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Recycling Rainwater With Rain Barrel
Recycling Guide
Roll-out cart placement guide
These carts are too close together, and too close to the mailbox. The automated truck will not be able to pick them up.
Beginning July 5, 2011 residents in Concord will receive fully automated garbage and recycling collection. Proper cart placement is essential for a successful pickup.
Recycling Rainwater With Rain Barrel
Most people take water for granted until it has no rain for several months and the city asked them to stop watering their gardens.
Recycling rainwater is one of the best ways to help guard against this. There are many ways to collect and recycle rainwater, and setup a simple rain barrel is the best.
It is estimated that an inexpensive rain barrel can save you as much as 1000 gallons of water over the course of a normal summer by simply recycling rainwater. Of course, the exact amount will vary depending on the amount of rainfall in your area but the savings from recycling rainwater in most cases will be substantial. The idea is to position the rain barrel under a roof drain downspout so that it collects rain running off the roof of your house and recycling the rainwater on your plants and lawn as needed. You can buy a ready-made rain barrel but it is also very easy and inexpensive to build your own.
Almost all the materials are available at your local hardware store. The main item you will need is a large plastic drum. Getting one is not as difficult as it may seem. Most soft drink manufacturers around the world are willing to sell you an inexpensive 55 gallon plastic drum. Usually the plastic drum you get will have its top sealed so you will have to drill a hole in the middle top of the drum. Many people will put a screen or other type of filter over this hole so that leaves and other debris do not get into the rain barrel. If your roof gutter system already has grills or screens to keep leaves out then you won’t need to worry about a filter for the barrel. Usually it is a good idea to raise the barrel up off the ground by putting it on cinder blocks. This will help protect the ground underneath and make it easier to recycle the rainwater you collect in the rain barrel. You will undoubtedly have to raise the height of your downspout as well so that it is slightly above the level of the top of the drum.
Now that we have the drum setup for collecting rainwater, we need to arrange a way to get it out. The simplest way is to drill a small hole in the lower side of the drum a couple inches up from the bottom and glue in a PVC male adaptor then attach a 3 to 4 foot length of plastic hose to this adaptor. Of course, it is important to keep the end of the hose above the top of the barrel so that the barrel doesn’t drain. You can notch the top rim of the drum as a holder for the hose or alternately you can attach a plastic valve to the end of the hose. Finally, at the end of the hose you will want to attach a plastic adaptor that allows the attachment of a standard garden hose. This setup will use gravity to drain the drum. To use the rainwater collected simply put the end of the garden hose on the ground you intend to water, open the valve if you used one and the drum will self-drain out the end of the garden hose. To stop the flow either close the valve or raise the end of the garden hose above the top level of the drum.
Nature Guide Journal: With Oregon's rain comes wild mushrooms
recycling guide
Saprophytes play an essential role in recycling nutrients, breaking down complex molecules in dead plants and animals into smaller molecules that are more readily used again by other organisms. While we may think of fungi as parasitic, …
recycling guide question by Tom’s of Maine: What are some of the things you do to lead a more sustainable lifestyle?
Many years ago, Kate and I developed a Stewardship Model for Tom’s of Maine in order to codify all of the natural, sustainable practices we were already following—such as only using natural ingredients and never testing on animals. The Stewardship Model sets out very specific standards for natural, sustainable, and responsible practices, and guides all of us every day in our decision making.
Kate and I also feel that a commitment to sustainability should be incorporated into all areas of the company—not just the product formulations. Let me share just two examples: our packaging designer, Jack, purchases only post-consumer-waste recycled and recyclable materials and soy-based inks; and my Director of Product Supply, Mark, had some great ideas about using renewable energy sources, so in 2006, we began purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100% of our factory’s electricity needs.
recycling guide best answer:
Answer by The Voice of Reason
I’ve been sustaining my life style for 58 years with no problems at all. What else is there.
Filed under: Recycling Guide · Tags: Barrel, Rain, Rainwater, Recycling
Among other things I have just started recycling at my work. I have been doing it at home all of my life but was content to rely on the place where I work to provide the means for recycling. Seeing all the cans, bottles, cardboard and paper go to waste started to bother me more and more. I convinced my manager to buy a blue recycling can and placed it by my desk. It is catching on slowly and I often have to pick through others trash cans but feel good at the end of the day knowing that I am helping to make a difference. I also purchased energy efficient bulbs and replaced all the bulbs around my work. The company wouldn’t buy them due to their cost. I hope that people seeing me do this on a day to day basis will start to sink in with them more and hopefully everyone will soon have their own personal recycling at their desks. It is just a drop in the bucket but it is a step in the right direction.
I ride my bicycle to work instead of driving.
One morning I gave out delicious organic breakfast bars to my co-workers. Hopefully I converted a handful of people to organic food.
We recycle everything we can, do not use chemicals or pesticides on our lawn or garden, Plant many native plants in the garden. Do not use the plastic bags at the grocery store. Have changed the lightbulbs to low e. Drive small vehicles. We also make an effort to clean up and recycle the litter that we see on the streets and fields. We also try not to use cleaning products that are harmful, especially any that contain phosphates. If we had enough land we would install a wind turbine. I think this should be done everywhere. We also try to buy as many local products as possible and have educated our child to respect and love the environment.
I simply dont leave appliances on that i dont use
This isn’t about lifestyle, but doesn’t Toms of Maine toothpaste have laurel/laureth sulfates in it? I stopped using it for some reason. Should look into that. Not a very good ingredient.
I do exercise, eat right food, water therapy and avoid too much stressful environment, go on vacation if needed
im tired of officials getting all the answers.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArdvyfLyE9mMcabiTuZKSBLsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071025191108AAF9aPU
answer my ? to help prove it is possible to get 200+ answers!
I use your products, buy organic when I can, drive a compact car, use cloth diapers and menstrual pads, no-poo my hair instead of shampoo and recycle what I can when I can. It turns out that old 5 gallon water jugs are great drums!
I would LOVE to have wind power.. but dang it we cannot afford it…
Permaculture is something my husband is very serious about.. Planting edible plants where we can…we recently moved to a 10 acre place where we had free range chickens this summer (chickens are fun).
Shop less.. consume less…
one warning about “products not tested on animals”… some of those products trick you – the product in its full isnt tested but they do test the ingredients that make up the product..
I work in a retail shop – its disgusting the amount of waste the small shop produces in a day… people really should stop and think – every thing in a shop had to come from somewhere.. (made in China etc..)
people should support FARMERS MARKETS and local crafters…
Testing new medicines on animals is very effective and has saved many human lives. Even you believe there is a moral reason to not test on animals, it has nothing to do with sustainability.
I don’t eat meat
I eat organic and local grown foods as much as possible
Limit my use of plastic bags (use canvas sacks)
Slather my pits with Tom’s deodorant!
most people that abuse your so called sustainable life, are rich and greedy money swindlers that don’t give a hoots about the future..
I walk my kids to school or carpool, I use hand me down clothes cause its feasible, i recycle everything that my city picks up on garbage day. I don’t waist food , and dint spoil my children when bikes are available to use. basically I cant afford the gas so the economy has caused me to cut corners…you rich with your electric cars that’s dandy unfortunately they are not cheap for a middle class laborer…
I try to ride my bicycle or walk if the distance is less than 5 miles. If I drive my car – to save gasoline I remember not to speed. I try to turn off the electricty when I am not using it. If a bulb goes out in the bathroom – I take a used bulb from another reading room and put it in their and then put the new bulb into the reading room. I have created a loose paper bucket. So, if I need to write on something I have immediate scratch paper. etc….a whole bunch of more ideas….
once a month we try to host
a neighborhood night out every month when
many of our neighbors get together making sure
we turn off all the lights and we meet at the park
or each others houses.Last month was my turn
I did all the cooking and they all came over and
we ate and talked and planned our next
neighborhood cleanup.It really helps we
also teach our kids how to help out.we
give the kids a bag and they gather trash
every night after playing out.
Everyone talks about how important the environment is, yet America thrives on industrialization while reprimanding Brazil for cutting down rainforests.
Raising awareness of the environment is nothing more than a political stunt. The country is fueled by big oil. Let’s be realistic, alternative energy is simply not viable because too much is riding politically on big oil. The small efforts of everyday people cannot compensate for the big lack of effort by the politicians whose decisions actually matter.
This is not about the environment. It’s about appeasing the collective conscience, and making people feel like they’re doing something important.
I’ve sustained my life for 65 years without any models other than what my great-grandparents passed down to me. All the stuff you’re doing (wind energy credits, etc. are a bunch of contrived nonsense!) 50 years from now people will look back at your wasted efforts and laugh.
Recycle, save energy by not using too much light or not even use it when not needed. But RECYCLE
I have decided to assist under privilege children in schools in my community. Also, I try to provide food items for the elderly. This a worthwhile project for me, and I feel good after
assisting them. I find that persons and businesses, they know what I am doing, but very few will assist.
But, I still carry on from my limited resources, which means that I do it on my own.
I bought a small home on five acres and tossed out the gas central heater. I put in an EPA rated air tight wood burning stove. It is clean burning and wood fuel is carbon neutral. It cycles carbon from the air to the tree and when burned, back into the air for another cycle. Fossil fuels take sequestered carbon from the ground and put it into the air for keeps. The wood I burn is bark beetle dead wood. If put in a landfill it will decay and slow combust and put carbon into the air anyway. So I am not adding any CO2 by burning it.
I put all waste in dustbin. I think this is the smallest one but it makes a lot of difference. I use paper packs rather than polethene bags. I avoid going by bike in most cases.
Cooking real food instead of processed foods, replace sugar for sugar substitute, stay away from pop, there is not any nutritional value. Donuts not good for the body at all. Taste great, heavy on the thighs. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Exercise with my dog. discipline the body, feed the mind soothes the soul.
I say leave this damn planet ALONE!!
We have raped it, stabbed it and let all its life energies drain out..We have killed everything we touch..including our own..
It is greed that has taken us to the point we are at on this planet..
It seems to me that you are ..just another greedy little person..looking to make another buck..
Wanna know what to do..just take what you need..and not a bit more..
Humans make me sick..Its greed that rules lives..and ruins our lives..
This poor planet has had enough and there is no turning back….Just leave it alone..it’s dying..and because of it..we will too..
Recycle what I can, turn off things I am not using, drive less, shop at second hand stores ALWAYS, and teach my kids the value of simple things (cheap vacations, homemade ice-cream, movie night at the house).
when remodeling our home it had aluminum siding so instead of leaving it sit we took all siding to recycling center we spent about 300.00 for wood siding or better but recycling got us about 65.00 back . We also recycles alot of our cans bottles and plastics . Even the copper we have laying around
I recycle paper and plastics. I use reusable containers to store food, so plastic bags aren’t wasted.
I use reusable grocery sacks.
This is what I am doing to help our enviorment so far,
I recycle my cardboard paper, regular paper, I also recycle bottles that are made out of glass, aluminum, &plastic,
I try not to use so much water, ~cutting down the time I spend in the shower,
during the day time, I the naturtal light from the outside, also,
I don’t use the plastic bags at the grocery store and use the paper bags instead.
also, we have had our lightbulbs changed to the new spiral ones.
and I bike to work instead of driving.
At my work, we have motion lighting so if nobody is around the lights go off, wich is really helpful.
you can recycle, put bins everywhere so people can recycle cans, bags, plastic and glass. also recycle newspaper and cardboard. You can buy organic food to save the enviornment from pesticides. don’t use any styrofome as it does not desinagrate. Get motion lighting so if nobody is around the lights go off. put engery saving bulbs everywhere you can. try to come up packages that are 100% compostable. Don’t use anything that isn’t 100%compostable if it is gong in the trash. You set up programs for you r emplyees to exercise more. Start a walking team. Try to eat healthier and only buy from companies that are making an initiative to do things better for the enviornment. set up a day to adopt a road to pckup trash or cleanup a river. Install led lights instead of flourecent. There are many ways to be more efficient.
toms of maine, are wonderful products, have used many of them, especially when my children were young, keep up the good work, love the toothpaste!!!!!, still use the products
I garden, shop thrift stores for “retail recycling,” bike to work in the spring, summer, and fall, and shovel my own snow in the winter rather than use electrical or gas-powered snow removal methods. I use the public library to cut down on my consumption of paper (no new paper goes into most of the books I read), and I have asked for cloth grocery bags for Christmas (now I’m carrying everything around in one backpack, and sometimes it’s just not big enough). And I’m so lucky! My dad is a commercial fisherman, so I get excellent, environmentally-friendly, and healthy protein in the form of wild Alaska salmon! I honestly like my present lifestyle so much better than my former consuming ways.
I never forget to take my Effexor and Lamictal………..They not only keep me sane, but sustain me as well!
I recycle like crazy, use mostly natural cleaning/personal products, use very little processed foods, use cloth diapers (and if we use the plastic, they are without chlorine), buy organic fruits/veggies…I wish I could do more!