When you think of recycling, or adopting more sustainable habits, what are the first steps to come to mind? Normally, we would think of recycling in the home, maybe in the kitchen or as a general communal system for the household.
But have you ever considered recycling with your pet? You may not realize it, but owning a dog or cat can be the golden opportunity to invest in some sustainable brands, or even try your own hand at making some of the items that you know you’ll use every day.
Since the pups here at Carolina Fibre are all about recycling and preserving the planet, we thought we’d share a few of our favorite methods for green living when you’re a devoted pet parent.
Why Recycle with Your Pet?
When it comes to the animal life, both in your home and out in the world around you, littering and general poor sustainability practices take their toll. The health of your pet often depends on the health of your home, even if your dog or cat is frequently outside. So, when you establish some green patterns in and around your home, you can give them a safe environment in which to exist. We often consider the health of fellow humans when we talk about the importance of recycling, but our animals are just as sensitive to the way we treat the planet.
Best Practices
If you’ve got a furry friend and want to know how best to cultivate a green environment, some of the best places to start are located in your pet’s favorite locations: the kitchen and the backyard! For this reason, we recommend initiating a home recycling program that revolves around meal times and play times, whenever those may be for you and your pet. This can mean storing pet food in reusable containers, making your own toys for your dog or your cat, and even finding innovative ways to reuse or recycle dishes and other pet essentials.
DIY Pet Supplies
From water bowls to pet collars, there are plenty of pet supplies that you can make yourself and still cut down on the amount of waste you dispose of on a regular basis. The best part is, your dog or your cat will thank you for the effort! Whether you decide to invest in some eco-friendly materials to craft your own toys for dog park excursions, or find new ways to green your kitchen and living areas so that your pet can benefit, you can expect to see a healthier, happier pet.
As we get closer to the start of a new year, do yourself and your pet a favor by looking into sustainable alternatives to your everyday routine! The staff here at Carolina Fibre have got plenty of tips to help you get started; stay tuned to our blog for more in the months to come.
Archive for the ‘Recycling’ Category
Green Apps for Everyday Use: At Work
You’re there every week. Most people spend at least one meal-time on-location, or in its vicinity. And while it’s easy to complain about its constraints on your free time, at least it pays the bills, right?
You may not always be able to land your dream job, but there are definitely methods of making the work environment a happier, healthier place for you and your coworkers or employees. We recommend finding a way to get everyone on board with a recycling plan! It can be difficult to create a strategy that works for all of the staff, depending on your industry and the number of people you’ll need to accommodate. But with the help of Carolina Fibre’s consulting services, your company can get on a greener track in no time!
The question is, how do you get everyone to keep up with sustainable workplace practices? Before anyone has the chance to fall back on old habits, try introducing a managing app that will help keep all the employees – and yourself – in check. There are quite a few out there to help remind users about pick-up days and times, what is and isn’t recyclable, and even monitor group recycling efforts.
My-waste
Our experts decided to give one of these apps a try and find out just how effective it was in helping businesses maintain a sustainable workflow, and My-waste was easy to use and could be customized to individual or group needs! While it’s advertised as the perfect household recycling tool, we found that its features were also easily adapted to the workplace, especially on an individualized employee level.
With reminders about pick-up locations and lists of what can be recycled based on a user’s postal code, it’s easier than ever for employers to set up an account and keep their teams informed as to what common office items can be recycled right from their place of business. Users can also access this data base and set personal reminders for waste disposal and recycling drop-off points to continue the green trend after quitting time!
Available on both iTunes and Android, My-waste is compatible with digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, meaning its users – you and your colleagues – have even more ways to monitor office-wide recycling initiatives through access to quick responses for all of your sustainability questions. Sticking to a greener strategy is easier than ever when you can carry helpful tools like this one at your fingertips: literally!
If you’re ready to implement a sustainable attitude at your place of business, the recycling consultants at Carolina Fibre are here to help! Just contact us to set up an appointment to talk about your office’s needs and capabilities, and we can help you get started. In the meantime, check out the My-waste app and see if it’s the right tool for you and your coworkers.
Recycling Tips for the At-home Chef
We all have that friend or family member (or maybe this person is you!) that absolutely loves to cook. It doesn’t matter what style of dish it is, or how long the process takes; the at-home chef is eager and willing to give it a try.
But more often than not, cooking – whether experimental or just whipping up tried and true standbys – inspires messes of epic proportions in the kitchen. A lot of the products we then use to clean up those food splatters and accidental spills, even the rare case of broken glass or ceramic, are recyclable until they come into contact with food products. Then it gets harder for most recycling centers to properly break down those materials in order to reuse them. In addition to recycling all that you can, you and your culinary-minded friends could use a few neat ways we’ve found will help cut down on the waste you make while you cook!
Reusable containers
You’ve heard it before; keeping reusable containers around the kitchen can not only mean less plastic going into landfills, but also less hassle and cost for you. But eco-friendly receptacles for leftovers don’t have to end at Tupperware products. Many at-home cooks are also investing in glassware for storing their meals, and even find pieces that can be used in keeping entire dinners for more than one fresh and ready to be reheated at a later date. So go ahead, cook up a storm when the mood strikes – sustainable container options make it easier than ever for you to have fresh feasts at any time of day, and without putting further strain on the planet.
Washable cloths
Every chef’s least favorite part of cooking is the aftermath, but cleaning up is just a part of getting to make a mess while you create in the kitchen. Rather than reach for paper towels, try using some washable cloths for some of the more manageable mishaps. Paper towels are convenient for tossing in with the garbage, especially when messes consist of liquids and other more difficult to clean residues. But when your wreckage involves more dry goods, try using a cloth that you can add to your laundry basket and cut down the number of paper towels you go through; your planet and your wallet will thank you!
Clean-up sessions
Every chef is different; some prefer to clean as they go, while others would rather make their messes and worry about tidying up when the meal is finished. Whichever method you prefer when cooking at home, be sure to use resources like water and paper products sparingly. If you time your clean-up sessions to be the most effective and to consume fewer resources that may or may not be recyclable by the time you’re through with them, then you can save yourself extra effort as well as keep a sustainable pattern in your cooking routine.
Cooking can be a great communal experience, so why not get everyone on board with an eco-friendly system, too? If you’re willing to try a new recipe with off-the-wall ingredients, then using a few of these tips to make your kitchen a greener environment should be like cracking an egg. Stay tuned to our blog for more!
The State of Recycling in North Carolina
Recycling containers on suburban streets, multiple bins lined up in front of the local grocery store for all manner of recyclable materials, and reminders in office buildings and shops to dispose of waste responsibly: these days, North Carolina is home to a statewide initiative dedicated to habitual sustainability. Even in just the last few years, it’s seen a significant improvement in the overall environmental impact of its citizens.
But in a culture that’s generally enamored with social responsibility, connectivity, and going green in whatever ways possible, it’s easy to lose sight of how far we’ve come versus what we could be doing better, or what we hope to accomplish yet. But here at Carolina Fibre, we believe in giving credit where it’s due! So, where does North Carolina stand in sustainability efforts?
According to a recent study from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the state as a whole saw a 5% increase this year in the recycling of co-mingled materials. Thanks to some great outreach efforts and that green mindset we mentioned, it seems that our greater community has pulled ahead in terms of general mindfulness and recycling efforts in daily routines.
And while Wake County did experience a minute decline in its recycling rates last year, that isn’t to say that it lags behind the rest or that its residents aren’t doing their part. In fact, when the county rolled out new recycling containers for households approximately a decade ago, the recycling program received a substantial boost that has remained fairly level since then. The city of Raleigh was even counted among the greenest cities in the country last year!
If you want to contribute to North Carolina’s success, here are a few steps you can take to live a little greener:
- Search your county and town websites to find the recycling centers closest to you.
- Implement a sorting system at home to make it even easier to separate materials that need to be picked up by a waste management service from those that can be recycled or repurposed.
- Shop for recycled products in your local stores.
- Encourage your office mates to use their supplies wisely, and reuse what they can.
With the services and facilities offered by Carolina Fibre, it’s easier than ever for businesses as well as individuals to jump on board with green efforts in North Carolina. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started on your company’s commercial recycling plan!
7 Things You Should Recycle at the Office
At work, you’re in the zone. And because you’re so focused on doing a great job, you probably don’t have much time to think about what should go in the recycling bin and what is just trash. But here at Carolina Fibre, we know how easy it is to establish healthy, productive patterns of sustainability no matter where you work! To kick off your new recycling regimen, we’ve compiled a short list of items you can keep out of the garbage cans for a cleaner, greener work environment.
Printer Paper
It might seem like a given, but paper still ranks highly in materials that make up the general population’s waste. If you’ve finished with a document you printed, and it doesn’t contain sensitive information, use the backside as your own notepad. If the document does have confidential details on it, look into a trusted shredding service that will recycle the unusable paper once there is no longer any danger of passing on personal or corporate information.
Ink Cartridges
In case you weren’t aware, ink and toner cartridges are made of plastic and metal and are difficult to make in the first place. Most office supply stores will accept empty cartridges when you make a purchase (such as more ink and toner), and some even offer a discount on your purchase just for doing the environmentally responsible thing!
Computers and Technology
If you’ve recently upgraded your office computers or other electronic devices, it’s tempting to toss out any pieces that you know won’t sell. But this kind of waste can cause just as much damage to the environment as other waste products if improperly disposed of, which is why there are now places that will accept older computers and can recycle them properly for you.
Batteries
Batteries can be tricky to recycle in the sense that you toss out the old and keep buying new ones. To this end, we recommend that your office invests in rechargeable batteries. Set up a designated area in the workspace for letting them refresh their power, and help your employees remember to simply switch out sets as needed.
Shipping Supplies
Shipping supplies, such as padded envelopes, tape, the backings of labels, and other items can put a strain on the waste disposal systems of many companies. Like many other materials, you’ll want to make sure that none of these can be repurposed before they are disposed of with the rest of the office garbage. If not, check with your recycling service to properly recycle them, which will effectively eliminate them from the work environment and avoid putting a strain on the community’s landfills.
Cardboard
Some recycling services separate paper and cardboard waste, and others are unable to accept cardboard because of their facilities’ limitations. If that’s the case, don’t be discouraged! If possible, you might even be able to reuse boxes and other cardboard products rather than immediately throwing them out, so after you find out what your recycling service will and won’t be able to take care of for you, take a look around and see if you can find a use for them.
Plastic Bags
If your trash and recycling pick-up service doesn’t separate recyclables, you might not be able to put them in the regular blue bins, but that doesn’t mean plastic bags from lunch time can’t be recycled properly. If this is the case where you live and work, have a separate collection area for plastic bags and arrange for them to be taken to your local grocery store or drop-off point.
Once you establish a recycling system at work, it’s only a matter of time before recycling company waste in the most optimal way becomes routine for everyone. If you’re ready to initiate a company-wide recycling program, contact Carolina Fibre to find out how we can help!
A Natural Recycling Method
Recycling, by definition, gives us the ability to take used materials and put them back into commercial production, either as a similar product or something else entirely. But have you ever considered the possibility of recyclable products like plastic being repurposed as a food source?
The wax worm is actually quite fond of plastic snacks, namely plastic bags. A study conducted about three years ago by Federica Bertocchini at the University of Cantabria in Spain first revealed the insect’s propensity for chowing down, during which the test subjects were able to make sizable holes in plastic shopping bags after about 40 minutes. It might not sound like much, but in the long run, every little bit counts.
Wax worms take up residence in beehives, which is where they typically gain their sustenance. They eventually take on the form of a smaller moth, after consuming plenty of wax from the hives. It’s their natural food source preferences that ready their digestive systems for the materials found in most plastic bags. Both wax and plastic are, at their cores, carbon polymers that the insects can easily break down.
The excitement over this discovery stems from the fact that plastic makes up a significant portion of world waste production, and often doesn’t degrade as easily as other materials. Rather than adding to global pollution, the plastic could now be disposed of by wax worms as a food source. It may not be recycled through an industrial or commercial process to be remade into similar products, but this organic alternative takes it out of the pollution equation altogether and makes way for new and innovative options instead.
But is feeding the worms a viable and immediate solution to the continual struggle for a smaller environmental impact? Critics are wary of introducing the insects as a prime biodegradation process given the unpredictability of their appetites and the amount of time it takes them to dispose of something as relatively small as a plastic grocery bag. But the same scientists that realized the worms’ potential for sustainability practices also discovered that is was an enzyme or bacteria in them that broke down the plastic, meaning that they didn’t necessarily have to actively chomp into the material to get rid of it.
While these studies move forward, Carolina Fibre will continue to provide excellent commercial recycling services for aluminum, paper and plastic products. If you’re ready to move forward with a business recycling plan – without waiting for the worms to be made readily available – contact us for a consultation!
10 Ways to Reuse Plastic Easter Eggs
With the Easter holidays coming up, those iconic plastic eggs that get stuffed to the gills with sugary treats are everywhere! After they’ve been hidden and hunted, what are you supposed to do with those festive packages? Here at Carolina Fibre, we’ve got a few nifty green suggestions for repurposing that leftover plastic long after the bunnies have hopped off and the candy has been devoured.
Mini Planters
All it takes is some wire, the soil, and a smaller plant and you’ll have yourself the perfect miniature planter! The best part is that the plastic should hold up well through rounds of watering, so it should last you through a couple of spring seasons.
String Lights
Believe it or not, empty plastic Easter eggs can be resealed over the bulbs of string lights to create neat color effects. For the best results, use nearly translucent eggs and watch the mood in your room change entirely.
Treat Containers for all Holidays
Who says you can’t modify those plastic eggs to fit any time of year? All it takes is some paint or markers, and you can redesign the exteriors to suit Halloween, July 4th, Christmas: whatever holiday you have coming up that requires a few sweet treats!
Holiday Décor
Just like we mentioned above, plastic eggs can be repurposed to accommodate your needs for other holidays besides Easter. Use them for treats, or as decoration accents; that way, you not only save money, but also extend their use and avoid tossing out perfectly usable plastic.
Craft Supplies for the Kids
It can be difficult keeping around enough quality art supplies to keep the kids busy on holidays and weekends, but you can reuse all sorts of things to embellish their projects. This includes plastic Easter eggs! Either whole or split in half, these handy receptacles can provide structure to any craft venture.
DIY Candles
With some careful crafting, plastic Easter eggs can actually be repurposed as small homemade candles. Be sure to find the supplies that will work well with pliant plastic, and always attend your candles when lit. Otherwise, they’re a simple and fun way to recycle the material!
Homemade Bath Bombs
It’s never a bad time of year to treat yourself! Reuse plastic Easter eggs to make and store some relaxing bath bombs so that when the mood to unwind arises, all you have to do it pop them open and let the hot water do the rest.
Mini Treat Dishes
Even if you aren’t hiding them in the backyard or catering to a holiday, leftover plastic eggs make a fun and interesting addition to your coffee table or desk; plus, they’re obviously the perfect size for something sweet.
Bird Feeders
Want to offer the neighborhood birds a tasty treat, too? You can make it simple by reusing your plastic Easter eggs. Cover the exterior in the feed, or use the halves to create a bowl for your winged visitors to stop by on their way to the next treetop.
Snack Packs
Lunchtime just got sweeter! Pack your snacks and smaller items in leftover plastic Easter eggs for safe keeping, then wash them and reuse as needed. They’re perfect for use at work or school, and keep you from having to continually purchase disposable bags.
We hope these were some helpful tips that will aid in preventing a waste of plastic in your home after the Easter holidays! For more news and ideas from us, check out our latest blog posts and learn more about recycling. If you’re ready to put your business on a greener track, contact us and we’ll talk you through our services to find the best plan for your company.
5 Ways to Recycle and Reorganize Your Personal Environment in 2018
It’s that time of year when we all scramble to make and get started on a resolution or two for the months to come, something to work toward and enrich our lives. This year, if you’re already planning on changing things up, why not start with your very own home? Here at Carolina Fibre, we’ve come up with a few ideas for reducing waste and decluttering your closets, without the additional environmental strain of larger trash bags.
Holiday leftovers
No, we’re not literally talking turkey. But right after the new year begins, you might be glancing around and wondering how you came to own so much stuff that you don’t need, or why you have so many reusable items just sitting around and taking up space. Champagne bottles from New Year’s Eve, for example, can be recycled into commemorative vases or even employed as kitchen decorations once you wash them out, let them dry, and wind in some strands of twinkle lights. The holidays can still bring you some cheer after they’re over – you just have to get creative!
The whole package
Packaging items, like boxes, egg cartons, or even foil can be reused rather than tossed in the trash. When the kids need art supplies, or you have an impromptu birthday gift to wrap, you’ll be glad you thought to keep them, even if they are tucked out of sight! Or, you could donate these items as much-needed art supplies to a community center or classroom and save yourself the trouble of storing them altogether.
Spring planting
Spring will be here before we know it, and when it rolls around you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to enjoy it. For some, this means planting a garden. If you’re hoping to nurture a green thumb this year, consider involving your entire yard in the process of maintaining your vegetable patch. Clippings from mowing the lawn serve as great natural fertilizer, not to mention cut down on the usage of plastic bags you would have employed to clean them up.
Wardrobe changes
We all change out our wardrobes from time to time, or at the very least get rid of old, worn-out clothing we can no longer wear. If it isn’t threadbare and can still be worn, the obvious answer for most items is to donate them. But, if you have a shirt with one too many holes or an exhausted coat, try your hand at a little DIY home improvement. Clothes can be broken down to make coasters, pillows, seat cushions, you name it!
Plastic or paper bags
Although it’s tempting – especially if you keep forgetting to take your reusable bag into the grocery store – refrain from throwing out paper or plastic shopping bags. These can be used in so many helpful ways around the home: trash can liners, recycling containers, temporary storage. And the best part? If something does happen to them, you won’t have risked a container that you wanted to keep for long anyway.
No matter how you choose to simplify your life or reduce the amount of waste produced in your home, the important thing is sticking to your resolutions and persevering! Contact us for a greener plan for your place of business, so you can bring this enthusiasm for a more sustainable space to the office.
5 Environmental Advocacy Organizations to Watch this Year
2017 is coming to a close, and here at Carolina Fibre, we think it’s important to reflect back on some of the major events and influencers as we move forward into the new year. We’ve picked a few of the organizations we think deserve a pat on the back (and maybe a little something extra from the big guy in red!) for their work in environmental conservation and advocacy.
National Geographic Society
Year after year, the National Geographic Society continues to make its mark – in a good way – on our planet. And for a wide-spread endeavor, this organization makes it easy to join in from any part of the country. Supporters can enjoy the educational materials the society regularly publishes, or give directly to current sustainability efforts.
Greenpeace
Some organizations lead global and national conservation campaigns on independent platforms and resources, like Greenpeace. While a recent promotion centers on reducing plastic consumption and waste, this organization is involved in efforts to clean up and preserve oceans, forests, and many other arenas. You can get involved, too, via donation, by volunteering, or becoming a member.
The Nature Conservancy
An international campaign for the planet’s welfare, the Nature Conservancy leads the charge in education as well as active efforts to change the way we treat our home. As a whole, the Conservancy focuses on all land and water-related issues, and splits its time between advocacy and on-the-ground activism. By joining the Our World Campaign, a rallying point created to facilitate support across the globe, you can stay updated with news and campaigns near you.
Recycling for Charities
In a digital age, we’ve begun producing more and more electronic waste. What this means is that all of our old electronics – cell phones, cameras and even laptops – tend to pile up when we decide we’re through with them and need an upgrade. With groups like Recycling for Charities, older models of electronic devices can be repurposed and reused accordingly.
NC Conservation Network
On a state level, we have the North Carolina Conservation Network supporting other environmental groups and making sure they have the means to coordinate with one another and work together. Altogether, there are nearly 100 organizations that work with the NC Conservation Network! The network also offers training programs to help teach volunteers and new advocates how to better represent their causes to the public and other influencers.
If one of your New Year’s resolutions involves giving back, consider these or any other environmental organization you come across. For more tips on recycling and sustainability, contact Carolina Fibre and get your business on track in 2018!