October 2009
Topics in this months newsletter
- GLEE announces new board
- Meet the new GLEE board members.
- November R4 Fairs Bring the Green Message Closer to Home
- Volunteer of the Month: Doug Gregory
- Coming Soon!
- Thumbs Up
- Thumbs Down
- Have no impact for a week!
- How to Achieve 75 Percent Recycling
GLEE announces new board
GLEE has announced a new board that contains many new faces.
New board members from the upper Keys include Christi Allen, Sara Hamilton, and Leda Dumire. Steve Grasley represents the middle Keys. New board member Nicole Medina comes from the Lower Keys while Val Candy, Kathy Kirkland, and Jeff Ruberg all hail from Key West.
Outgoing board members include Diane Marshall, TJ Patterson, Shirley Gun, and Jedde Regante, Key West.
Continuing board members include GLEE president Alison Higgins, vice-president Jody Smith-Williams, and Karen Beal from the upper Keys.
Pictured from left: Steve Grasley, Nicole Medina, Jeff Ruberg, Karen Beal, Christi Allen, Jody Smith Williams, Sara Hamilton, Val Candy and Kathy Kirkland. New board member not present, Leda Dunmire.
Meet the new GLEE board members.
Leda Dunmire has worked in non-profit marine conservation for 12 years. She is currently a senior associate with the Pew Environment Group’s campaign to end overfishing in the southeast and looks forward to helping coordinate activities for EcoWeek 2010.
Sara Hamilton is the Environmental Affairs Coordinator at Florida Keys Electric Cooperative. She holds a master’s degree in Coastal Zone Management and Marine Biology and has a background in marine and environmental education.
Steve Grasley earned a bachelor's of science in electrical engineering from Marquette University and a master's of science in electrical engineering from Syracuse University. Later he added MBA credentials from Wharton School of Business. Steve and his wife settled in Marathon in 2001 and he accepted a general management and ownership position in Marathon based SALT Service Inc. In early 2009 he established Solaria Design & Consulting by partnering with a planner and architect. Steve has been involved with GLEE since its inception and brings a deep technical background to the board.
Val Candy spent over 20 years working for Her Majesty's Government in London, UK, as a policy adviser and project manager in a variety of Central Government Departments including Trade and Industry, Small Firms and Tourism, Foreign Affairs, and Education and Skills. She moved to the Keys in 2002 on a sabbatical and was so taken by the way of life and culture decided to stay. She has enjoyed being involved in several community activities -- most recently as an original member of thy City of Key West's Climate Action Team and Business Focus Group.
Christi Allen, is a CHEK Certified Nutrition and Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level One, and Certified Pilates Instructor through Romana's Pilates. She is the owner of Pilates in Paradise in Key Largo, the regional publisher for the EcoGuide Florida Keys, and hosts a radio talk show called Living Fit, and a blog talk radio show on the EcoGuide Florida Keys website. She sits on the Board for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and heads the Eco-Committee while chairing the Upper Keys Chapter of GLEE. And finally, Christi Allen is one of the Co-Producers of EcoWeek 2010.
Nicole Medina started working with GLEE while she was working for the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West and was a liaison to help members achieve Green Lodging Status. When she moved to Coca Cola she became the company's local CRS Champion, encouraging employees to embrace Coca Cola's Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability commitments. Nicole has participated in the Big Pine and Key West Recycling Fairs bringing their brand new hybrid delivery truck for display along with information on Coca Cola's efforts towards recycling & sustainability.
Jeff Ruberg is a LEED Accredited Professional working with SALT Service, Inc., exerting the majority of his energy assessing a building’s efficiency and its renewable energy potential. He received an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Central Florida and launched his career managing high-volume production of precast structures for storm water, sewage and electrical projects throughout the state of Florida. Jeff soon realized that a more altruistic career dedicated to sustainability would utilize similar knowledge and skills. Seeking further education and experience in sustainability he moved to Nicaragua and worked on multiple projects including the construction of an Earthship sustainable home and assembling solar photovoltaic modules. Since his return to Florida, Jeff has been steadfast on a mission to create a more sustainable community, one building at a time.
Kathy Kirkland, a Floridian, has long had a personal interest in environmental issues and alternative energy. Kathy and her partner are building an off grid home in the Florida Panhandle on 140 acres that will be set aside as a wildlife preserve with the Wildlife Land Trust Fund. Kathy is a past Board member of the Florida Keys Audubon Society and an avid birder.
November R4 Fairs Bring the Green Message Closer to Home
R4 Fairs are now being planned for Key Largo (Nov. 15), Marathon (Nov. 21), Big Pine Key (Nov. 7) and Key West (Nov. 14). GLEE organizers are inviting locals to help plant the seeds of sustainability in their own backyards.
This year, as GLEE volunteers come together to plan local R4 Fairs throughout the Keys, the group envisions expanding the fairs to include more exhibitors, education and green resources that open the door to greater participation.
The goal of the fairs is to help educate Keys residents about the R4 practices of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (i.e. compost). GLEE has modified the R4 Fairs to allow for smaller, more intimate local venues with what organizers hope will provide a strong impact on each community.
R4 Fair organizers are collaborating with newly created EcoWeek organizers to prepare for the 2010 event by engaging individuals, businesses and municipalities in the positive change and community support needed to live up to the standards of a world-class eco-destination.
Individuals who would like to participate, whether as a volunteer organizers, Sponsors, or Exhibitors -- can still become a part of this promising event by downloading the application or writing to info@keysglee.com.
Volunteer of the Month: Doug Gregory
Doug Gregory, solar expert and GLEE founding member, has done a lot over the past few years to help GLEE grow and promote environmental sustainability in Monroe County. A former GLEE board member, Doug works for the University of Florida-Monroe County Extension Service educating the community with his vast knowledge of solar energy and marine fishery issues.
GLEE’s first Expo was a huge success largely due to support from the Extension Service, which handled the logistics as well as $15,000 provided by the South Florida Water Management District. Before GLEE had a board or was organized into an official non-profit, Doug and the Extension Service (along with all the other dedicated volunteers) were pulling it all together to make it what it is today.
“After the first expo, it was obvious that all of us were good cheerleaders of green living,” Doug says. “But none of us were actual experts on any of the topics.” And in order for GLEE to continue to grow and be able to provide the best information available, Doug came up with a plan. “I suggested that each of us pick a topic and become the local expert to help homeowners make informed decisions—that’s when I chose solar energy.”
His choice of solar energy has taken him many places—including a classroom at Florida Keys Community College. After dedicating his time to learning all about the use of solar power, Doug felt he had learned enough to take it to the next level – teaching. Last October, Doug taught four classes and trained 51 electricians and construction workers on how to install solar systems for optimal performance and in compliance with all building and electrical codes. “I’ve been really putting my energy into teaching these solar classes at the community college, trying to get some trained individuals in the community, “ he says. Donating his time to educating residents on these important new developments that save energy and have a minimal impact on the environment, Doug hopes to help make the Keys a more sustainable place.
“Our vision of GLEE was to develop a more sustainable society within the Florida Keys,” Doug says. “I’m no longer a board member I strongly support GLEE, and use the resources of the Extension Service to help in this important effort to reduce the growth of green house gases that causes global warming.”
As GLEE continues to do more and more in the community in order to educate residents on how they can minimize their effect on the environment, Doug’s contribution will have a lasting effect, as local construction and electric companies become better informed on renewable sources of energy and how to properly install them. Education of our community’s building professionals is the first step towards solar power and other renewable resources being a widespread source of energy in homes throughout the Keys.
Learning new things has always been a passion of Doug’s, who says his favorite part of being involved with GLEE has been the Expos. “Having expert speakers from around the state and support from the local community is probably the best,” he says. Learning from state experts and being able to use that knowledge to better the local community is a great part about being part of an organization like GLEE.
Coming Soon!
Keep watching the GLEE website as we work to develop a new upgraded one.
As GLEE’s membership expands, so do its need for resources and information. The new KeysGLEE.com website will offer more of each. Upgrades include:
- A completely new look
- Advertising Opportunities (Rates TBA)
- Online Green Business Directory
- Green Business Partner Program for GLEE Certification
- A Members’ Forum for exchanging ideas and information
- Additional Green Resources for your home, business and municipality
- More timely news to help you stay on top of green developments
Thumbs Up
Joshua Clearman, a teacher at Key West High School, who created the Alternative Energy Center that helps students become adopters of emerging green technology, has been named a finalist in the statewide Governor's Serve the Preserve: Green Schools Awards .
Governor Charlie Crist, along with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole and Department of Education Commissioner Eric Smith, announced the names. A call for nominations had been issued on Earth Day.
More than 100 nominations were received in all. Students, teachers, classrooms, schools and districts were all nominated. Elementary, middle and high schools - public and private - were included ranging from Pensacola to Key West.
Winners will be named on October 7 in Tampa.
Thumbs Down
Florida Drops Out Of Climate Change Fight
Florida Governor Charlie Crist has decided that his state will not join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) or pursue further major efforts to combat climate change, according to a notice released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Florida, once a leader among states in addressing climate issues, instead will sit on the sidelines and await the outcome of federal cap-and-trade legislation.
Have no impact for a week!
With political and corporate forces getting in the way of large-scale change, the task of reducing one’s environmental impact is daunting.
Case in point: Colin Beavan who has become known as No Impact Man. The New York Times did a feature on him and his family's efforts to live with no environmental impact in New York City for a year.
Beavan’s efforts first became a book and then a documentary film that was recently released. Both are about his family's year-long experiment. The documentary follows the Beavans' journey as they incrementally lowered their impact through phases, such as making no trash, only eating food grown within 250 miles, using no carbon producing transportation (not even the subway) and finally, no electricity in their home. By year's end their impact was down to nearly zero.
The process of breaking consumer habits and rethinking everything from what food you eat to how you get to work can have unexpected benefits -- it was inspiring to watch the Beavan family discover this. Instead of living a life of desperate deprivation, the Beavans found that subtracting the non-essentials made life fuller -- they were happier, healthier, spent more time with each other and friends, slowed down the frenetic pace of city life, spent more time outside, saved lots of money and found it all incredibly enriching. Colin goes into more detail about his family's year in his book, No Impact Man, which gives an inside look at what motivated Colin and how they pulled it off.
Online blog site, The Huffington Post, wanted our readers to have this experience too.
According to the site, “HuffPost Green and HuffPost's Eyes & Ears Citizen Journalism Initiative are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with the No Impact Project, a non-profit started by Colin Beavan, to bring our readers the first No Impact Week. This week will give people the opportunity to examine and reduce their ecological footprint by taking part in a short and intense period of conscious consumption supported by local and online communities.
“For the inaugural No Impact Week, which we will be hosting, the No Impact Project has created a detailed guide -- which we'll post soon -- that describes in detail how to go about reducing your ecological impact one day at a time. No, not everyone has to completely give up their cars and shut off their power; the guide gives many achievable levels of reducing your footprint and you can pick the goals that are right for you.
We'd like to invite you to do this week with us (Sign up here!). Starting on October 18th, we want all types of people of all political persuasions across the world to take part. Throughout the week we'll be having HuffPost bloggers write about their experiences, and we'll invite the community to report by sending in photos, videos and commentary.
The No Impact Project will also be providing how-to content, video discussions with Colin and ways for participants to engage and connect with one another on its website.
The site goes on to say that, “During the week, HuffPost and No Impact Project will work together to provide a robust platform for you to engage with other participants by sharing photos and stories of your experience. But we also recommend that you do this week with a local community. Invite your family, your school dorm, your spiritual community or your office to embark on the week together.
“The Huffington Post offices will be doing it with you. Your local community will be the people who can brainstorm with you on how to reduce the trash you create, they'll be the ones you carpool with, share ideas for places to buy locally grown food, and most importantly, provide a support network for the experience. We hope to create a global community through our technology for sharing your experience, but it always helps to have someone there in person as well -- It will make it even more fun."
How to Achieve 75 Percent Recycling
By Dwight Adams
“If it's collected and separated but not reused, it's not recycling.”
What does 75 percent recycling give us?
- Over 100,000 recycling-based jobs in Florida with an annual payroll of up to $6 billion.
- Recovered materials would be worth $600 million if recycling of 75 percent is achieved.
- Recycling saves up to five times more energy than is generated using waste as fuel.
- Methane from food waste would produce 500 MW of power, enough for 400,000 homes.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) preliminary recommendations for achieving 75 percent recycling by 2020 have been posted. The next public hearing will be in Tallahassee November 5th, 2009. Several of DEP's recommendations, including mandatory recycling in the commercial sector, a landfill disposal surcharge, beverage container deposit legislation, mandatory processing of C&D at a materials recovery facility prior to disposal and creation of a Recycling Business Assistance Center will produce improvements.
However, these are not adequate to reach the 75 percent goal even if the rate is artificially inflated by counting incinerated MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) as recycling.
Mandatory recycling in the commercial sector must be followed with a timetable for source separation of all recyclables by all waste generators. Within two years, recycling should become mandatory in multi-unit housing, and in single-family housing within four years (including small cities and counties). We already have bans on disposal of batteries, tires, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, etc. It is the only way to keep these materials out of landfills and incinerators-imagine how effective voluntary speed limits would be.
DEP recognizes the importance of organics recycling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from methane generation in landfills that is 25 times more harmful than CO2. Methane emissions from landfills constitute 3.8 percent of greenhouse gases. The DEP recommendation to require capture of landfill gas by 2020 is a backend solution that should be replaced by one that keeps organics out of landfills in the first place.
The percentage of organic MSW suitable for biodegradation by anaerobic digestion (AD) or composting, consisting of food, food-soiled paper, and other items, is 15 to 25 percent of MSW. This material is too valuable as a source of methane for energy and compost for soil amendment to bury it in a landfill. AD of organic MSW would produce about 500 MW of power statewide, enough for 400,000 homes. The compost solid fraction is valuable for landscaping, mulching, and as a planting medium in environmental horticulture, Florida's number one agricultural industry.
The recommendations should include a ban on disposal (landfill or incinerate) of organics beginning in 2015 to give jurisdictions time to establish biological treatment facilities for organics. Collection of organics is the essential feature of all recycling programs throughout the country that achieve high recycling rates-75 percent cannot be reached without it.
Three-stream, source-separation of waste into "dry-stream" recyclables, "wet-stream" biodegradables, and the small amount of residuals is well established in much of the US, Canada and elsewhere. It is not a burdensome thing to do-just put the materials into the correct of three containers rather than throw it all into one big can. Put it all together and it's aptly named. It's garbage.
Collection of all three streams requires a single two-compartment vehicle, with biodegradables collected every week in one compartment, recyclables and residuals collected in alternate weeks in the other compartment. This minimizes recycling collection costs.
Collection of additional materials will require expanded materials recycling facilities (MRF) for sorting and preparing materials as marketable commodities. There are currently practically no anaerobic digestion or composting facilities for processing organics in Florida. DEP should provide grants for their construction to counties that have credible plans for achieving 75 percent recycling.
DEP's recommended funding of recycling through a landfill disposal surcharge and unredeemed deposits on beverage containers should be expanded. The proposed $1/ton landfill-disposal surcharge will not produce sufficient funds and should be increased to $2/ton or more if it becomes obvious that more funds are required to reach 75 percent by 2020. A total of 31 states have landfill disposal surcharges, the highest being $8.75/ton in West Virginia. At $2/ton, the cost for a family of four for a year would be less than a six-pack.
The second arrow in the recycling symbol represents the next step in recycling -- manufacturing new products with recycled content -- a crucial one that DEP recognizes has been given little attention in Florida. If it's collected and separated but not reused, it's not recycling. A golden opportunity for recycling-based economic development is being largely missed. Based on EPA data, 75 percent recycling in Florida would generate 100,000 jobs with an average pay of over $30,000 and an annual payroll of up to $6 billion. Materials recovered would have a value of $600 million.
The State should pursue recycling-based industries with the same zeal it would for distribution centers and auto assembly plants, using all available economic-development tools. Incentives should be provided to encourage industries to locate in Eco-parks near MRF's to save on transportation costs. The DEP recommendation of Recycling Business Assistance Centers (RBAC) is similar to Recycling Materials Development Zones (RMDZ) used effectively in California.
The final arrow in the recycling symbol represents purchasing recycled products-recycling has not happened without this last step. The State with its huge buying power must take the lead by requiring all state and local governmental agencies including colleges, schools and prisons to purchase materials with the maximum amount of post-consumer content that is consistent with other requirements for the performance of material. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 percent of the GDP in North America is consumed by various levels of government, according to Rod Muir, Sierra Club Canada. The State should provide incentives, e.g., no sales taxes, for purchasing products with specified post-consumer recycled content. Added taxes should be imposed on one-use, throw-away products and packaging. Consumers should be encouraged through advertising to demand more environmentally sound products. The State could develop its own "green label" for such products.
What you can do:
Contact Mike Sole, Secretary Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 49, Tallahassee, FL 32399 and tell him that DEP's recommendations must be strengthened in order to achieve 75 percent recycling.