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These plastic shipping aids are recycled and used for parts in the Chevrolet Volt. Photo: Jeffrey Sauger for General Motors

John Bradburn has worked at General Motors for 32 years, 17 of which he has spent as an Environmental Engineer responsible for solving GM’s most difficult waste problems.

We caught up with Brandburn to talk about sustainability and responsibility.

Earth911: What are some of the recycling initiatives you’ve seen put into place along the way?
John Bradburn: We’ve first off set up a data collection system that became the foundation to find and earmark projects. Any group that wants to look at waste reduction needs to understand what they have and set goals based on that.

Based on the data, we looked at areas that relate to certain materials that we wanted to eliminate or at least reduce. We have all the waste a household would have like plastic, cardboard, banding and pallets, but we just have way more of them. We try to earmark projects to find a better use for them. For instance, most recently, we use plastic shipping aids in an air baffle that is used in the Chevy Volt.

E911: How successful have they been?
JB: We set a goal in 2007 to have half of our manufacturing plants from all over the world landfill free. We exceeded that and 76 plants were landfill-free by the end of 2010, which equates to a lot of material, to the tune of 2.5 million tons in a year.

We look at ways to just not generate waste or reduce it, or what we do a lot of is closed-loop reuse. An example of this is we use packaging cardboard from two manufacturing plants, and we have that processed by a company who incorporates it for parts for the Buick LaCrosse. We don’t see it as waste; we see it as a resource that’s out of place. It’s all about efficiency.

E911: What are GM’s biggest environmental goals this year and how are you going to help reach them?
JB: We’re continuing with the landfill-free program. Almost everyone puts trash to the curb, so because of that, people can relate to the program, and it’s been well received externally as well as internally. Everyone understands it and gets it and bought into the concept. The goal is to increase and continue the program, which becomes an umbrella to enable landfill-free projects like some of our technology programs to recycle and reduce our more challenging materials.

E911: Is it hard to get other employees on board?
JB: It’s not that difficult, because today everyone understands that resources are finite and need to be treated in the best possible way. Obviously, it’s not perfect. There are challenges, because if a certain kind of plastic is very difficult to recycle, we have to be innovative to find solutions, but once we find one people are on board.

For instance, the Volt batteries have a cover much like a cell phone, but very large and hard to recycle. It became a challenge, so we had to look at what to do with it. We repurposed them as duck nest boxes to help wetland habitats. We have 50 placed and will have several 100 by the end of year in our wetlands as well as private lands by working with groups and organizations. So, this is just one stream, one material, but yet it’s able to take a waste and use it as a resource.

E911: Why is environmentalism so important to you?
JB: It’s part of my fabric. I look at my job as a vocation, not an occupation. Everyone has a purpose in life and this is mine. It’s not just about helping the environment and wildlife; it’s about being a mentor. My goal in life is that when I do stop, that I will have given all of my knowledge and ways of figuring things out to the next generation and the next one after that.

Everybody’s job is environmental and sustainable. Whether you’re a manufacturer or a homemaker or in education or an engineer, it doesn’t matter. Everyone has responsibility to the environment, so treat it as such and make the world a better place.

John Bradburn showing off a landfill-free plant:

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While highbrow art collectors and posh paintings are all part of the show, young graffiti and stencil artists have taken the event by storm, and their huge murals remain along the streets of Miami as testament of their contribution.

Global Inheritance, a nonprofit organization that empowers communities to think and act creatively about global issues, is celebrating the art movement as well as educating the public about recycling with an event of their own.

TRASHed: The Art of Recycling show will feature five artists redesigning recycling bins live during Art Basel; the bins will then be donated to Miami schools to show children the “beauty of recycling.”

The program is one of Global Inheritance’s longest running initiatives. “Over the last seven years or so thousands of artists have participated in the program, with their work being displayed at major events and galleries throughout the world, and donated to schools across the country after the showings to promote recycling in those venues,” says Matthew Brady, creative director for Global Inheritance.

Earth911.com had the pleasure of speaking with four of the artists about the importance of recycling and the impact of art on the world.

Sid and Nancy (left) and The Roots (right) recycling bins by Jeremiah Garcia.

Jeremiah Garcia

Garcia has been attending the Art Basel event since 2007, but this is the first year he will be involved as a painter. “Each year I’ve gone out to photograph Primary Flight, the world’s largest outdoor, site-specific mural exhibition,” he explains.

EARTH911: Do you have a concept for what you’re going to paint on the recycling bins?

JEREMIAH GARCIA: I’m working with the theme of a love/hate relationship. It’s based off a line from a song called “Exhausted Love,” by Eyedea and Abilities. Eyedea was one of my favorite rappers that recently died from a drug overdose, so this could be considered a bit of a tribute.

E911: How important is recycling to you?
JG: It’s extremely important – but along the lines of the love/hate relationship, it’s something I do out of love, but hate the fact that there are still people out there that don’t. I get frustrated every once in a while, then realize that it’s something that I have to do and stick with it.

E911: What’s your art story?
JG: I’ve been doing stencil art for just over ten years. I’m a graphic designer by trade and found that working with layers in Adobe Illustrator was very similar to how you build layers in stenciling. It was a natural transition and became a way for me to output my design work onto canvas.

E911: How can/does art change the world for the better?
JG: The best way it can do that is when it resonates with the audience, without them knowing. I think people have become so leery of advertising, that you can’t beat them over the head with a message anymore. They have to come to it on their own for it to really sink in. Global Inheritance works very much in the same fashion, sneaking in a message of environmental awareness built around cool events.

Left and Right by Daryll Peirce. “It's a painted assemblage of found objects discarded from alleys and trash bins as well as leaves, moss and one fox tail – the weed not the animal.” Photo: Moody

Daryll Peirce

Peirce has been involved in the past three Art Basel events and was invited to take part in the TRASHed event this year by Garcia. They’ve worked together in the past on the Primary Flight exhibit.

“It’s also really nice to have something so big culminate in one place where I can easily see a lot of the amazing people I’ve met from all over this world,” Peirce says.

EARTH911: Do you have a concept for what you’re going to paint on the recycling bins?
DARYLL PEIRCE: I’ve got a pretty full plate right now, but looking forward to thinking about that on the way to Miami.

E911: How important is recycling to you?
DP: Very important. I’m not really sure what else to say except that I imagine where each little plastic piece, scrap or can will go that I throw out, and on my tiny level, what I might be able to do about ensuring I’m not consuming anything that will simply end up in a landfill.

E911: What’s your art story?
DP: I started drawing and art-making when I was old enough to hold a crayon. My inspiration mostly comes from solace and day-dreaming about the relationships between humanity and its claims of control over social systems, habitat, nature and future. I’ve always enjoyed working with found objects versus stark white canvases. It’s fun working on a surface that has already lived this sort of obscure and mysterious life.

E911: How can/does art change the world for the better?
DP: It can and does change the world. The arts give us much needed introspection and remind us that we are amazing beings capable of so much more than simply chasing a dollar. In any case, creating is always better than its alternative.

Wollaeger's painted 1963 Econoline truck used to take recyclables to the drop-off center.

Peat Wollaeger

Wollaeger describes Art Basel as “the Superbowl for artists and the lovers of art.” That’s why he’s attended that past three years and will take part in the TRASHed event this year.

EARTH911: Do you have a concept for what you’re going to paint on the recycling bins?
PEAT WOLLAEGER: EYEZ are my specialty, so something along those lines. A recEYEcling theme maybe!

E911: How important is recycling to you?
PW: Very important. Every week I load all of our recyclable post-consumables in to my vintage 1963 EYEconoline truck (pictured above) at take them to the recycling center. EYE love to reEYEcle!

E911: What’s your art story?
PW: EYE was inspired to cut stencils after seeing the works of Banksy and Logan Hicks around 2002, and it’s been my medium of choice ever since.

E911: How can/does art change the world for the better?
PW: Part of what I do is public art. The difference of putting art “out on the street” versus in a gallery, is that people who normally would not step foot in a gallery can experience it and hopefully what EYE put out there will make the world a better, more colorful place.

Butterfly Girl by Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez

Like many of the artists, Hernandez got involved with the TRASHed event through Garcia. Although Hernandez has been a part of Art Basel for the past three years, he says, “it makes me realize how much my technique sucks, and that my work better have a hell of a lot of personality to keep up with this crowd.”

EARTH911: Do you have a concept for what you’re going to paint on the recycling bins?
SERGIO HERNANDEZ: I still don’t have a clue what I’m gonna do. I like to wait till I’m there and get a feel for the environment or atmosphere.

E911: How important is recycling to you?
SH: I love to recycle old magazines and drawings or canvases and make new art pieces out of them.

E911: What’s your art story?
SH: I started doodling in church because it was so boring. Then I got involved with graffiti, which I still do today. I find inspiration in all of my friends and family, especially my kids; kids are way better than adults.

E911: How can/does art change the world for the better?
SH: Being creative is the best thing you can do with your life. Anything that you can put your personality into can become a work of art. Whether you are a business owner, athlete, teacher, painter or poet.

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Let’s take a trip down memory lane to our humble beginnings…

Starting in 1991 as a motor oil recycling hot line for Arizona, Earth911 now hosts the nation’s largest and most accurate recycling directory, boasting more than 127,000 locations and programs (representing approximately 775,000 services) to help people find recycling information for more than 240 different products (phew!).

The Internet rocked our world. We saw technology play a key role in educating people about recycling and product stewardship, growing from our original hot line platform (which we still run; go old school and call 1-800 CLEANUP), to a website (you’re there now, it’s called Earth911.com), to a mobile phone application (our favorite new addition, iRecycle®).

We’ve grown a great deal in our business relationships as well, working with companies, industry groups and government organizations who recognize the importance of product stewardship in reducing Americans’ collective environmental footprint.

We hate to brag…but in the last year alone, Earth911:

• Became the Official Recycling Partner of the Consumer Electronics Association and the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the International Bottled Water Association, the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association and the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
• Generated partnerships with innovative industries and companies including the Product Stewardship Institute and the American Chemistry Council – Plastics Division
• Will sponsor the 13th annual America Recycles Day hosted by Keep America Beautiful, Inc., occurring Nov. 15, 2010
• Worked to enhance recycling in major industries; for example, paint recycling through paintcare.org and rechargeable battery recycling through Battery Recycling Week with Call2Recycle
• Utilized our On-Product Solutions to communicate local recycling resources for consumer products by notable brands including ExxonMobil, Yellowbook, Valvoline, Behr and Kilz
• Named an Official Honoree in the inaugural year of the Green category at the 14th Annual Webby Awards
• Recognized and recommended by a variety of personalities and media outlets – from Dear Abby and Kim Komando, to USA Today and Yahoo! Green

Yeah, we know, it’s pretty cool. But you know what? We have to give a shoutout to you, our faithful readers. We’d love to hear from you – leave us a comment below!

Just like New York, Beijing is a thriving mega world of jam-packed architectural wonders, raw talent, cut-throat business and a resilience to overcome its own marked recession.

NRDC was the first international environmental organization to establish clean energy and green building programs in China. Photo: Flickr/coifmo66

But Beijing is an oxymoron. It’s the capitol city of the world’s No. 1 energy consumer and the world leader in clean energy, making it both a model and a learning experience for the United States’ own green endeavors.

More than 15 years ago, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) took on accelerating the greening of China as one of its top six priorities.

Alex Wang, senior attorney; director for the China Environmental Law Project, tells us why the world’s two most energy-intensive countries should take lessons from and make investments in each other.

EARTH911: One of the NRDC’s overarching goals is the greening of China. How influential is China on the United States’ own environmental progression?

ALEX WANG: China and the U.S. can learn a great deal from each other. The U.S. has, over the past 40 years, been able to reduce emissions of key pollutants by more than 50 percent, while growing GDP by nearly 200 percent. China is very interested in how the U.S. achieved this.

China now is accelerating its investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies at an unprecedented pace. Clean energy technology is a critical area for U.S.-China collaboration and this work is beginning. But this work needs to be ramped up significantly.

E911: China has surpassed the U.S. in clean energy investments, even with that promised funding, why is it important that we get involved?

AW: It is imperative that the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters, work together to tackle the challenge of climate change. An important component of this will be joint collaboration on key clean energy technologies.

The U.S. and China can share information, financing and expertise in a variety of areas to accelerate the development of these technologies. And the U.S. and China are already doing this.

When President Obama went to China at the end of 2009, the two countries signed a series of cooperation agreements on electric vehicles, renewable energy, energy efficiency and other key issues.

E911: Other than more governmental attention to clean energy and global warming, what can the U.S. do to become a “powerhouse” for environmental progress?

AW: We need to wake up to the reality that clean energy will be one of the key drivers of economic prosperity in the future. Other countries are beginning to accelerate their efforts on developing clean energy industries, and if the U.S. does not take this seriously we will lose out.

E911: How much of an impact does Chinese pollution have on Americans? (There have been stories of trash from China appearing on the West Coast of the U.S., for example.)?

AW: Chinese pollution does have an impact on the U.S., and it is critical that China ramps up its environmental regulation. But this is a two-way street.

In 2009, the money China invested in clean energy reached $34.6 billion, far surpassing any other major economy in the world. Photo: Flickr/coifmo66

The U.S. is now sending a tremendous amount of e-waste and other pollution to China. More critically, a significant percentage of the pollution produced in China is for export of products to the rest of the world.

One-third of greenhouse gas emissions emanating from China, one study found, are from producing products for export.

So, we in the U.S. can actually play a role in improving this situation by thinking carefully about the way we consume and demand that the companies we purchase from use or source from companies that use the most energy efficient, least polluting methods in China.

E911: We hear about China’s continued investment in clean energy, what is country about manufacturing waste and recycling?

AW: China has a great deal of work to do on pollution, control of waste and recycling. Environmental officials are out-manned and out-financed.

Whereas clean energy is receiving a flood of investment and policy support now, pollution control – while better than in the past – still needs a rapid infusion of resources, strengthened laws and policies.

E911: It would be interesting to learn more about China’s goals. What do the Chinese people think about these initiatives? We only hear about news from officials, but is there an overall sense of environmentalism from Chinese residents?

AW: Chinese officials and the citizenry alike know that pollution and environmental degradation are a serious problem that must be resolved. Environmental awareness has never been higher in China.

However, in the past there has been a view in many quarters that environmental protection and greater economic prosperity are in conflict. That viewpoint is changing as people realize the enormous cost that environmental degradation is visiting upon China.

E911: In the time that you have spent in China, what has been the most profound change you have witnessed?

AW: The biggest change we have seen over the last 15-20 years is the elevation of environmental protection and energy efficiency to a central place in China’s policies and laws.

Over the last five years, China has made energy efficiency and pollution targets one of the central elements of its five-year development plan. The rhetoric and the awareness of the issues are there. However, implementation is still an enormous challenge.

Related articles
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Providing consumers with recycling and disposal messaging is not as simple as putting “please recycle” on a package. For companies that make products or packaging, it’s time to take responsibility for what happens at end-of-life. Manufacturers are expected to understand the environmental impact of what they produce and lead consumers and retailers toward a proper disposal or recycling option when a product is no longer viable.

Earth911 operates North America’s largest and most accurate directory of local recycling and proper disposal options for consumers through multiple platforms, including the award-winning web site, Earth911.com, iRecycle® mobile applications, and the 1-800-CLEANUP® environmental hotline. The recycling directory indexes over 1 million ways to recycle 300 types of materials.

Learn how to use the Earth911 Recycling Directory as a resource to reach your consumers who are actively looking for ways to recycling products and packaging.

Here’s How Earth911 Can Help

Recycling Locator
The Earth911 Recycling Locator is a customizable tool that provides consumers with a user-friendly search solution. With this drop-in-place solution the client chooses the materials (such as Plastic #5, Aluminum Foil or Paperboard) that will be supported by data from the Earth911 Recycling Directory.

On-Product/On-Pack Solutions
Earth911 helps businesses clearly communicate recycling information and address extended producer responsibility (EPR) through end-of-life solutions that improve brand reputation, reduce risk and cut costs by connecting consumers with proper disposal options.

Earth911.com Products
Communicate sustainability messaging and promote brands through targeted advertising, sponsorships, original content, and social media by implementing Earth911.com products. These are cost-effective ways to reach an action-oriented, eco-aware audience. Earth911.com produces original content and conversations that motivate people to change the way they think about recycling and green living.

Material Recycling Reports
Gain a competitive edge and mitigate risk with cost-effective recycling availability reports that are customizable to specific data needs. Know the availability of recycling options before designing a product or package, and obtain data to support claims for FTC Green Guides.

Can Consumers Recycle Your Product? Learn about recycling availability reporting. Get the free white paper from Earth911 now »

Many people are unaware that phone books are recyclable, and every year 660,000 tons end up in landfills across the country.

To learn more about these prevalent directories and how consumers and the industry are mitigating their environmental impact, Earth911 talked with Yellowbook to get the inside track.

Starting on the Right Foot

The first “phone book” appeared in 1878, shortly following Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephonic transmission in 1876. Originally only one sheet of paper, today’s phone books are some of the largest printed.

Phone books are typically delivered twice each year to millions of American households and businesses. In fact, 540 million telephone directories are distributed each year. This amounts to over 106,000 miles of phone books, enough to wrap the planet 4.28 times. Translation: that’s a lot of paper, ink, transportation and other resources.

Starting at the source is an easy way to reduce the environmental footprint of these large directories. At Yellowbook, the company holds their “paper and printing suppliers to high standards of environmental accountability, to ensure we publish 100 percent recyclable print directories and reduce our carbon footprint. Specifically at Yellowbook, we work only with paper suppliers that have achieved sustainable forestry and ISO certifications. Our paper suppliers maximize the use of forestry waste and recycled products, using paper comprised of discarded wood chips, pulp and recycled fiber.”

Many companies also employ the use of non- or lower-toxin inks. Yellowbook, for example, uses non-toxic biodegradable soy inks to print their directories.

Sizing Down

Some phone books are also making earth-friendly changes such as reducing their size or using online versions, decreasing the amount of paper needed to deliver the same information to customers.

Phone books also minimize their eco-footprint by reducing the amount of virgin materials they consume. At Yellowbook, the paper used to produce the directories “includes recycled fiber, which is in part made up of recycled phone directories. Approximately 40 percent of the fiber used to produce our directories is recycled fiber, with the balance made up from forestry waste, such as wood chips and pulp.”

Reduce, Reuse…

With the various adjustments the phone book industry is making to be more eco-conscious, it’s still up to consumers to recycle the end product. By recycling only 500 phone books, consumers can save:

• Between 17 and 31 trees
• 7,000 gallons of water
• 463 gallons of oil
• 587 pounds of carbon emissions
• 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space
• 4,077 kWh of energy

Not only can old phone books be recycled into new phone books, but they can also be transformed into seemingly unrelated products. They can also become:

• Cellulose insulation
• Organic lawn care products
• Roofing surfaces
• Packing material to replace foam peanuts
• Other paper products, like grocery bags and paper towels

The main consideration you must make when recycling your phone book pertains to the extras often included in them, like magnets and plastics. Some of these are not recyclable and can contaminate the recycling process if not removed.

Given the opportunity to provide recycling information to concert goers from many cities and states, Karin Zarin, Recycling Manager for the City of Atlanta, decided to send people to Earth 911. “I thought Earth 911 would be great with its recycling support, national website and toll-free number.”

Stephanie Busch with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources thought a hand stamp with Earth 911′s website and phone number would be the best way to provide people with educational information on recycling as flyers or brochures would wind up as litter at the venue.

The city of Atlanta worked with Earth 911 and a local stamp company to make a rubber stamp which was used to stamp concert goers’ hands. “We did get to stamp the hands of many attendees as we asked them to check out the site to learn what they can recycle in their community. I would say that people were genuinely glad to learn about Earth 911,” said Karin.

How would you like to have a national network available to promote your programs to your customers?

You can by signing up to be an Earth 911 Coordinator. Sign up for a password today.

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We know the User Interface (UI) can be difficult or confusing to use. We understand that and want you to know that we are doing something about it. In fact, in the coming months, we are going to completely overhaul the UI. Check back often to update your information while we work on making the UI a better experience for all. As always if you have any problems, questions or concerns please contact us.

Earth 911 has been working with the State of Florida and the State of Georgia on a new special section on mercury which includes information about why it is important to practice safe handling with this material as well as expanded information about alternative products for those products that in the past have frequently contained mercury. This new Mercury section will be up soon on Earth 911 for residents nationwide.

About Earth 911
Founded in 1991 and operated by Cleanup, Inc., the Earth 911 Public and Private Sector Partnership directs the public with free “call-to-action” awareness programs. Through a Web site (www.CLEANUP.org or www.Earth911.com) and toll-free bilingual hotline (1-800-CLEANUP), environmental information and resources are provided by local governments and readily available for all communities across the United States and Canada.

For More Information:
Media Relations, media@cleanup.org