Scroll down for bottled water facts (production, environmental hazards, health risks, water costs), reusable water facts (environmental benefits, business perks), and info on how to choose the best water bottle.
Category: About Earth Day
Watch The Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.
Watch NOVA’s Earth From Space Special
“Earth From Space” is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. Produced in extensive consultation with NASA scientists, NOVA takes data from earth-observing satellites and transforms it into dazzling visual sequences, each one exposing the intricate and surprising web of forces that sustains life on earth.
Nine tips for living with less plastic
Visit the Less Plastic website for more information: https://lessplastic.co.uk/
One Green Planet
One Green Planet is an online guide to making conscious choices that help people, animals and the planet.
Visit them online at http://www.onegreenplanet.org/
Bay County, FL, Recycling Information
Recycling helps protect many natural resources. Recycling fibrous materials (e.g. newspaper, cardboard, office paper) saves millions of trees. Making new aluminum cans from old cans uses 95% less energy than making new cans from virgin ore. Recycled plastic material can often be used in place of virgin wood. Recycling used motor oil prevents pollution to our waterways and stormwater systems.
Find out what materials are recyclable, where you can take them in Bay County, guidelines for correct recycling practices, and more when you…
Download the Bay County FL Recycling Guide
Energy and the Environment – by the numbers
In honor of Earth Day ? and Earth Week (April 18-22) ? the Census Bureau has provided this edition of Profile America Facts for Features pertaining to energy and the environment.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
Renewable Energy
$9.7 billion
The total of revenues in 2012 for electric power generation industries that use renewable energy resources, such as hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation.
Source: 2012 Economic Census
1,183
The number of hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
12,456
The number of employees in hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
$5.1 billion
The total of revenues in 2012 for the wind electric power generation industry, the highest among the industries using renewable energy resources. Hydroelectric power generation followed with revenues of $2.5 billion. Geothermal electric power generation had revenues of just under $1 billion ($981.2 million), followed by biomass electric power generation with $721.5 million in revenues; solar electric power generation with $427.6 million; and other electric power generation with $43.4 million.
Source: 2012 Economic Census
Heating and Cooling the Home
2.4 million
The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by wood in 2015, which is 2.0 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
106,737
The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country using solar energy in 2015 as their primary source of heat, which is 0.1 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
57.0 million
The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by utility gas in 2015, which is 48.2 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04
93%
The estimated percentage of newly-built single-family homes across the country with air conditioning in 2015.
Source: Presence of Air-Conditioning in New Single-Family Houses Completed
http://www.census.gov/construction/chars/pdf/aircond.pdf
Commuting to Work
26.4 minutes
The estimated average time workers age 16 and older across the country spent getting to work in 2015, up from 26 minutes in 2014 and 25.8 in 2013.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801
33.1 and 32.6 minutes
The estimated average time workers age 16 and older in New York and Maryland spent getting to work in 2015, the longest one-way commute times in the nation.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801 https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/S0801
16.9 and 16.6 minutes
The estimated average time workers age 16 and older in South Dakota and North Dakota spent getting to work in 2015, the shortest one-way commute times in the nation. The estimates for North Dakota and South Dakota are not significantly different.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table S0801
885,188
The estimated number of people who rode a bicycle to work in 2015. This comes out to about 0.6 percent of the American workforce.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B08006
4,114,125
The estimated number of people who walked to work in 2015. This comes out to about 2.8 percent of the American workforce.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table B08006
Working in the Nuclear and Forestry Fields
54,183
The number of workers employed in forestry and logging establishments across the United States in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
48,602
The number of workers employed in nuclear electric power generation establishments across the United States in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
109.9%
The percentage increase in the number of nuclear electric power generation establishments across the United States from 2005 to 2014, going from 68 establishments to 149 establishments, respectively.
Sources: 2005 County Business Patterns and 2014 County Business Patterns
Using Energy
18,817 trillion Btu
The energy consumption in the U.S. manufacturing sector in 2010, down 17 percent from the 22,576 trillion Btu (British thermal units) consumed in 2002.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey
-32%
The percentage drop in the consumption of coal in the U.S. manufacturing sector from 2002 to 2010, going from 1,956 trillion Btu to 1,328 trillion Btu, respectively.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey
Building a House
2,467 square feet
The median size of a single-family home completed in 2015.
Source: Median and Average Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed
648,000
The number of single-family homes completed in 2015. Of these, 66,000 had two or fewer bedrooms and 307,000 had four bedrooms or more.
Source: Number of Bedrooms in New Single-Family Houses Completed
$360,600
The average sales price of a new single-family home sold in 2015.
Source: Median and Average Sales Prices of New Single-Family Houses Sold www.census.gov/construction/chars/pdf/soldpricerange.pdf
14,000 The number of multifamily buildings built across the United States in 2015. Of these, 8,000 used electricity as the primary heating fuel.
Source: Number of Multifamily Buildings Completed by Type of Heating Fuel
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
113,090
The number of employees working in recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns
$95.8 billion
The total sales for recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2012, up 19.6 percent from $80.1 billion in 2007. Total sales in 2012 for recyclable paper and paperboard products were $9.8 billion; recyclable plastics products were $2.5 billion; and recyclable glass products were $560.9 million.
Source: 2012 Economic Census and 2007 Economic Census
$8.4 billion
The product shipments value for recycled paperboard in 2015.
Source: 2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures
Collecting Revenue
$2.1 billion
The estimated revenue for hazardous waste management collection services in 2015 for U.S. waste collection employer firms.
Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5621
$5.2 billion
The estimated revenue for hazardous waste treatment and disposal services in 2015 for U.S. waste treatment and disposal employer firms.
Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5622
$14.9 billion
The estimated revenue for local, fixed-route passenger transportation, by road and transit rail in 2014 for U.S. transit and ground passenger transportation employer firms.
Source: 2014 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 485
Seven Spectacular Places
Visit slate.com to read environmental success stories about places saved by conservationists: Seven Spectacular Places Saved by the Environmental Movement by Jennifer Weeks, Slate.
Bottled Water – Do We Need It?
Bottled water costs more than .50 per bottle. That’s 1,900 times the price of tap water! Download this PowerPoint presentation to learn more:
? Bottled Water – Do we need it?
Recycle Tips
Get a list of all Bay County area recyclers.
Six things you can do:
Reduce rubbish
Only buy things you really need. Most of what we throw away could be used again. Think twice before you put something in the bin. Try and cut down on the amount you buy new and then throw away.
Reuse products
Use containers again. Ask your school or workplace to provide reusable cups, plates, cutlery etc.
Give away or sell
Charity and nearly new shops as well as community and organization rummage sales are good places to donate or sell second hand clothes, toys and furniture. It is also well worth shopping at second hand outlets.
Repair or adapt
The best environmental choice is to repair, restore or adapt a product you already have. You may need professional help but it could still be cheaper than something new – half of electrical goods left at dumps work or require only very basic repairs.
Cut down packaging
The amount of plastic packaging waste is astronomical. Buying fruit and vegetables loose could cut your waste drastically. Take a shopping bag with you and try not to buy drinks in plastic bottles. Write to the companies concerned asking them to change their policies.
Recycle more
Recycle things yourself, and buy recycled products. For information on household waste disposal get in touch with your local authority for recycling schemes in your area – and ask them to improve their recycling services. Why not start your own recycling program at work or school?
There are lots of innovative things you can do to help reduce your trash – check out some of the tips below to get started. Making use of your mountain of plastic bags:
- Use them as wastebasket liners.
- Place them in the bottom of plant pots and hanging baskets – they act as great drainage systems.
- Children can use them for carrying PE gear to school.
- Scrunch them up to surround items when you’re packaging as an alternative to bubble wrap.
- Use them in the garden to hold your grass cuttings and hedge trimmings before transfer to a compost bin.
- Use them when packing for a trip to keep dirty/wet clothes and shoes away from dry clothing.
- Use them as ‘doggy doo bags’ when out walking your dog!
- Some supermarkets recycle plastic bags, so you can return plastic bags to them.
- Re-use washed zip lock bags for sandwiches and snacks rather than using plastic wrap.
Ideas for recycling paper:
After children’s drawings and paintings have been displayed for a while they can be used to wrap presents — this also makes the present special.
Discarded paper can be cut and stapled together to make notepads. Alternatively, if you save five reams, it will cost you a small amount to get a print company to convert this paper into ‘proper’ notepads.
‘Use the envelopes you receive in the mail a second time by placing a new address label over the last address. I call this the OMT System (“One more time system”). Old envelopes can also be used for scribbling down shopping lists, to-do lists, and notes.’
Resealable envelopes can be reused many times: ‘My daughter takes one to school when she orders her lunch. The envelope has all details written in felt on the front and the money sealed inside. She brings the envelope home and we use it again until it gets too shabby.’ Old calendars, colorful pictures, etc. can be used to make your own envelopes. You can unstick a used envelope and use it as a template for making envelopes.
Old rolls of wallpaper can be used for childrens’ drawings.
Junk mail can be used as scrap paper, or as bedding for pets.
Cardboard cartons can be used to collect paper for recycling, instead of plastic bags (even breakfast cereal cartons are good).
SPCA and pet shops appreciate old newspapers.
Toilet paper rolls can be recycled — they’re made of cardboard.
To fill in a rainy day get a paper recycling kit and get the kids to rip up old used paper to make recycled paper, it can be great fun.
Old magazines are appreciated by:
- Doctors and dentists’ offices
- Motels
- Offices that have waiting rooms
- Friends
Ideas for recycling household waste in the garden:
Aluminum trays from pies and cakes make ideal ‘drip saucers’ to put under pot plants.
Old tires can be used outside for plant pots – especially good for plants that like warm soils as they trap the heat.
The following waste items can be modified and used for planting seedlings:
- Egg cartons
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic containers for cherry tomatoes
- Old boots and shoes
- The cardboard rolls from toilet paper.
- Plastic ice cream containers.
- Lawn clippings can be used to cover weeds and keep from growing in the garden through winter.
- Broken crockery can be used as drainage at the bottom of pot plants.
Cans can be used as:
Water reservoirs for new plants and trees. Tape a piece of hose pipe in a can and fill the can with scoria or pumice. Then, when you plant a new tree or plant, bury the can below the root level and leave enough hose poking out of the ground. You can water the plant in summer by pouring the water into hose pipe. If the hose is short enough it can be mowed over on a lawn and does not look obtrusive.
Pot plant holders. Decorate the outside of the can to your liking, put some soil in it and plant away. (Make sure you put some drainage holes in the bottom of the tin before you start potting the plants.)
Old newspapers (including those gathered from your friends) can be used to mulch and weed control the garden. Wet newspaper and place thickly on the garden. Cover with bark or stones.
Plastic milk bottles can be used to hold snail bait and are pet proof.
Old stockings can be used to tie up plants in the garden.
Plastic ice cream containers can be cut into strips for seed labels.
Ideas for recycling organic/garden waste:
If you’ve done any trimming of trees and hedges, contact the local Zoo to see if they can use these for their animals, either as food or environment improvement.
Avoid using kitchen waste disposers and compost food scraps instead. This reduces the load on sewage treatment plants and local government can concentrate on the treatment of real sewage.
If you need leaf mulch for your garden approach a local school and ask what they do with the leaf litter. Some schools throw theirs away.
Ideas for recycling other items: Old or broken household goods such as toasters, transistor radios can be used by others for parts. Sell them cheaply at a garage sale.
Carry a supermarket bag with you when you go walking so that you can pick up glass, litter or other plastic bags.
Schools and kindergartens often need boxes, plastic bags, old buttons, used wrapping paper, greeting cards, ribbons, tiles, crockery and other materials for art resources. They may also want old phones, keyboards, etc as learning toys.
Wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and boxes can be used to wrap someone else’s presents.
Recycle jars by using them for home preserves.
Ice cream containers can be reused around the home in a number of ways:
- Storing food in the freezer
- As a container for toys, crayons, clothes pegs
- Cookie container
Meat trays, yogurt containers, egg cartons, and film canisters can be kept and used by the kids to ‘create stuff’. This is a great way to keep the kids amused and even make gifts for family and friends.
An upside down bottle with small holes in the top can be used to provide water for your pets while you are on holiday.
Materials left over from home sewing can be used by schools for collages. Larger pieces can also be used for patchwork and crafts by people in convalescent and nursing homes.
Use ice cream and other plastic containers to put kids toys in. Also good for nuts and bolts, sewing supplies, or clothes pin containers.
The black meat trays from the grocery store make great paint trays for both adults and kids.
Stronger plastic bottles can be used to hold tools and nails etc in the shed. Simply cut three sides and leave one side longer and nail to the wall in the shed.
Old furniture, clothes, kitchen items, and are always wanted by organizations like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, the Human Shelter Thrift Store, and so on.
General tips for recycling and avoiding rubbish:
Buy a smaller trash container for the kitchen. This makes you to remember to recycle.
Make sure bottles and cans are clean before putting in the recycling bin. This prevents flies both at home and the recycling station.
Reorganize the kitchen so it has an efficient recycling area with good sized bins to help with sorting and holding. This will encourage other members of the household to contribute and help share the work instead of it being reliant on one person.
Cutting both the tops and the bottoms off tin cans (and placing them inside) and squashing them makes them smaller to fit into the recycling bin.
Spread the word. By telling other people and helping them to get started, we increase the savings that can be made. Also get your children involved – if we can educate them early, they will grow up and appreciate waste reduction and will be able to apply these skills in later life.