83% Believe Retailers Should Stop Giving Away Free Plastic Bags

Author: Chris Amos

4 out of 5 Britons believe supermarkets should stop giving away free plastic bags according to a new poll.

Following last week’s move by The Welsh Assembly Government aiming to introduce a ban on free plastic bags, over 70% of the general public want the Government to impose a charge on plastic bags given by retailers to encourage shoppers to switch to reusable ones instead.

A hefty 69% believe the current promise by retailers to reduce the number of bags given away by 50% by the end of spring 2010 is not enough.

82% of people believe a 10p-15p charge on plastic bags would encourage consumers to change to reusable bags while 92% are concerned with the impact the current plastic bags available from retailers have on our environment.

The Welsh Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson has asked officials to start work on the necessary legislation to introduce a ban on giving away free plastic bans.

“When we look at other countries in the world we understand why countries from Italy to Australia are now imposing charges and even banning plastic bags,” she said. “That experience around the world has told us that the most effective way to meet our aspirations on plastic bags is with regulations.”

Chris Amos from eco-bags company, Reusabags said:

“Support for a ban on giving away plastic bags is now greater than ever. Many governments around the world including China and France are introducing policy to cut giving away free plastic bags. 12-months ago, Gordon Brown demanded a reduction of plastic bags, so for our future and the sake of our planet, the use of reusable bags should be embraced and encouraged now.”

About the Author:

London based eco-friendly writer

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/83-believe-retailers-should-stop-giving-away-free-plastic-bags-778994.html

Go Green With Your Next Fundraising Activity

Sports


School fundraising can be tricky. You have to serve the majority and find products that a large group of people are going to want to purchase because they will be purchasing them at a much higher price than their local retail store. Most fundraising activities don’t take into account health concerns or dieting and most are not environmentally friendly. However, there are many fundraising parents who are frustrated with the fact that fundraisers pinch their pockets, theirs stomachs and the environment. Why can’t we purchase items that are healthy, unique and that will help us go green?
Go green fundraising items are a great way to sell something your friends and neighbors may actually be able to use. Some of the exciting items include reusable shopping bags – you could put your school logo right on the bag and then you’d be supporting and advertising for the child you support. Other items may include pens or paper made with recycled paper. These items abound even in retail stores and are becoming vastly popular. Another great idea might be bread or other health foods like trail mix, power bars or similar items. Bread is something most people are consuming on a regular basis so it would be easy to support those types of fundraising activities.

Along with recycled items, reusable items and health foods, school fundraisers could incorporate things like live plants or trees. Several programs online offer live tree fundraising and live bulb fundraising. Not only do these types of items support a school group, they are a great way to beautify the world. You could do the fundraiser in several different ways, depending on the type of group participating in the fundraising activity and depending on the people that are going to be buying the product. First, you could have people purchase the item and then you deliver it to them and they are free to plant the tree or flower bulb in their own yard. However, you could also design a program so that you have a person buy a flower bulb or tree that is planted at the school, church or community place. This can then be a reminder of how that individual helped out the school. You could even have a day where everyone who purchased a flower or tree comes down and helps with the planting and beautification. This might be a fantastic way of getting more community involvement and it also gives people some pride and ownership as well.

When planning your next fundraising activity consider looking online and choosing a go green fundraiser. As more people become sensitive to the environment and their health, it is going to be imperative that school fundraisers accommodate people’s changing habits and needs. In order to continue to reach the biggest majority of people it will be essential to adapt some of the products. We can all count on cookie dough and wrapping paper fundraisers. However, make your mark by trying something a little different. Go green fundraising can make an impact on people’s lives and in people’s communities. Through reusable products, recycled items, health food products and live plants or trees, you can make a big difference in fundraising. Next time you need to go knock on a door or bring a fundraising sheet to work you’ll be bringing in items that might just catch people’s attention.

About the Author: Rebecca Beckett is a freelance writer for Innuity. If you would like more information about School fundraising or fundraising activities go to ProFund Golf

Nappies and the Environment

Author: Jenny Andrew

The plastic components of each disposable nappy take several hundred years to biodegrade. When you think that an average 8 million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK alone! That works out at nearly 3 billion nappies each year. Around 7.5 million of the daily 8 million nappies will go to landfill but the rest, unfortunately, could end up littering the streets or thrown into the sea which are all too common scenes. A disposable nappy has over twice the environmental impact of a reusable nappy and with the use of an A rated washing machine and environmentally friendly washing detergents; this can be improved even greater.

There are many other reasons why reusable nappies are a good idea. Firstly, and what is so often on the minds of parents is cost. Reusable, cotton nappies can save in the region of £600 over using disposable nappies. Money can be saved further should another child come along as the same cloth nappies can be used.

Cotton nappies are far better for a baby’s sensitive and delicate skin. Disposable nappies are made of superabsorbent chemicals, plastics, paper pulp and adhesives whilst real nappies are made mainly from natural fabrics/fibres. This aids in keeping nappy rash to a minimum. Cotton nappies are soft, breathable and lightweight.

Cotton nappies have advanced greatly in recent years to meet the needs of modern day parents. Reusable nappies of today have no complicated folds and come complete with Velcro or popper fastening. The cotton used has been designed for ease when washing and no soaking is required.

The development of cotton nappies has allowed for a range of different nappies to come onto the market. Here are the four main types:

Flat or prefold nappy - A rectangular shape made from cotton which needs a quick fold and is then placed inside a separate waterproof wrap - the wrap does not need to be changed at every nappy change time. Attributes are: slim fitting, quick drying and good value.

Shaped nappy – These do not require any folding. Simply close and place it inside the waterproof wrap. The wrap does not need to be changed every time you change the nappy, unless it is soiled. These are very easy to use with lots of fabrics to choose from. Some shaped nappies can be used from birth to potty training, making them very economical.

Pocket nappy - The waterproof outercover has a fleece layer on the inside with a gap left at the top between the fleece and the waterproof. Into this gap you place the absorbent pad, also known as an insert. As the pad is inside the wrap you need to change the waterproof at every nappy change time. A very simple to use nappy and the fleece layer helps keep your baby's skin drier.

One size nappy - Many nappies are available in one size which will fit from birth to potty training (8-35lbs). A good option if you have more than one child in nappies. Both children can use the same nappy. One size nappies are very economical and simple.

About the Author:

Cotton Baby, stockists of easy to use reusable">http://www.cottonbaby.co.uk/">reusable nappies. These cotton">http://www.cottonbaby.co.uk/">cotton nappies require no soaking, no pins, no fiddly folds, just great absorbency and a neatly fitted cloth">http://www.cottonbaby.co.uk/">cloth nappies.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/nappies-and-the-environment-770076.html

Save the Environment: Refill Printer Cartridges

Author: gardnerwilkinson

One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to refill printer cartridges. Refurbishing printer cartridges is becoming increasingly popular because of the low costs of refilling as well as the positive impact on the overall environment.

The Option to Refill Printer Cartridges

Printers have cartridges that store the ink and dispense it while something is being printed. Usually printers have two printer cartridges - one for printing in black and white and the other for printing in color. Most printer manufacturers supply cartridges as well. These cartridges have one or more compartments for storing ink, an electric contact and a chip for detecting the level of ink left in the cartridge. The cartridge of any printer, be it inkjet or laser, can be removed.

Once the ink in the cartridge is over, one has the choice of replacing the cartridge. This is the more expensive option. One could instead refill printer cartridges and get the same quality of output, while saving a significant amount of money. While the cost of buying a new printer cartridge is quite high, an existing cartridge can be refilled at nearly half that cost. This means huge savings for the printer user. Not only this, every cartridge can be refilled four to five times, depending on the level of use, the quality of the printer and the condition of the cartridge.

Turn Environment Friendly: Refill Printer Cartridges

To refill printer cartridges is considered as an environment friendly option, since refurbishing reduces the number of cartridges being disposed and supports recycling. Each printer cartridge takes more than 3 liters of oil to be manufactured, apart from aluminum and steel. You can refill printer cartridges and save these nonrenewable resources. Moreover, most of the printer cartridges that are disposed add to landfill sites and take more than 450 years to decompose, since the plastic and other materials used are not biodegradable.

How to Refill Printer Cartridges

One should be careful in selecting the company to refill printer cartridges. While there are many online vendors advertising for this, one must trust only a reputed company. Moreover, one can consider bulk order discounts, money back guarantees and doorstep delivery while making the decision.

One company that has made a mark in providing this service isCartridge World. Founded more than a decade back, this company is today a leading provider of cartridge refilling services. Cartridge World offers several facilitates that one can benefit from.

About the Author:

Refill Printer Ink Cartridges - At Cartridge World stores our technicians refill cartridges for your inkjet & laser printers and offer you up to 50% savings as compared to buying a new one. Visit us now for more information.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/save-the-environment-refill-printer-cartridges-759654.html

7 Reasons Why You Should Create Your Own Power at Home

The basic and most important reason to create your own power from renewable energy sources is that it saves you greatly on Electricity Bill. You save hundreds of dollars if you do not have to pay your electricity bill. This should help you to kick start making your own electricity using renewable energy resources from your backyard. The whole process is not as complex or complicated as you may think; any one can get it done if one puts their mind to it. There are home energy kits available to give you step by step instructions to guide you through, you find them explaining things in very simple words, giving you the feeling of holding your hands and guiding you along.


The second reason is the most important of all because creating power on your own with renewable energy is great for the environment. With power generated from renewable energy there is no air pollution, noise pollution and any emission hazards. As it is, our environment is getting polluted day by day due to the present energy resources and its wastes. Creating our own energy may let us do our bit to zero in on environmental pollution and health hazards. The renewable energy usage also helps to prevent global warming and so protect our environment from that too.

The third reason why we should create our own energy is for the fun of it. When we make our own energy it can be interesting as well as fun activity, which will leave us feeling creative as well as making a big achievement. If you feel you are not technically sound enough with such activities then you may get a home energy kit and get your electrician to set it up accordingly for you.

The fourth and interesting reasoning would be the money you save on your electric Bill may be used elsewhere. There might have been things you have wanted and postponed buying, just because you have to pay your electric bill. So when you make your own electricity whatever you save on the electric bill can be used to spend on more important things and necessities.

The fifth reason would be of getting to know the great feeling of being able to create your own energy which you might have never felt possible. Just try making your own electricity and find out for yourself how that makes you feel when you get the lights burning. It would always be a pleasure for you to know that you made it possible to electrify your home on your own. It is unlike any other feeling when you do it yourself.

The sixth reason is that, it is actually a simple job. Once you get to know how to create your own energy it will feel like child's play to you. There are fully illustrated instruction manuals available with the home energy kits that make the whole process an easy job.

Last but not the least, it is not really expensive. You may make your own electricity for your needs from your backyard for an investment of less than $200. Wow! That sounds great doesn't it?