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E-News: Green Star's Electronic, Environmental Newsletter!
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| Green Star E-News Vol. 2, No. 1 January 12, 2001 Ten years of recognizing businesses committed to environmental responsibility.. In this issue: * New Members: Arctic Industrial & Automotive Supply, & American Credit Card System, Data-Pro, Ahkiok School, & Sitka High School * Shining Stars: Alaska Wildland Adventures * Recycle Your Christmas Trees * Three New Places to Recycle Glass in Anchorage * Green Events Kick-off: Volunteers Needed * Alaska Forum on the Environment * Green Star Needs Your Help * Thank You 2000 Sponsors * Welcome New 2001 Sponsors NEW MEMBERS Arctic Industrial & Automotive Supply, Data Pro, Sitka High School, Akhiok School Hats off to Green Star's most recent enrollees and a special salute to those of Akhiok Village on Kodiak Island for their waste reduction efforts. Green Star commends American Credit Card System for not only pursuing the Green Star Award, but the Green Star Air Quality Award as well. For a list of all Green Star Members, Enrollees, and Awardees, visit our web site at http://www.greenstarinc.org. ================================= SHINING STARS Alaska Wildland Adventures: Successful Hydro System at Kenai Backcountry Lodge After three years of researching and planning, Alaska Wildland Adventures was able to lessen its dependence on generators at its remote Kenai Backcountry Lodge. The strategic construction of a hydro-electric system utilizes the power of a nearby creek. The water from the creek moves through a series of pipes and through a turbine to eventually charge the lodge's battery bank. Following its natural path, all creek water flows into Skilak Lake. The energy stored in the battery bank runs all lights and water in the kitchen, main lodge, and bathhouse as well as lodge laundry facilities. Guests are fascinated by the hydro system and truly appreciate the lack of generator noise that is common to most other backcountry lodges. Alaska Wildland Adventures is proud to continue working towards promoting the quiet beauty of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and all of Alaska's wild places. As a Green Star Awardee, Alaska Wildland Adventures continues to prove itself as a leader in waste reduction and energy efficiency. To find out more about Alaska Wildland Adventures, visit the organization's web sit at http://www.alaskawildland.com. Or contact: Alaska Wildland Adventures PO Box 389 Girdwood AK 99587 800-334-8730 info@alaskawildland.com ================================= RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES: Hurry before it's too late! Sunday, January 14th, is the last day to drop off trees for recycling. ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling), and Carrs/Safeway, with assistance from the Municipality of Anchorage, are making the reycling program possible. All local Carrs stores and the Norway Mall Safeway have designated areas in their parking lots to drop off trees for recycling. The trees are processed into wood chips, and distributed to local non-profits and government agencies for use in compost and on trails, paths, and gardens. All lights and ornaments must be removed from trees before they're dropped off. Tinsel is the only thing okay to leave on the trees. There is no fee to drop off trees. Please contact ALPAR (907) 248-3979 for more information. ================================ THREE NEW PLACES TO RECYCLE GLASS IN ANCHORAGE There are three new glass-recycling drop-off bins in Anchorage. They are located at Northway Mall, near Safeway; at the Fairview Recreation Center at 1121 E. 10th Ave.; and at Spenard Recreation Center at 2020 W. 48th Ave. These collection points join the bins at the Anchorage Recycling Center and at The Home Depot to offer the citizens of Anchorage a convenient way to recycle glass bottles and jars. But these bins are not just for residents. They also are available to any small business or other organization that might not have the volume of glass or space for our full dumpster service to initiate its own glass recycling program onsite. Any business, organization, school, or government office is welcome to bring glass, free of charge, to any drop-off bins in Anchorage. Through Green Star’s glass-recycling program, you can call us to request a few indoor collection bins to make the collection process easier, whether or not you participate in the full pick-up service. As long as you are recycling glass--through a pick-up service or by transporting the glass yourself to a drop-off point--you can be part of our program and receive free collection bins. Call Green Star at 278-7839 to inquire about indoor collection bins. This program is funded by grants from Alaska Science and Technology Foundation and the Municipality of Anchorage’s Solid Waste Services. If your business is interested in establishing a glass-recycling program, contact Green Star at 278-7839 or visit our web site at http://www.greenstarinc.org for more information. ================================ GREEN EVENTS KICK-OFF -- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The Green Events program is off to a roaring start with three big events on our radar screen. Each of these events is taking advantage of Green Star’s free recycling bins and our volunteer resources to create a "lean and green" event, reducing the large quantities of waste that can be generated at large-scale special events. Our First Two Events Two upcoming events needing volunteers are the Alaska Forum on the Environment (February 5-9) and the Alaska Hospitality and Foodservice Expo (February 20,21). Both events will be held at the Egan Center. If you are interested in volunteering at one or both of these events, please send an email to jeanne@greenstarinc.org and we will place you on our contact list. Duties will involve set-up of bins before the events, breakdown of bins and transportation of material after the events, and some monitoring periodically during the events. We will be planning a short organizational meeting for all volunteers in the coming weeks, so watch your email for details. If you have already sent your email information to Green Star for the Green Events volunteer program, no need to resend it. We will automatically send you details about the two Egan Center events. The Big One To all interested recycling volunteers --the 2001 Special Olympics are coming!! This event will be the biggest Green Event in which we participate. Volunteers are needed between March 1 and March 14 to help assure that recycling takes place at all venues during the World Games. Actual Game dates are March 4 - 11 but some folks are needed earlier and later for set up and take down. If you want to be a recycling volunteer at the Special Olympics, whether you have sent your name to Green Star or not, you will need to contact the Special Olympics and fill out the Special Olympics volunteer application. Special Olympics volunteers can apply online at (www.2001worldgames.org) or by calling (907) 277-2497 or emailing volunteers@2001worldgames.org. Green Star also has a limited amount of Special Olympics applications available our office. On the Special Olympics volunteer application, indicate your desire to volunteer for recycling activities by writing in RECYCLE in the job preference section. There is no recycling box to check – just write it in! Experience in recycling is helpful, but not necessary. Event Planners If you are organizing an event in the future, consider making it a Green Event. Contact Green Star at 278-7839 to receive more information about the program. The many benefits to being a certified Green Event include: positive public recognition for caring about the environment and the community, and a reduced waste stream that can mean a reduced trash bill and reduced strain on the local landfill. As a Certified Green Event, you will have access to recycling bins and signs, a list of potential volunteers, and use of the Green Star Green Events logo to publicize your efforts to make your event GREEN. The Green Events program is partially funded by the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Donations of all sizes are welcome to continue this positive community recycling program. ================================ 2001 ALASKA FORUM ON THE ENVIRONMENT Green Star will host an evening social Wednesday, February 7, 5:00-5:30 pm, at the Egan Convention Center. All Green Star members are invited to attend. Green Star will also host "Natural Gas Vehicles in Alaska," a comprehensive look at the benefits of natural gas fleet and private vehicles. This session will be Monday, February 5th, 2:00-3:15pm. Speakers include representatives from Elmendorf Air Force Base, the Municipality of Anchorage, and North Slope natural gas vehicle experts. To attend the session, you must register with the Alaska Forum on the Environment. Registration for the day is $35.oo or $85.00 for the week. A complete schedule of events and an online registration form can be found at http://www.akforum.com. Contact Betsy at 278-7827 or betsy@greenstarinc.org for details. ================================ GREEN STAR NEEDS YOUR HELP Our office is growing! We are seeking wall dividers, a magazine rack for brochures, file cabinets, a small round meeting table, book cases, and other miscellaneous office supplies and equipment. Donations may be tax deductible. We also encourage you to volunteer, host an event, speak at a Green Star seminar, promote Green Star in your business community, and become a sponsor. ================================= THANK YOU 2000 SPONSORS Platinum: Phillips Alaska Gold: AT&T Wireless, BP Exploration (Alaska), Anchorage Daily News Bronze: Montgomery Watson, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Anchorage, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Supporter: Alaska Conservation Foundation, Dowland-Bach, Green Connection, TimeFrame, Yukon Equipment In-kind: National Bank of Alaska, EMCON Alaska, AMC Engineers, the Municipality of Anchorage, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, SST Travel Schools ================================= WELCOME NEW 2001 SPONSORS Gold: AT&T Wireless Supporter: Alaska Wildland Adventures In-kind: National Bank of Alaska, Data Pro, 2011 Enterprises ================================= Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at betsy@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any e-mail addresses you wish to add to our mailing list, and let us know if you would like to be removed from the list. Thank you! The staff of Green Star, Anchorage: Sean Skaling, Executive Director Jeanne Carlson, Recycling Program Coordinator Betsy Goll, Membership & Communications Coordinator If you would like to discontinue receiving E-News, please write betsy@greenstarinc.org. |
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