ecycler, a new way to recycle online!

I’m excited to document our journey to cleaner water in the family household.

We live on well water. Fortunately, the water quality is decent–but, I knew it could be better! Skipping to the final setup for a moment…

We had three basic issues: Slight iron content, decently hard water, and the occasional sediment.

Sediment is easy to solve with a filter or two. Iron is more complicated and could use its own write-up. Iron was only slight so we felt we didn’t need the full iron removal system–the type of iron we have (ferric iron) can be solved with a special iron filter. Lastly, the water hardness…

I like the feel of hard-water and the taste of hard-water. But, not the scale / lime deposits that form around all of our fixtures.

Our solution? We added a Poly Salt Free Water Softener to our whole-house water filtration system: https://www.filterwaterdirect.com/products/poly-salt-free-water-softener

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Social media decal are designed to connect you with your customers. Today, practically everyone has a presence on social media. However, not all of your customers are aware that your brand is represented online. Social media decals let your customers and potential customers know where to find you. This enables you to provide more information to people who are curious about your brand as well as remind current customers of the products and services you offer. In addition, content you post on social media sites may potentially be shared by your followers to provide even greater exposure. Whether your brand is represented on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or all three, social media decals can help you reach more customers.

Facebook allows you to interact with customers and get feedback on products and services. This makes it an outstanding medium for a product launch or special promotion. You can gauge how receptive your audience is to your offers by their engagement with your posts. It opens communication with those who use your products to provide information on how they may be improved. Facebook social media decal can help grow your fan base and increase interactions with consumers to enable you to provide better customer support. Placing them on the door or window of your establishment not only attracts those entering the establishment but people who see them in passing.

If you want to post a product demonstration or have discovered a great new way to use one of your products, there is no better way to share it with others than on YouTube. Building a following on your business’ YouTube channel enables you to provide useful content for viewers that can lead to sales. A YouTube social media decal will inform others that they can find out more about your products and services by video. YouTube videos are extremely popular and shared on practically every other social network. As a result, one follower who found you by means of a social media decal can result in dozens more.

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With much fanfare, we launched ecycler at TechCrunch50—it was September 2009. Our primary goal was to create the one stop place for recycling. We moved beyond traditional recycling (paper, bottles, etc.) into what we called, shippables. These materials are recyclable, but not having enough value for someone to pick them up. The third phase (never implemented) would have been junk pickup.

We focused our energies on growth, not revenues.

We won $20,000 during the Fairfield Challenge for demonstrating our Social Media prowess—including a facebook best page commendation from Inc. Magazine—awesome! For the challenge, we visited 13 cities over 15 stays at the Fairfield Inn–we talked to business owners about how to make their recycling easier. And, many registered on ecycler to try us out.

With the winnings, we commissioned an iPhone app, a fun recycling game called iCanRecycle. We also invested in the ecycler Canada site–thanks Vancouver for being our guinea pig.

We’ve recycled hundreds of pounds of materials via the site; everything from aluminum cans to VHS tapes to Crayons. And, we had some fun along the way with our weekly Crush that Can episodes, all of which can still be viewed by following that to YouTube.

But, our magic wasn’t enough to maintain the business plan. As of the end of 2013, we’ve shuttered ecycler, a (once) new way to recycle online.

We’ve since sold off the ecycler.ca (and e-cycler.ca) domains and a few others including GirlsofRecycling.com.

Thanks to everyone that had a chance to make the world a better place by recycling something with ecycler. For the time being, we’ve taken down the main site and replaced with our blog. Please take advantage of the years’ worth of knowledge collected here and learn a thing or two about recycling!

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

The recent rise in social media has enabled ecycler (and many other businesses) to get in front of more customers than they ever would have been able to before.

The recognition that social media sites have created for various brands can work offline, as well. Companies can include their twitter handle or facebook page address in traditional marketing campaigns or post it on decals in their brick-and-mortar stores to point customers to their products and services online.

The possibilities for harnessing the power of social media offline are limitless. Ecycler, for example, has labeled all of its recycle bins located at various businesses and restaurants. Also, the front door to ecycler HQ has a social media window decal applied to it; these are available for anyone to attach on their establishment’s windows and doors. Companies could, perhaps, print their social media information on shopping bags, the sides of city buses and on billboards. It’s basically double advertising-– social media engages consumers with brands in the virtual world and points real world customers-–or potential customers-–to their brand online.

The logos and identities of the top social media sites-–including twitter, YouTube and facebook-–are so recognizable to people now, that once they see that a product or service they like has a social media presence, they are more likely to seek that company out online, too. That can lead to more purchases-–and therefore more revenue for your business.

Another fantastic way to let someone really know about your business is adding your QR code to your advertising. This will allow people to scan your offline social media ad with any QR code supported phone and learn more information about your business. Everything they need to know about your business will pop up on their phone.

We recommend Social Media Decals for your windows!

From dozens of dirty diapers to multiple baby bottles, new infants can cost a lot of money and make a lot of messes. When preparing for their arrival, consider how you can best care for your baby without harming the environment. Here are eight tips for decorating a safe, eco-friendly nursery.

Organic Crib Mattress

Most people don’t realize a lot of chemicals go into creating traditional mattresses. These chemicals can be inhaled as you sleep and since your newborn spends the majority of his or her time sleeping, it is especially important you use a natural crib mattress in the nursery. Latex, organic cotton and organic wool are all great options.

Natural Wood Crib

Cheap furniture made out of plywood and particle board uses formaldehyde glue in its manufacturing. According to the Examiner, you should look for cribs that meet the highest regulations for formaldehyde emissions. Most cribs manufactured in Europe or Canada will meet this standard.

Organic Bed Linens

Organic bed linens are a must for your baby’s bed. Synthetic bed linens can be loaded with chemicals, which can weaken your baby’s immune system. Organic bed linens also naturally repel dust mites and mildew.

Window Treatment

Blinds are a great way to make your nursery eco-friendly. They not only help to darken the room so your baby can sleep better, but blinds also help regulate the room temperature. There are many styles and colors of blinds to make your selection from. Consider choosing cordless blinds as a safety measure.

Natural Wood Flooring

Natural-wood flooring is the best option for your baby’s room because it is not made with chemicals. If you want a little cushion for your baby to play on, choose an all-natural area rug, such as one made from bamboo or cork.

Safe Paint

One of the biggest sources of toxins in a baby’s room is from the paint. That is why it is so important you use Volatile Organic Compounds-free and lead-free paint. According to Pure Natural Mom, VOCs have been proven to cause a variety of symptoms like dizziness and headaches. Long-term effects of VOCs include cancer and heart disease. Look for paints made from natural materials, such as soy-based paints. Also, paint your nursery at least two months before bringing your baby home so the paint has plenty of time to air out.

Homemade Cleaners

Use natural cleaners to clean your nursery, especially if your baby is with you while you are cleaning. Vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda can clean just about every mess you will come across.

Energy-Efficient Bulbs

Use energy-efficient light bulbs available from your local home improvement store. You will lower your emissions and save some money in the process. Consider building your nursery on the side of the house that gets the morning sun, so you don’t have to even turn those light bulbs on. The sun will be good for your baby’s health, and it will save you on energy.

About the author of this post, Dana Villanueva. Dana calls herself a world warrior and an earth conservationist. She comes from a family that believes in the importance of sharing information about our environment, with the hopes that it will prevent a larger global crisis.

It’s that time of year again – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over and it’s countdown to Christmas.

While you’re adding green to your home with boughs of holly, it’s worth trying to be green at the same time.

Here are some tips for having a jolly environmental holiday:

Reuse boxes you have around the house when wrapping items or shipping gifts, including shoe boxes.

Use recycled wrapping paper or get creative and use newspapers or paper bags from the grocery store to wrap gifts. Save the pretty gift bags and wrapping paper people give you and reuse them to present a gift to someone else.

Send electronic holiday cards.

Use LED Christmas lights to save on energy.

Instead of buying new stockings, decorate old socks (just don’t use ones with holes in the toes or that lump of charcoal will fall out).

Compost whatever ham and stuffing is leftover that you don’t want to eat the next day.

When the holidays are over and the last ornaments have been plucked from the tree, recycle the Christmas tree (unless you used a fake one). Most cities will pick up Christmas trees and other foliage free of charge and mulch the remains.

A founding tenet of the environmental education movement is that to want to conserve and take action to save the planet, we must first appreciate and love the natural world in which we live. By exposing children (and grownups!) to the intricacies of nature, they begin to realize their profound connection to the rhythms of the planet.

That sort of understanding directly correlates to actions as simple as choosing the recycling bin over the trash can when it’s time to dispose of an aluminum can. People that care about and appreciate their role in nature will feel guilty tossing something to the landfill that can be otherwise reused or recycled.

In order to foster the relationship between individual humans and nature, we need wild, preserved places for them to visit and enjoy. Our national and state parks systems provide this outlet, but they’re often visited only on weekends and vacations. Fortunately, it’s likely that a wild preserve may exist closer to your home, perhaps previously unbeknownst to you. For over 60 years, the Nature Conservancy has been protected pristine wild lands around the world. Some of these preserves are only a few acres, while others spread for miles.

During my work travels, I’ve discovered a passion for visiting these places, most of which are only a short drive from significant towns and major metropolitan areas. Spread across the country through all types of habitat, here are a handful of my favorite hidden natural gems in the lower 48:

Aiken Canyon Preserve, Colorado

One of the beautiful aspects of a true nature preserve is that they’ve been protected for animals and plants, not necessarily just for humans! Aiken Canyon, just a short drive from Colorado Springs, is only open for (human) visitation on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. On the other days of the week, it’s left to the birds, over 100 species of which make this their home, including Golden eagles, Prairie falcons, and downy woodpeckers. There are also big mammals, from Rocky Mountain elk to mountain lions. The 1,600 acre plot of land covers a rich abundance of foothill terrain, providing a perspective on the transition from prairie to the Rocky’s Front Range that’s unparalleled.

Waubesa Wetland Preserve, Wisconsin

Literally minutes from Madison, this spring-fed wetland is a haven for migrating birds and waterfowl, as well as spawning northern pike. With cool, clean water originating in deep underground caves, this wild wetland is best explored via canoe or kayak, although visitors on foot should still be able to catch views of wading Great Blue Herons, bitterns, coots, and geese. A favorite escape for water-loving Madison residents, the 230-acre Waubesa is well-worth exploration as a destination in itself.

Apalachicola Bluffs Preserve, Florida

The last thing most visitors to Florida expect to find is a sweeping vista for miles across a river landscape, but the impressive sand hills in this massive 6,300-acre preserve an hour west of Tallahassee provide just that. Follow the 4-mile roundtrip trail through native longleaf pine forests, across streams, through sand hills, and through an impressive natural ravine and bluff topping out at 135 feet over the Apalachicola River. For hiking enthusiasts relegated to the flatlands of Florida, that’s hard to beat.

Sheldrick Forest Preserve, New Hampshire

Finding old growth forest in New England is rare indeed, but this 227-acre gem allows a walk back in time. Somehow, the preserve’s towering white pines, oaks, and hemlocks have escaped the logging saw for centuries. A hike through the preserves four miles of trail system will take visitors past trees with 30-inch diameters, along a steep ravine and ridge, and past the gently meandering Morgan’s Brook. Within an hour of Manchester, N.H. or Boston, it’s a worthy escape from the bustle of city life into a world still much like it existed when settlers first arrived on the nearby shores.

What preserves and natural escapes in your area inspire you to protect and conserve nature? Did an experience in the great outdoors help make you aware of the importance of recycling and conservation?

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Girls reusing a empty plastic water bottle

Teaching your children how to recycle can be a very worthwhile experience. Not only are you helping our environment, but you’re keeping the environment safe and healthy for their future.
Buying reusable products is the first step towards teaching children how to conserve. Instead of constantly buying them disposable lunch bag products or water bottles, buy them items such as steel bottles and plastic lunch bags that can be reused many times before needing to be thrown out. Kids are known to follow by example, so this could be a simple and money saving technique to show them how to conserve.

More often than not, families will use disposable paper napkins at the dinner table each night. By switching this with a personal washcloth for each family member, you can save money while also reducing your footprint on the environment. This is another simple method that can get your child used to be ecologically friendly.

By allowing kids to run the recycling program at home, you will be able to satisfy their want for being in charge while also teaching them how to recycle. Allow your children to recycle all of your plastic and glass used goods, and then you can even teach them about bottle redemption to really make their mind set on recycling. Taking your child to the bottle redemption machine each week will continue to motivate him to recycle while also giving him some extra money and keeping the environment clean.

Donating your children’s used and unwanted goods is mutually beneficial to both you and those in need. Make your child feel good about himself by donating to the poor and helping those in need. Besides the recycling aspect of this, its also just a nice gesture that many should do anyways.

Finally, trying to start a recycling program around the community or at your local school can be a huge way to get your kids to recycle. By instituting a recycling program in the school, all the children would want to be involved in it and it could have an excellent outcome. The school can also use motives in their program to motivate the children, such as rewarded them with a homework pass when a certain amount of items have been recycled. Starting the habit of recycling in school can carry over to your own home, eventually you will have your child teach you how to recycle!

Recycling can be a great way to keep the environment clean and safe for the future, while being an economically smart decision. By using these five tips to teach kids how to recycle, you can make a huge impact on the environment without having to put in much effort.

Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites.