Recycle

How should I recycle old batteries? -Chris, Green Philly Blog Reader Good question, Chris! Did you know that over 3 BILLION single-use, dry cell batteries are disposed of in landfills? Most importantly, I'd first recommend switching your batteries to rechargeable ones over the single-use. I have approximately 8 reusables and a charger, so I always have backups for my toothbrush/etc when previous ones need recharging. To answer your question, here's where to drop off & recycle your batteries in Philadelphia area:

Ever wonder what to do with those pesky plastic bags? You’re not alone. “A co-worker of mine has collected plastic bags for the past 3 years. He says we might need them. Well now they are taking up to much...

Did you purchase a new winter coat this season? An upgrade for you is the perfect opportunity to make use of your old duds. One Warm Coat is an organization dedicated to helping others by taking your old coats, jackets, sweaters and mittens of your hands (pun intended) and donating them to people in need. This blurb on their website caught my attention:

"Do you know of a green way to dispose of a laptop? Throw it in the Delaware river?" -Kevin@aol.com, Green Philly Blog Reader Well Kevin, although the Delaware may be toxic, it definitely won't help Philadelphia get greener this year. Actually, disposing a laptop in a river OR landfill are both terrible options - it's just as outdated as your AOL email address. But here's some green tips to recycle your laptop:

Now that (most) Christmas festivities are over, it's time to start thinking about disposing of that tree. Lucky for you, once you're done with the Christmas spirit (and needles falling), the Philadelphia Streets Department 2011 Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs Monday, January 3 through Saturday, January 15. This annual (22 yr old!) program is an environmentally safe alternative for the

We all have those old towels and blankets and towels that are too old for Goodwill or Salvation Army. Instead of throwing these out, donate them to a local animal shelter or humane society. PAWS is located right at 2nd & Arch (and loves fleece blankets since they dry quicker!) or 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue & PSPCA are great local candidates to contact! What a better idea for those rapidly approaching holidays for pups & cats?

Yay for Philly! Rather than letting leaves collect in drains and litter our streets, Philly is having a 6-week Philly Bagged Leaf Drive to collect & compost them to fertilize gardens & nourish trees. From November 8-December 17, you can set out leaves on trash day to help Philadelphia's foliage - saving time & labor costs. How can you participate? Here are the Collection Guidelines:

Office paper represents roughly 50% of the waste bill from the average business - US offices print about 12.1 trillion sheets of paper annually, contributing about 9% of carbon dioxide emissions. Here are 5 tips to reduce paper waste:

It's fall! What a better time to re-check your junk mail and minimize where you can. With iPhones, Blackberries, Facebook & the internet everywhere, it's too easy to find people or businesses, and shop online. Do you really need phone books, credit card offers and glossy printed catalogs dropped off at your front door? Save the 1000's of pages used for each dinosaur-era book: