Recycling Update

Recycling Event a Big Success

Almost 1000 cars and bikes came through the big fall recycling event on October 11. Over 100 volunteers helped make it happen. Our Special Events Committee, led by Barbara Reeves, Kit Rich, and Mindy Kraus, facilitated the endeavor. A special thanks to Meridian Township Staff who helped with set up and clean up. We jammed a semi trailer full of foam, packed two larger dumpsters with all types of plastic, filled a 20-yard container with all colors of glass, recycled thousands of books, and had a (mostly) woppin' good time doin' it! A few pics can be viewed at www.re-news.net/pics/oct with more to come.

If you'd like to get involved with the Big Spring Recycling Event!, please contact Barbara at 337-2405 or reeves@msu.edu.

Last Child in the Woods

Nationally-acclaimed author, Richard Louv, will speak at the MSU Auditorium Wednesday (10-22) evening at 7:30pm.

“With this scholarly yet practical book, Louv offers solutions for a healthier, greener tomorrow.” (Washington Post)

From Waste to Fuel

Meridian Township and other local organizations are exploring ways to expand the recycling of used cooking oil/grease.

There are several initiatives underway:

Delta, Delhi, Grand Ledge, Charlotte, and Eaton Rapids are accepting cooking oil and grease. See a factsheet here under "cooking oil." (from Martha Knorek, Ingham County)
El Azteco has been recycling oil for several years. See an article in the State News here
Michigan Brewing Company is attempting to "...be one of the greenest breweries in the country." MBC has partnered with MSU to recycle waste oil from dorms on campus and use it in their vehicles and brewing process. (from Allen Bryant, Delhi Twp)
There's a lot of activity at local colleges and universities. See p. 7 and 13 of the latest MSU Today: http://www.msutoday.msu.edu/magazine/media/08fall.pdf
Here are a few good websites where you can find bio-diesel information and even filling stations.
Greater Lansing Clean Cities www.michigancleancities.org, is a local network of organizations (including Meridian Twp.) helping to promote clean, economic, and sustainable fuel options in the region. Representative, Maggie Striz-Calnin mentions initiatives underway in Zeeland and Rochester.
St. Johns Public Schools in Michigan use biodiesel to power their 31 school buses and 10 diesel support vehicles. According to Wayne Hettler, the head mechanic,
“We have experienced very positive results with B20. The B20 not only solved our lubrication problem, but we have reduced costs in fuel pump injector repair. We now extend our oil services another 10 percent. “Our buses don’t have the exhaust soot on the back that has to be scrubbed off. The fleet aver-age fuel mileage has increased from 8.1 to 8.8miles per gallon. When all of these things are added up, we are seeing about $7500 savings per year.”

Peak Oil Conference

- from Beth Bechtel

Production of oil peaked in the 70's here in the U.S. Globally, production of oil is peaking now. What does it mean for Meridian Township? What can we do about it?

Learn more at this conference at Oakland University in Rochester MI from 10/31 - 11/2 : www.energybulletin.net/node/46351

Here's a quote from www.energybulletin.net/primer (downloaded on 10/17/08)

"Oil is so important that the peak will have vast implications
across the realms of war and geopolitics, medicine,
culture, transport and trade, economic stability
and food production."

Recycling Event a Big Success

Peak Oil Conference

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