"I have been volunteering in different ways for the EAC intermittently for the last four years, including: tree planting; stewarding properties like Hedge Apple woods; and participation in the semi-annual Household Hazardous Waste collection event.
Volunteering gives me opportunities to develop deep connections with nature within the context of connection to people. I subscribe to a quote from Paul Hawken about Regeneration: “Regeneration is not just about bringing the earth back to life. It is also about bringing ourselves back to life.” I love the satisfaction and vitality I derive from making a contribution to the regeneration of the earth and myself.
Stewardship/caring for the land meets my need for practicing reciprocity with the earth, where I am not extracting, but giving back to the land. I am inspired to make this contribution for the sake of future generations. I want to mentor my grandchildren by modeling these values and connections. Stewardship with nature also calms my central nervous system and contributes to my well-being and health.
Finally, I would add a recommendation that others volunteer to bridge the gap between the acceptance of Global Warming and practical action. Being of service to something that transcends myself is very fulfilling."
Regeneration and reciprocity are what it's all about! Thanks for sharing your values with us, Tom! Can’t contain your love for EAC? Send our Development Coordinator Deborah your thoughts to be published in our newsletter dpitcher@ecologyactioncenter.org
Is your yard certified as being Yard Smart?
If so, please let us know! The EAC is working on confirming and updating our list of local Yard Smart certified yards. Whether you have been a part of the program since day one or you gained your certification yesterday, please fill out this form so that you make the list! Wondering what a Yard Smart yard is? Learn more and get your yard certified by visiting YardSmart.org.
Fix a Leak Week
By EAC Intern Keara Gray
Ready to stop the drip? Join us this Spring, (March 17-23) for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Fix a Leak Week” as we educate on ways to conserve our water! Only about 2.5% of all the water on Earth is freshwater, and of that, over 68% is locked away in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves only 0.77% of the world’s water available as accessible freshwater in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers (U.S. Geological Survey National Geographic, 2024). Together, we can decrease the 1 trillion gallons wasted annually from U.S. household leaks by collectively engaging in the following conservation strategies.
Start by identifying any spikes in your water usage throughout the colder months of winter (like right now!) and early spring on your monthly bill. By doing this, we are scoping out any abnormalities that lead us to the water leaks. Check your meter before using any water in the home for about 2 hours, and after, go read your meter again. If there are any changes, leaks are present! Invisible leaks can cause 5,475 gallons of water to be wasted each year. If you are not sure where to look in your home, these are some common and prevalent leak areas:
·Bathtubs, showerheads, and toilets
·Beneath the sink, faucets, and sprayers
·Outdoor sources such as garden hoses, spigots, and irrigation systems
·Laundry and dishwasher machines, water heaters, and ice makers within refrigerators
There are lots of areas where leaks could be occurring, check out this checklist created by the EPA which helps to Detect and Chase Down Leaks.
Simple solutions such as replacing your showerhead or sprucing up your irrigation system at home can help you not only save our water but also save some coins! Homeowners can save about 10% on their water bill just by repairing and stopping any leaks. For more information on how to be water efficient in 2025, stop at the Ecology Action Center’s Water Conservation webpage.
Did you know that the EAC gives FREE education programs for children and adults? If your classroom, afterschool group, club, organization, office, etc. want to learn more about environmental topics like waste reduction, recycling, composting, and water pollution then email kvogler@ecologyactioncenter.org to set up a program!
Watch What You Recycle, Michael!
By EAC Intern: Keara Gray
When we discard our individual amounts of daily consumption (7.6 pounds per person in McLean County according EAC's annual waste generation and recycling calculations), we never plan on seeing it again. As consumers, we don’t always consider where our used items go and their impacts. Many of us know that not everything should be thrown away, however are guilty of “Wish-cycling” or contaminating the recycling stream with what we may believe to be salvageable. All kinds of items get “wish-cycled” leading to large amounts of contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of the US waste stream generated by everyday people is recyclable or compostable, but only 35% of it is sorted properly by individuals (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). When we disregard the importance of recycling, this causes an overburden of landfills, increased plastic pollution in the ocean, as well as adverse effects on climate and biodiversity. Today, let’s ponder on more efficient ways to sort & recycle!
Step 1: You as the consumer have to determine if an item is recyclable or not. This can be tricky but as a general rule the following is recyclable. If you have a question about if something is recyclable visit RecycleBN.org or download Recycle Coach to find the answer.
·Metal
·Glass Bottles and Jars
·Paper
·Flattened Cardboard
·Plastic Jugs, Jars, Bottles, and Tubs
Step 2: Your recyclables are picked up and taken to the local sorting facility, for Bloomington-Normal this would be Midwest Fiber... most assume that this is the end of its journey. However, this is only the beginning!
Step 3: Recyclable materials like glass, paper, cardboard, metal, and plastic jugs, jars, bottles, and tubs are pushed down an assembly line where contamination is removed by workers and automated machines. These workers and machinery also sort the co-mingled materials into their different material types. To see how this is done at Midwest Fiber watch this video.
Step 4: Once everything is sorted, bales, made up of 1,000-1,500 lbs. of each material are sent off to various recycling facilities nationwide where the material will be reprocessed and made into a new consumer product!
However, contamination continues to make this process more difficult and more expensive. There are many things intentionally and unintentionally placed into the recycling bins that cause harm to the recycling system such as batteries, toys, chemicals, sharps, electronics, plastic bags, and clothing.
A piece of sorting machinery from Midwest Fiber that was broken due to plastic bag contamination.
What happens when non-recyclable materials end up in our recycling? • Sorting employees have a more difficult job when they must fish out a large amount of non-recyclable items on a quick assembly line. Finding a workforce in this field is already difficult, so sorting your recycling will make a big impact on reducing the responsibilities of this type of labor.
• Increase in hazardous working conditions that affect the safety of employees. Putting batteries and electronics in recycling can cause fires if damaged or crushed, and also contaminate other material. According to Midwest Fiber, they extinguish about 3 fires every month in their facilities from electronics and batteries.
• Items, like plastic bags, wires, hangers, and chains may get tangled causing the specialized machinery to break down potentially disrupting the process.
• Contaminated recycling may prevent an opportunity to re-purpose the material as large amounts of contamination can lead to the landfilling of materials.
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