The Valuable Individual

How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management? Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth's problems, we feel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end. For others, social barriers can be an issue. A lady we once knew confessed that she did not want to be seen buying used items or being concerned with power use. She was worried people would see her as cheap ? a scrooge ? when the family was so affluent. Yet, she was very careful to be seen with recycling bins out on the curb on pick-up day, because that was thought to be the thing to do socially. Now is a good time to put an end to these negative thoughts and feelings of false pride. Waste reduction is not about ego - it is about the health of the planet and of our nation.

Communities would be wise to look at Nova Scotia's waste reduction success and try to emulate it in their area. With the highest waste reduction rates in Canada, Nova Scotia has reduced landfill contributions by 46% - saving about $31 million per year - simply by making the most of the organic and recyclable materials. Curbside recycling service (Blue Box) is available to 99% of its residents and 76% now enjoy curbside organic service (a.k.a. Green Box).

With better management of organic and recyclable waste, we will find we do not have to put the trash out as often because the odors and volume are greatly decreased. As a fiscal incentive, many garbage collection companies offer discounts to homes with reduced waste.

We can also help the waste management industry run more efficiently. For instance, when only full garbage bags and Blue or Green boxes are put out on the curb, the garbage truck does not have to stop as often and burn fossil fuels inefficiently while idling. (Incidentally, vehicle idling is responsible for 3% of the air pollution problem.) Similarly, by collapsing boxes before recycling we are ensuring that space is used more efficiently, thereby reducing the number of bins needed for transporting materials.

Recycling, alone, has a huge impact on the environment. A study of a 100-unit apartment building practicing maximum recycling found it would save 21.93 thirty-foot trees, 26.86 cubic yards of landfill space, 8,389 kilowatts of electricity, and 77.4 pounds of air pollution in just one year! So you see, these seemingly small choices and efforts towards waste management really do make a difference.

-- Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their new book Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. A guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment.

Voice of America
Land Of Big Science
Newsweek - Sep 6, 2008
The Large Hadron Collider is a symptom of America's decline in particle physics and, some fear, in science overall. By Fred Guterl, William Underhill and ...
Hadrons and Humanity Times Online
When European physicists bring their monstrous supercollider to ... Chicago Tribune
'The Grid' will see 80000 computer network processing data from LHC Telegraph.co.uk
guardian.co.uk - Merinewsall 395 news articles

Tracking The Reasons Many Girls Avoid Science And Math
Science Daily (press release) - 20 hours ago
5, 2008) — Most parents and many teachers believe that if middle-school and high-school girls show no interest in science or math, there's little anyone can ...

Dubious science
Baltimore Sun, United States - 14 hours ago
Published research can be wrong," said Walter Rowe, chairman of the nation's oldest forensic science department, at George Washington University. ...

Children as young as nine turn their back on science careers
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 1 hour ago
By Lucy Cockcroft A poll of primary and secondary school children showed that although 38 per cent are inspired by science just 6 per cent wanted to become ...
Children losing interest in science through their education ... Telegraph.co.uk
all 2 news articles

Jam! Showbiz
JJ Abrams and Joshua Jackson on the Fringe of Science in New FOX ...
Blogcritics.org, OH - Sep 6, 2008
Fringe takes its title from the branch of science outside the mainstream, on the cutting edge of what is known and believed possible. ...
Fringe or cringe? Edmonton Sun
Abrams Talks Fringe Wired News
What’s new on Fox and ABC this TV season Tulsa World
Carroll County Times (subscription) - Calgary Heraldall 49 news articles

The BA Science Festival
BBC News, UK - 5 hours ago
Science writer and broadcaster Sue Nelson reports from the annual British Association Science Festival, which this year is being held in Liverpool. ...

Science of sports: Cycling
Kansas City Star, MO - 17 hours ago
By PETE GRATHOFF It was 23 years ago that Pee Wee Herman shocked the cycling world by winning the Tour de France. OK, that was in a dream sequence in the ...

Science competition for students
The Press Association - 8 hours ago
Bright sparks are being urged to enter the country's premier science competition. Entries are being sought for the BT Young Scientist & Technology ...

We Fought Cancer…And Cancer Won
HealthNewsDigest.com, NY - 4 hours ago
First, it shows the disconnect between the bench and the bedside, between what science has discovered about cancer and how doctors treat it. ...
In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem Wall Street Journal
Genome analysis used to decode brain cancer: study AFP
Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible Baltimore Sun
HealthNews - Science Daily (press release)all 356 news articles

NDSU gets grant for female science faculty | KXNet.com North ...
KXMC, ND - Sep 6, 2008
The money from the National Science Foundation will be given to NDSU over five years. It targets faculty in science, technology, engineering and math. ...
NDSU Hoping To Attract More Women Faculty KFYR-TV
Sororities, fraternities may be rebounding | KXNet.com North ... Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck
Virtual Pharmacy KBMR
In-Forum - In-Forumall 28 news articles

Natural Gas Cost Increases; Want to know more?

A Thorn in the Side for American Business and Consumers - Natural Gas Shortages and... Read More

Micro Blimps Cleaning the Air in Buildings to Eliminate Anthrax spores

Presently mini-blimps are being deployed in government leadership buildings as sensor units to identify biological... Read More

How Did DNA Testing Children Begin?

The landmark immigration case Sarbah vs. Home Office (1985) was the first to use DNA... Read More

A Review of Scientific American Magazine

From Quantum Black Holes to Neuromorphic Microchips Scientific American Magazine has the coverage to keep... Read More

Will Clones Run the World?

In the US it appears that we have decided that "life is not for sale"... Read More

The Quantum Theory of Holy Languages

The quantum theory of holy languages (QTHL) encompasses the three most influential fields of knowledge:... Read More

Issues with Aerial Fire Fighting

A few years ago I visited the Wyoming Contractor, which used WWII aircraft to fight... Read More

Smart Dust and Virtual Keyboards

Using Smart Dust which is sprinkled onto a rock it maybe possible to type information... Read More

Feb. 12 is Darwin Day -- Secular Americans Celebrate Bday of Evolution Champ

This Feb. 12 marks the 196th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth!The day has special significance... Read More

4D Mapping of Mars Will Find Life

Let us discuss the mapping of Mars and some thoughts on the matter. We have... Read More