LINKS FOR THOUGHT AND SOLUTIONS

Starbucks finally takes real responsibility and goes green(er)

I'd have started this item just saying "Starbucks Goes Green" if it weren't for the fact that they didn't take more initiative a long, long time ago.

However, though the "better late than never" adage has a regrettable slant, it is indeed better late than never.

Read more about the Stabucks initiative.

Applauds to Starbucks.

A large percentage of the garbage we collect on roadsides comes from Tim Horton's and McDonalds, this is, no doubt, because we are at a driving distance that is within a grid of where people just finish what they bought and get rid of the cups and wrappings. We see some Starbuck cups and lids, but not that many as there is no Starbucks in our two immediate towns.

Tim Horton's & McDonalds have their own environmental programs and both have anti litter programs as well as partake in community litter pick-up programs.
And so they should.

What is needed is the customers who happily dump from their cars to take some "real" responsibility.

 Nov. 22, 2009

Poo Power: Used Diapers Will Fuel U.K. Recycling Plant

This may be a temporary solution to the used diaper problem. Content as fuel and diaper paper and plastic recycled into other materials.

"Once in the landfill, diaper waste has the potential to pollute local groundwater and the diaper itself has little chance of ever decomposing. When your baby’s great, great, great, great grandchildren come into the world, those diapers will still be lying in the landfill (EcoCycle)."

Read the article at Care2 - Posted here November 13, 2009

Representing islands in 6 North Sea Countries

Islanders Go for Zero Everything

Island living is akin to camping—you pretty much have to pack in what you need and pack out the rest.

Unfortunately, that can also mean shipping in resources and shipping out waste and pollution. But now a group of 11 islands in the North Sea, representing six European nations, is on an ambitious mission to become self-sustaining by 2030. The group wants to use the
resources available on the islands to support themselves and to redesign their systems so there is no concept of waste. Everything from tangible trash to intangible carbon will be designed to be recovered or reused. Each island will demonstrate different innovative,
sustainable technologies including tidal power, electric scooters, desalinization, bioplastics, and blackwater (household sewage) purification. But what about the droves of European summer tourists
who bring so much waste to the islands?
Rather than being chased away, they will be the primary audience (and hopefully messengers) for the project’s educational efforts. Island communities are ideal models for sustainability because the
challenges and opportunities of living with limited resources are so real. Keep up on the progress at
www.c2cislands.org

MORGAN STANLEY

Cool "Little Green Book" very nicely done.