Local Benefit Program for Bikers

I recently stumbled across a benefit program for bikers (bicyclists, that is). For $5, members get a sticker to place on their bike helmet to receive discounts or rewards at local businesses.

Stickers can be purchased through participating businesses or through the Bicycle Benefits website.

In MA, the following towns have participating businesses: Boston (JP), Cambridge, Somerville, Allston/Brighton Brookline, and Watertown. Currently, the other states and Canadian provinces covered by this program include VT, NY, UT, CO, MT, WI, PA, KS, NH, OH, OR, WA, District of Columbia and British Columbia.

Giving Worn Athletic Shoes/Sneakers New Life

My tennis sneakers are dead. :(
Finding a renewed passion for tennis this summer, I wore a large hole through the sole within a few months. Luckily, I can give a new life by donating them to Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program. The program, Nike Grind, takes apart athletic shoes into three parts to integrate them into athletic and playground surfaces:

• outsole rubber – soccer pitch, running track, playground
• midsole foam – outdoor basketball courts, outdoor tennis courts, indoor synthetic basketball/volleyball courts
• upper fabric – indoor wood basketball court

Guidelines:

• Athletic shoes only (any brand ok)
• No metal (eyelets, cleats or spikes)
• No dress shoes, thongs, sandals, boots
• No hiking boots or shoes with lights
• No wet or muddy shoes

Shoes can be dropped off at various locations or mailed in. In the Boston area, go to the Niketown store at 200 Newbury Street or the Wrentham Factory Outlet store. Surfaces using the recycled shoe material can be found at the Josiah Quincy School’s playground in Chinatown and the Colonel Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club’s outdoor basketball courts in Dorchester.

For more information about Nike Reuse-A-Shoe, go to nikereuseashoe.com or call 800-344-6453.

If your sneakers are still usable, check out Runner’s World list of organizations that accept shoe donations.

Electronics Recycling Event, Sat May 30

Saturday, May 30
9am – 1pm
Somerville, Parking lot next to Dilboy Field

Free for residents of Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont

BRING

• Computer Monitors (flat panels OK)
• Television Sets** (all sizes)
• Personal Computers
• Printers / Scanners / Fax machines
• Calculators
• Cell phones
• Electronic Scales
• Keyboards & Mice
• Microwaves
• Radios
• Stereos
• Telephones
• Toasters
• Vacuums

NO

• No White Goods (ex. Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, Refrigerators)
• No Batteries
• No Car Parts
• No Chemicals
• No Light Bulbs
• No Hazardous Waste**
• No Metal Waste
• No Mercury Items
• No Tires

http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/news/electronicsevent.htm

There is also an upcoming household hazardous waste collection in Cambridge (for Cambridge residents only) on June 20th.

Hey Tennis Players!

So tennis season is in full swing, the courts are crowded and littered. . .literally with dead balls and metal tops from ball cans.

Tennis balls are vacuum sealed and although the can is mostly plastic, the top is a metal pull top. As a player, I’ve always enjoyed cracking open a fresh can. Crack. Woosh. And then a whiff of fresh balls (probably not too healthy since it’s the manufacturing process sealed into the can). Players tend to toss the metal tops aside once they have the tennis balls.

Previously, I have to admit I never really thought about it and tossed the tops into the trash as I left the courts. The other day I was gathering some old keys to do some metal recycling which made think about what other types of scrap metal can be recycled. I took a closer look at the cap I still had in my tennis bag. It was stamped with “ALUMINUM RECYCLES”. So this season I’ve started making a habit of picking up any metal caps I find lying around the courts to recycle them (don’t forget to recycle the plastic cans as well) . Normally, I detest litter littering and litterers, however, their laziness prevents a number of caps (no matter how small the amount) from going into a landfill. 

Now, if only we could recycle all those dead tennis balls (more on that later).

Reusable Water Bottles

Waste Not, Want Not

As you are already most likely aware, the water sold in water bottles is basically tap water and costs more than gas. If that isn’t enough to wean you from relying on water bottles, consider the negative environmental impacts bottled water generates including:

• bottle production energy and waste,
• energy for transportation of bottles,
• post-consumer waste (with less than 20% getting recycled even in areas with curbside recycling), and
• potential life-threatening dangers to water-based animals creatures.

In addition to the lack of regulation of bottled water, there is the concern that it takes away from public water systems resulting in the commodification of water.

Collapsible Reusable Water Bottles

In my search for a reusable water bottle, I came across collapsible water bottles. These types water bottles appealed to me because of their increased portability; they are lighter than conventional water bottles and take little space once they are empty. Currently, there are two companies offering collapsible water bottles: Platypus and Evernew. Evernew comes in four sizes: 600ml, 900ml, 1.5L, 2L with an attached screw top, which helps in preventing the loss of the cap. The PlatyBottle comes in three sizes: .5L, 1L and 2L and is available with a sport pull top or screw top. Both products offer insulated carrying cases. The Platypus brand is more readily available (not surprising since Platypus is a US based company, while Evernew is based in Japan). As a result, I purchased the 1L PlatyBottle with a sports top.

The PlatyBottle can be multi-purposed. Because it can be frozen or boiled, it can be used as an ice pack or hot water bottle. For long trips, one can freeze water to have the water stay cold longer. Then, you can place the frozen water in a cooler as an ice pack ; increasing the available space in the cooler by eliminating the need for ice or a conventional ice pack. Its multiple uses are ideal for those looking to simplify and reduce.

Personally, the improved portability is ideal since I bike to sports-related destinations. As advertised, the Platypus does not add any flavors/taste to the water. A reviewer  mentioned that it was convenient for bringing through airport security and then filling with water. Unfortunately, in my experience the water that comes out of the airport water fountains can be unpalatable and rather revolting. Generally, I prefer my water cold and fill it with chilled water filtered through a Brita pitcher.

Resources:

Food & Water Watch, Bottled Water Facts

Breaking the Bottled Water Habit, USA Today