| What
do you need to recycle: |
Allied
Waste Recycling Information
Download this pdf for the recommendations
from Allied Waste Co.
What's Your Carbon
Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the amount of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) created by individuals through daily
activities such as home energy use, driving a car or even flying
in an airplane. GHG build up in the atmosphere over the past
century has been linked to global climate change and
specifically global warming. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most
significant and prevalent greenhouse gas. Footprints are usually
measured in tons of CO2 produced annually.
RECYCLE..RECYCLE..RECYCLE
The Village of Palos Park encourages all residents to
participate in the recycling program offered by Allied Waste.
During 2007, Palos Park residents participating in the recycling
program generated 446 tons of recyclables. In 2008, through June
30, Palos Park residents generated 200 tons of recyclables.
Why should I recycle?? Does it really matter?? Two questions
often asked when it comes to recycling, Here are some simple
facts that may surprise you:
Paper
One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees from being cut down 380
gallons of oil 4,102-kilowatt hours of electricity 3 cubic yards
of landfill space 7,000 gallons of water Recycling paper reduces
air pollution by 74% and water pollution by 35%
Plastic
Recycling plastic reduces energy consumption by 85-90% Plastics
account for 6% of municipal waste stream by weight; however, by
volume or space used, plastics account for $18 Plastics are
derived from petroleum
Aluminum
Recycling one pound of aluminum (about 16 pop cans) saves 7.5
kilowatt hours of electricity Recycling aluminum reduces air
pollution by 95% and water pollution by 97% The above outlines
some very important reasons to participate in the recycling
program offered by Allied Waste. If you generate recyclable
material that exceeds the 18-gallon bin provided, Allied Waste
will accept recyclables in clear plastic bags and in 33-gallon
bins labeled for “recycling only” |
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Palos Park Green Tips
Each month the Village
of Palos Park will be offering residents
environmental tips for GOING GREEN at home or at work.
Water Conservation
Tips!
Here are 10 water conservation tips that can help lower your bimonthly water
bill:
1. Fix leaky faucets
and plumbing joints, this will save 20 gallons per day for every leak
stopped.
2. Install water-efficient shower heads or flow restrictors, this will
save 500 to 800 gallons per month.
3. Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher, this will
save 300 to 800 gallons per month.
4. Shorten your showers, even a small reduction of one to two minutes
can save up to 700 gallons of water per month.
5. Check toilet for leaks! Put colored dye tablets or food coloring into
the tank, if color appears in the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak
that should be repaired. Correcting small leaks can save 1,000 gallons a
month.
6. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. This can save three
gallons a day.
7. Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a
few inches of water to rinse your razor, this can save three gallons a
day.
8. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the
wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking, this can
save 200 to 300 gallons a month.
9. When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent
possible. This will minimize the amount of rinse water needed and can
save 200 to 300 gallons a month.
10. Limit the minutes on your lawn irrigation system to water every
other day for 5 minutes a zone. Common yard grass needs 1” of rainfall a
month to survive. Cutting back each zone’s run time by 66% can save
7,000 gallons of water a month.
Bottled Water
Nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills
where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose.
Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a
whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these
bottles burns even more oil.
So the next time you feel thirsty, forgo the bottle and turn to the tap.
Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for tap water
are more stringent than the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for
bottled water, you’ll be drinking water that is just as safe as, or safer
than, bottled.
Household Cleaners
Some of the chemicals in household products
can harm people, animals and plants. They pollute the air, water, and soil
when they are sprayed, go down the drain, or are thrown away. Here are some
ideas too reduce the use of chemicals at home.
Reducing Chemical Use at Home
- Buy Cleaning Products that are
Environmentally Sensitive.
- Many companies now offer “green”
cleaning products and some good old products that have always been
environmentally friendly.
- Look for products that are made from
plant sources rather than petroleum and are free from chemicals that can
irritate (such as chlorine) or pollute (such
as phosphates).
- Murphy’s Oil Soap is an example of a
vegetable based soap that works to clean wood floors and furniture.
- For dishes, choose detergents free of
chlorine, phosphates, and synthetic chemicals.
- An all-purpose, plant-based cleaner
takes care of almost anything on walls, windows, and countertops.
- For stuck on grime try a biodegradable
scouring powder.
- To whiten surfaces, choose a
non-chlorine oxygen bleach cleanser.
Below is a list of Environmentally
Friendly Products Found at Local Convenience Stores:
Ecover
Earth Friendly
Earth's Best
Bio Kleen
Seventh Generation
Life Tree
Earthrite
Dr. Bronner's
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