Wal-Mart will slice use of plastic bags

Wal-Mart aims to cut plastic-bag waste in its global operations by an average 33 percent over the next five years, the retail behemoth announced last week at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. And if you ever doubted that Wal-Mart is big, consider this: The move is expected to eliminate some 9 billion plastic bags each year, equating to more than 135 million pounds of trash by 2013. Wal-Mart will give out fewer bags, offer plastic-bag recycling, and encourage customers to use reusable totes (it will offer its own line of reusable bags for 50 cents each). In the words of one exec, the goal is to "encourage consumers to change their behavior, just one bag at a time." That appears to apply particularly to non-American consumers: The 33 percent average will be attained by cutting bag use 50 percent in international operations and 25 percent in the U.S.

LOVE these!

Created from repurposed vintage materials such as recycled cameras along with pool balls, souvenir salt and pepper shakers, vintage bakelite game pieces, and recycled buttons. See these and more at 1453 Design’s Etsy Shop.

Hot, Flat and Crowded

I've traded in my light reading for Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America , the new release from economist Thomas Friedman. Not the easiest read - I'm only halfway through it - but very eye-opening!

A Great Alternative for All of Those Political Signs

Editor's Note: Don't know if your community is like mine, but the political signs litter the streets! Love this candidate who is recycling his signs!

Political Candidate Recycling Signs

Decide What Gets In With Catalog Choice

Check it out. I joined today. You can select the catalogs you want to decline. Very cool.

Catalog Choice is a free service that allows you to decide what gets in your mailbox. Use it to reduce your mailbox clutter, while helping save natural resources. The mission of Catalog Choice is to reduce the number of repeat and unwanted catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable industry best practices. We aim to accomplish this by freely providing the Catalog Choice services to both consumers and businesses. Consumers can indicate which catalogs they no longer wish to receive, and businesses can receive a list of consumers no longer wanting to receive their catalogs.

Finally, A CFL I Like

I have to admit that I've been slow to come around to CFLs. I know they're great for the environment and save energy, but I just haven't liked the light output.

Today, one of the bulbs in my bedroom blew out, so I decided to switch them out for CFLs, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the actual light.

I found a package of Sylvania Soft White micro-mini CFLS and bought them because they are "instant on;" they don't have to "warm up"like the ones we have in the kitchen.

Anyway, I LOVE THESE BULBS! I purchased the 13 watt version, which equals a 60-watt incandescent, and they are brighter than any 60-watt I've used. Here are the details. I recommend them highly, and I've been a tough sell!

The SYLVANIA ENERGY STAR®-qualified Micro-Mini Twist CFL is a bright idea to light your space, protect your wallet, and help save your planet.

30 Percent Smaller: The SYLVANIA Micro-Mini Twist is 30 percent smaller than a standard CFL, the new energy saver SYLVANIA micro-mini is the smallest CFL on the market and is designed to fit virtually any lamp to provide instant, beautiful light.

Reduce CO2 Emissions: If every household in America changed one bulb to a CFL, the reduction in CO2 emissions from power plants would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the road in a year.

Save Up To $56 on Your Electric Bill: The average home has 36 light bulbs. Changing just one, 60-watt (W) bulb to a 13W micro mini CFL will give you the same bright light and save you up to $56 on your electric bill over the life of the bulb. Change five bulbs and you’ll see almost $280 in savings.

Wondering what to do with all those plastic water bottles?

Get a little inspiration from Bucky Fuller and go geodesic, or dream of colder places, and make an igloo. A team consisting of Pam Longobardi, Craig Dongoski and Joe Peragine created the installation in Morningside’s Sunken Garden Park to “create discussion about littering, Atlanta’s drought situation and the need for recycling of plastics.” I haven’t walked by lately, but read that some of the structures were removed due to a runoff management project, which is rather ironic. Learn more about it here.