What Can We Do To Help The Environment?

Americans could stop being wasteful. Over 206 million computer products and 140 million phones are discarded a year. Seventy percent of heavy metals in landfills come from outdated electronics and contain toxins such as lead and mercury. In 2010 twenty-three states have electronic recycling laws, but regulations are inconsistent. As a result, only 15%-20% of electronics are recycled. Electronic Recyclers International, in Fresco CA, is the largest electronics recycler in the U.S. It recycles 100% of all material into 3 main commodities: metal, plastic and glass. ERI is a $50-million-in-revenue company that expects to double by 2012 – obviously "wasting" no time.
Americans also waste food and that's wasted energy. Calories in the food meant to provide us energy are wasted. So is the energy it takes to grow, process, package and transport the food. According to research by the University of Texas, American food waste equals 350 million barrels of oil a year – enough to power the country for a week. Then there's climate change. In 2008 agriculture caused 7% of the greenhouse gas emissions – and that was without processing and transporting the food. Americans waste 27% of their food – and they "waist" much of the rest.
To fight climate change we could paint roofs white. According to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, "cool roofs" are one of the quickest, low-cost ways to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. White roofs keep homes cooler in summer by reflecting – not absorbing – heat, thus saving energy. However, white roofs have little impact in winter because the sun isn't as strong. Supposedly, a 1,000-square-foot roof painted reflective white can save 10 tons of carbon dioxide – that's equal to emissions from 1 car for 2 years. Painting roofs white is something Americans can do to help "white-out" climate change.
General Mills, maker of Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Hamburger Helper, made a decision that will help. In September 2010 General Mills decided to try to get all its palm oil from "responsible and sustainable sources" by 2015. Palm oil is used to fry food; make cosmetics and candy; and when mixed with diesel, it's used for fuel. Palm oil is primarily produced in Indonesia and Malaysia and the production is destroying valuable rain forests and threatening habitats of endangered species. Unilever, Nestle, Kraft and Burger King previously made similar decisions. If we are what we eat, food manufacturers are what they put in our food.


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