One day I was innocently shopping at my local Costco when I made what I call an eco-no-no: the leading cause of green guilt. It was unexpected and out of character for me. How could this happen? It may have been the savory samples, distracting me at every turn, or the book of coupons, burning a hole of savings in my clutched hand. But these were mere excuses for what happened next... dare I say it? PLASTIC HAPPENED! 20 bowls of it!

I remember it clearly. It was a grey day, a day like most others in Columbus, Ohio. As I made my way inside the large welcoming doors, I fumbled through my wallet to free my coveted Costco membership card from its resting place. As I possessively clutched my monthly Costco coupons with my left hand, I traveled up and down each aisle, pushing the oversized cart with my right. Wearing a broad grin, I eagerly scanned the shelves for items I wouldn’t normally purchase, lest I had a coupon. And out of nowhere, there it was... an item for which I have never tried, my family would love, AND possesed a $6 off coupon! (a free sample would have put me over the edge I tell you!) It was a triple whammy, a consumer hat-trick if you will; it was a 20 pack of “Nongshim Bowl Noodle Soup”! (That’s seriously the name... it sounds backwards to me, too.)

No MSG, 0 trans fats, microwaves in 3 minutes, endorsed by professional chefs (wow!) and proudly stamped with the Chefs Best Award. I was sold!

To understand my excitement is to understand my family’s love and regular consumption of the Ramen Noodle (not a nutritional bragging point I realize). This looked like an opportunity to enhance their noodle eating experience with this chef approved version. I smiled to myself as I visualized how I would be thought of as a hero for weeks to come. (Did I mention it also contained freeze-dried vegetables?)

I made off to the check out, where I mentally added a checkmark in the shopping “win” column. But it wasn’t long before that checkmark would become a lie.

The four simple words, uttered by my sweet child, pecked out as innocently as a hatchling, ”Mom, is this recyclable?” Those four words pounded in my brain, echoing like a woodpecker on a gutter, as I realized that my shopping victory was actually a violation of eco proportions! For each serving came in a very large (mind you convenient) plastic bowl!

Nooooooooooo!!! I start to panic as it strikes me that my curbside recycler will not accept this plastic, for it is not in the shape of a bottle. What have I done?! I move into damage control mode and grab the bowl from my child’s clutches, as this is out of his hands now. I frantically search for the tiny number contained in the triangle on the bottom, and yes!! A #5 plastic! I calm myself with a cleansing breath for at least I’m able to recycle #5 plastics at Whole Foods.

Whew, disaster averted. Now I can get these plastic bowls back into the recycling stream where they can be made into other products. Perhaps toothbrushes, razor handles or a nifty promotional item from Weisenbach, here in Columbus (plug for a great local company).

Thankfully this story ended happily, but not all do. The unhappy endings account for 1/3 of all garbage we send to the landfill! That’s right, packaging happens, but I caution you to avoid it at all costs, lest you become the next victim of GREEN GUILT!

(This is a true story. Names have not been changed to protect the innocent...or the guilty.)

When I saw the post inviting me to join a 2 week sugar cleanse challenge, my first reaction was one of curiosity and momentary thrill.   Has someone really come up with a way to cleanse my system by eating copious amounts of sugar?  Oh Boy (clap, clap, clap)!

Upon clicking the link, I quickly surmised from the name of the website, The Nourishing Gourmet, this might not be as “sweet” of a deal as I had first hoped.  But who am I kidding.  I’ve been around the nutritional block enough times to know that sugar is bad, bad, bad.  This is especially true for a person over 40 (like me) trying to keep the inevitable meno-paunch at bay (the gut worn by menopausal women).  I think this is just the boost I need to bring me to the next nutritional level (read last week’s blog – Still Going Green and Getting Lean).

Upon reading some inspiring stories, I immediately liked the “rules” for this challenge compared to the South Beach Diet and Atkins (Both which I’ve attempted and failed...more than once).

1. It is only two weeks.
2. Fruits and ALL vegetables are okay (in fact a banana can be eaten when you crave sweets!).
3.  Plain yogurt is all good (yogurt, berry smoothie yum!).
4.  Easy to access discussions on Facebook.

So I started today. Nothing crazy and no huge adjustments, just some small changes as far as I’m concerned.  I’m curious to see if it makes a difference in my   mood, energy level, skin, weight, etc.  So let’s get started... want to join me? If so, sign up at the sugar cleanse challenge and leave a comment for me below.

Come back tomorrow and check in on me.  I could use the company--it’s not a good time to be alone.

I’m going to proceed as if nothing happened. As if I didn't take a few... errr... 10 weeks off from this blog. It's not that I'm not dedicated to my goal of going green and getting lean with an effort that could potentially kill me. In fact, with the exception of the occasional, bleary, post-party morning (don't get too excited; in the suburbs it's usually too much wine and cheese), I wake up most days with a green, lean focus.

I’ve always heard that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at what’s in their shopping cart. I think the same can be said for a person’s mobile phone as well (not that I’m looking). But instead of surmising that someone lives alone, with cats, and indulges in Ben and Jerry’s, we can speculate about a myriad of other things.

CITY OF POWELL RECYCLES 15,500 POUNDS OF ELECTRONICS

Powell, Ohio (November 3, 2011) – On Saturday October 22, 2011, Powell was host to the first ever E-cycle It Day. Held in the parking lot of the Powell Municipal Building, residents were able to drop off old, unwanted, and/or broken electronics for recycling and/or refurbishing.

Event organizers Karen Ferris and Kate Midnight, founders of Big Green Head (www.BigGreenHead.com), created E-cycle It Day with three (3) goals: educate people on the growing problem of e-waste (the fastest growing segment of our nation’s trash); provide them with a convenient method to responsibly dispose of it; and ensure that collected items are handled in an environmentally-responsible manner.

Ferris states, “The more opportunity people have to make an environmentally friendly choice, the better off we all are - as a community, country and planet. We’re here to make that choice easier.”

The City of Powell contributed to the event’s success by providing the drop-off location, police officers, and promotion, while volunteers from local schools, scouts, and Verizon’s Green Team helped unload vehicles.

Items were handled by ROUND2 (www.Round2.net), a company certified in Responsible Recycling practices, whose goal is zero electronics to landfill.

Midnight states, “It’s exciting to see a community come together for the greener good. Our intention is to share E-cycle It Day with other Central Ohio communities and beyond.”

About BigGreenHead.com - Big Green Head is a monster on a mission to change people’s perceptions about going green.  Visit BigGreenHead.com to start doing green and feeling good!

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For more information: Karen Ferris at Big Green Head. (614) 560-4777. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CITY OF POWELL TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DRIVE

Powell, Ohio (October 10, 2011) – On Saturday October 22, Powell will host its first annual
E-cycle It Day in the parking lot of the Powell Municipal Building located at 47 Hall Street, Powell, OH 43065.

Event organizers Karen Ferris and Kate Midnight, founders of Big Green Head (www.BigGreenHead.com), have teamed up with ROUND2 (www.round2.net), a certified e-waste recycler with facilities in Grove City, Ohio, and the City of Powell (www.cityofpowell.us), to allow residents the opportunity to dispose of old, unwanted, and/or broken electronics in an environmentally responsible fashion.

Ferris states “we organized a similar event in Worthington last spring and we were overwhelmed by the positive response we received. People want to act responsibly; we’re just making it convenient for them to do so.”

The City of Powell is providing the drop-off location, police officers and electronic signage to promote the event, while students from Village Academy (www.villageacademyschools.org) and members of Verizon’s Green Team will be on hand to help unload vehicles with the direction of ROUND2 representative, Chet Ridenour.

Midnight states “Residents can drop off almost anything with a plug for free, and all hard drive will be destroyed. The only contribution we require is $15 for the old bulky computer monitors and tube TVs (CRTs). These contain hazardous materials and require special processing.”

A complete list of acceptable items can be found on the Big Green Head website, www.biggreenhead.com/e-cycle-it-day/e-cycle-it-day-acceptable-items

About BigGreenHead.com - Big Green Head is a monster on a mission to change people’s perceptions about going green.  Visit BigGreenHead.com to start doing green and feeling good!

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For more information: Karen Ferris at Big Green Head. (614) 560-4777. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Change starts right here... in your own community.  Get involved and volunteer at your local E-cycle It Day drop-off event.

Big Green Head needs helping hands to unload vehicles on event day. It’s a great way to help your neighbors and the environment!

This is a terrific opportunity for service groups, environmental groups, schools, teams etc.

For more information, please contact Karen, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sponsor an E-Waste Drop-Off!

Help keep electronics from the landfill, one community at a time!  

Sponsorships are a great way for local businesses to get involved and show their community that they care about the environment and support responsible e-waste recycling. Your company will be recognized as a supporter of this important, environmental, community service.

Did you know: Five years ago, more than 2 million tons of TVs, PCs, peripheral items, keyboards and cell phones were discarded? Of that number, about 80 to 85% (1.5 to 1.9 million tons) was discarded in landfills.

Below you will find three sponsorship opportunities, allowing companies, big and small, a chance to get involved and show their “green” side.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship Levels	Ad on E-Waste website	All Promotional Materials	Graphic ad promotional t-shirts (front)	Graphic ad on promotional t-shirts (back)	Printed name on promotional t-shirts (back)	Included in Sponsor Page on Website (1 full year)
Emerald -- Main sponsor**
Chartreuse $300
Pine $150

     **For Emerald level, in-kind and trade sponsorships, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We appreciate your interest and hope you will join Big Green Head  in bringing opportunity, education and awareness to the growing problem of e-waste: the fastest growing segment of our nation’s trash.

To sponsor an event, please contact Karen, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Green Regards,

The BGH Team 

I love the change in seasons, but summer into fall is probably my favorite. After enjoying (and sometimes enduring) several months of hot weather, my bathing suit is stretched and pitiful, as are my futile attempts to acquire a toned and tanned body. No one could be happier than I to say “bye-bye” bathing suit... “Hello” jeans and sweatshirt.

 Electronic Waste Drop-off Program

Keeping electronics from the landfill, one community at a time!

Big Green Head (a monster on a mission) and Accurate IT (a certified responsible recycler) have teamed up to bring electronic recycling to communities in Central Ohio.

Our E-Waste Drop-Off program is a one-day electronic recycling event hosted at various locations around Central Ohio.  Each event allows residents the opportunity to conveniently and responsibly dispose of obsolete, unwanted and broken electronics, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to a cause/group. The program was created with three (3) goals:

1. Educate people on the growing problem of e-waste (the fastest growing segment of our nation’s trash).
2. Provide them with a convenient method to responsibly dispose of e-waste.
3. Ensure that collected items are handled in an environmentally-responsible manner.

One of the aspects of this program includes engaging volunteers in community service.  We have had great success working with local high schools, empowering students to think and act green, while raising money for their school programs.

We invite you to contact us to schedule an E-Waste Drop-Off event in your community and bring opportunity, education, and awareness to the growing problem of e-waste.

Did you know that the nation now dumps between 300 million and 400 million electronic items per year? Those unwanted electronics are called e-waste and less than 20% are recycled.

When electronics get put in the landfill...

• Valuable materials such as precious metals, copper, and engineered plastics are wasted. By collecting and recycling these resources we save energy, reduce pollution, reduce greenhouse gasses and save raw materials from the earth.

Recycling one million laptops saves the enough energy to power 3,657 US homes in a year. [Source: EPA]

• Hazardous materials are found in some of your electronics such as lead, nickel, cadmium, and mercury. It’s important that these materials get handled and discarded responsibly. When discarded in our landfills, they pose a risk to our health and environment.

TV’s and computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes (CRT's) contain 6-8 lbs of LEAD.

 

E-Waste Drop-Off is brought to you by: