February 2011

February 2011

In this month's newsletter:

 

The Plastic Bag Problem

They’ve done it in China, Chile, India, Germany, Bulgaria, Syria and most recently in Italy. All over the world countries are banning the reusable plastic bag. 

The Florida Keys, designated a state Area of Critical Concern, relies on the stewardship of residents and visitors to protect this significant ecological area and its marine and wildlife. 

Yet our roads, waterways and shores are littered with plastic that pollutes our waters and endangers our foodchain. Plastic never biodegrades, and as it breaks down, plastic becomes even more toxic, polluting the soil and water, ingested by birds and fish who mistake it for food. Click here to see The Danger in Plastic Bags.

Click here for a map of regions that have taken action against this environmental enemy. 

In Nov. 2009 The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recommended the legislature adopt a gradual phasing out of single-use retail bags to begin in July 2011 with a five cent charge on all paper and plastic single-use bags at all retail establishments. 

The DEP recommended a “five year progressive phase-out utilizing public education, graduated fees and finally a total ban upon all single-use retail bags from all retail establishments in the state.” 

But the Florida Legislature instead adopted a law (Section 403.7033, Florida Statute) to prevent any Florida community from banning retail bags or even imposing fees on plastic bags at retail stores.

Until this law is changed, education and activism are the best tools we have. But the success of such a campaign relies on community activism, the cooperation of retail businesses and a general willingness to change old habits.

If this is an action you can support, GLEE needs to hear from you!

Reducing plastic waste and our reliance on fossil fuels is a necessary step in moving toward a sustainable Florida Keys, but it can’t be done without your help.

Sign up to be a GLEE Volunteer or just send an e-mail and tell us how you can help. GLEE will keep you informed of Ban the Bag actions and similar green projects and events happening throughout the Keys.

Check out the links below for plastic bag alternatives and learn more about greening your workplace in our Green Business Partner Program.

Thank you for being the change you want to see!

Bridget McDonald

GLEE Program Coordinator

info@keysglee.com

 

E-Waste Matters: When to Reuse and When to Recycle

Putting your old electronics out for curbside pick up is just not cool anymore. 

Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants and other substances that are harmful to our health and environment when not disposed of properly.

Florida Keys residents now have many options for disposing of old electronics in a safe and responsible way, and the time is right to clean house of those that have become obsolete, broken or just aren”t being used.

In keeping with the R4 philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rot, GLEE encourages you to donate any electronics that can be given a second life rather than sending them to the e-waste recycler.

One option for the reuse of working electronics is the keysreuse.com website, which serves the needs of local non-profits.

In Key West, humanitarian Mike Mongo collects old computer equipment to refurbish and then gifts them to local honor students. He has also established a program in Jamaica, where he has already provided refurbished computers and other equipment to be used by students at the Brampton Primary School in Trelawny, Jamaica. Read more about that project here.

“We collect and re-purpose PCs and Macs, both desktop and laptops, for students,” said Mongo. “We also accept hard drives, RAM, and flat-screen monitors. (Large cathode monitors are cost-prohibitive to ship at this time.) No printers, as there is no ink to purchase where we are shipping, or money to buy ink for that matter. Routers, switches, hubs and assorted electronic odds and ends such as keyboards and mice are also always welcome.”

To arrange for a drop off, or ask if your equipment can be repurposed, contact Mike at mike@computersaremylife.com or call 305-304-1555.

 

Saturday Drop Off for E-Waste & HHW Disposal

If you have electronics that cannot be repaired or reused, the county has set up a special Saturday drop off for residents who want to “do the right thing.” 

E-waste and hazardous household materials (HHW) can be dropped off at county facilities on the following Saturdays from 9 am to 2pm at the following locations:  

  • January 29th – Marathon, County Public Works Yard, Aviation Boulevard, behind the airport

  • February 5th - Cudjoe Key Transfer Station, Blimp Road at MM 21.5 Bayside

  • February 12th - Key Largo Recycling Center, 300 Magnolia Street, at MM 100.3 

These events are free for local residents, so bring ID for proof of residence. Business waste will not be accepted at the Sat. events, but is accepted for a fee during the regular collection times listed in the Monroe County Recycling Brochure http://fl-monroecounty.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=474  

Call Colleen Murphy at 305-289-6037 for additional information. 

Acceptable E-Waste includes computers, printer/copy/FAX machines, games, televisions, DVD/VCR players, cellular /land phones, microwaves, radios, speakers and numerous other electronic devices.  Electronics recycling is important because most devices contain small amounts of hazardous materials, but they also contain valuable recyclables like aluminum, copper, brass, and special alloys.  None of Monroe County’s recycled electronics are ever resold or shipped overseas.  Discarded electronics  are shipped to Intercon Solutions’ high-security recycling facility near Chicago where they are de-manufactured into component materials that can be recycled into new products; visit them at www.interconrecycling.com

Acceptable HHW includes paints, stains, preservatives, resins, solvents, cleaning, automotive and gardening products, adhesives, corrosives/acids, fluorescent/CFL bulbs and batteries (household A, C and D batteries can now be safely disposed of with other trash).  Please limit amounts to 25 gallons of liquids or 200 pounds of dry materials.  Gasoline and propane tanks will not be accepted at these special events; please call for details. 

The City of  Islamorada is also hosting Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days from 9 a.m. to noon, Thurs., Fri & Sat., February 10 - 12.

Electronic waste and household hazardous waste (HHW) will be accepted. Drop-off location is Founders Park on the park perimeter road adjacent to US 1, north of the park entrance. Be prepared to show proof of Islamorada residency.

Click here to see items to be accepted for disposal or recycling. (Islamorada pdf)

Questions? Call Veolia Environmental Services at 305-853-3433 or Lesli Wojtecki in the Islamorada Public Works office at 305-852-6933. 

Introduction to Permaculture Workshop Offered February 5 & 6

An "Introduction to Permaculture" workshop will take place at the GLEE Community Garden in Key West (located on Leon & Seminary Sts.) on Sat. & Sun, Feb 5th & 6th.  

Certified permaculture experts Mario Yanez and Elena Naranjo from Earth Learning Institute in Miami will conduct the two-day workshop, covering the main concepts of permaculture design, with a focus on small space food production. 

Permaculture concepts share an underlying premise of mimicking nature as much as possible, so as to let natural systems do most of the work so that minimal human and fossil fuel inputs are needed.  Permaculture designs also integrate "appropriate technologies" such as solar and wind power, composting toilets, solar greenhouses, energy efficient housing, and solar food cooking and drying.  

On Saturday the course runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The morning session will focus on the core principles of permaculture design.   In the afternoon we will build an installation of a "spiral garden," one type of permaculture design that maximizes a small space and creates microclimates to allow suitable growing environments for a variety of plants.  

A pot luck dinner and film will follow at Unity of the Keys on Saturday evening.

From 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday, "How to Create a Food Forest" will be explored.  Food Forestry involves inter-planting food crops in a fashion that mimics a mid-succession forest, allowing for a low maintenance, high-yielding, space-efficient, sustainable food production system. 

Registration is required for the workshop.  Checks payable to GLEE should be mailed to 1217 White St., Key West, FL 33040.  For more information, contact Jody Smith Williams.

Workshop fees:

  • Saturday & Sunday:      $50 for community garden members, $70 for non-members
  • Saturday only:                $30 for garden members, $40 for non-members
  • Sunday only:                   $20 for garden members, $30 for non-members
  • Saturday potluck dinner and film:  free to course participants; $5 to others

 

Yoga Sampler Marks the Opening of New Yoga Center

The Keys to Peace & Yoga Center is sponsoring its third Yoga Sampler at 4 p.m. on Sunday January 30th.  The event, to be held at the new Island Hammock Pet Hospital location, is free to the public and will offer an hour of introductory yoga instruction. Several instructors will be on hand demonstrating and teaching various styles of yoga.  

The event is structured to be fun for both experienced yoga practitioners looking to learn about other styles of yoga as well as for those who have never taken a yoga class.  

Keys to Peace, a local non-profit, is now offering a new line-up of yoga classes at its new location.

Classes to be held at the new Keys To Peace & Yoga Center are now upstairs above the Island Hammock Pet Hospital, MM 98 (northbound) Key Largo.  A full schedule of classes --from gentle restorative to more physically challenging & flow classes – can be found on the website. For schedule & more information go to www.KeystoPeace.com