HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, September 17, 2008 (ENS) – Pennsylvania is making $1 million in grant funding available for manufacturers to buy equipment that increases use of recycled content in finished products. Grants of up to $500,000 are available to buy machinery or equipment that will increase consumption of recyclable materials recovered in Pennsylvania.

Another $950,000 will be available to help expand and develop markets for recovered materials, and stimulate demand for products with recycled content through the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.

Announcing the new funding, Governor Ed Rendell said that strategic investments to increase the use of recyclable materials will help manufacturers manage energy costs, reduce pollution and bolster local recycling collection programs.

“Recycled materials is an important resource for Pennsylvania’s manufacturers. They can cut soaring energy costs by incorporating recyclable materials that require less energy to process than virgin raw materials,” said the governor.

“Diverting these valuable materials from landfills also protects our environment by preserving natural resources, reducing pollution from the processing of virgin materials and conserving landfill space,” he said.

“These initiatives to increase demand for recycled materials also benefit Pennsylvania’s municipal recycling programs, which collect bottles, cans, papers and other materials from homes and businesses,” said Acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.

“Increasing demand for these commodities means local governments can benefit from higher prices for the materials they collect,” he said. “By diverting more materials from landfills, local governments and businesses also can save on their waste disposal costs.”

The Recycling Markets Center has been expanding its scope of services to increase the demand for recycled commodities. By supporting research into innovative uses for priority materials such as organic wastes, hard-to-recycle plastics, glass and tires, the center is developing new markets for recyclable materials.

The center is increasing its business assistance programs, shortening the time it takes to market new products or processes that use recycled commodities and developing markets for recovered construction materials in certified green buildings.

The Recycling Markets Center has launched new programs to help manufacturers that use recycled materials to document their reduced carbon emissions and earn tradable carbon credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange, CCX.

In August, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center became the first recycled markets development organization to join CCX, the world’s first and North America’s only voluntary, legally binding integrated greenhouse gas emissions reduction market.

As a member, the center will annually inventory and report its indirect emissions to CCX to verify and audit. Reporting requirements include vehicle use, air travel, as well as business operations.

Once the verification process is complete and total emissions are confirmed, the center is required to purchase and retire CCX Carbon Financial Instrument contracts through the CCX trading platform to fully offset the indirect emissions it produces.

To scope recycled materials processes for carbon emission reduction opportunities, the center has partnered with Environmental Credit Corporation of, State College, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Credit Corporation President, Scott Subler, said, “RMC is taking a leadership role in introducing Pennsylvania recyclers to rapidly developing opportunities in the carbon market. We’re excited to be working with them on this important issue.”

Pennsylvania’s recycling and reuse industry leads northeastern states in employment, payroll and sales numbers, according to state figures.

More than 3,200 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations make more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales and pay $305 million in taxes.

Recycling and reuse industries in Pennsylvania employ more than 81,000 people at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion.

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We generate 25 percent more trash during the holidays, and a large part of that can be attributed to the gifts we buy and ostentatiously wrap up before giving them away. Once given, you know how it usually goes: there’s the “Oh, what could it be?” stage followed by a moment of admiration and then the paper is shredded and the gift uncovered, the pretty paper that adorned the gift now a mangled afterthought, to be (hopefully) recycled or (probably) thrown away. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Going with non-disposable wrapping is the greenest way to go. By cutting wrapping paper out of the equation all together, you don’t have to worry about whether or not it’s recycled, or recyclable, because the answer is automatically (and emphatically) “Yes!” For example, if it’s a small kitchen gift, wrap it up in a kitchen towel that your giftee can use every day for years to come; for a larger gift, a reusable canvas bag, for groceries and the like, is a great way to wrap with function in mind. And, with people like Anya Hindmarch [www.anyahindmarch.com] creating designer bags that equally consider fashion and the environment, it’s a social statement instead of an ugly afterthought.

If reusable items and bags are not an option, using recycled paper (like the Sunday comics, even), or a tree-friendly paper alternative like hemp and flax [paporganics.com], is a good way to go. If it’s recycled, it’s already been through a produce lifecycle and the waste stream once, making its footprint much lighter than it would be if virgin materials were at the top of the list. In many cases, these recycled papers are also further recyclable, once you’re done with them; lots of wrapping paper, though made from paper, is sadly not recyclable. Generally, if it’s shiny or sparkly, it can’t be recycled — all that glitters is not gold, you know — so stay away from the really eye-catching stuff if you want your wrapping to be green.

Every year, 2.65 billion holiday cards are sold in the United States. If you’re buying, choose cards made from recycled paper and avoid the shiny non-recyclable kind. Sending e-cards is a good alternative, if you aren’t absolutely wedded to tradition, and be sure to recycle those non-shiny cards you get.

For more on this, check in with this designer option [www.fishlipspaperdesigns.com], peruse the many offerings of Pap Organics [www.paporganics.com] and find any color in the rainbow [www.buygiftpaper.com] if you still need some. The Green Guide [www.thegreenguide.com] has a thorough treatment of the subject as well. Happy wrapping!

Reacting against our throwaway lifestyle, CJ O’Neill rejuvenates discarded objects (plates, in this case), creating unique pieces, adding to their stories, rekindling old memories and creating new ones, all while encouraging re-use of materials in innovative ways. This series of pieces (“Feeding Desire”, below and “Heart”, beneath that) draws inspiration from the cities of New York, Vancouver, Manchester and London for the patterns and quotations cut and marked on the pieces. The words are open to interpretation, and, depending on the context, can mean something different to just about everyone. We love the combination of green materials and thoughtful, artful process that creates something meaningful and unique.

Says O’Neill, “My fascination with pattern has been important from an early age — an interest in hidden meanings, layers and secrets allows me to explore various trains of thought. Aesthetically, the work appeals with simple, familiar forms, and layers of pattern merging — beyond the aesthetics lies references to my influences and thoughts. A feeling of calm, a quiet nostalgia, a sense of contemplation and thoughtfulness; these are all important to my work.”

“New Heirlooms,” (below) the new collection of her work, might be the most perfectly named collection of dishware we’ve ever seen. As with her other work, it’s recycled from old dishes (heirlooms, you might say, for some people), given a second life with a stenciled splash of color (making them “new”); it’s then passed along to a new home, making them “new heirlooms” for its new owner. Brilliant; of course, it’s always better to reuse and renew than use virgin materials, so the pieces definitely earn their green cred. We love the way she uses colors and matches them with the old patterns; her work is meant to continue the story of functional objects, and the new dishware “rekindles old memories and creates new ones”. Find your new heirloom at CJ’s website [www.cjoneill.co.uk].

We like it when design tells a story. It’s one of the ways that we, as consumers, can make a more mindful connection to our stuff; when there’s something more to it than just a table you picked up at the mega-mall, you connect to that piece, and it gives you a reason to hold on to it, to cherish it, and to share its story with others. When that story is a green one, as with Contraforma’s new MW Series, it’s a double bonus: you want to keep it forever and it’s a solid green choice.

Contraforma’s new MW Collection [www.contraforma.com] does a really nice job mating the new and innovative with traditional materials; the frames are made of powder coated, laser-cut metal combined with 100 year-old reclaimed wood. We love the way the reclaimed wood works with the steel, and the patina that lends real character to the pieces.

Originating in a Lithuanian wood house, the material comes with a story and history that you just can’t find in virgin materials. The wood is already a century old, with such classic, timeless design, we wouldn’t be surprised if it lasts another. Get the whole story from Contraforma [www.contraforma.com].

Almost four decades ago, a US paper company wanted a symbol to communicate its products’ recycled content to its customers. The design competition they held was won by Gary Anderson, a young graphic designer from the University of Southern California. His entry, based on the Mobius strip, (a shape with only one side and no end) is now universally recognized as the symbol for recycling. For many people, recycling conjures up the blue plastic bins and bottle drives, but it’s so much more than that. Recycling is a design principal, a law of nature, a source of creativity, and a source of prosperity.

Don’t forget: it’s three R’s — The aphorism is so tired it almost might seem like “reduce, reuse, recycle” should go without saying. But in fact, most of us have only really heard the last third of the phrase, and they’re ranked in order of importance. Reducing the amount that we consume, and shifting our consumption to well-designed products and services, is the first step. Finding constructive uses for “waste” materials is next. And tossing it in the blue bin is last. (The garbage can is not on this list, for good reason.) Through a balance of these three principals you can easily see your landfill-destined waste dwindle fast. A good example of recycling is setting your empty water bottles in the bin on the curb. But by using a water filter and reusable container you can reduce or completely eliminate your need for disposable plastic bottles.

Know your numbers — Read up on the recycling rules in your town and take care not to send in anything that can’t be processed and recycled; one bad bottle can blow a whole batch! Each city has its own specifics, so try to follow those guidelines as best you can.

Buy recycled — The essence of recycling is the cyclical movement of materials through the system, eliminating waste and the need to extract more virgin materials. Supporting recycling means feeding this loop by not only recycling, but also supporting recycled products. You can find high recycled content in everything from printer paper to office chairs to countertops.

Recycle your food — We’ve said it before [www.sundancechannel.com] and we’ll say it again: compost your leftover organic waste. Composting food scraps will mean your regular kitchen wastebasket fills up more slowly and also won’t smell. Remember, if you don’t have a garden yourself, find neighbors or a community garden that can make use of your soil — there’s always someone looking for some good dirt.

Recycle your electronics — Electronics recycling is becoming more common in many urban areas, battery recycling is ubiquitous (rechargeable batteries are ecologically sounder, but even they wear out after a while), and there are a number of non-profit organizations that will take computer parts and turn them into working computers for others. Companies like Ebay have also developed programs to help your electronics find new homes. Other groups will gladly recycle your cell phone or give it to a senior citizen, as even without a contract it can still make emergency calls. If you have a major appliance that doesn’t work and you’d rather replace it than try to fix it, offer it to local repair shops, trade schools, or hobbyists to tinker with. Many cities now offer hazardous waste recycling days when they will take both hazardous waste and electronics. Check out our series of posts on e-waste, starting here [www.sundancechannel.com], for more details on electronics recycling.

Remember, “recyclable” is important, too — In addition to buying recycled goods, keep a keen eye out for recyclable goods. Whenever you purchase something packaged, think about how you can reuse the packaging, return it to a shipping store for reuse, or try to otherwise recycle it. If you get something likely to run down or wear out over time, such as an electronic component, give preference to the model that can be easily upgraded or cannibalized for parts so that you don’t have to junk the whole thing if one part breaks. Products that are impossibly fused together are often called “monstrous hybrids” and are, while often cheaper up front, frequently unfixable and unrecyclable.

If you don’t love something, let it go — Lots of charities welcome your donations. Groups like Freecycle and Recycler’s Exchange exist to help you get rid of useful objects that you just don’t want to make use of. If you’re in a Craigslist city, make use of the “free stuff” section. Give away clothes that don’t fit, the boxes you used in your last house move, or scented soaps that don’t appeal to your sensibilities. Make it a rule in your house that nothing useable goes in the trash until you’ve given the community a fair shot at it.