Living Green

Weird, Computers Were The Most Recycled Item of 2009

What was the most recycled item of 2009?

Computers – according to Earth911.com.

Earth911.com released their 2009 Annual Recycling Report (.pdf), and somewhat surprisingly, electronics took the top slots on the list of items most recycled.

Computers, batteries, and televisions were the top 3 products recycled...which probably means that lots of folks are burning through batteries while uploading photos from their digital camera to their new laptops, while enjoying their new vivid HDTVs.

Seriously though, electronics are often some of the most awkward things to recycle, so how could they be more recycled than aluminum cans and glass?

Any ideas?

If you're interested in starting a recycling program of your own, Earth911.com is a great place to start. The tool that sits a top every page on their site makes it simple and easy to find out where to recycle anything you can imagine.

Just type in what you need to recycle (i.e. paint, computers, aluminum cans) then plug in your zip code, city, or state and bada bing...you're very own nifty list of recycling centers near you that can accommodate your recycling needs.

What do you think you recycled most of in 2009?

Audi's Funny "Green Police" Super Bowl Commercial Debuts Early

Audi jumped the gun by releasing a series of pre-Super Bowl Super Bowl commercials plugging the new Audi A3 TDI -- Green Car Journal's "Green Car of the Year" winner.

Audi's decision was to take green to the extreme with these satirical teaser commercials. Watch out for the "Green Police".

(Find out more about the A3 TDI below the video.)

Continue reading: Audi Green Police

Carnival of the Green # 213

213 weeks ago the Carnival of the Green began with just 2 guys and over a pint of beer in London. Now it bounces around from green blog to green blog around the world. Last week it made it's stop at the wonderful Enviroblog, this week its tents raise right here over The Fun Times Guide to Living Green.

This week's submissions were truly some incredible ones. In these 17 stories, you'll find everything from info on how to plan a green burial to natural home remedy tips to eco-friendly gadgets of all sorts.

Check out the links below...

Continue reading: Carnival of the Green

A Green Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed

One of our green media/blogger friends is in need...let's help him out.

Derek Markham is the writer of Natural Papa and a contributor on several other green blogs and websites. He's all about sustainability, natural parenting, and "doing the right thing".

Now Derek needs for his green friends and fans to do a good thing for him.

A few weeks ago Derek had an accident that left him with a timalleolar fracture in the ends of his right tibia AND fibula (the 2 bones of the lower leg). He's laid up at home atop a mountain of unpaid medical bills that amount to several thousand dollars, and no insurance.

Derek is the bread winner for his wife and kids, so this injury has really set him back from a work perspective AND a financial one.

Adam Shake from Twilight Earth, Jerry James Stone from every green website in existence, and David Quilty from the Good Human have started a fund to help Derek out. If you feel so moved in your heart, please consider chipping in a couple bucks to help Derek get back on his feet -- literally and figuratively.

You can donate via PayPal or email your donations to savethederek@gmail.com.

Just like I'm always talking about around here, if a lot of people come together and each do a little bit, we'll get a whole lot further than we would if just a few people try to do a lot.

Derek, feel better soon man.

Fallen Palm Leaves + Water = Verterra Dinnerware

Looking for a killer way to earn some serious style points and uber eco-friendliness to your next party?

(Super Bowl XLIV is coming up this Sunday, after all.)

Verterra Dinnerware is THE answer. This sustainable dinnerware is made from fallen palm leaves and water...and that's it. No chemicals, dyes, bonding agents, or bleaches. Verterra dinnerware is 100% biodegradable, BPI-certified compostable, microwave and refrigerator safe, and unbelievably sturdy!

Check out this demonstration of the crazy strength of the Verterra dinnerware:

Continue reading: Verterra Dinnerware

BoGo Solar Powered Flashlights for Haiti

Let's face it, those of us in the developed western world are selfish capitalists.

SunNight Solar understands and harnesses that selfishness to do some good with their solar powered BoGo (Buy One, GIVE One) flashlights.

Read on to see how you can help give light to the darkness of Haiti.

Continue reading: BoGo Light for Haiti

Generate Your Own Home Electricity With the $9.99 HydroWOW

Have you ever wished you could generate your own electricity?

Well stop considering investing thousands of dollars in solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems. The HydroWOW turns any faucet in your home into a mini hydro-electric power plant!

The more you run your water, the more electricity you generate! The best part is that the HydroWOW will only set you back $9.99!

Continue reading: HydroWOW Home Power Plant

Saving The World One Coffee Condom at a Time

One of the most dangerous actions you can take part in is drinking unprotected coffee.

Even worse than that, however, is employing the use of cheap coffee protection – the cardboard coffee condom – as I like to call it.

Oh sure, it may keep your hands from being scalded by the steaming hot beverage you are about to enjoy, but it is most often discarded to scald the face of mother nature.

I'm not over dramatizing am I?

One of the simplest and easiest steps you can take towards living greener in 2010 is to begin using your own reusable coffee cups at work, home, and even you local coffee shop.

And of course you'll want your very own reusable coffee sleeve to go along with it. Read on for my favorite reusable mug and sleeve combo!

Continue reading: Reusable Coffee Sleeves

Monsanto Cartoons Add Much Needed Humor to Some Not So Funny Issues

Monsanto, the multinational agricultural giant who sells 90% of the world's genetically engineered seeds, has been in the news a lot this month...and as usual, it's not the kind of press they'd like to have.

We usually post a funny image, video, or story on Fridays. For that reason, we're going to chuckle over some incredible Monsanto illustrations by the talented cartoonist, Joe Mohr.

...but we're still going to file this one in the [not-so] funny Friday folder.

Read on below the cartoons to learn more about what they're alluding to.

Continue reading: Monsanto Cartoons