According to Jonathan Bloom, Americans waste over 40 percent of the food we produce for consumption every year. Aside from the fact that this seems unacceptable when so many go hungry, it also adds up to a cost of more than $100 billion every year.
Wasted Food is Jonathan's blog and he says it's not just a blog but also a call to action. After working at a homeless shelter that rescues unused food from restaurants and supermarkets, he began researching the topic and is writing a book on wasted food in America.
check out this great blog that's packed with lots of information about what you can do to prevent food waste both in and out of the home.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A Little Help For Our Friends
This just in from our friends at Brooklyn Greenway Initiative...
PLEASE HELP!
PLEASE HELP!
Help us win a grant from Green Mountain Coffee! It just takes two clicks. The funds will help sustain our work over the next five years when the design of the greenway will be completed and the first segments will go into construction. In the current financial environment coming up with the required match for our funding from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund is proving challenging. You can help by voting for the greenway as an innovative climate change solution at http://www.justmeans.com/competitionidea/7254/promoteidea.html .
Good luck BGI!
Volunteer with these guys! Fufill the YES WE CAN Volunteer pledge!
Good luck BGI!
Volunteer with these guys! Fufill the YES WE CAN Volunteer pledge!
Recycling in Your Building
If you live in or manage an apartment building, you can help improve recylcing in your building. You can help your tenants learn more about waste prevention and how to reuse and recycle. NYC can be a greener city with your help.
The place to learn is through the NYC Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI). Work with the Department of Sanitation to educate yourself and your building's tenants about the three R's.
When you sign up with ABRI, you'll be invited to a training session on how to improve recycling conditions in apartment buildings (there are several upcoming sessions in April and June). Then, sanitation outreach coordinators will visit your building to see how recycling is set up and to give you free recycling decals, posters, checklists, and other materials to make recycling easier for residents. Throughout your training, you'll have access to sanitation experts for support.
For more info, including a sign-up sheet, visit this site.
The place to learn is through the NYC Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI). Work with the Department of Sanitation to educate yourself and your building's tenants about the three R's.
When you sign up with ABRI, you'll be invited to a training session on how to improve recycling conditions in apartment buildings (there are several upcoming sessions in April and June). Then, sanitation outreach coordinators will visit your building to see how recycling is set up and to give you free recycling decals, posters, checklists, and other materials to make recycling easier for residents. Throughout your training, you'll have access to sanitation experts for support.
For more info, including a sign-up sheet, visit this site.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
How Sustainable Are Our Streets?
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, the release of NYC DOT's Sustainable Streets Index 2008. Have no fear, we have summarized the results for you...
What is the Sustainable Streets Index? Enhancing transportation choices and encouraging the use of sustainable forms of transportation are core goals of both PlaNYC, New York City's long-term sustainability plan, and Sustainable Streets, DOT's strategic plan. Achieving these goals means facilitating walking, cycling and mass transit through a set of varied and mutually supportive measures. These include making streets and squares into more people-friendly places; providing fast, reliable and comfortable bus and train service; better managing curbside parking and delivery regulations; and ensuring the safety of all users of city streets and sidewalks.
Some General Stats
9% growth in bus and subway ridership in New York City from 2003 to 2007, while traffic volumes citywide were unchanged.
560 miles of bike lanes and paths in NYC, compared to 119 lane-miles in 1997.
44% of NYC households own a car, compared to 90% nationwide.
61% reduction in traffic fatalities in NYC since 1990.
Some Brooklyn Stats
flat traffic levels since 2003.
5% less traffic enters the Central Business District (of Manhattan) from Brooklyn than in the late 1990's, reflecting that lower Manhattan employment never returned to its pre 9/11 levels.
14% more bike riders than in 2003.
22% more bus riders than in 1998.
Learn More.
What is the Sustainable Streets Index? Enhancing transportation choices and encouraging the use of sustainable forms of transportation are core goals of both PlaNYC, New York City's long-term sustainability plan, and Sustainable Streets, DOT's strategic plan. Achieving these goals means facilitating walking, cycling and mass transit through a set of varied and mutually supportive measures. These include making streets and squares into more people-friendly places; providing fast, reliable and comfortable bus and train service; better managing curbside parking and delivery regulations; and ensuring the safety of all users of city streets and sidewalks.
Some General Stats
9% growth in bus and subway ridership in New York City from 2003 to 2007, while traffic volumes citywide were unchanged.
560 miles of bike lanes and paths in NYC, compared to 119 lane-miles in 1997.
44% of NYC households own a car, compared to 90% nationwide.
61% reduction in traffic fatalities in NYC since 1990.
Some Brooklyn Stats
flat traffic levels since 2003.
5% less traffic enters the Central Business District (of Manhattan) from Brooklyn than in the late 1990's, reflecting that lower Manhattan employment never returned to its pre 9/11 levels.
14% more bike riders than in 2003.
22% more bus riders than in 1998.
Learn More.
Interview With Biodegradable Products Institute
One Brooklyn Green Team member came across this BPI logo, which you may see on lots of disposable bags now and in the future. They decided to investigate and went to Steve Mojo, the institute's executive director.
BGT: What is the BPI Logo program?
SM: The BPI symbol shows that products meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 (for plastic and paper products) and will disintegrate and biodegrade swiftly and safely in a professionally managed composting facility.
BGT: How long have you been in the business, and how much have you seen the demand for this type of product grow?
SM: The program started in 1999. The program has been growing rapidly as of late, as more communities get actively involved in food scrap diversion efforts.
BGT: Is there much competition for your logo program? ie - are other groups competitng to have their logo be industry standard?
SM: The BPI is the leading certifier for compostables. In Europe, this task is done by either DIN Certco or OK Compost. All of use similar standards and processes to approve the products.
BGT: Totes vs. biodegradable: how do you see them comparing, particularly in light of the almost disposable way this country is using totes?
SM: I don’t see much overlap. Reusable shopping bags make a great deal of sense. The BPI does not approve “biodegradable” products/bags. Rather we approve ‘compostable’ ones. These have value in situations where the bags can have a second life as liners for food waste kitchen catchers in diversion programs, such as SF and Seattle. See the article . On the East Coast we have yet to understand and embrace the benefits of food scrap diversion vs. sending them to the landfill, where they contribute to fugitive ghg emissions.
BGT: What's next in terms of innovation?
SM: I fully expect to see materials with better properties, resulting in more products or ones with lower costs.
Thanks Steve
About BPI: The Biodegradable Products Institute is a multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia, which promotes the use, and recycling of biodegradable polymeric materials (via composting). The BPI is open to any materials and products that demonstrate that they meet the requirements in ASTM D6400 or D6868, based on testing in a approved laboratory. Learn more about BPI.
BGT: What is the BPI Logo program?
SM: The BPI symbol shows that products meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 (for plastic and paper products) and will disintegrate and biodegrade swiftly and safely in a professionally managed composting facility.
BGT: How long have you been in the business, and how much have you seen the demand for this type of product grow?
SM: The program started in 1999. The program has been growing rapidly as of late, as more communities get actively involved in food scrap diversion efforts.
BGT: Is there much competition for your logo program? ie - are other groups competitng to have their logo be industry standard?
SM: The BPI is the leading certifier for compostables. In Europe, this task is done by either DIN Certco or OK Compost. All of use similar standards and processes to approve the products.
BGT: Totes vs. biodegradable: how do you see them comparing, particularly in light of the almost disposable way this country is using totes?
SM: I don’t see much overlap. Reusable shopping bags make a great deal of sense. The BPI does not approve “biodegradable” products/bags. Rather we approve ‘compostable’ ones. These have value in situations where the bags can have a second life as liners for food waste kitchen catchers in diversion programs, such as SF and Seattle. See the article . On the East Coast we have yet to understand and embrace the benefits of food scrap diversion vs. sending them to the landfill, where they contribute to fugitive ghg emissions.
BGT: What's next in terms of innovation?
SM: I fully expect to see materials with better properties, resulting in more products or ones with lower costs.
Thanks Steve
About BPI: The Biodegradable Products Institute is a multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia, which promotes the use, and recycling of biodegradable polymeric materials (via composting). The BPI is open to any materials and products that demonstrate that they meet the requirements in ASTM D6400 or D6868, based on testing in a approved laboratory. Learn more about BPI.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Do More Than Poke Someone on Facebook
Thinking of doing some spring cleaning? Why not sell your old coffee maker on the new Facebook Marketplace? You can list any item and designate the money to go to the Sierra Club, the Clean Water Fund, or the World Wildlife Fund, Inc . Those are just three of the many organizations you can designate your money for.
Just go to Facebook Marketplace and list your item, how much you'd like to sell it for, and for which organization you'd like the proceeds to go to. Facebook helps by providing a list of organizations; just click on "causes".
Just think, if every person on Facebook posted just one item for $10, more than $1 billion would be raised! Celebrities are getting involved as well. Thursday, March 12, Seal will sell five autographed CDs to benefit the Sierra Club Foundation.
Reselling and reusing keeps stuff out of landfills and casts an important vote for how you spend your dollars.
Just go to Facebook Marketplace and list your item, how much you'd like to sell it for, and for which organization you'd like the proceeds to go to. Facebook helps by providing a list of organizations; just click on "causes".
Just think, if every person on Facebook posted just one item for $10, more than $1 billion would be raised! Celebrities are getting involved as well. Thursday, March 12, Seal will sell five autographed CDs to benefit the Sierra Club Foundation.
Reselling and reusing keeps stuff out of landfills and casts an important vote for how you spend your dollars.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
It Does a Body Good
Heard of Food and Water Watch? They're a nonprofit organization that works with grassroots organizations worldwide to ensure clean water and safe food through research, education, media, and lobbying. Food and Water Watch believes that the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources needs to be challenged and they advocate policies that ensure the sustainable and humane production of food and public control of water resources.
Food and Water watch is having a call-in day to Congress to ask our representatives to support artificial hormone-free milk in schools. So far, they've collected over 10,000 petition signatures and over 100 groups are supporting the campaign. And now you can help too, because March 11, 2009 is the first national "Know Your Milk" Day.
You can sign the petition by visiting the Food and Water Watch website. While you're there, take some time to look around. They are a wealth of information on everything from food labels to which fish are the safest to eat and easiest on the environment.
You can help make "Know Your Milk" Day a success by calling your congressman/woman and asking your representative to support rbgh free milk in schools. You can host an event by inviting ten friends over for cookies, rbgh-free milk, and congress calling!
Food and Water watch is having a call-in day to Congress to ask our representatives to support artificial hormone-free milk in schools. So far, they've collected over 10,000 petition signatures and over 100 groups are supporting the campaign. And now you can help too, because March 11, 2009 is the first national "Know Your Milk" Day.
You can sign the petition by visiting the Food and Water Watch website. While you're there, take some time to look around. They are a wealth of information on everything from food labels to which fish are the safest to eat and easiest on the environment.
You can help make "Know Your Milk" Day a success by calling your congressman/woman and asking your representative to support rbgh free milk in schools. You can host an event by inviting ten friends over for cookies, rbgh-free milk, and congress calling!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Adopt-a-Highway
Ever wonder what this is all about? Adopt-a-Highway Litter Removal Service of America is a corporate sponsor program that provides the state department of transportation with a resource for the cleaning of highways. The budget for the program comes from corporate sponsors who are willing to support this effort through donations. As a result, highways in some of the nations largest metropolitan cities are cleaned frequently and have become a source of pride.
You've seen the signs! For nearly twenty years, the Adopt-a-Highway program has publicly recognized those companies that feel it's important to keep the roads clean.
Learn more and stay tuned for more interesting information on the topic of litter...
You've seen the signs! For nearly twenty years, the Adopt-a-Highway program has publicly recognized those companies that feel it's important to keep the roads clean.
Learn more and stay tuned for more interesting information on the topic of litter...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Tree-mendous!
Million Trees NYC is a public-private program with the goal of, you guessed it, planting one million trees in the five boroughs within the next decade. The city of New York will be responsible for the planting of 60% of the trees and the other 40% will come from private donors and home owners.
We all know that trees are great for the environment and beautiful to look at, but there are health advantages as well. Several neighborhoods in New York have fewer than average trees AND higher than average rates of asthsma among children. For this reason, One Million Tree NYC is specifically targeting neighborhoods like Hunts Point, East New York, and Far Rockaway.
And the best news is, One Million Trees has volunteer opportunities! Fulfill your three hours for the Brooklyn Green Team's Volunteer Challenge!
Learn more at www.milliontreesnyc.org
We all know that trees are great for the environment and beautiful to look at, but there are health advantages as well. Several neighborhoods in New York have fewer than average trees AND higher than average rates of asthsma among children. For this reason, One Million Tree NYC is specifically targeting neighborhoods like Hunts Point, East New York, and Far Rockaway.
And the best news is, One Million Trees has volunteer opportunities! Fulfill your three hours for the Brooklyn Green Team's Volunteer Challenge!
Learn more at www.milliontreesnyc.org
Friday, March 6, 2009
Send Us Your Volunteer Stories...
For example, here are three green team members doing their part recently in DC
And More Volunteer Opportunities...
Families First is hosting a green fair on Sunday, March 15 and they could use some help to pull it off.
Highlights
Information from local agencies and stores about greening your life
Raffles of environmentally-friendly products and services
A Clothing Swap - bring a bag and take a bag, or pay to shop
The Compost Master from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens with his worms and indoor composting demonstration
A 1-pm sing-along with Lloyd Miller (from Tuesdays at the Moxie Spot)
Eco-friendly crafts projects to make
A planting activity
A Green Bake Sale (after all, it will almost be St. Patrick's Day)
What You Can Do
To sign up, contact Julia Massey at jmassey@familiesfirstbrooklyn.org or call our office at 718-237-1862.
Friday, March 13th
Setup: 11am-12pm, 12pm - 1pm
Sunday, March 15th:
Setup: 9am-10am
Fair workers (lobby, information tables, crafts area, balloons, floater, etc.) 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm,
Cleanup: 2pm-3pm
Clothing Swap
Bring Us Your Clothes! Sizes Newborn - 5. Drop them off at our office and we'll sort them before the event. You can drop them off on the day of the event but we prefer if you do it sooner.
Bake Sale
Can you bake something green (be it in color or source of ingredients)? Let us know first, then bring it by on Friday the 13th between 9am and 1pm or before 10am on the 15th.
Learn More
Highlights
Information from local agencies and stores about greening your life
Raffles of environmentally-friendly products and services
A Clothing Swap - bring a bag and take a bag, or pay to shop
The Compost Master from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens with his worms and indoor composting demonstration
A 1-pm sing-along with Lloyd Miller (from Tuesdays at the Moxie Spot)
Eco-friendly crafts projects to make
A planting activity
A Green Bake Sale (after all, it will almost be St. Patrick's Day)
What You Can Do
To sign up, contact Julia Massey at jmassey@familiesfirstbrooklyn.org or call our office at 718-237-1862.
Friday, March 13th
Setup: 11am-12pm, 12pm - 1pm
Sunday, March 15th:
Setup: 9am-10am
Fair workers (lobby, information tables, crafts area, balloons, floater, etc.) 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm,
Cleanup: 2pm-3pm
Clothing Swap
Bring Us Your Clothes! Sizes Newborn - 5. Drop them off at our office and we'll sort them before the event. You can drop them off on the day of the event but we prefer if you do it sooner.
Bake Sale
Can you bake something green (be it in color or source of ingredients)? Let us know first, then bring it by on Friday the 13th between 9am and 1pm or before 10am on the 15th.
Learn More
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Great American Clean-Up Launches!
March 3 marked the national launch of the 2009 Keep America Beautiful (KAB) Great American Cleanup. Focusing on the message that “Green Starts Here,” KAB will be hosting events around the country until the end of the program on May 31.
KAB is expecting over three million volunteers in 30,000 community improvement activities and educational workshops to get involved in this year’s Great American Cleanup. These volunteers will rid streets, waterways and public spaces of litter and illegal dump sites, hold recycling drives and educational events, paint out graffiti and much more.
The Great American Cleanup is not a small project. Last year, 86 million pounds of litter and debris were collected for proper disposal, reuse and recycling. Also, the program:
Removed 15,200 junk cars, recycled 10.2 million pounds of aluminum and steel and recycled 1.4 million tires
Recycled 5.3 million pounds of electronics and 137,000 batteries
Improved over 144,000 miles of roadway
Recycled 186 million plastic (PET) bottles
Improved and maintained 91,000 acres of parks and public lands; 7,000 miles of rivers, lakes and shorelines; and 6,000 miles of hiking, biking and nature trails
Recycled 37.1 million pounds of newsprint
Recycled 5.2 million pounds of clothing
Attend the Great American Cleanup New York City Kickoff in Times Square!
Wednesday, April 22, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EST)
Kickoff Rally at Times Square's Military Triangle
The Keep New York City Beautiful Coalition will rally volunteers with a multi-media extravaganza in Times Square and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's challenge to communities in New York City to join in the GAC activities.
Great idea for a volunteer project as part of the YES WE CAN Volunteer Challenge
Source: Earth911
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