Maximizing the Green in your Business

Number 7 Plastics represent a miscellaneous category of plastics that don’t fit into the other numbered plastics. A wide variety of plastic resins fall into this realm. Polycarbonate is one such plastic that fits into this category and has made recent headlines.

Number 6 Plastics are comprised of polystyrene (PS). It is found in disposable plates and cups, egg cartons, and meat trays. When recycled, it is used in insulation, light switch plates, foam packing, and carry-out containers. Happy recycling!

If you are considering a real estate transaction in Ohio and part of your due diligence process includes an environmental assessment, contact Eric Cooper at 614-798-9922 in our Ohio office. Performing this due diligence can aid in minimizing your risks and liabilities.

Number 5 Plastics are comprised of polypropylene (PP). This is used in some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, and straws. Polypropylene has a high melting point and is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. When recycled it is utilized in battery cables, brooms, ice scrapers, and pallets.

Number 4 Plastics are comprised of low density polyethylene (LDPE). This is a common plastic found in squeezable bottles, shopping bags, and carpet. When recycled it is used in trash can liners, compost bins, shipping envelopes, and floor tile.

Today is America Recycles Day! There are many challenges to effective recycling but awareness and advocacy are usually the first steps. It also needs to eventually become part of the culture. And from a business perspective, it needs to make sense. But the grassroots efforts must start at a personal level. So do your part when you can. To learn more about America Recycles Day click here.

Last, but certainly not least, August Mack Environmental Inc. would like to highlight Pepperdine University for its dedication to sustainable living. Pepperdine University is devoted to improving air quality and reducing the utilization and dependence upon fossil fuels. The university created a Freon recycling system to decrease ozone layer depletion. Pepperdine utilizes Southern California Edison which provides the university with 19% of their electricity derived from renewable resources...

Another university that August Mack Environmental would like to highlight for their eco-friendly practices is Ball State University. All of the new construction on campus is LEED certification. Ball State University utilizes a fleet of hybrid vehicles for campus transportation, recycles 20% of campus waste (paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass) each year rather than sending it to landfills, and utilizes primarily recycled goods such as computers, mattresses, brick, concrete, carpeting, etc....

August Mack Environmental would like to highlight and commend a few colleges and universities that are devoted to being green and influencing others to live sustainable lifestyles. Many colleges have joined the sustainability movement through implementing various practices. Georgetown University utilizes recycling bins, solar energy, electric vehicles and biodiesel-fueled transportation throughout its campus.  The campus also contains a wildlife habitat, composts, and sustainable gardening. All...

Number 3 plastics are PVC or V (vinyl). It is much less often recycled but when it is recycled, it is utilized in roadway gutters, mudflaps, and speed bumps to name a few.

Sustainability is one of August Mack Environmental's service areas. With all of the talk about sustainable living, how can it be achieved? How can anyone enhance the environment, economy, and community simultaneously? According to the Empowerment Institute, Americans make up 5% of the world’s population consuming 33% of the resources and wasting nearly 75% of the resources without knowing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a multitude of ways to start your new sustainable...

August Mack Environmental, Inc. is all about sustainable living and operations. Many people throw around the word "sustainability", but what does it really mean? According to SustainIndy, sustainability means the lasting utilization habits of environmental, economic, and community enrichment. Global sustainability enables the world to be put in a position in which humans will be able to live longer as well as the continuation of the world as a whole. This is the first of a five part series on...

Number 2 Plastics are comprised of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This is the most commonly recycled plastic.  This plastic is downcycled into plastic lumber, roadside curbs, benches, and other durable plastic products.  We will continue to discuss the other numbered plastics in future blog posts. In the meantime, happy recycling!

Number 1 Plastics are comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). This is a common plastic utilized in soft drink bottles.  This plastic is commonly recycled into polar fleece, tote bags, carpet, and occasionally new containers.  We will discuss the other numbered plastics in future blog posts. In the meantime, happy recycling!

Coming to the close of the summer, it would be the perfect time to rejuvenate your health for start of a new season!  Go ahead and take a few more walks in your spare time.  Why not ride your bike to close locations? Try to eat a few more fresh fruits and vegetables.  By doing these things, you will give your body the healthy boost it needs to star anew.  Why not make a healthy new start before the New Year?

Contributed by an August Mack Environmental intern

We all know recycling is good.  We also know that it helps a great deal to conserve energy, not be wasteful, and so on and so forth.  These things may make big impacts in creating a better earth for us all.  But why not get our hands dirty? Why not walk outside and really start cleaning up, one neighborhood at a time?  Do you know how much of an impact we could make if we all took time out to actually go out and volunteer to help clean and renew the areas in need? The results would be...

Ever thought about planting a tree or two?  It may seem like a futile attempt to help the environment, but it actually serves some very important benefits to the atmosphere.  Help the environment by planting a tree. 

Take a look at the lighting in your home.  Do you see regular, old fashioned bulbs?  If so, it may be time to make a change.  Try lighting that saves money and power.  Try lighting that is a bit more efficient than what you are used to when shopping for lighting.  How about considering the Energy Star Qualified light bulbs?  These bulbs will definitely make a difference in your household.  Something as simple as lighting may seem like a minimal impact on helping to save power and money, but it...

Want to know how to save money and time?  How about you car pool?  Car pooling is extremely efficient.  When car pooling, not everyone has to waste gas going to the same place.  Say you are driving four other people in your car to work; that's four cars worth of carbon dioxide emissions that you have kept from the environment! Car pooling is a major helping hand to the environment.  If you ever have the chance to car pool instead of driving your own car, choose to car pool! 

It can seem discouraging to look up at the gas prices sometimes.  We can take comfort in the fact that there are ways around using so much gas.  One way to save on some of your gas is to go easy on the brakes and avoid hard accelerations (hard stop and goes).  Also, try not to spend so much time idling.  Lastly, look around your trunk.  If you see that your trunk is pretty full, empty it!  The extra weight being carried could be increasing the amount of fuel used.  Get more bang for your buck by...