Tire Disposal

Have you ever wondered why most landfills won't accept vehicle tires? The key is understanding the process behind their production. In the 19th century, Charles Goodyear famously invented a process for increasing the durability of naturally occurring rubber. His process, known as vulcanization, uses sulfur to connect individual rubber strands making tires incredibly durable and incredibly difficult to breakdown. According to Alan Weisman in the World Without Us, "Tires drive landfill operators crazy, because when buried, they encircle a doughnut-shaped air bubble that wants to rise. Most garbage dumps no longer accept them, but for hundreds of years into the future, old tires will inexorably work their way to the surface of forgotten landfills."

Landfills that do accept tires often require them to be shredded, which is an expensive process. As a result, for many years tires were stockpiled around the country until a decision could be made as to their end use. Unfortunately, tire stockpiles pose two major hazards, fire and pests. If ignited, tires can produce toxic gases and can be difficult to extinguish. Additionally, their shape makes them an ideal habitat for pests such as mosquitoes and rodents.

The latest information from the EPA suggests that, as a country, we are doing a whole lot better in disposing of our tires. In 2003, over 80% of all tires were reused or recycled in some way. Many (about 40%) were used as an alternative fuel (called Tire-Derived Fuel) for making cement and paper. Another 20% were used in civil engineering projects as a lightweight fill. Playgrounds, running tracks, and roads have also been destinations for tires.

Old tires can also be turned into rather uncomfortable sandals!

If you have tires that you are looking to dispose of, many auto care centers will take and dispose of them for a small fee. In Northern Virginia, individuals may also take their used tires to the I-95 Landfill Complex or I-66 Transfer Station Complex for a small fee.

Return of the Beaver

An article in Monday's New York Times titled "Return of the Once-Rare Beaver? Not in My Yard." highlights another instance of humans butting heads with Nature.

Hunting and habitat loss lead to huge declines in the beaver population during the 18th and 19th centuries. However the return of woodlands to the Northeast and the dramatic reduction in beaver hunting have lead to a resurgence in their population. Residents now complain of problems caused by local beavers such as flooded yards and clogged septic systems, many without realizing the positive impacts that they can have on the local environment. Similar stories have arisen around the country about other animals like mountain lions, bears, alligators, and coyotes.

As human populations swell, will the environmental movement continue to be successful if people aren't willing to have the real Mother Nature in their backyard--one that could be slightly inconvenient (yet also beautiful and awe-inspiring) at times?


In an unrelated note, how awesome would it be to track Echidnas for your day job?

Granola Recipe

Granola Recipe from Food Matters:

• 5 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking or instant) or other rolled grains
• 3 cups mixed nuts and seeds (sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sesame seeds)
• 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon, or other spices to taste
• .5 to 1 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 to 1.5 cups raisins or chopped dried fruit

1. Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts and seeds, coconut, cinnamon, sweetener, and vanilla. Toss well to thoroughly distribute the ingredients. Spread the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or a little longer, stirring occasionally. The granola should brown evenly; the darker it gets without burning, the crunchier it will be.

2. Remove pan from oven and add fruit. Cool on a rack, stirring now and then until the granola reaches room temperature. Put in a sealed container and store in refrigerator; it will keep indefinitely.

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Hey guys,
Diane and I were talking about water bottles and here is what I came up with--basically bottles with recyc symbols 2, 4 or 5 are okay--best is Kleen Kanteen Stainless Steel (not SIGG). I am going to look at what we have and consider....
Here's where I got the info.
http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-environmentally-friendly-products-travel-gear/how-to-choose-a-healthy-water-bottle-and-34-resources/

Planet Stewards: Green Cleaning

It’s almost spring, Planet Stewards, and our thoughts turn to SPRING CLEANING! Well, perhaps this is an outdated thought but the concept of “greening” our cleaning methods, is very current. Have you looked recently under your kitchen sink, in your laundry area, in the bathroom, and out in the garage at the number of cleaning products you have purchased? Some may be your regular products, some purchased for a one time use, and a few bought due to an ad or coupon offer that appealed to your desire to have the cleanest, brightest or most germ-free home. My home was no different, until I began to learn more about the impact of some of these products not only on the health of our environment, but also on our own health and that of our families.

First, please keep reading. I know it can be overwhelming to consider “greening” your cleaning routine and you may have concerns about expense. When you consider both the long and short term benefits to your family and the planet, the small amount of time involved in making a gradual shift should seem negligible.

Second, it’s not necessary to discard your current cleaners. Use them up as you normally would and recycle the containers if appropriate. If you no longer have use for an item, you can consult the following Fairfax County website regarding the disposal of cleaning and other household products to be sure that they don’t require special handling: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/trash/disphhw.htm.

Third, it’s not necessary to make the switch all at once. As you use up each product, for example, your laundry detergent, consult one of the many websites that can advise you as to a healthy choice for your family. One of my favorites is www.goodguide.com, a well-organized site that rates personal-care and household products. Seventh Generation’s laundry detergent, a top rated choice, is available at our local Giant Food stores. It is important to note that just because a product lists “green” or “natural” in its product name or description, does not automatically mean it is a good choice. I discovered that a “greenworks” product I had purchased without taking the time to do my five minutes of research was actually rated as “terrible” from a health perspective due to a known carcinogen among its ingredients. As you use up each of your current cleaning products, also consider whether it is truly necessary to replace it. In our “fear” of household odors, we purchase air fresheners and deodorizers that introduce chemicals, including possible carcinogens, to our household air unnecessarily. Use of fans, better air circulation or homemade options such as a box of baking soda are usually sufficient to solve the problem. We have also gone through a period of obsession with anti-bacterial cleansers, only to discover that we are breeding super germs by our excessive use of these products. Most experts seem to be recommending that use of these products should be limited to hospitals and similar environments.

Fourth, consider saving money on some of your household products by making your own. A huge bottle of distilled white vinegar, an enormous box of Arm and Hammer baking soda (much bigger than what’s needed for my homemade chocolate chip cookie habit), an old fashioned looking box of 20 Mule Team borax/washing soda, all from my local big box store (for me, Costco or Wal-mart) go a long way for kitchen and bathroom cleaning, window washing and laundry stains and they are very very cheap. Most of the time you don’t need the added chemicals and fragrances in more expensive products. A great website for DIY recipes and other information is www.biggreenpurse.com; you can find many other websites through your search engine. If you get into this is a big way, Green Clean, the Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home is an excellent reference available through Amazon and elsewhere. A chart entitled “Your Under-sink Makeover” from the excellent book, Healthy Child, Healthy World, compares the contents of a cabinet full of conventional cleaners with a greener, healthier cabinet. The cost of the latter much shorter list of cleaning ingredients was only one-fourth as large. The website for the national non-profit Healthy Child, Healthy World is www.healthychild.org.

Fifth, now that you are slowly replacing your more toxic cleaning products with more family friendly alternatives, it may be safe to get the kids involved in more of the household cleaning routines. Tell them about the changes you are making. You may be able to enlist their help with internet research or mixing the vinegar and water for window washing. We know that when our children go out in the world, they often maintain many of the same household routines they learned growing up. While the products may change, an alertness to choices that are healthy for their bodies and their planet will be a great legacy from you. Happy cleaning!