Give That Back: Columbus Companies Who Reuse Their Packaging

Recently, I've been feeling a wave of nostalgia toward the age of the milkman. Reusing glass milk jugs, instead of treating them as disposable, just makes sense to me.

So when I heard that two of my favorite companies in Columbus, The Candle Lab and Sweet Thing Gourmet were offering to take back their glass jars for reuse, I got super excited.

I know I've mentioned The Candle Lab before. They sell create-your-own-scent or prefab soy candles (a preferable alternative to candles made with paraffin wax.) They also let you bring in your own jars, which means you could totally take in that sentimental pickle jar you've been hoarding for the right occasion and pay by the ounce to fill it with candle love.

Anyway, if you buy one of their jars, the beauty is that you can take it back when you've burned down every last bit of it, rather than chucking it in the recycle bin. 

And what about when you dig the last spoonful of yummy goodness out of a jar of Sweet Thing Gourmet's jams & jellies. Hand them back the jar and you get a quarter. Woot, woot!

What an excellent way to encourage a repeat customer like me.

Do you know of any other Columbus companies who offer similar services?

Update: Middle West Spirits will take back their bottles for Candles with a Cause. Though they are recycling the bottles rather than reusing them, it's still a good deal. Especially when you consider that they give a 10% discount on one non-alcohol item in their gift shop when you return a bottle. Or you could make this outdoor torch.

What Happens When You Try to Reuse, Recycle or Reduce...and Fail Miserably

So...my MacBook (circa 2007) was starting to run slow. It wasn't the worst thing, but I use my computer A LOT and it was getting to be somewhat frustrating, especially when I was trying to edit large images with Photoshop and so forth.

I had already upgraded the memory (RAM) the maximum amount possible and had upgraded the operating system as much as it could possible support (Snow Leopard) about a year ago. I knew there wasn't going to be much else I could do with it as it continued to edge toward retirement.

Rather than buy new, I decided to take my employer up on the offer to buy a used MacBook Pro that they had decommissioned a year or two earlier. There were a few discards that were deemed to be in decent condition and I knew the MacBook Pro would support more RAM, therefore allowing it to run faster than my current turtle.

I went ahead and shelled out a few hundred dollars and brought it home. Immediately I realized that it wouldn't hold a charge when not plugged directly into the wall. Though I often use my laptop at home near an ample power source, I knew this would get annoying fast, so I took it into the Apple store to see what they could suggest.

They ran some diagnostics on the battery and determined that, due to its age, there wasn't much they could do to fix it, so they sold me a new one. A bit costly, but definitely not a deal breaker.

Once I got it home (again), I started the process of migrating all of my data. There were a few "must haves" on my list, including iPhoto. Unfortunately, since my laptop was used and the original software had long been lost, I didn't have a copy of the version of iPhoto that worked with the installed operating system. I tried buying a used copy of an old version of the software, but it didn't seem possible. (Side note: This is one thing I did not consider about the fact that most software can now be bought from the app store directly; once Apple decides they no longer want to support old versions, and therfore, old computers, they can disappear them, POOF!, like magic.)

So...I needed to upgrade the operating system. In order to do that, I needed to upgrade the RAM. After a bit of detective work, I found out that I could double the RAM, so I bought some new online. Not surprisingly, during my investigation I found out that my new/used laptop was also a vintage 2007, the same year as my old laptop. Still not a deal breaker, but it made me realize that it had been decommissioned well over two years earlier and was maybe not in the most pristine condition.

Anywho, I learned how to install the new RAM and then proceeded to install the newest operating system (Mountain Lion). Again, I would have been happy to install Lion, a prior version of the software that might have run better on a older Mac and could also support the newest version of iPhoto, but it is no longer available through the app store. (POOF!, remember?)

But all was well. The operating system installed without any major hiccups. iPhoto installed without any major hiccups. I did have an ancient version of Photoshop that I had been using that I could no longer install, which was a bummer, but I decided to start using the similar online service Pixlr as an alternative. If I couldn't accomplish what I needed to with that, I'd take it to work or ask my lovely sister the photographer for help.

Relief. Everything was finally up and running. I transferred over all of my bookmarks, my Quicken file for money management, my photos, videos, documents and the like. I installed the super wonderful Open Office and life was good.

Until...

About a month later, the screen up and died. I had a faint hope that it wasn't fatal, but alas, it would have taken all the kings men to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

But there was a silver lining. Another MacBook Pro, also decommissioned from work, was still sitting around, so I requested a "trade". My boss was all too happy to accommodate and I skipped home with my second new/used MacBook Pro in hand.

And...it wouldn't boot up past the gray screen. I spent two nights looking up support pages on my phone and trying various options.

(Side note: This is one of the reasons I love Macs. They're not perfect and they're horridly expensive and they're almost totally proprietary, but because of these things, they are a lot easier to support than PCs, IMHO. Since you can't mess around with their inner workings as much, they don't get as jumbled as PCs often can. Therefore, their support options are much more simple, such as "press Command+Option+P+R" instead of "boot up command prompt, type in this crazy long string of numbers, cross your fingers, turn around three times and sneeze over your shoulder.)

Long story long, nothing worked. So off I went to the Apple store again.

(Side note: I have to say, I had the BEST customer experiences in the 3 different trips I took to the Apple store as well as the chat conversation with support and the phone conversation with support during this whole debacle. Even when they couldn't fix it, I left feeling like they'd just given me a puppy. How do they do that???)

The second new/used MacBook Pro was pronounced dead at the scene. It was determined that it would be extremely costly to fix the problem (most likely a motherboard issue) and it would probably not prolong the life of the computer more than another year or so.

Unfortunately, based on the two specific problems with the two new/used computers, there was simply no way to cobble them together to make one working computer. I asked. Twice. I looked on the Internets. I pleaded to the heavens. It just wasn't in the cards.

Having already sold my old/old MacBook to a friend and having already decided that I was in need of an upgrade no matter what, I ended up buying a new-to-me refurbished 2012 MacBook Pro from the Apple Store and called it a day.

Moral of the story: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And it still might not get you anywhere.

I sincerely wish that I would have been able to save a computer from the landfill and save the environmental cost of creating a new computer from virgin materials. I realize I could have looked on Craigslist or eBay and bought another used computer that could have worked out perfectly, but I just didn't have it in me to go through the process all over again and worry that the seller was giving me a bum deal.

Alas, I have typed all of this on my beautiful new computer that I hope will last me for at least 6 years, as my previous MacBook did. If I didn't use this thing an average of 4 hours a day, maybe I could have lived with less?

We suppose we find out all too quickly where we draw the line when it comes to eco-friendly endeavors...

Til next time. 

When Good Bathrooms Go Bad...Then Green?

Ugh. The dreaded bathroom renovation.

Even before I bought my condo, I knew this was a project I would eventually have to undertake. The inspector had informed me that there was water damage that was making the floor unstable. Fast forward seven plus years and here I was, still living in fear that the tub would one day fall through the ceiling.

My brother is an awesome handyman, so I planned to have him do most of the work. But I wanted to do things the "right" way. Turns out that is much harder than I expected.

Rule #1 about eco-friendly home renovations: Many of the green options on the market are the privilege of the rich. Rule #2: Finding eco-friendly products is akin to finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But in case you want more information, here's the rundown of what I discovered, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Green Accomplishments

Dual Flush Toilet

Shopping Tips: I read that you should look for the WaterSense label and that the toilet should use less than 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). I also knew I wanted to try a dual-flush toilet. (You know, less flush for number 1, more flush for number 2.)

What I Got: Glacier Bay's Dual-Flush Toilet

Fan

Shopping Tips: The fewer sones, the better. Look for the EnergyStar rating.

What I Got: This one.

Faucet

Shopping Tips: Look for the WaterSense label and a flow rate of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute).

What I Got: I chose the Delta Lahara 25938LF-SS. There was nothing on any of the boxes at the store that would tell the GPM rate, so I had to go with just the WaterSense label. Turns out that this one has a GPM rate of 2.2. Ah, well. 

Lighting Fixture

Shopping Tips: Look for the Energy Star label. Use CFL bulbs. The usual...

Paint

Shopping Tips: I've read a lot about milk paint, but it's not recommended for high-moisture areas so it was a no-go. The other option is low-VOC paint.

What I Got: Low and behold that major retailers like Lowe's don't make low-VOC paints easy to identify. But the nice man at the paint mixing station told me that this one was awesome. I definitely liked it better than the one I tried from Sherman Williams a few years ago.

Here are some more paint tips, from yours truly, in case you're curious.

Shower Walls

It seems that using backerboard for the shower walls, rather than greenboard will help prevent mold and deterioration over time, so I went that route.

Trash

Due to water damage, I literally had to gut this bathroom down to the wall studs. This meant a lot of trash. Rather than trying to fit everything into a few Bagsters, I ended up renting a dumpster from Frog Hauling.

Unlike a normal dumpster, Frog Hauling will sort through the junk that they remove and salvage or recycle as much as possible before taking the remainder of the trash to the dump. This makes me happy.

As for some of the small stuff, such as shelves and towel racks and half-used gallons of paint, I plan to drop it all off at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Tub

This is the one item I was successfully able to reuse. It was disgustingly dirty after all the big demo and rebuild, so I scrubbed it down with a bit of Borax, which is the most magical cleaner ever in the world. My tub has never been so sparkly white.

Bath Mat

I think I'm going to try this one, which is made from something called vetiver root or this one, which is made from cork.

Green Failures

Vanity

I wanted to go with something vintage or something made of FSC-certified wood or bamboo, with environmentally-friendly finishes, glues, etc.

Um, yeah, good luck with that. I tried all of the major bathroom retailers in Columbus, including retail stores like Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware as well as Columbus Architectural Salvage and bathroom & kitchen specialists like Bath Works. I found only three vanities that were in any way eco-friendly and that were small enough to fit in my seemingly super tiny bathroom, but they were literally 10 times the cost of a basic vanity unit at Home Depot or Lowe's.

The two places I didn't try but probably should have were antique stores (which would have taken a ton of time to peruse) and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (which was closed the one Sunday I chose to visit).

Flooring

All of the eco-friendly books suggest using cork, natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring. Come to find that the only cork flooring available at Lowe's and Home Depot is interlocking, which means that it is somehow affixed to a bed of particle board or MDF, which makes it not nearly as eco-friendly. As for natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring? I am most certain these are figments of the imagination, as I couldn't find them anywhere.

So I went with ceramic tile. (And not even recycled ceramic tile, as it only seems to exist on the interwebs.) In any case, ceramic tile is durable and long lasting and is better for the environment than vinyl and more suitable for bathrooms than hardwood. 

Miscellaneous

Solvent-free adhesives? Didn't see one label that mentioned solvent-free. Baseboards with a low-VOC, water-based finish? No dice. Low-toxic grout and sealants? Puhshaw. Who would think to ask for such silly things?

Also suggested by the eco-friendly gurus that write books? A tankless water heater and a circulation pump. I didn't even look into it.

I looked for shower curtains made from organic cotton or bamboo fabrics. There were a few, but not many and the patterns were very grandma-esque. I also looked on Etsy for shower curtains made from scrap fabrics, but there weren't any worth noting. Oh, well.

I wanted to get a vintage medicine cabinet or mirror, but so far they are freaking expensive. The jury's still out on that.

The Big Reveal

The Before

The After

Looks basically the same, huh? :)

Tune In: The Search for an Eco-Friendly TV

Okay, I am finally going to jump on the new flat-screen LCD TV bandwagon.

Why I'm Getting a New TV

I have had the same dinosaur television for 8 years, which I bought used from a friend when moving to my current place. I was waiting for the TV to die before I bought a replacement, but within the last year three things happened:

1. I received a Blu-ray player as a present that I have been unable to use because it is not compatible with the dinosaur television. 
2. More and more shows are being shot in wide-screen, which means that I am missing out on a lot of key plot points that get cut off on my current square screen. Though this doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things, it is quite annoying. 
3. The appeal of watching Netflix streaming through the TV without hooking up a computer has become almost impossible to ignore. 

Here's a picture of the old monster TV, courtesy of Photo Kitchen:

Things to Consider When Shopping for a New TV

So, I went searching for a new TV.  I thought about getting one during the after-Christmas sales in 2010, but the one that I had chosen was out of stock and I missed out on the deep holiday discounts, so I waited until this season to try again.

To choose a television, I relied heavily on the Westerville Library's online subscription to Consumer Reports. In addition to rating specific models and brands, they also provide a guide to tell you what types of things you should be looking for when buying a new TV.

The one thing that stood out to me was their explanation of LED backlighting for LCD TVs:

LCD displays use lights in the back of the display to illuminate the screen. These have typically been fluorescent bulbs, but many new sets use LED (light-emitting diode) backlights instead...In general, LEDs can reduce power consumption. Some of the edge-lit LCD models we've tested have been among the most energy-efficient sets we've seen...LED backlights, especially if edge-lit, can allow the TV to have a very slim profile -- panel thickness of well under 2 inches.

Consumer Reports also includes an estimated energy cost per year for rated TVs. Between that and the LED backlight option that offers more energy efficiency and a smaller physical footprint, I knew where to start looking in regard to picking out a new television that would be eco-friendly.

Of course, I also looked at the other rating options to make sure the TV would meet my other needs, such as sound quality, HD & SD picture quality, viewing angle, etc. I eliminated any set that gave only a fair or poor rating for any of the features. I also placed emphasis on Netflix integration. I was also interested in Internet-connectivity available on the new Google TVs, but this feature is cost-prohibitive at the moment and it doesn't seem like the capability has hit the mainstream yet.

Once I narrowed down my choices, I looked at the brand reliability table through Consumer Reports to find out how the brand measured up regarding repair history.

Lastly, I checked for user ratings & reviews on sites such as CNET and Amazon.com. This helped me to narrow my choices further.

Based on all of these factors, I have chosen the Vizio M420SV. It has LED edge backlighting, a wide viewing angle, excellent picture quality, good sound quality, average energy costs of $26 per year, good brand quality, an excellent average user rating on Amazon.com and it is Internet-enabled, allowing for the ability to connect to a Netflix streaming account.

Here's what the new TV will look like, according to Amazon.com:

How to Get Rid of an Old TV  

So, what should you do with an old dinosaur TV? Don't throw it the dumpster. Old televisions contain hazardous materials such as lead. To avoid the possibility of these materials leaching out, donate your old TV to the Ohio Thrift store at Cleveland Ave and 161 in the Columbus Square shopping center. They will accept any working television for free.

Or, if your TV is no longer in working condition, try recycling it. Ohio Drop Off near the intersection of Morse Road and Westerville Road will recycle TVs, though they charge $1 per inch.

More options are available within the Columbus area. Read this SWACO article or this EPA article for more recycling, donating or disposal options.


Stay Tuned

The TV is now set up. The Netflix integration is decadent. But did all of my hard research pay off? Stay tuned to find out.

Can you hear me now? (Phone Book Opt-Out)

I hate junk mail. I hate almost all mail, period. And because of this, I hate AT&T.

I have not once used AT&T's services in the 6+ years I've lived at my current residence. And yet they send me junk mail every week. I've tried to get off their mailing list, but they have told me there is no way for them to remove me because I do not hold an account with them. If I used their services, I'd have an account with them and I'd be able to set my mailing preferences. Go figure. (By the way, Insight Communications is the same way.)



So I was really excited to find Yellow Pages Opt-Out, a site that will supposedly direct you to where you can opt out of all phone book mailing lists in your area. Simply type in your zip code and voila!

Unfortunately, the site they suggested for AT&T's phone book distribution, AT&T Advertising Solutions, would not allow me to enter my mailing list preferences, because I do not have an AT&T-provided phone number. Because I don't have an account with them I can't set my mailing preferences.

Seriously? SERIOUSLY???



Luckily, the site they suggested for Yellow Book was much more helpful. Now, I only receive one company's phone books on my doorstep instead of two. In the meantime, according to DowntownColumbus.com, Columbus recycling companies will now accept phone books, which has not always been the case because of the paper quality.

Progress, I suppose. Slow, slow progress.

(See The Paper Monster post for more tips on reducing your junk mail consumption.)

Update as of 9/15/2011: Yellow Pages Opt-Out now allows you to manage all subscriptions for all phone books that are delivered to your address. I requested 0 copies of the Yellow Pages phone book and am hoping that the next deliver will skip my doorstep. Crossing fingers!

Read the Fine Print

Of course, printing is my nemesis. I would take information in electronic format over print format every time. However, I realize this is an unrealistic expectation. Sometimes business cards and fliers and posters and brochures are necessary. They reach an audience that might not be reached via Facebook or Google or the like. Sometimes the Internet is just not available or not as convenient. I know, I hate it, but there it is.

So, here are some tips when you just HAVE to print something.

• Be picky when choosing a font. Some are more compact and require less ink. Or try out the EcoFont!
• Try printing "teasers" rather than the whole document. For example, print out business cards with your information, as well as a link to your presentation or website for further reference.
• Use paper with recycled content. It's of a much higher quality and much less expensive than it was even 5 years ago. Or print on scrap paper if you have it.
  
• Print on both sides when possible. (I realize some printers jam when trying to do this, but most home printers aren't sensitive enough to jam.)
• Try expanding your margins for items that don't require specific decorum.
• Use the "Print Preview" option to make sure it's going to print the way you expect, as well as to avoid printing a page with just one or two lines on it. When printing articles from the Internet, always look for the printer icon on the page before printing from the browser. It will usually remove unnecessary advertisements and page elements such as navigation links.
• When given the option, try printing in draft mode.
  
• Try downloading the GreenPrint software which automates a lot of the eco-friendly printer options for you.
• Print only what you need. (I know, duh. But the "just in case" mentality is hard to ignore sometimes!)
• Recycle your printer cartridges once the ink has run dry. Many office supply stores will accept printer cartridges. Search "inkjet cartridges" or "toner cartridges" at Earth911 for drop-off locations near you. Also, the Westerville Library offers a drop-off right inside the main doors.
• Recycle paper when you're finished with it. Or you can shred it and compost it, if you are so inclined.

Now, that's a fine print.

Update: Here's an article about different fonts and how eco-friendly they are based on paper and ink use. Might be worth a read!

Number 1 or Number 2?

That is the question that the dual flush toilet asks.

Though I've read a lot about these, I finally got to see what its all about at our hotel in Paris, Hotel Marignan. (Their website cracks me up. Seriously, take a peak.)



Even though the instructions were in French, it was pretty easy to figure out. Big water drop means big flush. Little water drop means little flush. Yes, it's that easy!



The water-efficient toilet wasn't the only green fixture in Hotel Marignan, however. Their complimentary laundry services consisted of a front-loading washing machine that was never allowed to run half full. So, my socks and underwear got to mingle with what seemed like a whole lot of hotel towels. Don't worry, they got along very well!

And if you're taking notes for future visits, they also had recycling bins you could use that were stored next to the communal kitchen.

I Vant to Suck Your Blood

Dracula might "mwahahaha" me for saying this, but the only thing that finally convinced me to try giving blood again was the "green factor." Giving of your own renewable resource is eco-friendly and just plain nice.



I did this on a whim when the Bloodmobile showed up at work, so my lack of drinking fluids and stocking up on protein and iron made me quite dizzy, and a little bit "off" for the rest of the day. Next time, I will be more prepared!

Do you have issues?

If you're like me, you might have a mental block against trashing old magazines. Okay, let's be fair, if you're like me, you don't actually subscribe to any magazines. But, here are some things you can do with last month's issue (besides collect dust.)



Crafts

• Make a collage. (I'll probably getting a lot of duh's for this one, but really, collage's are a great brainstorming tool for work or home life.)
• Use them to make envelopes.
• Cut the pages into strips and make jewelry pendants or beads, or even bowls out of them.
• Use the pages to wrap small gifts.

Giving Them Away

• Ask your local schools if they would like to use them for crafts. (Though if you're looking to get rid of your Playboys and Hustlers, this might not be your best option.)
• If they're the newest issue, sell them back to Half Priced Books.
  
• Do a magazine swap with your friends by trading this year's ReadyMade for this year's Real Simple. Or last week's US Weekly for last week's People. Or why not share your subscriptions with a like-minded co-worker?
• Be the magazine fairy for your favorite waiting room, such as the doctor's office, dentist's office, hospital, DMV, laundromat, staff lounge, bus stop or airport.
• If you're really industrious, try selling them on eBay. Who knows, you may find a collector dying to find a copy of October 1978 issue of TIME magazine!

Last resort:

• You can always recycle your magazines.
• Shred them and use them like shipping peanuts.

And for the ones you know you're going to read and pitch...

• Try getting some of your favorite magazine subscriptions online, especially if you have a Kindle.
• Check them out from the library.
  

All But the Kitchen Sink

A list of things to NOT throw in a neighborhood ravine, courtesy of Earth Day cleanup at Glen Echo Ravine:

• Papasan chair - Give to MAP Furniture Bank.
  
• Pill bottles - Donate your extra medications to someone in need. More info can be found here and here.
  
• Computer monitors - Sell on eBay or donate to Ohio Computer Recycling so they can reuse its parts.
  
• Stryofoam peanuts - Donate them to your local UPS or FedEx store. (BTW, I have yet to try this; I just keep storing them under my bed. I'll let you know what happens when I make the trip.)
  
• Syringes - Don't share them with your buddies, but also don't throw them in a ravine! Check out these instructions for proper disposal.
  
• Beer cans - Aluminum cans are super easy to recycle; you can even do it drunk!
  
• Kite string - Reuse your kite string to tie up your tomato plants or to tie back your curtains on a nice day or as a prop for your book club's discussion of the Kite Runner.
  
• Prophylactics - Luckily, this Earth Day was free of people's old love gloves, but I have not always been so lucky. Just put them in a trash can and not down the toilet, okay?
• Flower pot - Geesh, plant a flower in it! Or better yet, put a veggie plant in it and eat local.
• Cigarette butts - Easy fix: stop smoking.
  

Posted from outside.