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Green Star Enews
Green Star E-News Vol. 5, No. 2 February 4, 2004
Recognizing Alaska organizations committed to environmental responsibility.
In this issue:
* Shining Stars – Recent Awardees
* The 2004 “Green” Bag Series
* New Green Star Award Application Process
* Remember the Alaska Forum on the Environment
* Green Star Wins Air Quality Contract
* Green Star Wins Dell Grant for Electronics Recycling
* An Introduction to Solar Energy for Alaskans
* This Month’s Hot Link: USEPA’s Electronics Recycling Page
* Thank you 2004 Sponsors
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SHINING STARS – RECENT AWARDEES
Congratulations to our recent Green Star and Air Quality Award Winners!
On January 26th, Yukon Fuel Company was presented with their Green Star Award.
On February 2nd, Ecology & Environment, Inc. and AES Lynx Enterprises, Inc. each earned a Green Star Award. Ecology & Environment also earned its Air Quality Award.
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THE 2004 “GREEN” BAG SERIES
Anyone can host a Brown Bag event but how about a Green Bag? Green Star’s 2004 Green Bag series will be greener, and more educational than ever. This year, our tentative schedule is to bring you a topic on the third Wednesday of every other month. So mark your calendars and plan your “green” bag lunch to bring along. We will post topics on our web calendar and in E-News as we arrange them. Let us know if you have topic ideas. February’s date is a little off schedule because of space availability.
This month
When: Monday, February 23 11:45am – 1pm
Where: BP Energy Center
What: Air Quality -- Innovative Business Initiatives
Two local environmental engineering firms – Ecology & Environment and ABR, Inc. -- will discuss several initiatives they have implemented both locally and corporate-wide to reduce air pollution. Programs range from an employee incentive program tied to the company’s electronic timecard system to reward employees who use alternative forms of transportation, to a carbon credit system to offset the daily polluting activities of the employees. Learn how some of these ideas might be possible in your workplace. Green Star also will discuss the air quality projects it will be implementing over the next year and how you can get involved.
Space is limited so please RSVP to Green Star at 278-7827 or info@greenstarinc.org.
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NEW GREEN STAR AWARD APPLICATION SCHEDULE
In an effort to streamline the Green Star and Air Quality Award process, Green Star has implemented a new schedule for accepting award applications and presenting awards. Award applications will be accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis with the following rolling deadlines for 2004:
1st quarter application deadline March 31
2nd quarter application deadline June 30
3rd quarter application deadline September 30
4th quarter application deadline December 30
All applications will be reviewed by our Standards Committee, comments returned, and awards presented within the first part of the quarter following the deadline. Any applications received after a deadline will be held until the next deadline for review. Please contact Green Star or visit our web site if you have any questions about the award process.
Several seats are open on our Standards Committee, which reviews incoming applications. To be eligible to serve on this peer-review committee, your organization must have already received a Green Star Award. Please call 278-7839 for more information. It is a great way to see innovative ideas from other local organizations.
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REMEMBER THE FORUM ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Just another reminder that this year’s Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) will be held at the Egan Center during the week of February 9-13, 2004. The AFE is an annual gathering of city, state, and federal agencies; military personnel; nonprofit organizations; and interested citizens who want to protect the environment. Workshop and presentation topics include air quality, water quality, solid waste management, hazardous waste and chemical spill response, climate change, environmental justice, environmental education, energy, wildlife management, and sustainability.
Green Star Events at AFE
* On Monday, February 9th, 10:45-11:45 am, Green Star’s executive director, Sean Skaling, will present “Electronics Recycling in Alaska.”
* Also on Monday, at 4:15pm, attend Green Star’s annual meeting to provide feedback about Green Star’s activities during the past year and goals for the future. From 4:45 to 5:30pm, join Green Star at a hosted AFE Social event for good food and beverages (no host bar).
* On Tuesday, February 10th, 9:15-10:15am, Green Star will participate in a Summary of Air Quality Programs in Anchorage.
* On Wednesday, February 11th, 9:15-10:15am, Green Star will lead an Air Quality Summit Think Tank to brainstorm ideas for future air quality programs and initiatives.
* And, as always, AFE will be a Green Event, so look for recycling bins. A few volunteers are still needed to help set up and monitor the recycling bins. Call 278-7839 or email jeanne@greenstarinc.org if you are interested in helping. Volunteers will receive free entry to AFE on the day they volunteer.
For additional information about speakers, the full agenda, accommodations etc., visit www.akforum.com.
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GREEN STAR WINS AIR QUALITY CONTRACT
Green Star recently signed a contract with the Municipality of Anchorage’s Department of Health and Human Services to complete several air quality projects during 2004. During this winter/spring season, Green Star hopes to initiate several of the projects, which will continue through fall and winter of 2004.
Projects will include implementing several pilot projects to encourage employees at local businesses to use alternative means of transportation. Offering free bus passes and developing employer-run incentive programs are two methods to be used. Other projects include education and outreach campaigns to encourage the use of vehicle plug-ins and timers, timer giveaways, and store displays.
To complete the projects, Green Star may be hiring a part-time staff person. Anyone interested in working on air quality issues on a part-time basis over the coming year should contact Green Star at 278-7827 or info@greenstarinc.org.
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GREEN STAR WINS DELL GRANT FOR ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Green Star received word this month that it has received grant funding from Dell, the computer company, to assist in implementing this year’s Electronics Recycling event. Dell’s grant program is designed to provide financial support to public entities expressing an interest in staging one-day, no-charge computer collection events for residents in their communities.
The grant program is an evolution of Dell’s National Recycling Tour that has collected almost two million pounds of unwanted computer equipment to date. By sharing responsibility with more than 100 groups nationwide, Dell has been able to reach 40 million consumers with its message that “No Computer Should Go To Waste.”
Dell believes that one-day, no-charge collection events are not a long-term solution to the electronic waste issue, but have proven to be effective in raising awareness and helping “flush out” historic computer waste so it can be responsibly reused and recycled.
In May of 2003, Anchorage’s first-ever electronics recycling event, hosted by Green Star and sponsored by BP and the Municipality, captured more than 140 tons of electronics. Because Anchorage’s event collected electronics from both residents and businesses, the final results were much higher than most of the events on Dell’s National Recycling Tour.
Dell’s Results by City:
* Austin/Round Rock, Texas, 103 tons
* Atlanta, Georgia, 74 tons
* Charlotte, North Carolina, 19 tons
* Columbus, Ohio, 30 tons
* Dallas, Texas, 12 tons
* Denver, Colorado, 250 tons
* Houston, Texas, 30 tons
* Las Vegas, Nevada, 34 tons
* Lexington, Kentucky, 47.5 tons
* Orlando/Miami, Florida, 15 tons
* Nashville, Tennessee, 42 tons
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 30 tons
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 58.5 tons
* Portland, Oregon, 142 tons
* Stanford, California, 47 tons
* Reno, Nevada, 40 tons
Dell will continue to stage its own, select one-day collection events in 2004 and believes empowering communities through this grant program will help build a sustainable network for responsibly collecting, reusing and recycling old computers, thus increasing the number of groups that are part of the electronic waste solution.
Besides the Dell-organized events, twelve grantees were selected nationwide to stage their own events between February 1 and June 30, 2004. Green Star is one of the grant awardees, receiving $10,000 to be used toward the organization, promotion, staging and processing involved in an effective, no-charge, “No Computer Should Go To Waste” computer collection event for residents. See Dell’s news release about Green Star’ participation at http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2004/2004_01_29_rr_000?c=us&1=en&s=corp&~1t=print.
Green Star’s Electronics Recycling Event, to be held May 7&8, 2004, will still accept materials from both businesses and residents, but residents will benefit from subsidized fees made possible through the Dell grant and other sponsors.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR ENERGY FOR ALASKANS
Come and learn about local options for Solar Energy in Anchorage. The course is taught by UAF Cooperative Extension Service Solar Guy, Richard Seifert.
WHERE: 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 130
WHEN: Thursday, February 5, 2004, 6:30 - 9:30pm
COST: $10 for New Solar Design Manual
CALL: 786-6300 to register and for directions,
or 800-478-8324 for more information.
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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Electronics Recycling Page
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin
This page provides information about national resources available to recycle many types of waste electronics, including computers, cell phones, and televisions.
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THANK YOU 2004 SPONSORS, GRANTORS & CONTRACTORS
Green Star could not exist without the generous financial and in-kind support of many individuals and leading local businesses and organizations. To become a Green Star individual member or corporate sponsor, please call (278-7827) or visit our web site http://www.greenstarinc.org. A huge thank you to our 2004 sponsors!
Platinum ($10,000+): Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services, Anchorage Solid Waste Services, BP, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Dell Inc., Rasmuson Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
Gold ($5,000-$9,999): Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Silver ($2,500-$4,999): Anchorage Refuse (A Waste Management Company), Denali Commission, Princess Tours
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499): Cellular One (formerly AT&T Wireless), Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Green ($500-$999): Corporate Express Alaska
Supporter ($250-$499):
Contributor (up to $250): Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, Carrs-Safeway, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska, Emerald Alaska, graphXgirl, Great Harvest Bread Co., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, Wal-Mart Store #2074
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Past issues of E-News are available on our web site, sorted by topic or date. Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at enews@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any email addresses you wish to add to our mailing list. Thank you!
The staff of Green Star, Anchorage:
Sean Skaling, Executive Director
Beth Verrelli, Membership & Communications Coordinator
Jeanne Carlson, Program Coordinator
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