Goal For The Green

In an age of environmental pollution, people feel the individual responsibility to somehow make a positive impact. Recycling is a great habit that can be very effective at improving the environment when there is a collective effort involved. Every household should recycle paper and plastic regularly. These materials are usually picked up by municipalities that also offer trash pickup.

U.S. Navy color chart. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals – NARA – 535409 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, electronics should not be thrown away into garbage containers or recycling bins that contain plastic or aluminum. Consumer electronic products should ideally be recycled at local facilities that handle hazardous wastes. Batteries fall into the category of dangerous materials that should be disposed carefully. The acid inside some battery packs can be very harmful when allowed to leak out. Additionally, batteries also contain explosive hazards that could ignite fires. Small alkaline batteries and other types such as lithium ion should all be thrown away at municipal recycling centers.

There are plenty of other reasons for properly recycling electronics. For example, some equipment may emit signals that are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Such signals might interfere with a local telecommunication infrastructure. Antenna and other transmitters that send out electromagnetic waves should be properly disassembled and then recycled.

Metal recycling is another key issue in the modern fight for environmental conservation. All types of scrap metals can be easily sold to recycling companies that accept ferrous and non ferrous materials. Iron and some other metals are easily sorted by using large electromagnets. After all, iron is the most magnetic metal element on earth. Recycling companies easily sort ferrous and non ferrous metals with powerful magnets. After the sorting process, it is time to melt down metal alloys into their raw elements. Thermodynamic processes are applied in order to cast metallic elements into different shapes such as bars. These pieces could then be sold back to the industrial market for manufacturing. Sims metal redwood city and other businesses are examples of enterprises that offer jobs in the recycling industries of North America.

Vehicles and other large machines can be completely recycled. Such a practice is much better than storing loads of broken vehicles in junk yards or auto salvage lots. The average car or truck contains a significant amount of metals that could be recycled and put back into the market. It may be more profitable to sell certain used auto parts to recycling companies rather than to drivers seeking replacement parts.

While pests of all kinds are a nuisance, there are certain species that should be eradicated immediately before they begin breeding in earnest and taking over your home. For the protection of your property and the health of its residents, here are three pests that should be killed on sight.

Ants and Aphids, Backlit (Photo credit: binux)

1: Ants

A single ant colony can house more than 500,000 ants, so this isn’t a pest problem that you should ignore. As soon you notice the tell-tale trails winding behind your refrigerator or into your cupboards, start spraying the mounds and caulking the cracks in your walls.

2: Bed Bugs

These creepy crawlies live in your mattress and suck your blood while you’re asleep. They’re notoriously difficult to remove, often requiring the total replacement of your bedding, which makes it extremely important that you don’t brush off the signs of an infestation. You might just save yourself hundreds of dollars in furniture if you act fast.

3: Mice

Rodents breed more quickly than almost any other mammal, so if you’ve noticed gnaw marks on table legs or mice droppings around the counters, don’t hesitate to pull out the pesticide. You’ll need to make a decisive strike at these vermin before they multiply and outnumber you.

These are just three pests that can destroy the sanctity of your home. Act quickly as soon as you spot them so they won’t form a stronghold within your walls! If you need assistance with the extermination process, professional pest control companies can help. You”ll be happy to know that you can find pest control services online and in your area.

No one wants to harm the environment, but if you lack the time, energy or budget to completely remodel your home with solar power and energy-efficient appliances, it’s easy not to care about green living. But what if starting a more eco-friendly home was easier than you thought? Here are four little ways you can begin your journey to protect the Earth.

A modern solar cell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1: Use Less Water

A single dripping faucet can waste an ocean of water. A long shower, instead of a simple bath, will use literally hundreds of gallons that could have otherwise been saved. You don’t even want to know how much water you waste with a dishwasher.

2: Install Tubular Skylights

Save on your electric bill by welcoming bright, natural light into all those nooks and crannies in your home. Click here to learn more about tubular skylights and how they can put you on a path to greener living.

3: Start Your Own Garden

If you have a patch of land and a little free time, you can grow your own vegetables and reduce your reliance on chemically-treated crops. This, in turn, will slow some of the demand for pesticide and make a small but meaningful impact on the farming industry.

4: Install Photovoltaic Panels

If you’re interested in solar power but don’t yet want to commit to a complete overhaul, consider installing just a few photovoltaic panels on your roof. They’ll give you a taste of clean, natural energy for a fraction of the price.