While recycling itself is a worthwhile endeavor, when intertwined with charitable organizations, its power for good is taken to far greater heights.

A perfect example has been under way in St. Petersburg, Fla., for several years now. By picking up used paper donated by various companies and eventually hauling it to a local paper company, a developmental training program is helping build better lives for its mentally handicapped trainees.

“It’s really been exciting — much more far-reaching than we ever expected,” said Kathy Roegiers, manager of the local Goodwill Industries’ program. “It has allowed our trainees to be more a part of ..

Source: environmental issues

Recycle…recycle…what can we recycle?  I have been cleaning the back yard from my dog’s droppings and just never thought,"Wow!  Looks like papyrus!"

I just got no imagination.  But then again, the little droppings don’t add up to the piles of , um, …stuff! the people in Africa have encountered.  And not only are they taking care of it, they have made some crazy s—!

They turn elephant dung into charming paper gifts like stationery, journals, and noteboxes.

The elephants’ responses have been helpful;   they continue to donate over 200 pounds of dung per day, each.

Seriously, this is yet another great idea that deserves a nod.  What is really wonderful is that a portion of proceeds benefit elephant welfare (something some African governments have failed to do in the past).

Please visit PooPooPaper.com

I know where I’ll be shopping.

Special thanks to PSFK; always in the know.

Here is a video showing how paper is made from dung:

They don’t chew their food very well!

First seen by us on a video, Carrotmob is growing by leaps and bounds.

Based in San Francisco (at least that is where the first video was filmed), these socially conscious people showed that people CAN make a difference on a grass-roots level.

The video showed them convincing small business owners to bid on their patronage.  The premise was simple:  you (business owner) tell us (Carrotmob) what percentage of profits you will donate to our (then) non-profit, and we will have consumers lined up to shop at your store.

The twist: The business owner agrees to a "green" inspection and implements the necessary changes to have a business with less carbon footprints.

Did it work? Only fantastically! Brent Schulkin of CarrotMob fame has added to his staff and has funding. Good work!

Other good links:

Burning Man You just need to know it exists.

Committed2Change A collective conscience from Australia.

Can you make it to the recycling center before using your last unit of oxygen? Do you know what percentage of the world’s energy the United States uses?

A new board game that combines environmental trivia with actual planet-saving activities has hit the store shelves. While playing Earth Alert, participants can learn about recycling, rainforests, conservation, pollution, and the ozone layer. And they can also have fun.                                                    

Creators Michael Schiller and Michael Stusser say they developed the game to raise consciousness about the Earth and illustrate ways in which individuals can make a difference.

“Along with fun, we offer solutions,” Stusser said. “The ..

Source: ozone layer

Try some of these ideas before you toss out used products:

Five Best Eco-Boutiques in Los Angeles

Modern must-haves include pillows and totes made of woven recycled soda tabs, sculptural wooden trees, sea-inspired soaps by Savonnerie and w…

Recycling used equipment

Greenpeace also applies to this article recycled wood products as environmentally friendly source of timber for most owing to their websites. The arrival of recycled wood in the construction sector and consumer products are important to …

ood bead necklaces by Nathalie Costes. Filling your wardrobe and home with goods from these

Artsy bloggers roundup for July 11-2008

Last week, I carved 2 tatting shuttles from some recycled wood. I broke one of the tatting shuttles and recycled it into a very spiffy necklace. And now, I’m debating about the cord for the necklace. Opinions are welcome! …

Going Green: 10 Tips for Eco-Friendly Exhibiting

Good ideas include cotton or hemp tote bags, food in recycled-paper wrapping instead of plastic, recycled plastic Frisbees, pens and other items, and ceramic mugs. Stay away from plastic bags, wood, and non-recycled materials. …

Recycled Wood and Plastic Rings!

Here’s a nice array of recycled wood and plastic rings that might just go well with your green outlook. via greatgreengoods. array, Eco-Friendly and Green Rings, Plastic Rings, Plastic Rings, recycled wood, Wooden Rings.

There are a lot of innovative folks with earth-friendly ideas…good to know!

Transforming useless, black rooftops into prosperous, green gardens — that is the goal of Dr. Paul Mankiewicz.

As director of the Gaia Institute, an environmental research group in New York City, he has designed a unique greenhouse which solves the complexities of gardening on rooftops and will provide fresh produce for thousands of residents below.

By using a lightweight soil, a simple steel-frame structure wrapped in plastic, and a unique planting and harvesting system, this new greenhouse could add a new facet to agriculture. And that has the biologist excited.

“If we have a system that can purify the air and lower ..

Source: environmental issues

The use of solar panels for heating and electricity in homes is rapidly becoming more and more popular. There are televised programs on the Discovery channel showing the benefits of solar power as well as programs such as the home building show with Tye Pennington that show how solar panels can save money from heating bills.

Solar panels are not complicated to install and they are not as costly as one might imagine. You are paid back ten fold what you put out over five, ten and twenty years down the road. Studies where buildings have opted to use solar ..

Source: Solar Technology

There are thousands of different solar powered gadgets available from solar mailboxes to solar watches and more. Solar powered gadgets are getting cheaper as the solar panel technology improves and gets less expensive to manufacture.

Heres a few of the innovative solar gadgets available on the market today and some examples of specific solar powered products to consider.

What about gadgets with built-in batteries? When it comes to charging your phone or iPod, the sun has been left you cold.

One innovative product, HYmini, is a universal power charger that uses wind and solar energy to top up most gadgets, ..

Source: Solar Conversions

Being environmentally friendly is something that is going to shape us all in the next 11 years. We have Eco Travel, Electric Cars & Biological Diesels to look at now.

There are different forms of Biological Fuels . Biological Fuels are many principally plant based options to oil- based Diesels such as petrol, diesel & cooking oil. Burning biodiesel discharges CO2 emissions, nevertheless this is equalized with the fact that the plants used to manufacture it uses CO2 emissions in the environment to develop. Nevertheless the eco benefits of Bio Fuels are hotly conversed, with some environmentally friendly experts stating that Biological ..

Source: Health

From the current issue of All You Magazine “Live Green and Save”…

1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs ). Swap a regular 110-watt bulb for a 32-watt CFL, which uses almost 70% less energy. Plus, it lasts 10 times longer!  (Savings: $30 in energy for the life of a bulb)

2. Put your computer on sleep mode . Your computer sucks up energy even when it’d idle, so program it to sleep for 12 hours a day.  You’ll help extend its working life, too. (Savings: $44 per year on your energy bill)

3. Don’t drive once a week.  You can reduce the emission of greenhouse ..

Source: Free Help