 plastic is at your own risk, since you don’t know what could be in it.  You should dispose of any food or drink related product, especially for children, that is known to contain BPA.

THE TOILET TANK TRICK!

Most toilets in the United States use between 5 and 7 gallons per flush, way more than is needed.  Newer toilets are more efficient and some only use 2 or 3 gallons per flush.  Here's a simple way to conserve water in the bathroom without buying a brand new toilet!

[NOTE:  Be sure to get permission from your parents before performing the "toilet tank trick" and ask for assistance if you need help removing and replacing the toilet tank lid.]

Step 1: Remove the lid from your toilet tank cover and set it aside.

Step 2: Put a small amount of sand or pebbles in the bottom of an old water bottle, then fill the rest of the bottle with water.

Step 3: Replace the cap on the water bottle and place it in the tank.  (Be sure that the bottle doesn't touch any of the moving parts!)

Step 4: Replace the lid and presto!  You've completed the toilet tank trick!

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Placing a bottle, jar or other container in the tank displaces the water and allows you to flush the toilet without using as much H2O.  The amount of water in the bottle is the amount of water you save with each flush!  This simple trick can save you up to 10 gallons of water waste per day!

WILL A BRICK DO THE SAME THING?

Some people have tried this trick using a brick instead of a bottle, but that's not really recommended.  A brick can break apart over time and leave debris in your tank that may harm your septic system.

IS WATER A RENEWABLE RESOURCE?

The answer to this question is not as simple as you might think.  Yes, water evaporates and then returns to earth as precipitation (rain, fog, snow, etc.) and the same water animals drank 6 million years ago is the same water we drink today!  But this doesn't mean that wasting water is okay.  Water conservation is becoming an increasingly important issue! 

Did you know though that only 3% of the earth's water is freshwater?  The other 97% is ocean water, which is undrinkable.  Of all the water in the world, almost half of it is polluted in some way.  Polluted water can lead to disease and death and cause things like acid rain.

Did you know that over 1 billion people on the planet do not have access to clean drinking water?  As the population of the planet grows, this problem will increase since the amount of freshwater we have will always remain the same.  Groundwater cannot replenish itself at the rate we remove it from the earth.  Global climate change has also contributed to water shortages in places where lack of precipitation has caused drought and too much precipitation has caused flooding which makes the water unsuitable for consumption.

Another reason to be mindful of water conservation is energy consumption.  Heating the water you need for a shower or bath takes energy and every drop of water that goes down the drain must be cleaned at a water treatment plant, which also takes energy.

Like all issues having to do with the environment, we often don't seem to be concerned with a resource as long as it seems abundant.  In the United States, we have an ample amount of freshwater because of the number of lakes and streams.  In other parts of the world however, the amount of water we would use to take one 2-3 minute shower is the same amount of water an entire family uses to cook, clean, and drink for an entire week.

Think twice before you waste water and learn what can be done to keep water from becoming polluted!