2009 Green Resolutions

Driving through an expanding wind farm in Montana

As we say a joyful farewell to a tumultuous 2008, I wonder if 2009 will be better.  For the purposes of this discussion, I’ll only focus on Green resolutions and hopes for the year to come:

• America’s incoming President has big words about alternative energy pursuits and dedicating resources to greener, more eco-friendly efforts for the country — let’s hope that it’s (a) true, (b) practical, and (c) not funded entirely by working-class tax payers.  We’ll see. . .
•  In the United States, we scrap about 400 million units per year of consumer electronics or e-waste. According to the U.S. EPA, discarded computers, monitors, televisions and other consumer electronics are the fastest growing portion of the waste stream — growing by almost 8 percent from 2004 to 2005, even though the overall municipal waste stream volume is declining.  It’s certain that the e-waste pile in 2009 will be higher than ever, here’s hoping that we find RESPONSIBLE resources to handle the toxins involved, and that we ourselves contribute a little bit to keeping techno-trash in the right, local, eco-efficient hands.
• Oregon E-Cycles, a new statewide program that begins January 1, 2009, provides free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs across the entire state of Oregon. The program is financed by electronics manufacturers and jointly implemented with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).  They are audited and claim to be compliant with the highest standards of e-waste handling, so let’s hope that more states follow Oregon’s lead and make it easier for regular people to do the green thing.  Florida is also supporting recycling of TVs, and though Staten Island and New York City as a whole are “permitted to put electronics out with the trash until July 1, 2010″, local authorities are encouraging consumers to e-cycle whenever possible, though budget cuts mean that nothing is set for 2009 events.  Atlanta, Washington and many other locations are jumping on the e-cycle bandwagon.  There’s room for all!
• Global leaders are also looking at energy consumption — and Australia is requiring electronics manufacturers to produce less energy-consuming products, or have your shelf-space taken away.  With worldwide brands like Panasonic and Sony participating over there, why can’t we make the same stipulations over here?  Hmmmm.. . . .
• I’m hoping that all of us can weather this economic mess and still be able to do a few green things here and there (which I recognize are more expensive than living cavalierly non-green).  I still want to be able to recycle, use less energy, and be less wasteful — but I also want to be able to put food on the table (organic or not), heat my house (no, I don’t have solar panels either), and get around with more than just a bike.  I believe that I can do all these things — but we’ll see what the future may hold.