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Are there harmful substances hiding in your home? Here’s my room-by-room view of 101 bad, nasty and even downright toxic chemicals that may be too close for comfort. Click on the links to see more of what experts have to say about each substance.

Kitchen

1. Antibacterial soap. Health Canada says, “Avoid the use of antibacterial soap and “bacteria-fighting” cleaning products. These products kill ‘good’ bacteria which fight bad germs. Cleaning with soap and water, or disinfecting surfaces with a solution of water and vinegar or household bleach is adequate.”
2. Drain opener containing sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. It irritates our eyes, nose, throat and skin. For some alternative drain opening ideas, click here.
3. Oven cleaner containing lye is corrosive.
4. Bisphenol A (BPA) in can linings. University of Guelph researchers recently found that BPA can inhibit growth of new synapses, impairing brain function. It’s also a known estrogen mimic.
5. Lead from your pipes. If your home was built before the mid 1950s, it may have some lead pipes. Even if your home itself contains no lead, the water service from the city’s main lines may have some lead. Get your water tested to be sure.
6. Mercury in some canned and frozen fish, particularly tuna
7. Produce, particularly thin-skinned fruit, containing harmful pesticides such as Chlorpyrifos.
8. Ammonia is a common ingredient in cleaning products, but it’s quite corrosive and dangerous if mixed with bleach.
9. Food dyes used to in a wide variety of food products and some personal care products: Blue 1 has allergenic effects, may cause nerve cell impact in vitro.
10. Blue 2 seems to cause brain tumours in rats.
11. Yellow 5 food dye may cause children to become hyperactive.
12. Yellow 6 food dye was found to cause adrenal tumors in animals.
13. Green 3 dye caused tumors of the bladder and testes in male rats.
14. Red 3 dye is a thyroid carcinogen in animals.
15. Red 40 food colouring, a widely used dye, causes hypersensitivity in some people and may cause hyperactivity in children. For a terrific report on food dyes, click here.
16. Non-stick coatings on cookware, made with perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts (PFOA) on pans, is likely carcinogenic.
17. Aluminum cookware may release small amounts of aluminum into food, particularly acid foods such as tomatoes and leafy greens. Aluminum may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease development.
18. E. coli contamination on food product. Often originating from minute amounts of cow feces and causing painful gastrointestinal issues, E Coli is not your friend.
19. Salmonella from animal food products, such as undercooked infected meats, causes severe diarrhea, headache, fever and vomiting.
20. Botulism is a neurotoxin that may develop in low-acid canned goods, such as corn or green beans.
21. Listeria is a bacteria found in soil that can tag along on uncooked vegetables and animal products.
22. Campylobacter bacteria may be present in unpasturized milk. It can cause uncomfortable diarrhea, fever, nausea, cramps and other issues.
23. DHEA (di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate), a plasticizer, is found in PVC-based plastic wraps and some types of plastic packaging. It can leach into food. DHEA can cause birth defects and other reproductive effects.Bathroom and medicine chest
24. Conventional toilet bowl cleaner containing sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate is harmful if inhaled.
25. Tricolsan in toothpaste. This antibacterial chemical isn’t recommended, according to Health Canada.
26. Sodium fluoride, found in some mouthwashes, is a known human neurotoxin.
27. Boric acid in eye drops. It has been restricted for use in cosmetics in Canada.
28. Camphor, sometimes found in vapor rubs, can cause brain and nervous system effects at low doses.
29. Phthalates in your shower curtain. Vinyl shower curtains need phthalates to make them supple, but these additives are known hormone disruptors.
30. Expired medications. I know it’s not convenient, but protect our water sources by taking expired medications back to the pharmacy, rather than throwing them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet.Personal care products
31. Formaldehyde in nail polish.
32. Toluene in nail polish, a drying agent that may cause birth defects if considerable amounts are inhaled.
33. Dibutyl phthalate in nail polish, which can cause birth defects.
34. Coal tar, a known human carcinogen, is sometimes found in some scalp treatment shampoos.
35. Fragrance, or “parfum.” What’s in it? Well, you don’t get to find out. It’s a label loophole.
36. Aluminum powder may be among your lip gloss ingredients. It’s a concern because of cancer links, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity… basically it’s to be avoided.
37. Methylparaben and any other paraben.
38. Sodium lauryl sufate (SLS), and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) are proven skin irritants.
39. PPD (p-paraphenylenediamine), shown as a toxin here and an allergen here.
40. Parfum / Fragrance. Some things had this in the list, then offered an explation as to what was in it. But at Deacon points out in her book, using Fragrance in an ingredients list offers manufacturers a hiding spot; anything could be hidden under that name.
41. DEA, also listed as MEA or TEA (diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monoethanolamine).
42. Oxybenzone, often found in sunscreens, is restricted in some countries and likely causes contact sensitivity.
43. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) a waxy preservative found in some lipsticks, is a suspected carcinogen.
44. Hair removal products containing mineral oil can have immune system effects.
45. Aerosol deodorant may contain silica and / or talc, which may cause lung cancer with prolonged exposure.
46. Aerosol hairspray may contain dimethyl ether, which can cause dermatitis with repeat exposure. I find it interesting that this chemical is also used in spray foam products for home renovation, popcorn ceiling products and others.
47. Hydroquinone, found in skin-lightening creams, may make skin more susceptible to UVA and UVB radiation, according to Gillian Deacon’s book, There’s Lead in Your Lipstick. (See earlier post about the book here.)
48. Steareth-21 is a suspected environmental toxin. It’s in some concealer products.
49. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common ingredient in personal care products. It helps other ingredients penetrate the skin, and is listed as an irritant itself, and possibly linked to organ toxicity.
50. Siloxanes are used as softening and smoothing agents in deoderants, hair care products and more. Unfortunately they can effect reproductive health and harm the nervous system.
    
    Clothing
51. Percholorethylene or Perc, a dry cleaning chemical, may linger on your “clean” clothing.
52. Microban on fitness clothing and other antibacterial products is another form of Triclosan. Read about effects of one documented exposure here.
    
    Living Room
53. Flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, in your sofa cushions.
54. VOCs such as formaldehyde from particleboard furniture, such as bookcases or TV stands.
55. Paint can off-gas after the smell of the paint has dissipated, and solvents such as acetone, volatile methyl siloxanes, PCBTF and methyl acetate can make you feel noxious and give you a headache. According to this article,  just because your paint is VOC-free doesn’t mean it’s non-toxic. But I think we all know not to breathe in paint fumes, no matter how “green” it is.
56. Lead from chipping paint (if you home is pre 1970).
57. Cigarettes. Yes, we know they cause cancer. But did you know that there are 69 cancer-causing compounds in a cigarette? Click here to read more.
58. Battery acids, particularly sulfuric acid, can leak and cause damage to skin. Storing battery-powered electronics, tools and other items? Take the batteries out before you put them away.
59. Furniture polish containing naptha, a form of coal tar. Read more about coal tar in Personal Care Products, above.
60. Mercury vapour in compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). Try LED lights instead – they are far less fragile, contain no mercury and can be recycled with your other electronics.
    
    Closets
61. Moth balls often contain naphthalene (also found in creosote, roofing tar and elsewhere), which can cause liver damage.
62. Air fresheners containing para-Dichlorobenzene, a known carcinogen.
63. Lamp oil, or light parrafin. Burning this, which is what it’s for,  may release oxides of carbon and other nasty vapours!
    
    Den or Home Office
64. Oil paints may contain cadmium, a known carcinogen, but the risk comes from inhaling dried paint dust, nor normal use.
65. For film hobbyists, darkroom chemicals have inhalation, skin contact and other nasty hazards.
66. Polybrominated flame retardants in the circuit boards of electronics, which can have nervous system impacts.
67. Hexavalentchromium, used in making metal casings for electronics, is a likely human carcinogen. It is most likely to affect the workers making the electronics.
68. Propanol is a common ingredient in markers. It may cause fatigue and throat irritation.
69. Printer toner may contain xylene, iron oxides and styrene. Toner dust is an eye irritant and can cause lung damage with prolonged exposure.
70. Still have whiteout kicking around? Methyl cyclohexane is one ingredient that makes whiteout potentially fatal if swallowed.
    
    Garage
71. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which can cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness, drowsiness and other effects depending on exposure.
72. Windshield-washer fluid may contain methanol, which can cause vision issues if inhaled in sufficient amounts. The effects of drinking it are far more severe, but who would do that?
73. Paint thinner often contains benzene, a known carcinogen.
74. Brake fluid contains glycol ether borate esters, certainly something you wouldn’t want to pour down the sewer.
75. Transmission fluid’s petroleum distillates can cause skin cancer with prolonged contact.
76. Vehicle bug and tar remover contains 2-Butoxyethanol is a narcotic. It can irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat, and may cause kidney damage if used long-term.
77. Power steering fluid can also cause skin disorders and is dangerous if inhaled as a mist.
78. PCBs in old window caulking  is nasty stuff. To see why, click here.
79. Automotive paint primer may contain xylene, which is a respiratory irritant and a narcotic.
80. That auto paint primer may also contain ethylbenzene, which, in addition to being an irritatant, may cause birth defects.
81. Plant fertilizer contains nitrogen, which can be dangerous if stored near gasoline.
82. Sawdust, when inhaled, is a known carcinogen, so make sure you clean up sawdust when woodworking.
83. Wood glues may contain ingrdedients that will irritate asthma and are very harmful if swallowed, such as MDI (polymeric).
    
    Basement
84. Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus niger are toxic black molds. For help identifying them, click here.
85. Mouse / rat poison often contains brodifacoum, which can cause internal bleeding in humans if ingested. No doubt it’s bad for pets too!
86. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in mouse droppings, if you’ve had a mouse infestation.
87. Radon, which occurs naturally and can seep up from the ground through dirt-floor basements and foundation cracks, is known to cause lung cancer.
88. Asbestos. If you have an old house, you may have some asbestos, such as asbestos tile on the floors. Asbestos is known to cause lung cancer.
89. Caulking products may contain mineral spirits, which can cause developmental delays in children.
90. Peelable caulking may contain vinyl acetate, a possible carcinogen.
91. Natural gas, piped into your home. Of course it’s fine as long as it’s contained, but highly flammable if ignited, so take any whiff of a leak seriously.
92. Spray paint containing n-Butyl Alcohol can cause headache with prolonged exposure.
93. Carbon monoxide from an ill-maintained furnace or other appliances can cause death. Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working, and install one in each bedroom.
94. Laundry detergents’ surfactants such as sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate may affect immune system antibody development.
95. Bleach, containing sodium and sodium, can severely irritate lungs, nose and throat if inhaled.Backyard
96. Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gasses are, of course, the drivers of climate change and the largest challenge and threat humans have ever seen.
97. Garden pesticides and herbicides. You don’t have any of these anymore, right? Good thing, since many can poison more than weeds and bugs.
98. Lead in your garden hoses. I know I mentioned lead already, but I was surprised to learn from this blogger.
99. Propane for your barbecue is relatively safe, as long as you handle it properly.
100. Lighter fluid for your barbecue is, of course, volatile, and commonly contains benzene, a known carcinogen.
101. Vehicle emission pollutants, particularly ozone and nitrogen dioxide can, aside from causing acid rain, climate change and other issues, increase the release of lead from paint in older homes.

Do you think that we are living with too many chemicals? Is there anything you would add to this list?

The Story of Stuff project is back with a great new video on e-waste and electronics recycling!
The Story of Electronics explains how electronics, particularly those that we replace often, are harming our health and our environment. The video, and the site linked above, also share how we can demand more durable, safer, fixable goods, what a life-cycle approach to recycling looks like and how to handle the e-waste we have now.

When choosing a phone, music player, speakers, a TV or other electronics, you can choose products that are safer for you and your family (and the people who will make and disassemble your gadget) by avoiding harmful chemicals. Look for the manufacturer’s statement on the use of toxic materials, such as PVC, flame retardants, mercury, lead and others. Here are links to what Apple, Dell and Nokia are doing.

And here’s the Greenpeace guide to Greener Electronics, a handy explanation of what major manufacturers are up to with respect to chemicals and recyclability.

My wish list for better electronics:
- Fewer styles of chargers. Surely we don’t need hundreds of styles and sizes of connectors. Perhaps the mini-USB connector is all we need?
- Chargers that don’t draw phantom power. They’re much better than they used to be, but they’re not ideal yet!
- More repair and upgrade options. Hopefully we’ll start upgrading our phones and other smaller gadgets, for example, with new software, rather than simply replacing them.
- Local materials reclamation, done in a safe manner. I find it’s hard to know how our electronics are being recycled, but at least there are a lot more places to drop them off, and some municipalities are even doing curb-side recycling.

What changes do you think would make electronics less harmful to the environment – and better for you?

What if I don’t want to just give away everything that I don’t need? While I’m keen to share my unneeded stuff with others (I just dropped off two bags of clothes at a donation site last week), some things are valuable enough that I’d like to exchange them for a few bucks. Besides, if I sell something of mine to someone, I know that it will actually get reused, perhaps saving one more thing getting manufactured.

I’ve decided to try selling a few things on eBay (I know, I’m probably the last one on the planet to try it). I asked eBay Canada’s Andrea Stairs how best to get starting selling stuff on eBay. Here are her answers:

1. Can I start selling anything on eBay?

eBay is a fun and easy way to sell just about anything. There are hundreds of categories on eBay from antiques to designer clothing to electronics – there’s even a category for “Everything Else.” There are a few restrictions, however, to ensure the safety of buyers and sellers on the site. Before listing an item on eBay, make sure it’s allowed by checking this list and find out if there are specific rules and conditions on how it should be listed.

Selling on eBay is simple – here’s how it works: First you create a seller’s account. Then take some pictures of the item(s) you wish to sell and fill out the online form, entering all the important details about your item, including price, payment methods and shipping costs. After that, it’s a matter of waiting for the bids to roll in (if you choose an auction format). At the end of a successful listing, both you and your buyer will receive an email notification. Once you have confirmation of payment from PayPal, it’s time to ship the item. You can also add the “Buy Now” button to your listing too. This allows you to sell your item at a set price and it allows buyers to purchase the item they want right away instead of waiting for an auction to close.

2. Should I start out by selling a certain type or value of item?

Because eBay is open to the world, there’s a buyer for almost anything you want to sell. Research will help determine the price you should set for an item and how likely it will sell. Use Advanced Search to see other sellers who have sold similar items (called a “closed item search”). How many similar items have been listed in the past month, and have they sold? How much have similar items sold for? Is there a current trend your item capitalizes on?

3. What are the most important things I can do to ensure the buyer is satisfied?

To create an enjoyable buying experience, there are a few things a seller can do:
• Communicate – Respond to buyer emails. eBay buyers are used to confirming item and shipping details with their sellers. You can go a long way to providing great customer service by responding promptly to these questions. Additionally, you can help your buyers by emailing them an invoice once a item has been sold. When communicating with your buyers, it’s important to always be polite and professional.
• Photos – Most buyers want to see a picture before they purchase. So before you list your item, take great photos of it. Consider taking close-ups and multiple views (front, back, side, top) so potential buyers can see all aspects of the item. And, if your item has a flaw, it’s best to display it clearly in your photographs so that buyers can honestly assess your item.
• Feedback – Consider your feedback rating your personal reputation on eBay. If you conduct yourself in a professional, honest and friendly manner, you will be rewarded with high feedback scores, resulting in more sales from repeat and new buyers. Feedback is a two-way street: leave positive feedback for great buyers and you may see them coming back again and again.
• Description – When you include specific information about your item, you make it more attractive to buyers. Include all item attributes including model number, year the item was made, colour, dimensions and, most importantly, the current condition of the item.
• Shipping – Remember to specify shipping charges – you can either list a flat rate by service or you can select Calculated Shipping and let eBay calculate shipping rates for you. The more specific you are about your shipping charges, and other policies, the more confident buyers will be in purchasing from you.
• PayPal – Ninety-nine per cent of items purchased on eBay listed PayPal as a payment option. The majority of buyers from around the world prefer PayPal. As a seller, you save time: Funds can appear in your account right after the item closes; Online tools help you track your payments and quickly ship your goods. PayPal Seller Protection provides coverage in the event of an unauthorized payment or item-not-received claims, chargebacks and reversals.

4. How important are photos and detailed descriptions when selling a product on eBay?

Photos and detailed descriptions are very important in attracting buyers. The saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” really applies to eBay listings. Thorough descriptions are equally important because they are the first, and sometimes only way, buyers learn about your item.

5. Can I sell homemade items on eBay?
Absolutely! There are thousands of homemade items currently listed on eBay, from clothing and jewelry to recipes, toys and decorative items and more.

6. What kinds of accounts should an individual set up before trying to sell items on eBay?
To sell on eBay, first you must be a registered user. Registration is free and only takes a few minutes. Once you’re a registered member, you can create a seller’s account. To do this you need to verify your identity and select how you will pay your seller fees. To verify your identity, you can either provide credit card information or verify your identity by phone. If you provide a credit card, you can use this credit card to pay your seller fees, or select a different method of payment

Creating a PayPal account not only attracts buyers, but makes it easy to receive payments and pay seller fees. PayPal allows sellers to accept credit card or bank account payments for eBay purchases. PayPal is the safe and easy way for buyers to purchase their items, and it’s especially helpful for international buyers.

7. What newbie mistakes do first-time sellers make, and how can Eco Logic readers avoid those?
There are a few common mistakes new sellers make when they first sell on eBay. To increase interest in your auction, avoid the following:

• Not making use of the item’s title – Most buyers find items on eBay by keyword searching. So, making sure that your listing title has all the keywords related to your item will ensure that you maximize the ‘findability’ of it. Include things like brands, models, colours, and sizes. Don’t bother with adjectives such as ‘new’ or ‘great’, which are rarely used in a search.
• Setting a price too high or too low – If your asking price is too high, you are wasting valuable time and money. Likewise, if your price is too low, you could be leaving money on the table. Do some basic market research, and get a good idea what comparable items sell for.
• Photos – A bad photo can actually be worse than no photo at all. When you photograph your item, be sure to light it properly, and include as many photos as possible to convey the appearance, condition, and size of your item.
• Not thinking internationally – By offering your items to US, and even overseas, bidders, you can dramatically increase your base of potential buyers. And in an auction model, more bidders generally means more profit. Remember, eBay is global.

8. How does one determine a suitable starting bid?
Price is one of the most important elements when it comes to selling on eBay. Generally, lower starting prices (the price at which you would like to start the bidding on your item) attract more buyers and ultimately result in higher final value.

Also important to note is that eBay allows you list your first 100 auction listings for free when your start price is under one dollar (check here for fees). If you haven’t done so already, see what similar items have sold for on eBay. Do this by searching Completed Listings, which can be accessed on the Advanced Search page or in the Search Options box in the left-hand column of the search or browse results page.

9. What goods show up on Green.eBay.com?
According to a recent eBay Canada survey, 47 per cent of Canadians feel there aren’t enough green options where they shop. eBay believes that by pairing consumers with the tools, resources, and knowledge to shop in ways that are better for the planet, we can have a big impact.

Did you know that choosing a previously loved leather handbag saves as much energy as a flight from London to Paris? Green.eBay.com is a new shopping hub designed to help consumers access the millions of green products available on the marketplace. You can find almost anything on Green.eBay.com including gadgets, books, clothing and home décor items.

It’s a race to the production line, but unless a shipload of Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) or Tesla S show up within the next couple of months, the first fully electric car to be available at Canadian dealers, legal on Canadian roads will be the smart. Already sold in Europe, 1,500 smart fortwo electric drive cars will be available for long-term lease in North America starting this fall, rumoured to cost approx. $600 per month. This second generation of smart EVs (electric vehicles) will have a range of 135 kilometres and a home-charging system, the smart can handle many Canadians’ daily needs. By 2012, the car will be available in 40 countries.

Provincial governments are offering rebates for buying or leasing EVs; Ontario is offering between $5,000 and $8,000. They plan to offer recharging stations at some commuter hubs and allow EV drivers into HOV lanes, even if there’s only one person in the car. Alberta is offering $3,000 rebates for hybrid taxis. Manitoba is actually testing a hybrid vehicle made in the province, hoping for a home-grown alternative vehicle, but no word yet on rebates for individuals.

Will the electric car wipe the gasser off the map? Of course not. Not right away. But why do arguments against the electric car always assume it’s eat or be eaten? Just like banking, where we once had just tellers, then we had tellers and phone banking, then we added ATMs, then we added internet banking, then mobile banking, adding electric cars simply means new options for the marketplace. As the cost of fuel rises, and the scale of electric car production increases, no doubt EVs will seem increasingly attractive. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s convenient. (Think about it: You could “fill up” overnight at home, when power rates are at their cheapest, rather than stopping by a station.)

Me, I’m just looking forward to an affordable zero-emission choice.

Well we’re seven degrees above seasonal norms in Toronto today, and it’s much the same heat wave story across Ontario. My friends are scrambling to buy and install ceiling fans, air conditioners (although with heaps of guilt, but they can’t sleep in this heat).

How did they do it in the old days? Well, a lot of homes have second-storey outdoor spaces, known as sleeping balconies, perfect for these heat-wave temperatures. Yes, people slept outside! I’d suggest one of those mosquito nets if you’re thinking of trying it, or just full-out camp in your backyard with a well-ventilated tent.

How can we cope today? Well, to stay comfortable without a major environmental impact, it pays to insulate your home to the maximum values (e.g., R50 for the attic). Not just to hold in heat, insulation in the walls and attic helps keep heat out and keep cool air in. Same goes for sealing air leaks: if you’re air conditioning your home, the cool air is going to want to escape to warm areas, so the more gaps you’ve got, the more cool air you’ll lose. If you have a window air conditioner, you should insulate around it; here’s a guide from CMHC. Peelable caulking is your friend right now: you can use it on any little gaps, but easily remove it later!

Beyond insulating, it’s helpful to choose efficient appliances. If you’re buying an air conditioner, consider whether you’ll need it regularly and what parts of your home you want to cool – the whole house (central air), a large area, or one room. Wall-pack options are ductless alternatives to central air conditioners, and more energy efficient than window air conditioners. I use one of these to cool my small home on hot nights, and it covers the approx. 600 square feet with a fan helping to draw cool air into the bedroom. Check the Energy Star rating to see how the models you’re considering compare.

Here are a few more ways I’m trying to stay cool during this heat wave:
- Cooking outside on the (propane) grill
- Preparing salads for dinner
- Enjoying the city’s cold water when I need refreshment. City water still comes in quite cold!
- Having a quick, cool shower before bed to make sleeping easier
- Taking an ice pack to bed, wrapped in a cloth, to help me relax and cool down
- Using blinds and other window coverings to keep the sun out
- Using the air conditioner as needed on a thermostat, so it just controls the worst of the heat and humidity
- Running the ceiling fan on a low setting in the bedroom to keep air circulating
- Escaping to my parents’ house in the Thousand Islands, where the river is cool and never far away!
Escaping to the cottage: a Canadian way to beat the heat for over 100 years!

How are you staying cool?

Landfills are a thing of the past. Trouble is, they’re a thing of the present too. And future, whether we like it or not.

One of the seminars I attended at Saturday’s Toronto Stewardship Forum was about the new book HTO (Coach House Books, 2008, $24.95), a history of Toronto’s relationship with water. One of the book’s editors, Wayne Reeves, talked about how Toronto has used its waterways over the years, explaining that, today, the city is trying to resuscitate and reintegrate ecological features around waterways to better deal with rain water (and, of course, to create a healthier city).  But a key challenge for the city is its historical landfills.

Just like the landfills we’re creating today, dump sites of 50 and 100 years ago are in areas we consider acceptable (OK, maybe  tolerable is a better word) for that sort of use. It turns out that, even up to the 1950s, Toronto’s ravines were used for dumping garbage. And guess what? It’s still there, taking up space, interrupting local ecology, and it’s today’s problem and the city tries to mitigate chemical runoff from whatever people here threw out all those years ago.

So where should we dump our garbage? I’d say nowhere. I think, like Japan and many other places, we should see our garbage as fuel. Everything that’s left after recycling and claiming materials should be used to power modern, non-polluting incineration plants (even gasification), or processed in biodigesters, set up for small populations. That way we’ll reclaim power for use locally.

What do you think, can we eliminate garbage?

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games are supposed to be the greenest games ever. Although there’s certainly nothing green about flying snow in to Cypress Mountain by helicopter, certainly the organizing committee has done many things to reduce the impact of the Olympic events.

I don’t think it’s possible to have a zero-impact event of this size, nor something to call “sustainable” but there are certainly better ways to do most everything. For a list of some of the terrific green strategies being used in Vancouver, click here.

But perhaps it’s the long-term impacts that matter the most. Many are going to benefit from the Vancouver Olympics after they’re over, certainly from a housing and infrastructure point of view. But I found out that a manufacturer has a post-games plan as well.

US-based flooring company, Mannington Commercial, is working with 3M, who has made building, vehicle and other graphic wraps for the Vancouver 2010 Games. They’ll reclaim and recycle about 200,000 square feet of wrap material.

According to the release, “Mannington will recycle the graphics into Premium Tile, a product popular in commercial healthcare, education and retail applications. The Premium Tile product already contains post-consumer waste streams including drywall and VCT reclaimed from renovation sites, and is certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product, meeting the rigorous requirements of NSF-332-2007 certification.”

Now that’s a good re-use of plastic. What do you think? Could the games be greener? Do you have tips for reducing an event’s impact on the earth?

I was over a some friends’ new loft the other day, admiring their new computer. Apparently the monitor, or “display” as people seem to be calling them, is made from solid aluminum, milled to shape. As my friends were talking about this, I was holding a can of pop in my hand. “Wouldn’t it be great,” I said, “If that monitor were made from recycled pop cans?”

This may seem like a big stretch. Like, Jess, you’re getting pretty flaky here – no way could companies use material from the garbage heap to make new things. But my thing is, it’s just got to be easier to reclaim material from our blue bins than it is to mine it. Even if we contaminate the material by mixing it with other stuff, surely it’s easier to purify that aluminum, or glass, or steel, or titanium, than mine it?!

I think computer companies are starting to see that not only are we creating an embarrassing amount of electronic waste these days, there’s valuable material in obsolete computers, monitors, cables, phones and other parts.

A year or so ago I had a chance to meet with the Director of the Office of Sustainability and Stewardship for Motorola USA, Bill Olson. In telling me about the Motorola Renew for a story in Homemakers, a phone made from recovered water bottles (the big ones used in office water coolers), Olson said that the key to using recycled material in new manufacturing is to find a really clean waste stream. Those big water bottles are ideal because there’s a collection system for them, and they’re all pretty much the same.

I’d love to see other manufacturers choose one item from the waste stream, something that would work well as part of their products. Companies could claim first rights to premium materials from blue box programs. What do you think, would it work?

As I munched my lunch today I was reminded of all of the waste that comes with our everyday lives. I bought a yogurt at a coffee shop, and that yogurt container’s gonna have to make the trek to the recycling plant. I received an interesting note from Canadian company TerraCycle describing how they’re working to “upcycle” waste from common single-use packaging in school lunches.

TerraCycle, in partnership with Kraft Canada, has started a “Brigade” system pays schools and non-profit organizations two cent per package to collect non-recyclable food packaging. TerraCycle has sponsorships to collect Kool-Aid Jammers, Del Monte beverages, Mr. Christie’s Snak Paks and other Mr. Christie cookies and crackers, and Back to Nature nuts and trail mixes.

I don’t have kids, so it’s easy for me to say that it would be best to avoid buying lunch foods that come in non-recyclable packaging. But I can see that, like most problems, a variety of solutions are required, and upcycling waste into other products isn’t a bad one. TerraCycle says that drink pouches will be sewn into durable containers such as tote bags and pencil cases, while cracker wrappers will be fused together into sheets of waterproof fabric, which then can be made into umbrellas, shower curtains, backpacks and placemats.

To sign up for the TerraCycle program, click here.

Have you ever bought or made something constructed with reused something else?