Archive for the ‘Recycling’ Category

Green Business in our Backyards

Written by Mike Pisauro on July 7th, 2008 in Business, Recycling, Sustainability | No Comments »

Over the last year or so going Green has become very trendy and markety. The general public is beginning to demand that their products not only work effectively but the products do not harm the environment in their use or manufacture. Some businesses are greener than others. Some businesses merely claim to be green while in reality they are not. These businesses are engaged in greenwashing.

For a business that is truly green and engaged in sustainability we only have to look to the State’s capital and TerraCycle. TerraCycle’s original product is to take garbage, allow nature to take its course, then use the resulting “worm poop” (their words not mine) and sell it as liquid plant food. TerraCycle then takes the idea of reuse and recycle by packaging their worm poop in used soda bottles.

TerraCycle has started a new program in conjunction with Kraft Foods. TerraCycle has begun collecting the wrappers from juice pouches, yorgurt containers, cliff energy bar wrappers, oreo cooking wrappers, etc. TerrayCycle will donate 2 cents for each wrapper and the program is funded by Kraft. TerraCycle then takes the wrappers and pouches and turns them into school folders, lunch boxes and backpacks.

TerraCycle is a great example of a company that is helping reduce our impact on the environment. Not only are they taking garbage out of the waste stream therefore reducing what is going into our landfills, the company is then reusing these products. For more information on TerraCycle go to their website.

NJ has new environmental legislation- Part I

Written by Mike Pisauro on January 16th, 2008 in Clean Up, Global Warming, Ocean, Recycling, Renewable Energy | No Comments »

The Governor has recently signed new legislation dealing with the environment. Some of it is good and some of it is not so good. The following are the bills he has signed over the last couple of days:

Electronic Waste Recycling Act. Generally this law requires that computers, tv, monitors and some other electronic devices are recycled and not thrown away.

Certification program for renewable energy. P.L. 2007 c. 264. The law requires BPU to set up a certification program for installers of renewable energy systems.

State Green Buildings. P.L. 2007, c.269. The law requires all new governmental building of at least 15,000 square feet to meet either the silver rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System or two globes from th Green Globes Program.

Site remediation notice. P.L. 2007, c.276. The bill requires those performing site remediation to provide written notice to the county health department and local health agency. Also these agencies and municipality to request a copy of the remediation action work plan.

Public notice for shore protection projects. P.L. 2007, c.278. Requires DEP to hold a public meeting for comments on shore protection programs once the feasibility study is complete.

NJ Coastal and Ocean Protection Council. P.L. 2007, c.288. For more info see link.

Net Metering. P.L. 2007, c.300. Provides net metering to not only residential but industrial and large commercial customers. Also increases that amount of energy produced from renewable energy from 0.1% to 2.5% of the State’s peak energy level before a utility may cease providing for net metering.

Recycling Enhancement Act. P.L. 2007, c.311. The law reasserts the State’s commitment to recycling and funds municipal and county recycling programs through a $3.00 per ton charge on solid waste facilities.

There are several more bills which I will write about shortly.