AARDBIRD.NET

The Impact of Recycling on Our Planet

2012-04-26T13:10:00Z

Rachel Klein — mrsrachelklein Sunday, April 15, 2012

Recycling is a process that, if done by many, can have incredibly positive effects for our environment, our country, and our well-being as a society. Some people don’t stop to consider just how easy it is to do, and it doesn’t always require us to have one of those red bins that we put outside on the block once a week. It can be as easy as refilling a water bottle instead of throwing it away and grabbing a new one every time we are thirsty.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2012), there are several positive results that come from recycling:

“Recycling protects and expands US manufacturing jobs and increases US competitiveness.
Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
Recycling saves energy.
Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.”

Louisville does a great job of promoting recycling, especially on their website. They believe that it shouldn’t be an option for us to recycle, that it should be an obligation: “…each of us are charged with protecting our environment and conserving natural resources for the many generations to come. You are a steward of Mother Earth and the process of caring for her starts with you!” (Louisville Metro Government, 2012) I don’t just recycle for me. I recycle for each of you, because you are the future, and I want to protect the world you’ll be living in.

Another reason you might consider a life and future in recycling? Money. Cash. Green. Bread. Dough. Simoleons! Recycling can be incredibly lucrative. As a kid, I would pick up flattened pop cans that people threw from their cars and bag them while on a walk with my parents. After 4 or 5 walks, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of cans I collected. Besides helping to keep a cleaner neighborhood, turning in these cans to the local recycling center meant MONEY- they would actually give you money for turning in cans!

Not only can you collect cans, but you can create entire business models based on green practices such as recycling. My brother, Mark, works for a company in Columbus, OH that recycles glass, plastic, etc. and turns it into products that they sell all over the United States!

Here’s an example of one of the awards they make using recycled glass:

My brother travels to trade shows all over the Midwest, and many companies are always interested in taking one of their catalogs and buying their recycled products in the future. Face it, people DO want to do the right thing and be green, but they don’t always know how. You can be a resource for these people in the future by starting a company like Weisenbach Recycled Products.

I’ll leave you with what is hopefully empowering video about the impact of just ONE person choosing to do the right thing.

Recycling a bottle, flashmob style! [HQ]

Works Cited:

“Know the Benefits of Recycling – I Want To – LouisvilleKy.gov.” Louisville Metro Government Official Website. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. < http://www.louisvilleky.gov/SolidWaste/IWantTo/Know the Benefits of Recycling.htm >.

“Recycling, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. < http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm >.

“Weisenbach Recycled Products :: 437 Holtzman Avenue :: Columbus, OH 43205-1604 USA (800) 778-5420 :: (614) 251-8585 ::” Weisenbach Recycled Products. Web. 15 Apr. 2012.

<photo: http://www.recycledproducts.com/product/07017 >

Spotlight on Dan Weisenbach, Walking the Green Talk

2012-04-25T13:03:18Z

Not just a company president of one of the leading recycled promotional products companies in the U.S., he’s an innovator, educator, motivator…he’s the “real deal”.

Dan Weisenbach, of Weisenbach Recycled Products has spent the last 30 years building his business. He has done much research and development, achieving many great successes.

Not only does he design, manufacture and distribute promotional/educational items from recycled materials but he is also a busy partner and affiliate of many local and national "green" organizations. Locally, Dan is a proud Board Member of Keep Ohio Beautiful (KOB), a Board Member of Green Columbus, a member of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA Ohio Buckeye Chapter), and a recycling consultant on our Columbus Mayor's Green Team. He is also affiliated with numerous recycling associations across our nation, including the State of Texas Association of Recyclers (STAR), the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP) and the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA), among many others.

But it doesn’t stop there! Dan often attends, participates, launches, emcees and sometimes even exhibits at recycling events everywhere! Here he is at the 2012 KOB State Roadway Cleanup Kick-off at Route 33 litter pick up and yes, he is actually picking up litter! He advocates for a healthy, clean environment and he definitely “walks his talk”.

You never know, he may show up at your next litter clean up event, lucky you! I am proud to be a long time employee of Weisenbach! I love this place..and who doesn’t love this guy?! “I’m a Fan of Dan!” A.S.

Amy works in the Weisenbach sales department. She is a working momma of 1 who has been employed at Weisenbach for about 10 years!

Earth Day is almost here. Yikes...I need stuff, like now!

2012-04-17T15:33:49Z

Between planning your litter clean-up event and deciding what kind of trees to plant, the thought of recycled promotions & event giveaways has somehow slipped your mind. But fear not, for Weisenbach is here! We have a great selection of recycled merchandise in-stock and ready to ship, just in time for your event!

Circuit Board Certificate Frames

Looking for a great way to say "thanks" to your volunteers? Give them a really cool way to display their certificate of recognition with a frame made from recycled circuit boards!

Each frame holds an 8.5" x 11" certificate and is made of obsolete/defective circuit board. You can print your own certificates on translucent paper (supplied) or have us print it for you. The circuits are visible through the paper! Includes a built-in hanger.

Recycle-Bottle Bird Feeder

A great project for the kids! The tree you just planted is the perfect place to hang this bird feeder. Just grab an old soda bottle and viola, a lesson in how to reuse!

Each feeder is made from recycled polypropylene (#5 plastic) and comes with a bird-sighting bookmark that is printed with soy inks on 100% recycled paperboard. So not only do the soda bottles get reused but the bookmark can be used over and over again.

Help feed the birds!

Picture Me Green Story Book

A Weisenbach exclusive! Co-authored by our own Dan Weisenbach. Your child can be the main character in a colorful guide to small steps that we can all take to make every day a little "greener!"

Full color booklet with die cut hole for a picture. Your child becomes the central figure in the book! Guides young and old to be more environmentally aware.

Standard wallet size photos can be used for child's picture. 8 pages plus front and back cover. Paper contains 20% post consumer recycled content and it's printed with Ecosmart Ink.

Many More YIKES! Items

There are so many more Yikes! items that we dedicated an entire page at RecycledProducts.com exclusively for these last-minute goodies. Find just what you need!

Win Cool Recycled Stuff UPDATED: Congratulations to our 7 Winners!

2012-03-28T17:21:26Z

If you aren't signed up for the Weisenbach Recycled Products free eNewsletter, you're missing out on more than just the latest news on our recycled products & green initiatives, you're also missing the chance to win some cool prizes.

Check out this fun contest from our last eNewsletter blast:

Sight our Slight & Win a Bin!

Win a Compost Bin

We've booked an error, shown quite contrary- not glassy or piggy or earthy or airy.
An image that just doesn't quite fit the bill- 'mere drop in the bucket, but misleading, still.
Saving those kitchen scraps gives them new life- we may reward you for spotting our strife!
Can you find it- what did we do wrong?

Spot the glaring error in our new 2012 catalog and win a free compost bin & a box of compostable bags.

If you don't have the new catalog, you can view it online HERE (9MB).

Send your guess, along with your name & shipping information to sales@weisenbach.com.

Offer ends March 20 or while supplies last. Actual product may differ from photo.

Don't miss out on more cool offers like this one! Sign up for our free newsletter today!



Join Our Email List Email:

For Email Marketing you can trust

Update: This contest is now closed but congratulations to all of our winners! Thanks for participating: Carrie K. - Miami, FL
Sarah F. - Little Rock, AR
Cheryle S. - Johnsonville, SC
Felicia B. - Dublin, OH
Shana J. - Raleigh, NC
Andra W. - The Woodlands, TX
Libby M. - San Rafael, CA

P.S. Stick Pens

2012-02-23T17:42:19Z

Introducing our new P.S.™ stick pen made from post-consumer recycled EPS (expanded polystyrene).

A strong, durable writing instrument made from 50% foam plastic. Available in your choice of 5 barrel colors (yellow, red, white, blue or green) with a smooth-writing blue ink ballpoint cartridge and one of our standard cap colors (frost, blue or black). The pen states its recycled content message on the barrel and is ready for your logo and tagline. Order a minimum of 250 for $0.45 each.

The Dart Container Corporation CARE Program (Cups Are REcyclable) makes this valuable material is made available to Weisenbach and other product manufacturers. The polystyrene is collected, densified, granulated, washed and pelletized into a new raw material.

Thanks to DART Corporation's commitment, recycling of foam plastics is growing rapidly. The new P.S.™ Pen is the first of many items that we plan to make from recycled foam cups, foam plates, and foam packaging.

Weisenbach Recycled Products is continuing to experiment with new ways we can use this recycled plastic to make products in keeping with our **W.A.R.M. manufacturing philosophy: using would-be Waste As Raw Material.

Mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam®, expanded polystyrene (EPS), is used to make cups, plates, lunch trays, and many forms of packaging. Styrofoam® is a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for its extruded polystyrene foam used as building insulation. There is no such thing as a “styrofoam cup” and Styrofoam® has never been used as a foodservice product.

DART® and the DART logo are registered trademarks of Dart Container Corporation

Black & White is the New Green

2012-02-21T17:43:05Z

New 2012 Catalogs are here!

The new 2012 Recycled Product Catalogs mailed out last week so watch your mailbox for your own copy of "Black & White is the New Green".

Thanks to the staff at Weisenbach for putting so much hard work into the 35-page catalog, the end results look great!

To request your catalog, please send your request to sales@weisenbach.com or call us at 800-778-5420.

RecycleMania 2012

2012-02-15T16:14:54Z

The official 2012 RecycleMania® products are here! RecyclingIsCool.com has an updated selection of branded promotional materials. The store features a range of items including shirts, mugs, pencils, pens, buttons, water bottles and more.

This year there are even more officially branded promotional items. The new offerings include retro-style sunglasses, clip-boards, recycling bins, food storage containers, bag holders, tally counters and more. Hurry to be sure to have your merchandise in time for this year's tournament.

Most items are available with simple RecycleMania® branding or they can be customized with a school's logo and messaging. Please call us at 800-778-5420 to order customized products. The online store is operated under license by Weisenbach Recycled Products and a portion of all sales go to support the RecycleMania® Steering Committee that organizes the tournament.

To learn more about RecycleMania®, please visit their website RecycleManiacs.org

Recycled Glass Vases at Closeout Prices

2012-01-11T19:06:56Z

Add an elegant touch to any room with a lovely recycled glass vase. Fill it with flowers, candles, or any arrangement. Makes a great gift! These beautiful vases are made from 99% Post-Consumer Recycled Glass.

Right now we are offering a variety of different sizes and shapes at deeply discounted prices, but only while supplies last.

We can also personalize your vase. Contact us about custom sand-blast etching (additional charges apply).

Inventory Reduction. Limited quantities available. When they're gone, the sale is done!

Find 'em at RecyclingIsCool.com (Close-Out Items tab) or give us a call at 1-800-778-5420

EcoSummit 2012

2012-01-03T17:46:13Z

Weisenbach Recycled Products is proud to be one of the first registered exhibitors at EcoSummit 2012. This world class event will bring participants from over 55 countries here to Columbus, Ohio. The following information is from the EcoSummit 2012 website: ecosummit2012.org

EcoSummit 2012 will bring together the world's most respected minds in ecological science to discuss restoring the planet's ecosystems. Come hear Nobel Prize laureate Elinor Ostrom, Pulitzer Prize winners E.O. Wilson and Jared Diamond, Kyoto Prize winner Simon Levin, Stockholm Water Prize laureates Sven Jørgensen and William Mitsch, and many others in the first conference ever linking the Ecological Society of America (ESA), The International Association for Ecology (INTECOL) and the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER).

70 symposia and 11 workshops with almost 600 participants from over 55 countries have been accepted for the EcoSummit 2012 Program. The symposia and workshops cover a wide variety of ecological topics, including ecological restoration, ecosystem services, climate change issues, and lake, wetland, and river management and will be presented over the entire week of the conference in parallel sessions.

Ecosystems such as streams, rivers, inland and coastal wetlands, grasslands, and forests provide numerous services that fundamentally support human health and well-being. This international conference will explore innovative science-based strategies that are socially and culturally acceptable to create, manage, and restore these ecosystems, ensuring that society has access to all these ecosystem services. Our aim is to provide a high-profile platform for dialogue among researchers, planners and decision-makers to develop a better understanding of the complex nature of ecological systems and the means to protect and enhance their services.

Topics

Sustainability and Resilience
Ecosystem Creation and Restoration/Ecological Engineering
Global Change
Ecosystem Services
Ecological Indicators
Biodiversity and Biological Conservation
Climate Change
Ecological Complexity
Ecotoxicology

Ecological Economics
Ecological Modelling
Biological Invasions
Ecosystem Health
Environmental Policy
Ecological Knowledge
Coastal Problems Caused by Upland Pollution Sources
Watershed/River Catchment Management
Ecohydrology

A Full Line of Eventware Products

2011-12-02T17:25:41Z

Weisenbach Recycled Products recently launched a full line of recycled plastic items that are specifically designed for use at events. This line of plates, cups, saucers and trays is aptly called Eventware®.

The spirit of Eventware® is to promote more eco-friendly events by providing quality, re-usable products that are easy to transport, easy to clean and generate far less waste than disposable plates, cups & bowls.

Currently, the Eventware® line of products include social plates (pictured left), coffee mugs, beer steins, picnic plates, stadium cups, snack serving trays (pictured lower right) & bar caddies. Weisenbach is working to add even more items to the collection soon.

Eventware® is ideal for use at events such as tailgating, graduation parties, fundraisers, cocktail parties, holiday gatherings and more. Many of the sturdy, yet lightweight plastic items can easily be stacked and packed in your cooler, backpack, or picnic basket.

You can now find all of our Eventware® products for sale online at RecyclingIsCool.com or call us at 800-778-5420 and ask us how to customize your Eventware® especially for your organization.

Movember at Weisenbach Recycled Products

2011-11-30T15:39:07Z

Many of the men at Weisenbach Recycled Products spent the month of November growing their mustaches for a good cause!

The goal of "Movember" is to raise vital funds and awareness for men's health issues, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

Once registered at www.movember.com, men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Next year, the men of Weisenbach plan on having an official company team.

You can see the un-official team page here.

To learn more about Movember please visit us.movember.com

Eventware Bar Caddy

2011-11-28T17:26:20Z

A Weisenbach Exclusive! The sleek black design of this bar caddy can readily display your logo or message.

Compartments to hold all of your beverage straws, drink stirs, napkins or coasters.

Made from post-consumer plastic, it's the perfect complement to your sustainable menu and your green restaurant initiatives.

You can see the full line of Eventware® recycled plastic products, including plates, cups, saucers, serving trays & trays at RecyclingIsCool.com

Recycling #5 Plastic with Caps Can Do®

2011-10-06T16:35:51Z

Folks are always asking us about different plastic items, what type of plastic they are made from and if those items can be recycled with our Caps Can Do® program. We are happy to share some other common plastic items that are made from our favorite plastic, #5 Polypropylene (PP).

Remember when we bought blank CD's by the gross to burn all of our favorite music and photos...itunes and pods and pads might've made these a bit obsolete. But we'll sing the praises of the PP #5 plastic in the lids. It can go in with the caps you send to Caps Can Do®. We'll recycle it into cool and useful stuff. Rock on!

Besides caps from soda and water bottles, caps from detergent bottles, lids from peanut butter jars, and the flip-top caps from personal care products like toothpaste or shampoo, are all typically made from PP #5. So you can clean and save all of these lids to recycle them with the other bottle caps that you send to Caps Can Do®

Additionally, margarine & butter tubs, yogurt cups and hummus containers are typically made from PP #5. These items can also be recycled through Caps Can Do® as long as they are clean and free from all food debris.

Please thoroughly clean ALL plastic that you send to Caps Can Do® for recycling. We are a small, family-owned business. We sort all of our recyclables by hand and we do not have a wash-line at our facility. Thank you for your consideration as we work together to keep this material out of our waterways and oceans, out of the landfill and away from wildlife!

Containers to line Parsons Ave to corral cigarette butts

2011-09-28T17:31:34Z

From the Columbus Dispatch, Sunday September 25, 2011

Gritty Parsons Avenue is home to small businesses, restaurants and bars, many of whose owners are working to clean up the South Side neighborhood.
One constant they face is cigarette butts scattered along sidewalks and curbs.

Jeff Knoll, director of the Parsons Avenue Merchants Association, said that one day he stood in front of the United Methodist Church for All People at Parsons and Whittier Street and counted 40 cigarette butts.

“It’s just unsightly,” said Knoll, who runs Graphic Touch at 827 S. Parsons Ave., just north of Columbus Street.
“If I walk up to my shop after a rainstorm, the cigarette butts thrown in the street have all washed up on my sidewalk. I can pick up 10 to 20 cigarette buts.”

He might not have to if smokers use the 10 cigarette-litter containers being placed along Parsons from Columbus Street south to Siebert Street.
The yearlong pilot program, which begins on Monday, is aimed at discouraging smokers from flicking their butts into the street or onto sidewalks.

The community-improvement organization Keep America Beautiful has tested similar programs in other communities, said Sherri Palmer, who manages Keep Columbus Beautiful, a city agency. The result is a 55 percent reduction in cigarette litter.

“They want you to change your behavior,” Palmer said.
InnovaGreen Systems of Dublin will install the containers, each made with 10,000 to 20,000 recycled cigarette butts.

The Parsons Avenue Merchants Association and Keep Columbus Beautiful applied for and received a $3,000 cigarette-litter prevention grant from Keep America Beautiful to pay for the containers.

Knoll said posters will be placed along the street to increase awareness.
“I don’t think people that smoke realize it’s litter,” said Marc Borst, who runs the Mad Hatter screen-printing shop on Parsons.

He said that if people see cigarette butts, they might dump their pop cans and other trash in the area.
If the program is successful, Keep Columbus Beautiful could start similar efforts in other neighborhoods, Palmer said.

Blake Burich of InnovaGreen Systems said he’s already heard from neighborhoods interested in the 3-foot-tall containers.
Also on Monday, 100 volunteers from Altria, parent company of cigarette-maker Philip Morris USA, will clean up Parsons between Livingston Avenue and Hosack Street.

The beautification campaign is the second for Parsons since 2010, when community leaders and volunteers in the Plant Pride on Parsons effort cleaned up 2 miles along the street and placed 32 painted planters on Parsons’ sidewalks.

Last week, area resident Kim Williams was smoking in drizzling rain along Parsons.
Williams usually throws cigarette butts into the street, she said, but would use the new receptacles.

Palmer said 24 galvanized buckets filled with sand or other material will be placed in business entryways along other sections of Parsons, so smokers can discard butts before entering stores.
Schreiner Ace Hardware already has two outside its door at 1665 Parsons Ave.
“If we didn’t have a pail,” assistant manager Nick Guerry said, “there’d be a pile in the corner.”

mferenchik@dispatch.com

Link to Original Article

Are You Ready for Some Football (Recycle Bins)?

2011-09-16T16:33:53Z

Recycling Bins & Great Gear for Your Tailgate Party

Cheer on your team while going green! Our heavy duty, durable Football Shaped Recycling Container is specially designed for bottle & can recycling. At 43" tall and 24" wide, this container is easy to spot and easy to access. Fans will notice, and won't pass the chance to recycle their empty bottles & cans.

Just like the game of football, this container is made in the USA. And with true American ingenuity, it's crafted of recycled HDPE (High Density Polyethylene - #2). So while it makes recycling accessible to fans, it also demonstrates what can be made from recycled plastic.

And our Eventware™ One-Handed Snack Plates make it easy to green your tailgate by generating less waste. These plates are washable, reusable, convenient and they make it easy to eat & drink while standing up. With Eventware™, fans can hold onto their drink and snacks with one hand, leaving their other hand free to greet, cheer, or high-five.

These plates work great with cups, bottles or cans, so no matter which beverage you choose, Eventware™ can accommodate it. Our favorite, choose a local brew to maximize your environmental awareness while minimizing your environmental impact.

After the game, Eventware™ plates can easily be stacked and brought home in a cooler or other sealed container. They are made with durable food-grade recycled plastic and top-rack dishwasher safe.

Lawrence County Cleanup named top project in Ohio

2011-09-02T16:02:45Z

From: The Herald-Dispatch July 23, 2011

DAVID E. MALLOY

IRONTON -- It is sometimes amazing what someone can do with a little help from your friends. Just ask Dan Palmer.

Palmer, director of the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District, had a lot of help from friends and volunteers from the Lawrence County Cleanup in early May. The district competed with other projects from Ohio and was named the top project in the state, Palmer said.

The district received the award as part of a Keep Ohio Beautiful conference earlier this month.

The county has been holding a countywide cleanup for the past three years with groups including Tidy-up Lawrence County, a group of volunteers who hold several cleanup projects throughout the year.

"We couldn't have done this without all the volunteers," Palmer said Thursday during a Lawrence County Board of Commissioners meeting in Ironton.

Several township trustees also held cleanup days and provided containers for residents to bring trash, Palmer said.

Link to Original Article: herald-dispatch.com

Share Your Photos on our Facebook Page

2011-08-29T16:54:52Z

Do you have a picture of the special occasion when you received one of our 100% recycled glass ReAwards®? How about a memorable snapshot from your latest recycling or green event? We at Weisenbach Recycled Products would be honored to share the moment with you!

Help us spread the word about our 100% post-consumer recycled glass awards & other recycled products, and we'll help spread your message, too. Upload and share photos of your award presentations or special moments on the Weisenbach Recycled Products Facebook fans page at: Facebook.com/RecycledProducts

Just become a fan of RecycledProducts and post your favorite images on our wall. Feel free to include a link to your organization's web site, information about your company, the award, or anything else you would like to tell us about the occasion.

Your photos can then be seen and shared by our thousands of Facebook fans!

100% Post-Consumer Recycled Pencil Cups

2011-08-23T15:24:24Z

Add a touch of eco-sleek to your home or office! This pencil cup will store plenty of your recycled pens, pencils, markers & other supplies.

The sleek black design of the cup can readily display your logo or message (We recommend using a white imprint to achieve the best look). A built-in, diagonal divider keeps all of your utensils separate and helps prevent the holder from tipping over.

This cup measures 3-3/4" H, with approximately 3-1/2" W x 3-1/2" L (at top opening), 3" W x 3" L (at base)

Made from 100% post-consumer polypropylene, custom molded and custom imprinted in the USA.