EcoTalk's Archives

California Lt. Governor John Garamendi & E-Waste Recycling

We here at EcoTalk are so taken with California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi's leadership on energy, public health, and smart (re-)use of resources that we hope that one day he can simply drop the "Lieutenant" from "Lieutenant Governor". He checked in with EcoTalk today to discuss the new e-waste recycling center opening in San Jose, and the global benefits of acting locally. LISTEN (7 min)

Harry Potter's Recycling Magic

If a tree falls to make some paper, and then that paper is recycled for the 12 million copy initial run of the new Harry Potter book, has that tree martyred itself for other trees and millions of Harry Potter fanatics worldwide? Liza Murphy, Senior Manager for Market Development with the Rainforest Alliance says....well, she doesn't answer that question, but she breaks down how Rainforest Alliance and Scholastic Book pulled off this magic trick, and set the standard for how all books should be made. LISTEN (8 min)

Challenging The Chip

Ted Smith of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and author of Challenging the Chip comments on his recent trips to China and India to see firsthand the underbelly of, basically, a world of people like me typing on this computer and you reading on yours: E-waste, the fastest growing waste stream in the world, and toxic poison for some of the world's poorest. Ted says that at this point "we're losing the battle," and that the US needs "to join the international community at the treaty level," by ratifying the Basel Convention. That we contribute so much to the problem but are not among the 166 signatories of this humane global treaty is shameful, and needs immediate attention from our elected officials.
PART ONE (11 min)  PART TWO (7 min)

New Leaf Paper

Jeff Mendelsohn, President of New Leaf Paper talks about recycled papers and paper recycling.
PART ONE (12 min)  PART TWO (7 min)

Image: Yourtruenature

Patagonia:Change Your Clothes For Good

Jen Rapp of Patagonia tells Betsy about recycling both Patagonia and (because they won't do it) their competitors' clothes, and the numerous examples of how, since day one, Patagonia has put their money where their mouth is. For example, do you know of any other company that pays their employees full salary and benefits for two months while they work at environmental nonprofits? LISTEN (12 min)

Call2Recycle Cellphones

We can't imagine life without cellphones, but we don't imagine our cellphone's life beyond us. Linda Gabor of Call2Recycle and the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) tells us how to recycle that potentially harmful cellphone battery, and why it might even be the law, depending on where you live. LISTEN (8 min)

Trash Landings: How Airlines and Airports Can Clean Up Their Recycling Programs

While flying home this holiday season, airlines will throw away zillions of cups, newspapers, napkins...  nearly anything consumed on an airplane that could be recycled will instead be carelessly thrown to the landfills. Recycling guru and NRDC Senior Scientist Dr. Alan Hershkowitz tells us about Trash Landings, the new report on the garbage monsters overhead. LISTEN (12 min)