UUU's Social Concerns Committee's Recycling Page

green image This page is dedicated to recycling. Here you will find all sorts of information on what UUUS is doing to intensify our recycling efforts. You will also come across useful tips for increasing your own recycling. If you have any suggestions for improving the pages, strike up a conversation with one of those active in Social Concerns people.

The second step in environmentally friendly waste management is to reduce your solid waste consumption. When you purchase items, choose those that have the least packing to throw away. Avoid plastic packing if possible. Select items wrapped in paper and cardboard or those not wrapped at all. Example-Instead of individual servings of animal crackers, choose a large container, then transfer individual portions to a washable plastic container. Instead of juice boxes-pour juice into reusable plastic containers. Buy packages of 16 or 32 rolls of toilet paper rather than packages of four. This is easily done if you shop at warehouse stores such as Sams, Costco or BJ's. Choose one that is convenient to your home and know that you are making a difference!

The third step in the puzzle? Recycle! The EPA noted that in 2005, recycling and composting kept 79 million tons of material out of landfills! That's huge! How can you be a part of the movement? Keep a container in your kitchen alongside your regular garbage. Need an example? Just look in the UUU kitchen. What items can be recycled? How about clean:

Aluminum and tin cans
Glass bottles and jars
Drink boxes and milk/juice cartons
Plastic containers with the #1-PETE or #2-HDPE symbol on the bottom

In a separate container, place:

Newspapers
Magazines
Brown paper grocery bags
Corrugated cardboard (flattened and cut down to no larger than 3 ft. by 3 ft.)
Catalogs
Telephone books (between November and February)

Know your neighborhood solid waste/recycling pick up schedule. If you need new recycling containers they can be picked up free of charge at your county's solid waste department. Follow the link on this page to learn how to contact yours. UUUS thanks you for caring a making a difference!

Upcoming Events

2007-12-01: Saturday, December 1, 2007, 9 am- 1 pm: UUUS Recycling Day(Garage Sale) was a success. Many of us were able to get rid of our old stuff, while others got some bargains. We were able to recycle old cell phones and take back some hazardous waste from our members to the landfill. A great bit of appreciation must go out to Kathy Anderson for organizing the event, and many other that helped out including Kim and Cleve Williams, Chris Reid, Martha Kirby, Arlynn Mueller, Kathy Parry, and others. For more info- see UUUS-2007RecyclingDay

Recycling Resources

Recycling - Orange County - Solid Waste Division

Recycling - Seminole County - Solid Waste Division

November's Recycling Tip:

Reuse. You know that old lamp you are getting tired of? Before you put it in the garbage, how about moving it to a different room? Or painting it another color? Or putting one of those cool faux paint finishes on it? How about selling it in a garage sale, donating it to FUCO's Continuing Bazaar or other charity of your choice? Stay tuned next month for a discussion on reducing.

Recycle Your Old Stuff:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrlandoFLFC/ Orlando Free Cycle is a group that matches up people needing things with those that have things. The one requirement is that all items made available are free.

Recycle Rain Water:

Earth has an abundance of water, unfortunately it is mostly saltwater (97%), frozen water, the polar caps and glaciers make up 2% leaving 1% of Earth's water for daily use by humans and animals. To put this in a smaller prespectis National Geographic's Nov. 1995 issues stated that "If all of Earth's water was condensed into a gallon jar, the amount of drinking water would be just over 1 tablespoon."

Droughts are a part of nature's cycle and everyone must do their part to conserve water any way they can. Currently 36 out of 50 states are in the process of seeking alternative water supplies to avert water shortages.

While we have the same amount of water as thousands of years ago, mankind is using more water for growing food, entertainment and landscaping.

Florida's 53 inches of rainfall is second in the nation, behind Louisiana at 55 inches. Actually we have a very wet season, May - October, followed by an extreamly dry period between November - April. Rain that is soaked into the ground is mostly soaked up by vegetation roots and released back into the air. Of the 53 inches of rainfall, 38 inches evaporates, 8 inches runs into lakes, rivers and oceans, 7 inches replenishes the aquifer annually.

The main source of water for Florida is the Floridan Aquifer. The water in this aquifer is estimated to be 50 to 26,000 years old. An excellent movie on this aquifer is "Water's Journey" currently being shown on WCEU Channel 15 Daytona Beach. If you have cable television you can see this aired at various times of the year, especially in April. One of the threats from over use (over pumping) of the aquifer is saltwater intrustion. (Attached is a file for attachment) USGS 1985 map of Florida's saltwater intrusion.

Florida has 27 of the 78 first magnitude springs in the nation. These springs are the best indication of what is happening with the aquifer than the monitoring wells utilities are required to have by the water management districts. A first magnitude spring will produce 64,600 gallons of water per day. The change of volume and pressure in these springs are indicators of changes in the aquifer.

How much water does the average homeowner use?

See water usage graphs!

Use water sensibly CALL BEFORE YOU DIG 800 432-4770 www.callsunshine.com
WHITE - Proposed excavation
PINK - Temporary survey markings
RED - Electric power lines,cables, conduit & lighting cables
YELLOW - Gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials
ORANGE - Communication, alarm, signal lines, cables, conduit
BLUE - Potable water
PURPLE - Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines
GREEN - Sewers and drain lines

Information above supplied by:
Eugenia (Gina) Wright
Courtesy of Orange County Utilities Water Division
9150 Curry Ford Road, 3rd floor
Orlando, FL 32825 Telephone: 407 254-9840 fax: 407 254-9848

Eugenia gave an engaging and important talk at the UUU on water use on August 10, 2003. Thanks Eugenia!