Solvents, stains, household cleaners, and paints are just a few of the items that contribute to the health problems associated with poor indoor air quality. This article doesn’t focus on the myriad of things you can do to help with air quality. Rather, it gives kudos to no-VOC paint manufactures and a brief account of my experience. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. It sounds scary…and for good reason.

Indoor air quality is one of the top leading health risks (according to the EPA).

My wife, Laura, decided it was time for a new inspiring color in her den. So we headed over to the local home store to check out paints. One brand stood out to us — The Freshaire Choice. After doing a little research on the web, it looks to be the only no-VOC paint that contains zero VOCs in both the paint and the tint. It was neat to watch the friendly home store’s paint lady mix the paint.  She emptied the corresponding no-VOC powder packet to the base paint to achieve the desired color.

How does it look on the wall? It looks great and even seemed to dry a tad faster than traditional latex paints. It is important to mention that the paint also stayed mixed throughout the entire project. And, with no headaches…literally. Here are some other advantages of purchasing this paint:

• The paint is certified by the GEI (GREENGUARD Environmental Institute). This is a respected organization with the mission: “to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air”.
• The paint chips are made from recycled paper and can be recycled. We brought our samples back to the store and put them back on the shelf.
• 100% of the can is made from recycled material. The bottom of the can we have indicates #5 PP plastic (polypropylene).
• The label is made from 75% recycled fiber and printed with Soy ink.
• It comes with a lifetime warranty…you can’t beat that!

By the way, Laura’s color choice for her office was FA058 — Rushing Stream.

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So, I am driving on the off-ramp to get home. The passenger of the car in front of me rolls their window down and throws out a bundle. A half-eaten sub sandwich, the paper plate, and some potato chips flop onto the shoulder. I immediately think of the following quote:

“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children.”
– Quote from a Native American

Human Complacency is one of the problems that needs fixin’ when thinking about our planet’s welfare.

I could not help but think of that quote. Here you have a person doing this lazy act and their ancestors must be thinking…THIS person is the product of our evolution?

Here is another quote that helps my thought pattern…

“Don’t expect everyone to do everything, but expect everyone to do something.”
– Laurie David, Global Warming Activist

It’s a matter of putting a bit more effort into the proactive rather than the reactive. For instance, the same energy it took to roll down the window, and use muscles for the toss, can be redirected into something as simple as, oh I don’t know, keeping it in the car until you reach a trash can and/or recycle bin.

I wonder how some of these individuals would feel if Mother Nature drove to their house and threw some trash on their lawn. Or, if someone threw a lit cigarette through their living room window and it falls onto their living room rug. I believe it would be safe to say that individual would be the first to complain about how wrong it was to do those things.

It only takes a few proactive actions to get the ball rolling in the right direction folks. If you’re already doing that, congratulations and thank you. If you’re not, then start doing things that make a difference. You have an amazing ability to make proactive choices and it feels great!

“No matter how insignificant you think your proactive action is…
it matters to someone or some thing.”
– Greg Ugolini

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You may have noticed a trend in the gift card industry…the use of PLA plastic. Yippee! Oh sure, it better to find another way to give a gift that uses fewer resources like an online gift certificate. However, this is certainly a turn in the right direction when considering how popular the whole gift card giving can be.

PLA stands for Polylactic Acid manufacturers derive PLA from renewable sources containing sugar (and sometimes starch) rather than oil like other common plastics. Corn and sugar cane are the primary sources. That’s why you usually see the biodegradable claim on packages made with PLA.

If you are like me, you may have placed PLA into your recycle bin. Good job! Simply placing it in the ground will not cause the PLA to degrade. The average homegrown compost heaps doesn’t have the right conditions for proper composting of PLA. Ideally, it is best to compost it at a facility that monitors the ideal process (including moisture level and high heat levels) needed to break PLA down. During the process, it degrades to carbon dioxide (partially from the microorganisms assisting with the process) and water.  It also seems that many manufactures of PLA are constantly improving their processes and to keep the process as “green” as possible.

Many communities are still working out cost-effective solutions for separating PLA plastic from the traditional PET plastic. When separated in large quantities PLA can also be converted back to its magical ingredient — lactic acid. Neat.

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My excitement for upgrading my old phone to a shiny new iPhone 3G reminds me of the opportunity for cell phone recycling and donation. There are a number of ways cell phone users can accommodate reduce, reuse, and recycle practices.

A few years ago, I was at a friend’s party. I asked for some gum. They opened the drawer in their kitchen and pulled out a pack for me. I wasn’t amazed at the gum’s minty freshness, but rather the small evolutionary depiction of various cell phone models that lay in his drawer. I went home and realized that I also had a few cell phones collecting dust (even a bag phone — I know, I know). I made the decision to hold off on upgrading for a few years. My old phone served its purpose well. I have replaced the glass on the front, patiently watched technology transform from new to old, and dealt with scratches, scuffs, and dwindling battery stamina. Nevertheless, it’s still worthy of recycling.

Each month, Americans throw away millions of “old” cell phones and batteries that find their way to the landfill.  That is bad news when you think of the cumulative effect of toxins that leech into the environment from cell phones and their batteries alone. Only a small percentage is recycled.

Did you know? Some groups provide analog NSI (non-service initialized) cell phones to those in need. These can make outbound 911 calls even though they aren’t tied to a service, provider, or number. It’s an FCC requirement.

The great news: there are a number of ways to recycle your old cell phone. Some companies even give you money when doing so. The amount you receive depends on the company, the type of phone, and its age. Other resources for recycling include cell phone manufactures, your local recycling center, and even local churches and schools have collections every now and then. You can find your nearest drop off location by checking out the call2recycle program.

Just be sure to remove any personal information (i.e., phone numbers, addresses, text history, etc.) before recycling or donating the phone.

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1. Replace traditional plastic silverware and paper plates with a stainless steel set of utensils and ceramic plates. If you must use plastic, utilize a product made from 100% recycled material. Preserve tableware (made by Recycline, Inc.) is made with #5 plastic (polypropylene) that can be recycled and reused. Better yet, it is also reusable and safe for the dishwasher (manual and automatic). It comes in nifty colors too! A fun fact: it’s made of the same stuff used to make some video/DVD cases, backing on rugs/carpets, and even plastic lumber.

2. Use a gas or electric grill instead of charcoal. I know there are some that have vowed never to BBQ or grill with gas. The good news is there are many “green” alternatives to traditional charcoal briquettes that may contain harmful chemicals and even coal dust. Mmm yummy. Look for charcoal made from a number of alternatives like coconut shells, wood mill scraps, sustainably harvested wood, etc. Doing so will help minimize the release of carbon and soot and lower the impact on our forests. Whole Foods sells a few eco-friendly options in the realm of charcoal. You can also find a many brands on the web.

3. Use cloth napkins/towels rather than paper napkins. If you can’t, it is easy to find an alternative made from 100% recycled paper. It does the job just as well (my opinion). A fun fact: if 10% of the households in the U.S. replaced one package of virgin fiber napkins (250 count) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 100,000 trees. That’s a happy 4th of July in my book.

This post refers to several recyclable worthy items. When in doubt, check to see if your local municipality collects #5 plastic with their recycling program. To find resources for recycling in your area you can check out Earth911.org. They make it very easy to find the right spot to fit the need. For example, just type polypropylene and your zip code in their applicable boxes at the top to start your search and the site will provide you with a list of centers that accept the material.

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