Women Blog

It’s been a very challenging week for us in the home office when the internet connection starts to play up. I can hardly get my work done and it’s very frustrating for any work at home mom, especially if you are managing an internet business.

On the home front, I have a list of things to do and they involve the use of the internet! Can you imagine the desperation that is surmounting in the home office. Plus, I’m due for a 2 weeks vacation in a week’s time so I do need to get all my things done before that. In case you wonder why I can still do my posting. I’m in Starbucks right now while my son keeps himself busy in Borders. I feel bad to be doing this to him on a Sunday mid day but I do need to get some things done. I promise to help my Dh with some rackmount lcd research for the home theater and I promise to order a couple of hard to find books for my son.

Then I have some more transport bookings to make before I take off from the home office. I have to admit that I’m becoming more and more dependent on the internet these days. Perhaps I need to go back to the basics and reflect on how I used to get things done without technology. I must not subject myself to the limitations of technology and be crippled of its downfalls. Are you one of them too?

Plastics Make it Possible(SM) Unveils Surprising Information about Americans’ Recycling Habits with America Recycles Day Survey

November 15 is America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. The effort is working; according to a recent survey conducted by Plastics Make it Possible(SM), an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council, nearly 70 percent of households make an effort to recycle at home. Of those homes that make recycling a priority, more than two out of three rely on the women of the house to serve as the “recycling enforcers.” One out of four families shares the responsibility while only 10 percent put their kids in charge of recycling duty.

“It’s encouraging to see that more and more Americans are making an effort to recycle at home, but there is still a huge opportunity to educate and motivate the remaining third who don’t,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can be easily recycled in most communities and given a second life as carpet, clothing, furniture, backyard decks, new bottles and bags, and other products we use every day. By making it a practice to recycle, people can help make a difference on America Recycles Day and every day of the year.”

So just where do the plastic bottles you throw in the recycling bin and the plastic bags you take back to the grocery store end up? Though recycled plastics might be out-of-mind as soon as they are placed in a recycling bin, they are far from out-of-sight. Most people use “second life” plastics in their homes or cars everyday – and many of us may even be wearing them! According to the survey, eighty-two percent of Americans know that recycled plastic water bottles can be used to make a variety of items such as lumber for homes and decks, car bumpers, life jackets, sails for boats, rope and even fashionable t-shirts.

To encourage consumers to recycle more, Plastics Make it Possible(SM) provides the following tips for reusing and recycling everyday plastics.

1. Find out which plastics are accepted for recycling in your community and where they can be taken. Though recycling options vary, most community curbside programs collect plastic bottles and many grocery and retail chains now offer bins to collect used plastic bags and wraps for recycling. An increasing number of communities are also collecting rigid containers like yogurt and butter tubs.
2. Know what to recycle with your bottles. A “bottle” is any container with a neck or opening that’s smaller than its base and includes milk jugs; beverage containers; bottles from salad dressing, oil and other condiments; food jars for items like peanut butter and mayonnaise; and bottles from shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent and household cleaners.
3. Know what to recycle with your bags at grocery stores. When you recycle your bags, include all plastic bags from grocery, retail and dry cleaning stores, plastic bags that cover newspapers, and product wraps from paper towels, napkins, bathroom tissue and diapers.
4. Clean and empty. Before tossing them in the recycle bin, make sure bottles are appropriately rinsed and that caps are removed.
5. Bring bottles back to the bin. When bottles are emptied away from home, store them in a backpack or briefcase, or simply leave them in the car until arriving home to place in a recycle bin.
6. Store bags in a bag. Storing plastic bags and wraps in a plastic bag offers neat, convenient storage. Simply knot the handles when you’re ready to drop them off at your local grocer or retailer.
7. Reuse those bags! From trash can liners to pet pick-up, plastic bags can be used dozens of ways.
8. Pitch in beyond the kitchen. While many recyclable bottles and bags come from the kitchen, don’t forget to check the bathrooms and laundry room for shampoo and detergent bottles and reuse your plastic bags as trash can liners throughout the house.
9. When in doubt, leave it out. Be careful not to contaminate your recyclables with garbage or items that aren’t recycled in your area.
10. Bridge the second generation gap. It’s important to remember that recycled plastics go on to become second generation products like carpet, fleece jackets and new bottles and bags.

The survey was conducted by Synovate in November 2009 to a nationally representative sample of 984 Americans adults aged 18+. ACC is a sponsor of America Recycles Day through Keep America Beautiful.

Source: Plastics Make it Possible