02 Aug EcoBits 7/31/14: EcoPolicy Survey, Styrene, Electronics Recycling, River Sense, Speak@Roundup, in.gredients, CitizenGardener, 45
EcoBits by Brandi
November 4th, 2014 will be the first Austin City Council election to choose council members from ten different geographic districts plus a mayor elected at large (aka 10-One). At last count, 68 people have said they are running.
Austin EcoNetwork and a consortium of local environmental leaders are working to ensure that this election is infused with environmental education of the candidates and the voters. At this point we are asking you to find out what your priorities are for YOUR district as well as for the whole city.
PLEASE TAKE THIS 4 QUESTION SURVEY
Your answers will help to shape the questions we ask on candidate questionnaires, interviews, and forums so what you say matters! Thank you.
Barton Springs Fest is just around the corner! Held in celebration of Barton Springs and sustainable living, this year's fest will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 8am to 7pm. Kid-friendly activities will be held in the morning and will include balloon art, music by Mr. Habitat, and a Splash Exhibit. Educational speakers will also be at the fest, giving presentations on a variety of subjects, from Central Texas Eurycea salamanders to climate change. And to top it all off there will also be live music and free cold watermelon! Learn more here>>
One more thing… Barton Springs Fest is looking for volunteers to help make all of this possible. If you are interested, please send an email to sosinfo@sosalliance.org
For the first time ever… the EcoCalendar and news segment I do live at the beginning of the KOOP Radio Shades of Green Radio Show each Thursday at 1:00pm is available for you to listen to. It's not everything in the EcoNews but it's some good highlights. Listen here>>
The RayovACTION road trip for battery recycling was a success!
But the fight is not over yet. Rayovac still tells consumers in the U.S. that batteries should be thrown in the trash, while at the same time advising consumers in other countries to recycle them. Learn more about TCE's next steps for expanding battery recycling in the U.S. here>>
The final public input meeting about SH 45SW might have passed, but the debate over its proposed construction is only just heating up. Earlier this week, Austin City Manager Marc Ott sent a letter to TxDOT, asking the department to revise its Environmental Impact Statement of the road, taking into consideration three pending environmental studies that are critical of the highway's effect. He also asked for an extension of the public comment period, which is set to expire today.
Meanwhile, at the public hearing, hundreds of people showed up to voice their opinions about the highway, which is part of a larger project to connect MoPac with I-35. Supporters showed up wearing "Yes to 45" t-shirts, according to local news reports, and spoke about the desperate need to alleviate traffic in southern Travis County and northern Hays County.
Austin's Resource Recovery Center now accepts electronics for recycling!Through a recycling processing contract with the Dallas-based company, ECS Refining, they now accepts the following:
- Televisions, including cathode ray tubes
- Computers, including cathode ray tube monitors
- Computer equipment, including keyboards and mice
- Mobile devices, including cell phones, smartphones, PDAs and pagers
- Printers, scanners and copiers
- Fax machines
- Video game consoles
- Cameras
Electronics dropped off at the center will be shredded, allowing their plastic components to be reused in automotive products and garden furniture. Metals, such as gold, silver, and copper, will also be extracted and reused to make jewelry and new electronic devices. Hours for the Resource Recovery Center (located at 3810 Todd Lane) are8am – 5pm Monday – Friday. More info>>
You have other electronics recycling options as well:
- Ecology Action (707 E 9th Street) open 9am – 4pm Monday – Saturday
- Any of the more than 40 Central Texas Goodwill Donation Centers will take your electronics for recycling.
The speaker application deadline for the Renewable Energy
The Roundup early-bird exhibitor discount has also been extended through August 8th. Sponsorship opportunities are available and encouraged as well.More info>>
Styrene, the chemical found in styrofoam and other plastics, has officially been linked to cancer. The National Research Council, a policy body associated with the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Science, upheld a finding made three years ago by the National Toxicology Program that styrene is, "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." This classification means that there is scientific evidence suggesting that styrene causes cancer, but scientists are not entirely sure that there aren't any alternative explanations for the link. More research needs to be done to rule out chance or bias, but the research that has been done so far has found styrene to be a carcinogen, even in human studies. More info>>
More research will undoubtedly be published in the upcoming years, but in the mean time, you can protect you and your family from any potential risks by following these simple steps offered up by theSafer Chemicals, Safer Families coalition:
- Avoid foam cups, plates, bowls and takeout containers for holding hot foods and drinks (studies have shown that chemical leaching occurs when styrene is heated)
- Don't use plastic products labeled number 6. They don't look like foam, but they do have styrene.
This summer the good people at Texas River School have put their Impact Austin funds to good use helping 500 Austin-area youths go through the River Sense program which involves an online training and quiz, then an hour-long class on land and a couple of hours on the water canoeing. Texas River School was just awarded at $38,000 grant from Texas. Congrats!
You and/or some kids you know can get river readytoo! Go online and read the 12 River Sensibles and then take the quiz. As a bonus, when you successfully complete the quiz you not only know more about river safety, if you have entered an email address you will be given SIX different discounts at local boating outfitters on Lady Bird Lake from Texas Rowing Center to SUPATX to Capital Cruises!
The Sustainable Food Center's Citizen Gardener Classes begin in September! The classes cover everything from raised bed construction to rainwater harvesting, so that participants will be able to grow food in even the smallest of urban spaces. Learn more here>>
Today is the last day to take advantage of Farmhouse Delivery's July $10 off coupon. Simply enter the coupon code JULY10 at checkout to save! And once you've made your purchase of delicious local food, check out Farmhouse Delivery's treasure trove of amazing recipes, like this one for fig pizza.
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