Each year, an estimated 5 million trees are cut down just to publish the white pages phone book. With online phone directories, programmable phones, and directory assistance, most households no longer need a copy of the white pages. However, many states require phone companies to publish and deliver the White Pages to every landline subscriber, using valuable natural resources and creating an enormous amount of waste. BanthePhoneBook.org is advocating for a white pages “opt-in” program that will only deliver the white pages to those who request it. To support this effort, visit www.banthephonebook.org and sign the petition.
October 2009
Questions or Comments?
RecycleNOW Philadelphia c/o Clean Water Action 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1650 Philadelphia, PA 19107
Waste Reduction and Recycling Reduce CO2 Emissions
The EPA recently released a report studying the effects of land and materials management on greenhouse gas emissions. A key finding was that waste minimization, recycling and improved product design can significantly reduce these emissions. Reducing product packaging by half could reap significant benefits – cutting as much as 105 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Increasing the lifespan of personal computers by 25 percent, meanwhile, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 15 million tons per year. Read the New York Times article and entire report here.
Trying to get your apartment building or workplace to recycle? Let us help!
RecycleNOW is still looking for tenants and employees who’d like to bring a recycling program to their apartment, condominium or office. If you are interested in working with RecycleNOW and becoming a recycling advocate for your apartment building or workplace, please email kedwards@cleanair.org.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
RecycleNOW Northwest Philadelphia Chapter Meeting: Tuesday, October 6, 7:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Unitarian Church, Lincoln Drive & Wayne Ave.
#5 Plastics Recycling Collection: Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Weavers Way Coop, 610 West Carpenter Ln.
Myth: Window envelopes cannot be recycled. Fact: Blue Mountain Recycling, Philadelphia’s materials recovery facility, can recycle window envelopes.
Many people are often confused when it comes to recycling window envelopes with a plastic covering, a major source of paper waste. Fortunately these envelopes are completely recyclable because the plastic window covering is filtered out while the paper is getting turned back into pulp. To see how Blue Mountain sorts other materials visit their website or watch this video.
