Inside this issue

Gift Card Recycling

Winter Magic

Composting Tips

Env. Quote

Holiday Trees

Valentine Gifts

World Water Day

Christmas Tree Recycling

E-Waste News

Get Inspired

The year 2020 will go down in history as the year COVID 19 took center stage and forever changed the way we look at life. However, I suggest that looking forward, we find a way to use this lost year as an inspiration for change. I suggest that we look forward with optimism and make changes in our lives that benefit our health and the health of the environment. Ultimately, these issues are connected.

According to the World Health Organization, environmental risk factors play a significant role in our longevity. Air, water, and soil pollution, and improper waste management all negatively impact human health.

So...what can we do to improve our conditions? The answer is simple. We can make small changes in our lives that make a big difference in the world. For example, to improve air quality, we can plant trees, ride our bicycles, use public transportation and drive Earth-friendly cars. To improve water quality, we can stop using chemical fertilizers , eliminate pesticides and herbicides and design and construct a rain garden for our yard. To improve soil quality, we can build a backyard compost pile and use the finished product as a lawn dressing or as a natural soil enhancer in our gardens and flower beds. Regarding proper waste management, there are several steps we can take. Most significantly, this involves practicing the 3 R’s in the order of importance: REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE! Simple strategies for applying the 3 R’s to your life include using a refillable water bottle, shopping with a reusable tote bag and avoiding single-use and disposable products.

This year, I hope you get inspired to make mindful changes in your life that benefit the health of the environment and subsequently, your health. After all, you deserve it!

Know Before You Throw

It’s wonderful that many people participate in Green Team recycling programs, but it’s important that everyone knows how to recycle correctly. Putting the wrong material in the bins creates problems for material handlers and causes program costs to skyrocket. So...know before you throw. Materials permitted in recycling bins are:

Commingled fibers
Food & beverage cans
Cartons
Plastic bottles & jugs
Glass bottles & jars

Materials not permitted in recycling bins are:

Plastic bags
Styrofoam
Plastic furniture / toys
Food residue / liquids
Clothes hangers
Anything that tangles

For more information about this topic, please call us at 330-740-2060.

The Green Team transforms used gift cards into guitar picks for local artists.

Gift Cards That Keep On Giving

Now that the holidays are over, you’re probably wondering what to do with all of your used gift cards. While some stores and restaurants take them back to be reloaded, many do not and the cards just end up being more plastic waste entering our landfills.

Fortunately, the Green Team recognizes this problem and has come up with a solution. We have acquired a press that turns old gift cards into guitar picks. The picks are offered for free to local musicians and artists and the leftover plastic is sent to a card recycling facility in Solon.

If you would like to donate a card to our program, DO NOT PUT IT IN ANY OF OUR BINS. Simply mail it to the Green Team c/o Kim Lewis, 345 Oak Hill Ave., Suite 330, Youngstown Ohio 44502. If you would like to receive one of our recycled picks, call us at 330-740-2060 to make arrangements.

Environmental Quote

“You can’t have healthy people without a healthy planet and we will need to work together across all sectors to improve planetary health. I believe that human health and the environment are inextricably linked.”

~Sonali Sharma, Senior Director of Sustainability and Engagement,
Johnson & Johnson

Winter Magic in Your Own Backyard

During winter, I love to watch the birds at my backyard feeders. Cardinals, blue jays, chickadees and others provide an array of lovely color against a snowy background. This steady activity reminds me of how essential it is to feed birds when natural food is scarce.

Supporting wildlife programs and conveying this message to children is important. That is why during winter, Green Team educators regularly conduct classroom presentations encouraging children to get involved. We always begin by sharing a story that illustrates the message and follow up with an enrichment activity that allows students to create bird feeders for home.

I hope that you will open your hearts and support wildlife by feeding the birds this winter. It is truly a magical experience that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

~Kim Lewis

Cold Weather Composting Tips

While its true that the decomposition process slows down during winter, this is no reason to abandon your compost pile. Just follow these helpful tips for winter composting:

Make sure that your backyard bin is located near your house. No one wants to walk far in knee-deep snow.
Don’t turn your pile when it’s really cold. Turning lets all that valuable heat out that fungus and bacteria need to survive.
Make sure that you add shredded newsprint or autumn leaves to your pile for a good source of carbon.
Don’t water your pile. Watering is unnecessary since the pile is mostly inactive.
Cut food scraps into smaller pieces. This will expedite the composting process.
Keep smiling. Soon it will be spring.

ODNR staff place Christmas trees in area lakes for wildlife habitat.

Expressions of Love

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, many of you will be searching for the perfect gift. This year, in addition to expressing your love for that special someone, why not express appreciation for the one who loves you unconditionally: Mother Nature.

You can save trees and support wildlife by sending your beloved an e-card from
the World Wildlife Fund Visit www.worldwildlife.org for options.

After you have selected a card, you’ll want to buy a gift. If chocolate is on your list, be sure that it is eco-friendly. The Rainforest Alliance and The Arbor Day Foundation both sell delicious shade-grown organic chocolates that are farmed using fair trade practices. Flowers should be selected in a similar fashion. For a list of florists that offer organic, fair-trade flowers, visit www.citrussleep.com/eco-friendly-living/top-fair-trade-organic-natural-flowers

Finally, if your sweetheart likes bling, be sure to ask your jeweler about sustainably mined gemstones. Better yet, check out an estate sale or second-hand store and buy a vintage piece. You just might be surprised at the treasures you’ll find.

For a list of “green” Valentine’s Day

tips, check out www.earthshare.org

World Water Day

World Water Day, celebrated on March 22, is an international observance day. The intention is to inspire people around the world to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference. A wonderful way to observe this special day is to make changes in your life that incorporate water conservation measures. These measures include:

Only drinking water from a refillable container.
Turning off the water while you brush your teeth.
Running the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.
Watering your lawn only when it needs it.
Capturing rainwater.
Keeping your plumbing in good repair.
Xeriscaping your yard.
Composting food & yard waste then applying the compost instead of using harsh fertilizers.
Taking short showers instead of baths.
Installing low flow fixtures.

Post Holiday Reminder

Between now and January 31, gift-wrap and greeting cards will be accepted at all Mahoning County drop-off sites and at the curb. Be sure that paper is loose or in a brown paper bag. Plastic bags are not permitted in any of the Green Team bins. Cut trees will be accepted at the locations listed below:

* Austintown Twp. Park - 6000 Kirk Rd.
* Berlin Twp. Bldg.- St. Rt. 224, Berlin Center
* Campbell Roosevelt Park - Warhurst Rd. @ salt dome
* Canfield Twp. Fire Station - 5007 Messerly Rd.
* Craig Beach / Milton Twp. - 1979 Grandview, next to fire station
* Ellsworth Twp. Fire Station.- St. Rt. 45, Ellsworth
* Goshen Twp. Maintenance Garage - 12649 Seacrist Rd,Salem
* Green Twp. Cemetery - Intersection of St. Rt. 165 &Beaver Creek Rd.
* Jackson Twp. Admin. Bldg., 10613 Mahoning Ave, N. Jackson
* Lowellville Village St. Dept.- 3 W. McGaffney Rd.
* New Middletown / Springfield - 10720 Struthers Rd, atrecycling center
* Poland Twp. Rd. Dept.-7508 Clingan Rd.
* Smith Twp. Bldg.- 846 N. Johnson Rd, Sebring
* Struthers City provides curbside pick-up
* Youngstown - CCA Building (former South Library) 1771 Market St.

E-Waste News

If you received a new computer, TV or other electronic device for Christmas please remember to recycle your old unit. For a complete list of local electronic recycling facilities visit our website at www.greenteam.cc and refer to the recycling catalog. And remember: Always phone ahead for specific information about electronic and all recycling programs.

For further information about recycling and other solid waste management programs, visit our website at
www.greenteam.cc
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