that GREEN blog

Recycling through a recession will be the focus of this year’s Oklahoma Recycling Seminar, scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 8 in Stillwater. The full day seminar will take place at Oklahoma State University’s ConocoPhillips Alumni Center. “Participants will be getting the latest updates on everything from recycling markets and operations to organics diversion and container deposit bills,” said Ilda Hershey, OSU ooperative Extension assistant state specialist for solid waste management programs.

The seminar is designed for city and county government officials, recycling professionals, community leaders, educators, students and Oklahoma residents interested in the business of recycling or expanding local programs.

“December’s seminar will provide plenty of opportunities for learning, sharing and networking,” Hershey said. Seminar registration includes all sessions, a buffet lunch and breaks. Cost is $25 if registering by November 23 and $35 thereafter. Students can attend for $20. Exhibitor rates are $100 for business or government and $50 for non-profit organizations. Participants can download registration forms or register online at http://recycleok.org/recyclingseminar.php or by contacting OSU Ag Conference Services at 405-744-6489.

Michael Patton of the Metropolitan Environmental Trust will begin the program with an update on current recycling markets and the economic outlook for recycling. Patton will also discuss how to set up a recycling center during a Recycling Operations Panel moderated by Fenton Rood of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Other panel topics include Measuring Recycling Efforts and Successful Partnerships.
Al Drinkwater of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. will present information about the organization’s new plastics processing facility in northeastern Oklahoma and several members of the Oklahoma Recycling Association (OKRA) will present new initiatives such as the online Materials Exchange Program for business and industry.

“We also felt it important to feature an Organics Diversion Panel, given that so much of municipal waste is biodegradable,” said Hershey, who is also OKRA’s membership chair. “Representatives from the cities of Edmond, Miami and Norman involved in yard waste collection will present case studies and answer questions about their composting or mulch operations.”

The seminar will conclude with a session on container and bottle bill deposit programs, including a discussion about the current bottle bill being considered by the Oklahoma Legislature. “Jim Bologna, site-energy manager for Saint-Gobain Containers Inc., will be among the experts on hand to present the benefits of a bottle deposit program and its implications for increasing recycling, reducing waste, saving energy and generating revenue,” Hershey said.

After the seminar, there will be an optional site visit of the Stillwater Convenience Collection Center. This tour is included as part of the basic registration fee. “Recycling through a Recession” is hosted by the Oklahoma Recycling Association and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, and is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, OGE Energy Corp. and Busch Container Systems.
Up to five hours of continuing education credits will be available to members of the Solid Waste
Association of North America who attend the seminar.

Anyone seeking additional information about the Dec. 8 seminar should visit OKRA’s Web site
at http://recycleok.org or contact Hershey at 405-744-9806
###
Media Contact:
Ilda T. Hershey
Assistant State Specialist
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Solid Waste Management Programs
Oklahoma State University
536 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-9806
Fax: 405-744-9835
ilda.hershey@okstate.edu

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today encouraged consumers to visit their local farmers markets in honor of
National Farmers Market Week, which will take place from August 2-8.

“One of the Obama Administration’ s top priorities is to make sure that all Americans – especially children – have access to fresh, nutritious food, and USDA’s ongoing support of farmers markets is important to
reaching that goal,” Secretary Vilsack said. “At the same time, farmers markets help support small family farms, help revitalize rural communities, and often promote sustainable agricultural practices.”

Currently, nearly 4,900 farmers markets operate nationwide, up from 4,685 in 2008. To make it easier for consumers to locate farmers markets in their states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’ s Agricultural
Marketing Service posts The National Directory of Farmers Markets online at www.ams.usda. gov/farmersmarkets
<http://www.ams. usda.gov/ farmersmarkets>.

[Note: their information is very outdated; for a better listing, see Local Harvest's listing
at: http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/list.jsp.]

USDA is a leader in government efforts to encourage healthier eating, has operated a farmers market at its Washington, D.C., headquarters since 1996. Open to the general public every Friday, June through  October, as many as 14 farmer-vendors set up stands that feature their locally produced items.

USDA supports farmers markets through several programs in addition to National Farmers Market Week. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awards grants, provides technical assistance, and helps with marketing and promotion. Meanwhile, the Food and Nutrition Service also supports farmers markets through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program by providing coupons that many low-income Americans can exchange for eligible foods at farmers markets and similar outlets.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(800) 795-3272(voice) , or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Dear Readers,

Mark your calendar for the 2009 State of Green Business Forum. This exclusive one-day event will be held on February 2, 2009 at the PG&E Auditorium in San Francisco, California. The Forum will coincide with the release of GreenBiz.com’s State of Green Business 2009, our highly-acclaimed annual report on the status of corporate environmental trends and progress.

The Forum – hosted by Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com, and featuring more than a dozen industry experts and thought leaders – brings the report to life. Attendees will participate in sessions comprised of compelling speakers and panel discussions, all focused on key business trends and issues, from minimizing the risks of water scarcity to maximizing the value of green innovations.

Seating for the State of Green Business Forum is limited, so register early. Additional information on agendas and speakers will be announced shortly, and regular updates will be announced in GREENBUZZ and on the 2009 State of Green Business Forum page on GreenBiz.com.
Take advantage of our early-bird discount: Register before January 9th to receive a special registration rate of $119, a $30 savings. To register, go to
2009 State of Green Business Forum.

Have you heard the buzz regarding the San Francisco Green Business Conference?

Save the Date! The next Chicago Green Business Conference will take place May 13-14, 2009.
Registration will open in January, 2009.

For more information visit, www.coopamerica.biz

With the holidays fast approaching, many people are ramping up to prepare for decorating, celebrating, and, of course, gift giving. Those who are concerned about the environment have more options than ever this year to ensure that their gifts are not going to have long-lasting negative effects on the world.

Celebrating
1. Decorating
At this time of year, the decorating options abound. From plastic banners to plastic trees, it can be a real dilemma to be both festive and environmentally conscious. Luckily, some of the best decorations this time of year are natural, and you can find all kinds of wonderful, naturally-biodegradable options in your backyard and supermarket. Fruits like cranberries and oranges make a big statement when placed in large glass containers, and holly and evergreen boughs can be draped over almost everything to add color and fragrance to your home. The most important thing is to try and think about decorating from a natural standpoint so that when the holidays are over in your home they don’t live on in your landfill.

2. Place Settings
It’s true that disposable place settings make clean-up a breeze during the holidays, but plastic and Styrofoam plates, cutlery and cups end up clogging our landfills with materials that almost never decompose. Luckily, there are choices for the eco-friendly hostess. Look for recycled and/or biodegradable options instead. Products made from corn are durable and useful, but the break down in a landfill after a few months. By using these products instead of paper, plastics and Syrofoams means less energy is used to create them and there is almost no damage to the environment.

3. Food
When planning your menu choose organic and locally-grown foods, which require less of energy to get to your table and leave less of an impact on the Earth’s resources. Foods certified USDA Organic are produced without the use of petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, they are based on meat not treated with antibiotics and growth hormones, both of which have been shown to pollute water sources like lakes, rivers and the ocean. Genetically modified organisms, which reduce biodiversity, are not used in Organic foods. Finally, Organic foods do not undergo irradiation to kill bacteria.

4. Drinks
At the very least, remember to have a recycling bin available at all of your holiday gatherings so that all those cans and bottles can be easily recycled by your guests. You may also want to seek out some great organic and natural choices when it comes to the drinks themselves. From sodas to wines, you can seek contents and packaging that are more environmentally friendly. For example, Whole Foods carries an organic wine packaged in Tetra Pak paper-based cartons.

Gift Giving
1. Intangible Gifts
Some of the most eco-conscious gifts are those that don’t involve any wrapping paper. These gifts provide resources that last long after the holidays are over and are an excellent way to give someone something that does good for the world. Ideas include: donating time or money to a charity that means something to the recipient; buying carbon offsets on behalf of the recipient; planting a forest in the recipient’s name; or sponsoring an endangered animal.

2. Educational Gifts
If you have people on your list who have expressed interest in being more green, but simply don’t know where to begin, you can give them something that helps them become more aware of the Green movement. Almost all bookstores carry a broad array of choices, including books like “Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet.” If the recipient enjoys cooking, you could try one of many organic food cook books, like “The Organic Cook’s Bible,” and if he enjoys gardening, “Organic Gardening for Dummies” might be a nice choice.

3. Traditional Gifts
You don’t have to look far to get wonderful traditional gifts like toys, linens and clothing that don’t negatively impact the environment. For example, you can find clothing made of organic cotton in many major retailers today. Bamboo towels, socks and bathrobes are amazingly silky-soft, and have antibacterial properties in addition to being environmentally sound. Wooden toys built from sustainable trees are also an excellent choice for children.

There are many healthy, green options available on the market for the holidays, so make the extra effort this year to pick products that will bring joy today without negatively impacting our tomorrows.

Virginia Ginsburg specializes in research related to ecologically-sound life and business practices. She writes about green living and socially-conscious investing. Her company, Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , specializes in gifts that are both beautiful and ecologically-sound.

Holidays on the Green Side