Raising a family is a lesson in handling STUFF–and, if you’re a parent, you’ve muttered to yourself more than once about how your family has way too much of it. We’re all familiar with the items we can recycle at the curbside or drop-off. What about everything else? Nearly everything else is recyclable. I think you’re going to be excited to hear about the things you can recycle right in your local community.

RecycleChicken, tells you where you can take anything and everything for recycling and reuse in your area. The site, searchable by item and zipcode, lists businesses and programs in your area that accept your beyond the curbside materials. Here is a listing of seasonal waste reduction suggestions.

• Pumpkins: A few ideas here. You could, of course, make pumpkin pie. You could feed the deer. You could add to yours or a neighbor’s compost pile. Roast the seeds or plant them for next year’s crop.
• Baby: Green Island Earth Friendly Goods in Traverse City is accepting used cloth diapers and cloth diaper systems. Call 231-933-8465  for accepting conditions.
• Vacuums & vacuum parts: Check with your local vacuum repair shop about what brands and conditions they accept. Most shops rebuild and sell used vacuums–a potential deal in itself.
• #3-#7 Plastics: Check in with Bay Area Recycling for Charities or American Waste.
• Garden Plastics: Bay Area Recycling accepts black (and other color) nursery pots, trays and plastic lawn edging. The Head Hen’s personal heroes!
• Dry Cleaning Hangers & Bags: Most drycleaners will take back their own or unprinted paper hangers as well as plastic dry cleaning bags. Call ahead to your favorite cleaner to check.
• Computers & Accessories (working or not): In the Traverse City area, some easy options include Goodwill and TC eWaste. In Emmet County, take to the Recycling Center on Pleasantview Rd.
• Other Electronics: In Traverse City area, take to TC eWaste. They take a wide array and even have drop boxes at Oryana Food Co-op. In Emmet–Pleasantview Rd. center.

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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FREE COMMUNITY-WIDE RECYCLE & REPURPOSE EVENT FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
‘Fall Back’ into Action to Clean Up and Green Up

The Michigan Green Consortium will once again produce a free community-wide recycle, repurpose and reuse event from 10am until 3pm on Sunday,November 7, 2010 at Parking Lot B in downtown Traverse City. The event is held twice a year, the morning following the time adjustment, and serves as a reminder to residents to renew their pledge to do their part to preserve the environment.

The Daylight Savings Clean Up and Green Up Event will be hosted by the Consortium and a dozen or more local area businesses that provide recycle and reuse services. The event is comprehensive, offering residents the chance to bring recyclable items to one location and at no charge for collection.

Area businesses will be on site that day to process a realm of household goods that have reusable or recyclable value. While not all vendors are yet confirmed, past vendors have included. American Waste; Bay Area Recycling, RecycleChicken, Rifkin Steel, L & B Recycling, Cartridge World, Goodwill, GT Profile’s Shredmonster, TC eWaste, Odom Reusable Building Products, Northern Michigan Garment Restoration, Evergreen Bottle Company, Team Elmer’s and Home Depot.

Michigan Green Consortium is a trade association established in 2008 to promote and support green and sustainable businesses; to educate the business and local community on what should be done to ensure a healthy environment and provides networking opportunities for green
companies. The consortium is funded solely by member dues and public contributions.
To learn out more about the Daylight Savings: Clean Up and Green Up event, call (231) 947-1688 or visit www.mgconline.org

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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Snowboards used for the seat and back are cleaned, polished, and the edges are ground. Snowboard benches start at around $399.

To purchase chairs or benches go to Green Mountain Ski Furniture.

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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Ford Field is more than just a pretty new Stadium.  The new indoor football field assumes the look of any other artificial turf field. However, the turf is actually comprised of 75 percent recycled content. FieldTurf’s (Montreal) blades of “grass” are actually recycled nylon strands “growing” out of a mixture of silica sand and recycled crumb rubber. Where does the recycled rubber come from? Don’t forget these are the Detroit Lions and Detroit is The Motor City; so why not put some old used tires to use?

From a plan perspective, the indoor field is the largest in the N.F.L. at 220 feet by 400 feet. There’s generous room around the perimeter to protect players from injuries.

“The height was determined by doing some calculations by the Lions’ engineering team,” said Hartman, “so that they could punt a football in here consistently, and enjoy actual punts and returns.”

Another unique amenity in the indoor training field is that the goal posts lack a vertical pole.

“Safety is a huge issue for the players. So why have something they can run into if you don’t need it?” asked Hartman.

The huge field is well lit by daylight streaming through squares of translucent plastic supplied by Kalwall from Manchester, N.H. It’s a thermally insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting building system.

On the corporate side of the structure William Clay Ford Jr. is using his own style of recycled furniture. The pieces in his office are actually heirlooms from his great grandfather’s estate.

Wall coverings in the conference rooms, private offices and private restrooms come from New York-based Innovation’s line of “Innvironments” products such as Allegory and Grasscloth. These products contain no PVC and are composed of either natural and renewable or recycled materials.

Motion sensor controls are in all primary occupied spaces to conserve electricity and water conservation was also taken into consideration, from the outdoor field aspect as well as the collection of storm water from the building. There are low volume, motion sensor flush valves in all toilet locations.

This project required a collaborative effort among the building owner, Ford Land; the tenant, Detroit Lions; and the design team, Gensler, SmithGroup, JM Olson, John Miller Electric and Limbach. According to Beck, “this ultimately made this project successful from both an environmental point of view as well as a design and building standpoint.”

With this myriad of sustainable products put into place, it seems the new facility is meeting the goals of green building practices. Hopefully the Lions meet their goals on and off of the field.

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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Go Green Step is taking food grade plastic barrels and turning them into attractive rain barrels. These Michigan made barrels are available in several different colors and can hold at least 55 gallons of rain water.  You can easily option Go Green Step’s barrels to attach a faucet for hooking up your hose. What a great way to save on your water bill or electric bill! Positioning your rain barrels in convenient locations will save on toting hoses around too. For more information CLUCK HERE.

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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The Heidelberg Project was started in 1986 by Tyree Guyton. With the help of his grandfather, Sam Mackey , and his former wife, Karen Guyton.  The project is located on Heidelberg Street in Detroit, MI and RecycleChicken had to opportunity to visit this wonder while attending the MRC Conference recently.  By cleaning up abandoned houses and vacant lots they have created an art environment to be enjoyed by young and old.

For more information on The Heidleberg Project go to www.heidleberg.org

To add your business or location to RecycleChicken’s recycling/reuse directory, use this easy “Get Listed” form.

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