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50 U.S. top hospitals were surveyed to determine how they manage their waste. Some of the findings from the report, “Greening Hospitals”: * only 20 percent of respondents have programs to reduce PVC. Even those with programs still use PVC IV bags. * almost 80 percent have mercury reduction programs, but 37 percent of these still buy thermometers with mercury, and half use mercury blood pressure devices. * 90 percent have had training in how to segregrate infectious waste from “regular” waste, and 80 percent conducted waste audits in the past three years. 40 percent continue to incinerate waste that doesn’t need to be burned. The report offers several recommendations: * hospitals need to find alternatives to incineration combined with more effective segregation programs. This will reduce pollution and costs. * reduce the toxic chemicals produced. Mercury-containing devices and PVC plastics are the easiest to reduce. The Environmental Working Group: http://www.ewg.org 202-667-6982 FROM Waste Reduction Tips
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It is often difficult to discern whether a smart growth project is just another mega-development or whether it actually contributes to decreased sprawl, lower emissions, and other quality of life/environmental indicators as it is intended. An Atlanta development is being put to the test by the U.S. EPA and well-known smart growth architects Duany Plater-Zyberk. Smart Growth advocates offer developers incentives – often in the form of increased density – to build within city limits, or to leave a significant percentage of the total land in open space. In this case, a 138-acre brownfields site near downtown Atlanta has been cleaned up to make way for 2,000-5,000 residential units, retail and restaurants, a hotel, and office space. A similar development in suburbia would take up 10 times the land. One might ask, however, why such huge developments are needed and whether they really provide significant benefits. In other studies of similar communities, the EPA found lower nitrogen oxide emissions of 28-42 percent. The Atlanta development is the first time a community rather than a company will be enrolled in EPA’s Project XL program which trades regulatory flexibility for much lower emissions. EPA will employ extensive computer modeling to determine whether […]
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The U.S. EPA is working on tough new pollution standards for cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans and pickups. These standards will impact our air quality well into the next century. One in four cars sold in the U.S. are gas-guzzling SUVs, many getting only 13 mpg. The great increase in miles driven in the U.S. has all but wiped out the gains made through cafe standards. EPA Administrator Carol Browner needs to hear from you. She’s being inundated with letters against stronger standards generated by the oil industry. EPA plans to slash sulfur levels in gasoline nationwide. Sulfur in gas damages pollution control equipment so that they pollute even more. In California, gasoline has only 30 parts per million of sulfur. In the rest of the US, gasoline has about 340 parts per million! Cleaner gasoline will reduce as much pollution as taking 54 million vehicles off the road…it will also allow cleaner and more efficient vehicles to hit the road. The oil industry would like to sell dirty gasoline west of the Mississippi. Anyone from California or the east who drives through a state with dirty gasoline goes home with a poisoned pollution-control system. Carol Browner: browner.carol@epa.gov 202.260.4700
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Environics International of Canada conducted its second annual International Environmental Monitor in association with polling firms in 30 countries. More than 35,000 people – at least 1,000 in each country – participated in both urban and rural areas. The countries surveyed contain two-thirds of the world’s population. Participants were asked if they thought environmental laws in their countries “don’t go far enough,” “strike the right balance,” or “go too far.” More Latin Americans responded that current laws don’t go far enough than did citizens of any other region. In Argentina, 88 percent answered this way, second only to Greece, with 91 percent. People in all 30 countries were asked to describe their level of concern about the environment. In nearly all the Latin American countries surveyed, a majority replied that they cared “a great deal.” In fact, Venezuelans ranked highest of any nation, with 69 percent answering this way. Mexicans were second highest, with 62 percent. Environics International: [sorry this link is no longer available] Contact Corinne Fontaine: corinne_fontaine@environics.ca Source: El Planeta.com: http://www.planeta.com
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To help preserve the ancient forests of the world, 27 large U.S. corporations announced they will not sell products or use packaging made from old-growth trees. The companies committed to survey their suppliers to ensure they do not purchase products made from old growth, reduce overall consumption of virgin wood-related products, and increase use of certified, recycled and tree-free alternatives. According to Coastal Rainforest Coalition, a coalition of well-known environmental groups leading the campaign, these companies account for over one billion dollars of the annual U.S. market for paper, pulp, and packaging. Here are the companies: 3M CorporationAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. Bristol Myers SquibbDell Computer Corp. Estee LauderHallmark Card Hewlett-PackardIBM Corporation Johnson & JohnsonKinko’s, Inc. Levi Strauss & Co.Liz Claiborne Lockheed MartinMcGraw Hill Mitsubishi Electric of AmericaMitsubishi Motors Sales Mother Jones MagazineMutual of Omaha Insurance Co. National Geographic MagazineNIKE, Inc. Pacific Gas & ElectricPatagonia Quantum CorporationSeventh Generation Starbucks Coffee CompanyUnited Stationers Supply Utne Reader Svetogorsk, a major pulp and paper mill in Russia, also announced it will completely phase out ancient forest wood in its production. Satellite image maps produced by Greenpeace and Biodiversity Conservation Center showed that 80 percent of the large ancient forest areas are gone. “People are […]
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If you’re as confused and concerned about Y2K as many people are, take a look at these websites: The Berkana Institute:: Includes the Petersen, Wheatley, and Kellener-Jones articles. http://www.berkana.org/y2k.html Y2KToday: extensive information, news, resources. [sorry this link is no longer available] ZDNet: news and articles. http://www.zdnet.com The Cassandra Project: Checklists, sample documents, links to community resources. [sorry this link is no longer available] DFIY2K.org: Community planning site. [sorry this link is no longer available] Public Technology Inc.: for local government. [sorry this link is no longer available] President’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion: Overview of federal government efforts, with links. [sorry this link is no longer available] Small Business Administration: Good links, checklists, and steps to take. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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After two years of debate, farmers, conservationists, workers, and researchers in Brazil reached agreement on a voluntary certification program for growing sugar cane. As the world’s largest producer of sugar cane plantations have replaced rainforests along Brazil’s Atlantic Coast, considered by biologists to be one of the most biologically diverse — and most threatened — habitats on Earth. Sugar cane fields cove 15 million acres, or about six percent of the nation’s farmland. The forum was coordinated by Imaflora, a leading conservation group in Sao Paulo, with support from key social groups, agricultural and scientific institutions, and government agencies. The Dutch government provided financial support. The standards address a number of tricky issues. For example, sugar cane fields are customarily burned before each harvest. The fires clear the thick foliage and Ginzu-sharp leaves, allowing machete-wielding workers easier access to the cane stalks. When sugar fields are aflame, soot rains on sugar country. Prohibiting burning may be good for residents’ lungs, but poses a threat to workers, since the only alternative is to harvest cane with large machines. Thousands of cane cutters depend on harvest-season wages. The new standards call for a gradual phase-out of burning, to allow farmers and workers […]
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How environmentally conscious are the nation’s top 50 business schools? Almost nine in 10 have one elective course in environmental management – but only 16 percent have integrated the topic into core requirements. Only 21 percent offer a degree in environmental management (as a dual degree with natural resources or forestry). Those are the findings of a study by the Management Institute for Environment and Business (MEB), a program of the World Resources Institute. The study ranked eight schools as offering the best environmental focus: George Washington University New York University (Stern) Northwestern University (Kellogg) University of Michigan University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) University of Tennessee/Knoxville University of Virginia (Darden) University of Washington To order the report, Grey Pinstripes With Green Ties: [sorry this link is no longer available] To see the survey results: [sorry this link is no longer available] FROM Business Ethics Ford Motor Co. Receives Recycling Award Keep America Beautiful Inc. presented Ford with the 1998 Vision for America award which honors achievements in recycling and use of recycled-content materials and for innovative reuse of cast-off and scrap materials. Recycling initiatives established by Ford include a “Carpet to Car Parts” project, where recovered carpeting is screened, […]
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A variety of environmental businesses are leasing space at the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center in Minneapolis, MN., which is in the process of being built. The 64,000 square foot office and manufacturing center is located on a former brownfield, and is a project of The Green Institute. The center will be a model green building with 100 percent daylighting, ground source heat pumps, a wind and solar energy system, and a 4800 square foot rooftop garden. At least 10 percent of the materials come from salvaged sources. The Green Institute mission is to create self-sufficient models of economic development with a focus on the emerging green business sector. Green Institute: 612-874-1148
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Thanks to a $14 million renovation, the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia will be at the forefront of environmental design in the hospitality market. Set to open by the end of this year, the 192-room hotel will occupy part of the 72-year old, 17-story mixed use Rittenhouse Regency building. The hotel is making indoor air quality (IAQ) one of its hallmarks. Its ventilation system will provide filtered outside air to occupied rooms 24 hours a day. Smoking will be prohibited throughout the hotel. Materials were selected with IAQ in mind, including paint and carpeting. Furniture is made from certified wood and only water-based glues are used. The bed sheets and curtains are made from organic cotton. At the center of the six-story atrium will be 60-foot bamboo trees. Bamboo was chosen because they take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen at a 35 percent higher rate than most other plants. “When a person is having breakfast in the atrium, the high amount of oxygen makes it feel like a ski mountain,” says Barry Dimson, president of EcoSmart Properties, one of developers. Lobby flooring is also made from bamboo. Dimson says because they were able to market these features, the hotel […]
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