EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Rob Baxter, courtesy Flickr
GregPC, courtesy Flickr.
What about recycling lids, tops and caps? Many local recycling programs throughout the U.S. still do not accept plastic lids, tops and caps even though they take the containers that accompany them. The reason is that they are not typically made of the same kinds of plastics as their containers. Check the number on the lid to make sure before you toss itto the recycling bin. Many plastics can be recycled, but when two types are mixed, one contaminates the other, reducing the value of the material or requiring resources to separate them before processing. Also, plastic caps and lids can jam processing equipment, and the plastic containers with tops still on them may not compact properly. They can also present a safety risk for recycling workers. Most plastic bottles are baled for transport and if they don’t crack when baled, the ones with tightly fastened lids can explode when the temperature increases. Thus it is hard to believe but true: In most locales the responsible consumers are the ones who throw their plastic caps and lids into the trash instead of the recycling bin. As for metal caps and lids, they, too, can jam processing machines, but many municipalities accept them for recycling anyway because they do not cause any contamination issues. To deal with the potentially sharp lid of any can you are recycling (such as a tuna, soup or pet food can), carefully sink it down into the can, rinse it all clean, and put it in your recycling bin. The best way to reduce container and cap recycling is to buy in large rather than single-serving containers. Does the event you’re holding really require dozens and dozens of 8- to 16-ounce soda and water bottles, many of which will Many recycling centers do not get left behind only partly accept plastic lids, tops and consumed anyway? Why not caps. They are usually made of buy large soda bottles, proa different plastic than the con- vide pitchers of (tap) water tainers they accompanied and and let people pour into recan contaminate the recycling usable cups? stream, cause machine jams To learn more: CleanScapes, and injuries to workers. www.cleanscapes.com.
Residential solar energy systems What type of solar energy capture system you put on your home depends on your needs. If you want to go full tilt and generate usable electricity from your home’s rooftop, tried and true photovoltaic arrays might be just the ticket. A typical installation involves the panels, which are constructed of many individual silicon-based photovoltaic cells and their support structures, along with an inverter, electrical conduit piping and AC/DC disconnect switches.
North Carolina offers tax incentives for certain solar energy installations. These systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install. But the upside is that homeowners with photovoltaic panels on their rooftops can rest assured that as long as the sun shines, they will have power to spare without generating emissions of pollutants. Qualified solar installers can usually advise clients on which specific types of systems will work best given the specific location of a home. Try the Web site FindSolar.com. Also, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) provides a free searchable database of its members specializing in home solar set-ups. For less demanding applications, such as for heating water for your home, a simpler and less expensive solar thermal system might be all you need. A basic hot water system usually consists of a solar collector—basically a small metal box with a glass or plastic cover and a black copper or aluminum absorber plate inside—tied into the building’s plumbing and electrical works. According to the industry tracker Web site Solarbuzz, such solar collectors are usually mounted on rooftops. A solar thermal system can cost less than $4,000. While the savings in your electric bill may be small, homeowners in it for the long haul will definitely save over time. Check out the RealGoods “Solar Living Sourcebook”, a 600plus page renewable energy “bible” now in its 30th edition. Another reason to consider going solar in one fashion or another is tax incentives. According to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), 17 states (including North Carolina) offer homeowners some kind of tax incentive for the purchase and/or installation of solar power equipment. Go to www.dsireusa.org, maintained by the North Carolina Solar Energy Center.
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To learn more: Solarbuzz, www.solarbuzz.com; NABCEP, www.nabcep.org; FindSolar.com, www.findsolar.com; RealGoods, www.realgoods.com; DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org.
Got an Environmental Question? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
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