Mohd Jais Sabtu of Sinar Harapan Kompang Association in Bachang has found his silver linings when he discovered that he could use X-Ray films to replace goat skins to make his kompang, a traditional hand-held drum. Other than a reduction in cost to create his kompang, the X-ray films also produce better sound at Malay ceremonies and functions his group plays at.
But then there is more to X-ray films than making kompang. If Mohd knows the processes, he can get his hands on the real linings, by recovering silver from:
1) films
2) negatives
3) photo processing wastes
Silver leaches into the fixer solution used in photo processing and this should not be discarded indiscriminately. According to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), silver is a heavy metal and is toxic to the environment.
So, if you can get your hands on such wastes and would like to put them to use, and make some money in the process, following are silver recovery methods to consider:
1) Electrolysis
2) Ion Exchange
3) Metallic Replacement
4) Precipitation
To find out the cost, the advantages and disadvantages of each process, take time to read "Photographic Processing Waste Management" by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and EPA.
I read on Finishing that a student, Obogheneruru Orhuesie, used the electrolytic method of recovering silver for almost a year. He managed to fund his education, in a renowned university in Nigeria, from the proceeds he received from the sales of the recovered silver.
Juan M. Arcos has this recovery method to share on Finishing. He heats oxalic acid of 5% concentration to 100 degree Celsius, put the film into the acid for 20 minutes and all the silver will drop to the bottom. He said that there is no fumes, risk or environmental damage, just pure silver with this method
According to a write up on "Clean technology for the recovery of silver from processed radiographic films" by Science Direct, boiling films in oxalic acid separate the inorganic component from the polymer substrate. Recovery of silver is achieved by melting and the process recovers good quality silver and offers a very high yield.
Interested? Before you start, also read about the concerns of handling radiographic film processing chemicals posted on Carestream Health.
If Mr Mohd is aware of this, would he still consider making "kompang" out of X-ray films?
================================================================================
From my InBox in relation to this posting by Ryuji Suzuki of Silver Grain:
1 and 2 are essentially the same. Only black-and-white films,
negatives and radiographic films contain silver. Among these,
medical x-ray films contain the most silver, in order to
enhance the sensitivity to allow the minimum dose of x-ray
exposure. Properly processed color materials do not contain
silver.
Each liter of exhausted fixer solution contain about 5 to 30
grams of silver. As summarized in the article you mentioned,
there are various methods and there are trade-offs among
them. Well designed electrolysis system is the best in terms
of efficient silver recovery, but it requires a large
volume.
> Juan M. Arcos has this recovery method to share. He heats
> oxalic acid of 5% concentration to 100 degree Celsius, put
> the film into the acid for 20 minutes and all the silver
> will drop to the bottom. He said that there is no fumes,
> risk or environmental damage, just pure silver with this
> method.
This method by Syed et al. seems to work, and the silver is
collected as sludge. However, polyester films will vigorously
deform at 100C temperature and may splash the hot solution. In
terms of operator safety, a boiling oxalic acid solution
doesn't sound too safe for routine work, unless operated by an
automated plant or at least trained workers. It may be ideal
if another method that uses solutions of room temperature or
40C at most. However, oxalic acid is pretty cheap, and any
alternative methods would cost more.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Friday, 20 June 2008
Need some colours? Go find some bugs!
Picked this idea up from Texas Indians. What you should be looking for are Cochineal bugs that you can find on cactus plant.
You need to be brave enough to push a toothpick I push down into the beetle and it will pop open with red liquid running out. This is the way Indians dye their stuff red.
If you can take it, check out the fully pictorial guide, from Texas Indians, with very clear instruction on how you can extract natural dye from Cochineal bugs.
It should interest you to know that the dye is used as a fabric and cosmetics dye and as a natural food colouring, as well as for oil paints, pigments and watercolours. So, if you are good at extracting this dye, try making your own Lechuguilla Cord to dye with.
Other than for making cord, the Lechuguilla plant is also used to make a local alcohol beverage known as either "clandestino" or by the plant's name. The roots of Lechuguilla can also be used for making soap because of the high concentration of saponins. The water stored in this plant is sold in Mexico as a sport drink as it is rich in salts and minerals.
You need to be brave enough to push a toothpick I push down into the beetle and it will pop open with red liquid running out. This is the way Indians dye their stuff red.
If you can take it, check out the fully pictorial guide, from Texas Indians, with very clear instruction on how you can extract natural dye from Cochineal bugs.
It should interest you to know that the dye is used as a fabric and cosmetics dye and as a natural food colouring, as well as for oil paints, pigments and watercolours. So, if you are good at extracting this dye, try making your own Lechuguilla Cord to dye with.
Other than for making cord, the Lechuguilla plant is also used to make a local alcohol beverage known as either "clandestino" or by the plant's name. The roots of Lechuguilla can also be used for making soap because of the high concentration of saponins. The water stored in this plant is sold in Mexico as a sport drink as it is rich in salts and minerals.
Keep the flies away! Need more covers?
When the children were younger, they tend to take a longer time to eat their food and more often than not they are not at the dinning table where they should be. What happened was the flies beat them to the food and that meant that the food had to be discarded.
So, does that mean that you need to buy a number of food covers when you have children eating at home?
Not if you are able to get your hands on these plastic covers that come with canned food product, such as, margarine or condensed milk.
Most of these are large enough to cover other canned food. So, if you have any leftover canned food,...
...look through your collection of covers to see if there is any around to fit its top.
They are also the right size to cover the top of the rice bowl we use here.
So, what about items that need a larger cover like this mortar and pestle that I have. The cover I bought is not even large enough for it. And I know for a fact that you can be called away mid chores to attend to the children's demands or to check out if the children have been up to any pranks. So, I should buy a bigger one after all, right?
No. Not if you can find a clean dish cloth that is large enough to cover it.
Cultivate a "1 more need less" mentality and you will have more to spend on what is really needed. A great tips for a Mummy with twins, don't you think so?
So, does that mean that you need to buy a number of food covers when you have children eating at home?
Not if you are able to get your hands on these plastic covers that come with canned food product, such as, margarine or condensed milk.
Most of these are large enough to cover other canned food. So, if you have any leftover canned food,...
...look through your collection of covers to see if there is any around to fit its top.
They are also the right size to cover the top of the rice bowl we use here.
So, what about items that need a larger cover like this mortar and pestle that I have. The cover I bought is not even large enough for it. And I know for a fact that you can be called away mid chores to attend to the children's demands or to check out if the children have been up to any pranks. So, I should buy a bigger one after all, right?
No. Not if you can find a clean dish cloth that is large enough to cover it.
Cultivate a "1 more need less" mentality and you will have more to spend on what is really needed. A great tips for a Mummy with twins, don't you think so?
Why throw away food?
With prices of food going up, the question we should ask ourselves before we consider throwing away any food is, "Why are we throwing away our food?".
Here are some possible answers with links to solutions I discovered.
1) I did not learn the basic of cooking so I tend to cook in access of need. Sometimes the dish did not turn out well due to my inexperience.
2) I do know not how to cook with leftovers. Maybe I should join a forum about cooking?
3) I did not know what I have that foodstuff in my fridge and discovered it too late. How long should I keep that in my fridge?
4) I did not know that there are people around with insufficient to eat. Where can I send my excess food to?
5) I did not know that some local food outlets and franchises discard their stock about 3 days before their expiry dates, just to maintain their standards for freshness. If I can collect such food, surplus, distressed or damaged food and grocery items where can I send them to?
6) I did not know that I can start a Community Kitchen with of donated food and grocery product? Other than through donations, how would a non profit organisation like Second Harvest in America run?
7) Where else can I learn about making use of leftovers? How about from those in the record-setting food recovery programs highlighted by EPA?
8) What other facts should I know about?
What about those who eat out or do take-aways? Maybe you should first find out how others are rating drinks, food or outlets you intend to eat at. If the ratings are high on the food you picked, there would be nothing left on your plate to waste.
So, before you throw your food away, find out if they are any ideas here that you can make use of.
Here are some possible answers with links to solutions I discovered.
1) I did not learn the basic of cooking so I tend to cook in access of need. Sometimes the dish did not turn out well due to my inexperience.
2) I do know not how to cook with leftovers. Maybe I should join a forum about cooking?
3) I did not know what I have that foodstuff in my fridge and discovered it too late. How long should I keep that in my fridge?
4) I did not know that there are people around with insufficient to eat. Where can I send my excess food to?
5) I did not know that some local food outlets and franchises discard their stock about 3 days before their expiry dates, just to maintain their standards for freshness. If I can collect such food, surplus, distressed or damaged food and grocery items where can I send them to?
6) I did not know that I can start a Community Kitchen with of donated food and grocery product? Other than through donations, how would a non profit organisation like Second Harvest in America run?
7) Where else can I learn about making use of leftovers? How about from those in the record-setting food recovery programs highlighted by EPA?
8) What other facts should I know about?
What about those who eat out or do take-aways? Maybe you should first find out how others are rating drinks, food or outlets you intend to eat at. If the ratings are high on the food you picked, there would be nothing left on your plate to waste.
So, before you throw your food away, find out if they are any ideas here that you can make use of.
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Dusting? Go find some socks?!!!
I usually buy at least 2 pairs of socks in the same design. That way if 1 of either pair is lost or stained, I will still end up with 1 wearable pair. And when I talk about getting some socks to dust with, I am not talking about buying new ones to start with.
Start collecting those that you or your children have:
1) outgrown
2) lost a side
3) stained too much to be worn without embarrassment
When you dust the conventional way, with a feather duster, the dust will fly up into the air and land else where. If you missed sweeping a speck away, there it stays. And you wouldn't want that happening if you have children at home who are sensitive to dust particles.
So, go find that 1 sided sock, moisten it up a bit and slip it over your hand and start wiping away the dust with it. Once it is stained, turn it around on your hand so that you have the other side of the surface to clean with.
If you have more areas to dust, don't wash that dirty sock yet! Turn it inside out and...
...you will have 2 more surfaces from the inside to work with.
All sides used? Now you can wash. Great job! You have just save time, save water and reduced waste.
Start collecting those that you or your children have:
1) outgrown
2) lost a side
3) stained too much to be worn without embarrassment
When you dust the conventional way, with a feather duster, the dust will fly up into the air and land else where. If you missed sweeping a speck away, there it stays. And you wouldn't want that happening if you have children at home who are sensitive to dust particles.
So, go find that 1 sided sock, moisten it up a bit and slip it over your hand and start wiping away the dust with it. Once it is stained, turn it around on your hand so that you have the other side of the surface to clean with.
If you have more areas to dust, don't wash that dirty sock yet! Turn it inside out and...
...you will have 2 more surfaces from the inside to work with.
All sides used? Now you can wash. Great job! You have just save time, save water and reduced waste.
The Story of Stuff? A 2008 award winner!
I may not be able to get you interested in reading about where the things you buy come from and where they will end up when obsolete but if the information is...
1) well researched
2) animated, fast-paced and fact-filled
3) popular with more than 2 million viewers on record
4) a 20-minute 2008 award winning production
...that should get you to sit down and watch.
Like what you hear so far from Anne Leonard, an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues?
Then, go and see the full story of stuff in your life. You would not have realised how decisions made by you and someone on the other side of the globe could affect the world until you see it from Anne's view.
1) well researched
2) animated, fast-paced and fact-filled
3) popular with more than 2 million viewers on record
4) a 20-minute 2008 award winning production
...that should get you to sit down and watch.
Like what you hear so far from Anne Leonard, an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues?
Then, go and see the full story of stuff in your life. You would not have realised how decisions made by you and someone on the other side of the globe could affect the world until you see it from Anne's view.
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
When kids come visiting, be prepared!
I can imagine that a new mother with twins is bound to gain popularity overnight. Friends and relatives are most likely to visit with their children in tow to welcome the new babies. So, my idea today is to protect cushions from being stained by visiting children.
You should be interested in this tip too because it is going to help save cleaning time, water, make use of some treasured discards.
So, what do you need?
1) Lovely nice plastic bags you have been getting buying baby or adult clothings. Here is an example.
2) Lovely t-shirts that your children have outgrown. I love these souvenir t-shirts, bought by relatives while they were on holiday overseas. It is grand to think that they have thought about my children.
If you are expecting children to visit, slip your cushions...
...into the plastic bags.
Now slip the t-shirt over the plastic bag so that opening of the bag is at the side of the t-shirt.
The children will love it when they play with the cushions because of the sound the plastic bags will make. And if any of them, including yours, stained the cushion, just remove and replace the stained t-shirt with another.
It is easier to wash a t-shirt which you can throw into the washing machine than a cushion cover and the stain will not seep into the fillings of the cushions. It is more likely that you have to wash the whole set of cushion covers even if one has been stained. You do not want one piece to look obviously cleaner than the rest, do you?
It can also be a great conversation starter. Like, "Oh, you have been to Australia?" or "Check out this tactile cushion idea I created for my children".
Like this idea too? In that case you are going to like my next idea better. Just watch out for it in my next posting.
You should be interested in this tip too because it is going to help save cleaning time, water, make use of some treasured discards.
So, what do you need?
1) Lovely nice plastic bags you have been getting buying baby or adult clothings. Here is an example.
2) Lovely t-shirts that your children have outgrown. I love these souvenir t-shirts, bought by relatives while they were on holiday overseas. It is grand to think that they have thought about my children.
If you are expecting children to visit, slip your cushions...
...into the plastic bags.
Now slip the t-shirt over the plastic bag so that opening of the bag is at the side of the t-shirt.
The children will love it when they play with the cushions because of the sound the plastic bags will make. And if any of them, including yours, stained the cushion, just remove and replace the stained t-shirt with another.
It is easier to wash a t-shirt which you can throw into the washing machine than a cushion cover and the stain will not seep into the fillings of the cushions. It is more likely that you have to wash the whole set of cushion covers even if one has been stained. You do not want one piece to look obviously cleaner than the rest, do you?
It can also be a great conversation starter. Like, "Oh, you have been to Australia?" or "Check out this tactile cushion idea I created for my children".
Like this idea too? In that case you are going to like my next idea better. Just watch out for it in my next posting.
Protest or gain support? What's your take?
While some like to protest about things they are not happy about, there are others who try to gain support.
In India there is a group of people collecting used plastic bags that are polluting their environment. They found support in RagBag, a company that sells the fashionable bags and organizers they are able to craft out of the plastic bags.
According to BidNetwork, the company is doing so well that they are looking for more suppliers to meet their sales demand. In fact RagBag has gone as far as South-Africa, Cameroon and Brazil in their search for suppliers.
Other than used plastic bags, RagBag is also selling bags made out of material woven out of old cotton sari.
So, it is no wonder that "European Business Awards for the Environment" named it the winner of "The International Cooperation Award".
Instead of protesting about plastic bags polluting their countries, some people living in slums managed to earn a decent living, while a company managed to start a global business and win awards, through the innovative designs by young European and Indian designers.
What's your take? Start a group collecting used plastic bags in your own country?
In India there is a group of people collecting used plastic bags that are polluting their environment. They found support in RagBag, a company that sells the fashionable bags and organizers they are able to craft out of the plastic bags.
According to BidNetwork, the company is doing so well that they are looking for more suppliers to meet their sales demand. In fact RagBag has gone as far as South-Africa, Cameroon and Brazil in their search for suppliers.
Other than used plastic bags, RagBag is also selling bags made out of material woven out of old cotton sari.
So, it is no wonder that "European Business Awards for the Environment" named it the winner of "The International Cooperation Award".
Instead of protesting about plastic bags polluting their countries, some people living in slums managed to earn a decent living, while a company managed to start a global business and win awards, through the innovative designs by young European and Indian designers.
What's your take? Start a group collecting used plastic bags in your own country?
Monday, 16 June 2008
Mopping? Read my savings tips first.
The twins are due soon. They are not mine but my friend's and I am sure that she will love these savings ideas I have to ease her household chores once her family of 3 shoots up to 5 members. You should be interested too because you can also reduce some wastage in your home.
Let's start with savings tips for mopping the floor. Would you believe it if I say that I can mop a floor space of 25m by 75m with half a pail of floor cleaning solution? And it is only about 3 quarter full.
To be able to do that, you need this kind of mop handle for...
...this kind of slip on mop.
To use it with ease, you need to drape over the mop, a laundry bag for washing your delicate clothings in washing machine or an old stocking. The zip on this laundry bag shown here is damaged. So,...
...instead of throwing it away, I slipped it on to the mop to reduce friction against the floor and ease movement of cleaning.
When you mop this way, the dust and dirt will clump up together,
...making it easier for you to push them together before you sweep it up into a dustpan with a broom.
When you use a broom, the dust will disperse as you sweep and settle elsewhere. In fact, you can see the finer dust stuck to the laundry bag in this picture.
Remove the laundry bag and the mop to wash. But don't wash them in the pail of cleaning solution. I usually wash them under running water. But if you are concern about wasting too much water in the process, use another pail of water for that.
For this write up, I have collected the running water I used each time I removed the dirty laundry bag and mop to wash. This is how much water I have used. Look at the murky colour and you will know that it is an effective way to mop the floor.
Also, as you can see, my pail of cleaning solution still looked as good to clean.
I usually use that to wash the bathroom.
Also, if you rinse your your mop and laundry bag properly, you can throw them into the washing machine to wash.
So, this is my tips for the day for:
1) saving water
2) saving cleaning solution
3) saving old laundry bag or stocking
4) saving energy because the mop is lighter and not as difficult to wrung
5) saving time handwashing the mop
You can also use this mop dry. That way it functions like a broom. However, make sure that you do not buy the type with broad base as it will be difficult to reach under low tables and cupboard to clean up.
And what do I do when the mop wears out on me?
I get a new one and use the old one for the kitchen. I don't bother sewing up the loose seams. Since I drape a laundry bag over the mop, it hangs on to the handle just fine.
Watch out for more shortcuts and green savings tips that I have up my sleeves in the next posting.
Let's start with savings tips for mopping the floor. Would you believe it if I say that I can mop a floor space of 25m by 75m with half a pail of floor cleaning solution? And it is only about 3 quarter full.
To be able to do that, you need this kind of mop handle for...
...this kind of slip on mop.
To use it with ease, you need to drape over the mop, a laundry bag for washing your delicate clothings in washing machine or an old stocking. The zip on this laundry bag shown here is damaged. So,...
...instead of throwing it away, I slipped it on to the mop to reduce friction against the floor and ease movement of cleaning.
When you mop this way, the dust and dirt will clump up together,
...making it easier for you to push them together before you sweep it up into a dustpan with a broom.
When you use a broom, the dust will disperse as you sweep and settle elsewhere. In fact, you can see the finer dust stuck to the laundry bag in this picture.
Remove the laundry bag and the mop to wash. But don't wash them in the pail of cleaning solution. I usually wash them under running water. But if you are concern about wasting too much water in the process, use another pail of water for that.
For this write up, I have collected the running water I used each time I removed the dirty laundry bag and mop to wash. This is how much water I have used. Look at the murky colour and you will know that it is an effective way to mop the floor.
Also, as you can see, my pail of cleaning solution still looked as good to clean.
I usually use that to wash the bathroom.
Also, if you rinse your your mop and laundry bag properly, you can throw them into the washing machine to wash.
So, this is my tips for the day for:
1) saving water
2) saving cleaning solution
3) saving old laundry bag or stocking
4) saving energy because the mop is lighter and not as difficult to wrung
5) saving time handwashing the mop
You can also use this mop dry. That way it functions like a broom. However, make sure that you do not buy the type with broad base as it will be difficult to reach under low tables and cupboard to clean up.
And what do I do when the mop wears out on me?
I get a new one and use the old one for the kitchen. I don't bother sewing up the loose seams. Since I drape a laundry bag over the mop, it hangs on to the handle just fine.
Watch out for more shortcuts and green savings tips that I have up my sleeves in the next posting.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Did I throw the sauce? Of course not!
Did I throw away the sauce after removing that layer of oil? Of course not! Leave the bowl of sauce in room temperature for a while and...
...this is what you will get. A soup base.
I think leftover sauce is a very good way to wean my children off eating instant noodle. When I use it to cook 3 packets of instant noodle, I use only half of one packet of the flavouring sauce provided. I am sure you have heard that flavouring sauces supplied with instant noodles are high in sodium and MSG ( monosodium glutamate). These are food additives and preservatives that I do not want my children to overload themselves with.
Also, try to cook instant noodle the way I cook it, by first boiling the noodle in a pot of water. Remove the noodle once it has soften enough. Leave the pot of water to cool and you should be able to collect some oil and...
...according to Health2Know, wax off its surface. So, do not use this pot of water for soup. Discard it.
Boil the sauce and add whatever leftover meat you have from your leftover dish.
Once the sauce starts boiling add part of a packet of flavouring sauce to taste before you add the noodle. Let it boil first before adding an egg. Add greens if you have them and the noodle is ready to be served.
I can hear you asked, "Use half a packet of its flavouring sauce for 3 packets of noodle? Wouldn't it taste bland?"
I will leave it to Callie to answer that question.
...this is what you will get. A soup base.
I think leftover sauce is a very good way to wean my children off eating instant noodle. When I use it to cook 3 packets of instant noodle, I use only half of one packet of the flavouring sauce provided. I am sure you have heard that flavouring sauces supplied with instant noodles are high in sodium and MSG ( monosodium glutamate). These are food additives and preservatives that I do not want my children to overload themselves with.
Also, try to cook instant noodle the way I cook it, by first boiling the noodle in a pot of water. Remove the noodle once it has soften enough. Leave the pot of water to cool and you should be able to collect some oil and...
...according to Health2Know, wax off its surface. So, do not use this pot of water for soup. Discard it.
Boil the sauce and add whatever leftover meat you have from your leftover dish.
Once the sauce starts boiling add part of a packet of flavouring sauce to taste before you add the noodle. Let it boil first before adding an egg. Add greens if you have them and the noodle is ready to be served.
I can hear you asked, "Use half a packet of its flavouring sauce for 3 packets of noodle? Wouldn't it taste bland?"
I will leave it to Callie to answer that question.
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Inspired? Seek creativity.
How long can one stay inspired? Inspiration dips as the memory of a conjured idea fades over time. How can one boost it up to push one into taking action to make an idea a reality?
I think the best way would be to capture the creativity of others who have acted upon their ideas. Read about how others think about them for taking that next step. Imagine how they must have felt to have their work recognised. Not a wasted effort, after all.
Need to find eco-friendly motivators? Then join me in my search for ideas and inspirations at Creativity Online
I think the best way would be to capture the creativity of others who have acted upon their ideas. Read about how others think about them for taking that next step. Imagine how they must have felt to have their work recognised. Not a wasted effort, after all.
Need to find eco-friendly motivators? Then join me in my search for ideas and inspirations at Creativity Online
Friday, 13 June 2008
Be a GIANT with small footprints?
I have written about using your fingers to teach to save usage of paper in a classroom environment and today I have another idea to share with you.
Did you notice the slides I have been using on my blog? You can easily find short and interesting slides on public domains to teach with. Here is one presentation on air pollution and...
...another on Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans
I discovered them from SlideShare.
If you are able to create your own PowerPoint slides about the environment, post them online for public viewing so that more people will be able to read about them. Also, when you save your work on the net, as long as you can go online, you can show your presentations wherever you may be.
You can also search for relevant videos from YouTube to present. Just learn to download them onto your notebook, computer or onto a hand-held disc storage.
Then instead of printing write outs for distribution, all you have to do is to provide links to the slides or videos you have shown. I am sure that if the children or adults have enjoyed them, they will be emailing these links to their friends.
When you work on spreading news about caring for our environment that way, you are able to reach a wider group of people. So, there you are, you can be a GIANT (spreading environmental information) with small footprints (to a large group of people).
And as you tread along, you will soon realise that you have also managed to turn your GIANT footprints small, carbonwise.
Did you notice the slides I have been using on my blog? You can easily find short and interesting slides on public domains to teach with. Here is one presentation on air pollution and...
...another on Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans
I discovered them from SlideShare.
If you are able to create your own PowerPoint slides about the environment, post them online for public viewing so that more people will be able to read about them. Also, when you save your work on the net, as long as you can go online, you can show your presentations wherever you may be.
You can also search for relevant videos from YouTube to present. Just learn to download them onto your notebook, computer or onto a hand-held disc storage.
Then instead of printing write outs for distribution, all you have to do is to provide links to the slides or videos you have shown. I am sure that if the children or adults have enjoyed them, they will be emailing these links to their friends.
When you work on spreading news about caring for our environment that way, you are able to reach a wider group of people. So, there you are, you can be a GIANT (spreading environmental information) with small footprints (to a large group of people).
And as you tread along, you will soon realise that you have also managed to turn your GIANT footprints small, carbonwise.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Brand? Make me stick to yours!
What is the factor that drives you to pick a particular brand? Other than taste, style, value for money or the status quo it brings, there is another factor that may have been overlooked. And that is the packaging the product came in.
Have you ever removed labels off milk cans or...
...cut out recipes from cereals boxes?
When the company continues it series of recipes or theme to collect, didn't you or your children continue buying that particular brand till you have a complete collection?
I remember when I was a young girl, my sisters and I used to collect very interesting pictures of animals, birds and fishes printed on the inside of labels from MilkMaid milk cans. It became an exciting hobby since we did not know what pictures to expect and we took very particular care not to tear them. The company also supplied a book with information about each subject and a blank space for us to stick each picture on. That should be about 40 years ago and my sister has held on to these collections.
Here is another packaging that I appreciate. It's Walls ice cream container. I like it because I can see through the container and know what I have stored in it. The best part about it is that the labels can be removed easily leaving no stains on the container. So, it is just like getting a free container that may have cost me RM4.90 at 100 Yen.
So, why didn't I remove the label on the cover? It is so that I can remember the brand and continue to collect these containers. And, learning from experience, I am going to write to Walls to request that they continue supplying their ice cream in this container.
So, what's on your packaging? Reduce waste! Make your consumers keep them.
Have you ever removed labels off milk cans or...
...cut out recipes from cereals boxes?
When the company continues it series of recipes or theme to collect, didn't you or your children continue buying that particular brand till you have a complete collection?
I remember when I was a young girl, my sisters and I used to collect very interesting pictures of animals, birds and fishes printed on the inside of labels from MilkMaid milk cans. It became an exciting hobby since we did not know what pictures to expect and we took very particular care not to tear them. The company also supplied a book with information about each subject and a blank space for us to stick each picture on. That should be about 40 years ago and my sister has held on to these collections.
Here is another packaging that I appreciate. It's Walls ice cream container. I like it because I can see through the container and know what I have stored in it. The best part about it is that the labels can be removed easily leaving no stains on the container. So, it is just like getting a free container that may have cost me RM4.90 at 100 Yen.
So, why didn't I remove the label on the cover? It is so that I can remember the brand and continue to collect these containers. And, learning from experience, I am going to write to Walls to request that they continue supplying their ice cream in this container.
So, what's on your packaging? Reduce waste! Make your consumers keep them.
Treasured discards? Thanks for the memory.
I have asked earlier if there are ways to make a living out of treasured discards that has no value to others to consider selling.
Shannon Batson has the answer when she made memory bears out of her grandfather’s favourite clothing after his death, for each of his children. That is how she started her business, Create Treasures.
See how she recycles fur coats that grandmothers loved so much.
Shannon Batson has the answer when she made memory bears out of her grandfather’s favourite clothing after his death, for each of his children. That is how she started her business, Create Treasures.
See how she recycles fur coats that grandmothers loved so much.
Here is a Camo Bear she created.
These were created for the family of servicemen who have died protecting her country. Out of gratitude, she did not charge them for her creations. I cannot think of a better way for anyone to show appreciation or remember someone by.
Can you?
Green lifestyle? Calculate your way in!
So, you have heard, read and seen how global warming is affecting the world. Are you concern enough to do something about it?
Some tweaking to your lifestyle will help. But first you need to know your carbon footprint. Once you are aware about your impact on earth, you can calculate yourself into a green lifestyle.
You can also find more calculators posted by concerned being, Gil Friend, on Squidoo. You can add greening calculators you have discovered to Gil's list or you can discuss what you have been up to about carbon footprint on Wikipedia.
Now that you have heard, read and seen it; ACT!
Some tweaking to your lifestyle will help. But first you need to know your carbon footprint. Once you are aware about your impact on earth, you can calculate yourself into a green lifestyle.
You can also find more calculators posted by concerned being, Gil Friend, on Squidoo. You can add greening calculators you have discovered to Gil's list or you can discuss what you have been up to about carbon footprint on Wikipedia.
Now that you have heard, read and seen it; ACT!
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Used batteries. Anyone?
I post many photos on my blogs so I have been using lots of batteries for my digital camera. The recyclers who drive around my housing estate to collect recyclables do not take used batteries like these.
What would you do with them?
Me? I hid the batteries between folds of plastic bags and created a flora piece.
Like it? You can learn to make your own.
What would you do with them?
Me? I hid the batteries between folds of plastic bags and created a flora piece.
Like it? You can learn to make your own.
Monday, 9 June 2008
You asked for it! Green activities.
A request from my Inbox:
Please, could you kindly tell me if you know of activities that can be done with children and their parents to introduce, remind or develop and awareness and more importantly adapt buying and disposal habits with respect to recyclable materials.
Games, toy making, craft type activities would be ideal. I hope to use these at outdoor events I organise for families.
============================================================================
Here are my suggestions with links to articles I have written earlier that will be useful for your project:
1) Take the families out for walks at public gardens or National Parks. Then provoke their senses by showing them pictures of what these places will look like if they do not take care of the environment.
2) You can use your fingers to tell them why they should be mindful of the environment.
3) Get the children appreciating green places by getting them to cut out pictures of parks or forest reserves they can go with their parents. They can paste the pictures and note their locations in old calendars.
4) In my country, I am allowed to pick seeds off parks in our housing estates. If it is allowed in UK, get the children to collect seeds from parks in their neighbourhood and bring them home to grow or give away. Take pictures of the trees or plants near where the seeds dropped off from so that they will have a record of the greens they have planted.
5) I have posted a few videos to remind or create an awareness of how our shopping habits can affect the environment. A very good example of one is the following:
Shopping? Buying product or packaging?
Through my experience, the children will appreciate the following videos:
Teaching children? You need superheroes.
"If I am your friend..." is a poem I wrote for the children to go with this video I showed them.
The children love this video best:
Underwears? Yes, can be recycled.
There are a few videos from "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See" which was created by a Physics school teacher in US.
6) If you do a search for packaging on my blog, you will find that I have posted many ideas on how to make use of them. I have also posted many free tutorials using scrap materials on this blog and on Creative Recyclers.
7) A drum circle is something that they can play outdoor. The children can create their own Recycled Musical Ware. They can also create decorations for their musical wares.
8) Don't miss out the children who do not enjoy and will not join your outdoor activities. Let them learn about going green playing games. It will also be a fun way to introduce children to the world of recycling.
This is it for the moment till I find more activities to add to this.
Please, could you kindly tell me if you know of activities that can be done with children and their parents to introduce, remind or develop and awareness and more importantly adapt buying and disposal habits with respect to recyclable materials.
Games, toy making, craft type activities would be ideal. I hope to use these at outdoor events I organise for families.
============================================================================
Here are my suggestions with links to articles I have written earlier that will be useful for your project:
1) Take the families out for walks at public gardens or National Parks. Then provoke their senses by showing them pictures of what these places will look like if they do not take care of the environment.
2) You can use your fingers to tell them why they should be mindful of the environment.
3) Get the children appreciating green places by getting them to cut out pictures of parks or forest reserves they can go with their parents. They can paste the pictures and note their locations in old calendars.
4) In my country, I am allowed to pick seeds off parks in our housing estates. If it is allowed in UK, get the children to collect seeds from parks in their neighbourhood and bring them home to grow or give away. Take pictures of the trees or plants near where the seeds dropped off from so that they will have a record of the greens they have planted.
5) I have posted a few videos to remind or create an awareness of how our shopping habits can affect the environment. A very good example of one is the following:
Shopping? Buying product or packaging?
Through my experience, the children will appreciate the following videos:
Teaching children? You need superheroes.
"If I am your friend..." is a poem I wrote for the children to go with this video I showed them.
The children love this video best:
Underwears? Yes, can be recycled.
There are a few videos from "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See" which was created by a Physics school teacher in US.
6) If you do a search for packaging on my blog, you will find that I have posted many ideas on how to make use of them. I have also posted many free tutorials using scrap materials on this blog and on Creative Recyclers.
7) A drum circle is something that they can play outdoor. The children can create their own Recycled Musical Ware. They can also create decorations for their musical wares.
8) Don't miss out the children who do not enjoy and will not join your outdoor activities. Let them learn about going green playing games. It will also be a fun way to introduce children to the world of recycling.
This is it for the moment till I find more activities to add to this.
Need maps? Look for junk mails.
My friend has been asking me for the direction to Standard Chartered Bank in Kajang. I am bad at giving directions and soon she was asking me again. So, I went through my pile of junk mails and sure enough, I found an advertisement of a shop near the bank and it has a map to it.
Most advertisements come with maps to the location of the shops advertised. I especially like the ones promoting new housing estates. These maps usually highlight amenities like shopping complexes, schools, hospitals, train stations, etc. In some maps there are also markings for commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, clubs, police stations or prominent housing estates around the development.
Since I was looking through the pile, I decided to salvage some of the useful materials before I put them out to recycle. So, what else could I possibly find useful in junk mails? Here are my 7 useful ways with junk mails:
1) I keep maps of shops and places I would like my family to go to. That way their father will not have to crack his head wondering where we can go during the weekends.
2) Sometimes my children become very frustrated when they are not able to tell me the name of a product or a particular brand they want on the shopping list. So, I kept pictures of stuff and groceries that I tend to buy for the family. They are able to identify the items better by looking at the pictures. The ones for food and vegetables are used to label what I store in my fridge.
3) Advertisements printed on one side only. With price of fuel up, I am sure that price for paper product will go up too. Now my children can draw on the blank side of the paper or create cut outs with them. And, to inspire their creativity, I also collected advertisements with cute drawings on them.
4) I remember how upset I became when my children advised me too late that they need colour paper for their school projects and we are out of them at home. So I cut out coloured paper off advertisements that are of a large usable size. I also keep those colourful advertisements printed on manila cardboard thickness paper.
5) I also look out for advertisement of the toys and electronic stuff my children hanker for. That way they can use them to decorate the chest of drawers and file holders I have created out of cardboard boxes for them. I told them that I have informed their father of this project and they are not to bother their father about getting them again as he can see the stuff for himself. I told them that it will be their affirmation board in getting the things they want.
6) Items in pictorial advertisements that are printed in Malaysia are usually labeled in English and Malay. I find them very useful as a teaching aid for language and...
...maths. You can teach the children to judge the value of a product not on its unit price but also based on the volume and quantity it is supplied. They can also learn the different type of measurements used for liquids and solids.
7) Don't you hate it when you need to get things done but you do not know the name of the material or equipment you require? How are you going to tell your supplier or repairman about it? If this is the scenario you are often in, then it is time to collect advertisements like these:
If you have the time, you can read 5 more useful ways with junk mails that I have written earlier.
Among my box of junk mails, I found this label that was attached to one of the clothes I bought. I did not think that it would be useful until I took a closer look at it. It indicates on one side, women's tops in European and American size and on the other side, women's bottom. As it is small enough for me to slip into my purse, it will be very handy for me to decide the right size to buy when I come across one with European sizes. So, I am keeping that.
That's a lot of paper cuttings to keep and you maybe thinking that it is too messy a project to start on. But if you sort your cuttings out neatly in clear A4 size plastic holders, you can store them neatly on a book shelf.
And I do not see why your family members will not help you in this project since it will benefit them as well.
Most advertisements come with maps to the location of the shops advertised. I especially like the ones promoting new housing estates. These maps usually highlight amenities like shopping complexes, schools, hospitals, train stations, etc. In some maps there are also markings for commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, clubs, police stations or prominent housing estates around the development.
Since I was looking through the pile, I decided to salvage some of the useful materials before I put them out to recycle. So, what else could I possibly find useful in junk mails? Here are my 7 useful ways with junk mails:
1) I keep maps of shops and places I would like my family to go to. That way their father will not have to crack his head wondering where we can go during the weekends.
2) Sometimes my children become very frustrated when they are not able to tell me the name of a product or a particular brand they want on the shopping list. So, I kept pictures of stuff and groceries that I tend to buy for the family. They are able to identify the items better by looking at the pictures. The ones for food and vegetables are used to label what I store in my fridge.
3) Advertisements printed on one side only. With price of fuel up, I am sure that price for paper product will go up too. Now my children can draw on the blank side of the paper or create cut outs with them. And, to inspire their creativity, I also collected advertisements with cute drawings on them.
4) I remember how upset I became when my children advised me too late that they need colour paper for their school projects and we are out of them at home. So I cut out coloured paper off advertisements that are of a large usable size. I also keep those colourful advertisements printed on manila cardboard thickness paper.
5) I also look out for advertisement of the toys and electronic stuff my children hanker for. That way they can use them to decorate the chest of drawers and file holders I have created out of cardboard boxes for them. I told them that I have informed their father of this project and they are not to bother their father about getting them again as he can see the stuff for himself. I told them that it will be their affirmation board in getting the things they want.
6) Items in pictorial advertisements that are printed in Malaysia are usually labeled in English and Malay. I find them very useful as a teaching aid for language and...
...maths. You can teach the children to judge the value of a product not on its unit price but also based on the volume and quantity it is supplied. They can also learn the different type of measurements used for liquids and solids.
7) Don't you hate it when you need to get things done but you do not know the name of the material or equipment you require? How are you going to tell your supplier or repairman about it? If this is the scenario you are often in, then it is time to collect advertisements like these:
If you have the time, you can read 5 more useful ways with junk mails that I have written earlier.
Among my box of junk mails, I found this label that was attached to one of the clothes I bought. I did not think that it would be useful until I took a closer look at it. It indicates on one side, women's tops in European and American size and on the other side, women's bottom. As it is small enough for me to slip into my purse, it will be very handy for me to decide the right size to buy when I come across one with European sizes. So, I am keeping that.
That's a lot of paper cuttings to keep and you maybe thinking that it is too messy a project to start on. But if you sort your cuttings out neatly in clear A4 size plastic holders, you can store them neatly on a book shelf.
And I do not see why your family members will not help you in this project since it will benefit them as well.
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