Earth911 Weekly Roundup: February 20-24
by Nate Lipka
Published on 02/24/2012
We revisit the biggest, best and most buzz-worthy stories of the week that was.
Photo: Flickr/Mark Gstohl
An estimated 25 million pounds of plastic beads made their way through New Orleans last Tuesday for Mardi Gras. And because they can’t be processed by local recyclers, beads often end up as litter in nearby waterways or dumped in landfills.
Luckily, several local community groups worked to collect this year’s Mardi Gras beads and reuse them at other events.
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Can you believe these spring rolls are vegan? Photo: Flickr/SweetOnVeg
Ordering a veg-based meal at a restaurant can be intimidating.
Animal products could be hiding in one of many nooks and crannies in your meal – from beef stock-based sauces to bread glazed with egg.
If you order the wrong thing, you may end up sending your meal back and contributing to the
34 million tons of food that is wasted in the U.S. each year.
So, what’s a novice vegan to do? Don’t fret, hungry greenie. Earth911 has you covered. Here are 10 questions to ask your server before choosing a veg-based meal.
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A look at how the PaperKarma app works to reduce paper waste. Photo: PaperKarma
If you’ve ever found yourself at your mailbox, baffled by the fact that you’ve received nothing but a pile of junk mail that will only find its way to the trash, there’s an app for that.
PaperKarma, a smartphone application released in early February, reduces your paper junk mail with the snap of a picture and is available on both the iPhone and Android markets.
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A fully-grown Poetree memorial. Photo: Margaux Ruyant
It might be a dark subject, but looking on the bright side, the process of death is actually a green one.
When the body decomposes, it eventually becomes the organic matter that surrounds us. The process of traditional burial, on the other hand, isn’t so earth-friendly. Embalmment and wasteful metal caskets can get in the way of the process and require the use of many more material and monetary resources.
Enter the Poetree, a biodegradable planter covered with soil and planted, until it eventually sprouts into a small tree that can house a loved one's ashes.
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Throwing a baby or bridal shower, birthday party or family gathering can be stressful. To make matters even tougher, the after-party cleanup often involves picking recyclables out of your trash can, removing litter from your lawn and disposing of guests’ leftover gift wrap and food packaging.
You don’t want to be rude to your guests, but you’d like them to embrace your green way of living while visiting your home. So, what’s a planet-friendly party planner to do?
Earth911 spoke with Suzanne Bertani, the eco-conscious mom behind Green Planet Parties and the green parenting blog MommyFootprint, to get a few tips on how to inspire your guests to go green – without sounding preachy or pushy.
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