Yes, you read that correctly: Charleston County Recycling is now accepting all plastics for curbside pickup!

This means you can start throwing plastics labeled #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 into your blue bin along with the #1 and #2 plastics. They will accept all plastics except plastic wrap, plastic bags, and Styrofoam (all things you can easily avoid using with minimal effort). And don’t forget, they also started accepting cardboard for curbside pickup in April – epic awesomeness!

>> Continue reading ‘Charleston County Recycling Now Accepting ALL Plastics for Curbside Pickup’

If you’re struggling to find green ways to keep your property looking nice, or just looking for new ideas to expand your eco-landscaping repertoire, the Tri-County Carolina Yard Experience might be the perfect event for you (March 13, 9-2pm, Charleston Exchange Park)

Tri-County Carolina Yard Experience is based on the Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods program, which helps people work WITH the environment around their property – not against it. Sounds cool! >> Continue reading ‘The Tri-County Carolina Yard Experience’

Back in October we blogged about Brian Sheehan, Charleston’s new sustainability director. The community was, and still is, excited to have someone focused on greening up our fair city. Well, Brian and his team have been hard at work, and are about to unleash the Charleston Business Challenge!

The Green Business Challenge will help local businesses, property owners, and residents focus on sustainability and become more energy efficient. This pilot program will kick off later this year, and they are asking interested parties to sign up soon (technically by January 21, but I’m sure they’d budge on that deadline a little). The competition format will benchmark local businesses and conclude with awards handed out by Mayor Joe Riley. This is a great chance to green up your business AND get a little recognition. Details after the jump >> >> Continue reading ‘Are You Ready for the Green Office Challenge?’

Like a lot of you, we try to buy local seasonal food as often as possible. Sometimes when cruising the Farmers Market or Whole Foods, it’s hard to tell what is actually seasonal AND local. And then there’s the problem of what to do with certain items, as any participant in the Ambrose CSA will tell you (I’m from Indiana – collards are what again?)

Thank goodness Cameron over at Cottage Industrialist has the same problem AND enough gumption to do something about it. Check out this amazing local seasonal food calender that you can print out and enjoy for free! It features produce that is seasonally available locally for each month, but also gives you recipe ideas and encouragement (Only two more months of Winter!) Be sure to check it out and get cooking!

Happy New Year everyone! We thought we’d kick off 2010 with a few new additions to the Go Green Charleston Local Guide. Thanks for helping us keep the directory curated with top-notch local green options. With over 150 entries and new categories, we’re excited to see the local scene grow by leaps and bounds.

Here are six new additions to the Local Guide – Give ‘em some love!

• Artisan Clay Interiors & Painting – all-natural sustainable walls
  
• EcoBilt Energy Systems – residential and commercial alt energy
• GreenBy3 – sustainability consulting for businesses
• Green Roof Outfitters – sustainable roofing
  
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Mount Pleasant – LEED!
  
• Sustainable Energy Solutions – clean energy technology
  

If your organization or business should be on our guide, just let us know.

What: Natural Rubber Teether
Where: DwellSmart
When: Today!
Why: 100% natural
How Much: $18.95

This baby toy from Vulli would be a great gift for that green rug rat in your life, especially if they are teething. Sophie the Giraffe, as she has been known since 1961, is produced manually in France with 100% natural rubber derived from the hevea tree. Our 10-month-old girl definitely found it soothing, and was excited when it would squeak from time to time. You can definitely tell the rubber is natural, as it has a soft, almost moist feel to it. As an added bonus, it came in sustainable packaging. Green-wise, the only problem I see here is that it is imported all the way from France.

If you’re interested, head over to DwellSmart (map) or purchase online.

>> Continue reading ‘DwellSmart Gift Idea :: Natural Rubber Teether’

For the last few years, the Charleston Green Committee has been working hard to keep the city focused on sustainability. Earlier this year, the Committee finalized the Charleston Green Plan (download), a comprehensive set of studies, ideas, and recommendations to improve the city’s sustainability.

On Tuesday, December 15th, the Plan goes in front of the Charleston City Council in hopes that its recommendations are adopted. The Council is already hearing from those that oppose the plan, so it’s crucial for all local greenies to come out in support of the Plan. This is a great opportunity to really make a difference, and let the City Council hear from those of us that believe a sustainable future is one to reach for.

Please consider doing one or all of the following:

• Sign the online petition
• Go old school and start a paper petition
• Write a letter to City Council members (samples)
• Write a letter from your organization (samples)
• Email the City Council members (contact info)
• Come to the 12/15 meeting!

>> Continue reading ‘Show Your Support for the Charleston Green Plan’

Today is National Philanthropy Day, so I thought this would be a great chance to call attention to the amazing green nonprofits that serve our local community. Whether you give your time, energy, or money to these organizations, you’re helping to keep our local community sustainable, clean, green, and efficient. Please take the time today to consider making a donation or committing to volunteering with one of these fine local nonprofits:

• Charleston Moves
• Charleston Parks Conservancy
• Charleston Waterkeeper
• Coastal Conservation League
• Fields to Families
• Lowcountry Earth Force
• Lowcountry Local First
• Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
• South Carolina Aquarium
• SC Green
• SC LEEP
• The Sustainability Institute
• The Sustainable Warehouse

Happy dogooding everyone!

November is a great time for composting – the sudden influx of pumpkins and leaves will make your backyard pile a happy place. If you’ve been wanting to start a compost pile, now is definitely the time.

It’s like you can actually take Fall and stuff it in your pile! Take those pumpkins, break them up, and fold them in. Rake your yard before you mow, and toss all that goodness in. Edge your yard and gardens, and toss the trimmings in. Clean the Summer out of your garden, and throw it on. If you’re going big, ask some neighbors for their pumpkins and leaves. Our pile was looking very happy after Halloween. Happy composting!

Learn more about composting:

• Composting Update :: Tis the Season!
• Composting Update :: Got Brown?
• Compost Update :: Root of the Problem
• Composting Update :: We Have Steam!
• Composting Update :: Now with Starbucks!
• Turns Out Charleston Digs Composting
• Best Season to Start Composting: Fall

This Saturday, October 24, is the International Day of Climate Action – a chance for communities around the world to unite behind a cause that affects us all. 350.org is facilitating over 3700 community actions in 163 countries. These actions will feature photographs of the number 350 taken in iconic locations.

Why 350? Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity – we are currently at 387. The intent is to use community photos collected from around the world to advocate for a reduction in CO2 emissions.

Jennifer Mathis, the founder of The Little Green Bag Project, is has created Lowcountry 350 – an opportunity for all of us to participate in this global event. On Saturday, October 24, head down to the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park via alternative travel (walk, run, bike, skate, swim, row – just don’t drive!) for the Lowcountry 350 Climate Action Day Photo <- RSVP on the Facebook page. The event starts at 3 p.m., and the photo will be taken at 3:50 p.m. Hope to see you there!

On Monday, Brian Sheehan began work as Charleston’s first ever director of sustainability – the only new city position funded this year. Brian has tons of eco-experience, and most recently worked on sustainability initiatives for the city of Portland, Oregon (they are doing awesome things!)

SC Biz Magazine says,

The sustainability director will create long- and short-term goals and lead projects that promote environmental sustainability within city government and in the community. The new director also will lead some green initiatives the city has already pursued.

I really like the sound of that – a leader. The City of Charleston has organized a Green Committee, created some bike paths, and recently launched some public recycling options, but I feel that very little real progress has been made since Major Joe Riley signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2005 (almost five years ago!) Remember, movement and progress are not the same thing – I’m hoping that Brian’s leadership can help convert some of this local movement into real progress.

Brian, I cannot wait to meet and work with you. The Charleston community is ready and willing for you to lead the charge – just be sure we are running toward something BIG, and not something that’s simply “better.” Charleston is the perfect size to really make a difference, and I hope you brought some of that great Portland ingenuity with you! Good luck!

Like a lot of you, the ample supply of local water has become threaded into my family life. We play in the marsh behind our house, swim at the beach, fish in the creeks, and surf in the ocean. We love it all, and I bet you do too. That’s why we all need to protect it.

Charleston Waterkeeper has kicked off the Water the Future campaign.They’re asking lowcountry residents to share images of local waterways, give a little to support the cause, become a member, and spread the word about the Charleston Water keeper mission.

The 2009 Charleston Green Fair is upon us, and I hope you’re planning on heading down to Marion Square on Sunday to revel in our community’s greeness. Last year’s event was a huge success, and all signs point to even better results this year. Please come visit the Go Green Charleston booth in the nonprofit tent – we’d love to see you! Here are 9 reasons you can’t miss the Charleston Green Fair: >> Continue reading ’9 Reasons You Can’t Miss the Charleston Green Fair This Sunday’

A big part of charting our family’s progress is keeping track of the “since we’ve used” items (3 years since we’ve used paper napkins, 2.5 years since we’ve used plastic bags, 2 years since we’ve used bottled water, etc). There seem to be many things that end of up in the landfill after once use, and most of these we really don’t need. Reducing our use of these things can greatly decrease the impact of our lives.

What are you working on eliminating? Oil-based gas, plastic bags, food from far off continents? Bottled water, dirty electricity, resource-intensive meat? Let us know in the new Go Green Poll.

Results from the last Go Green Poll, Summer is here – what sustainable action are you focused on?, can be viewed after the jump >>

>> Continue reading ‘Go Green Poll :: What Are You Reducing?’

Who loves organic t-shirts? This guy loves organic t-shirts!

My friend Chris dropped off an organic cotton t-shirt from Cool Green Fish, and our son Graham really digs it. It’s super soft, just his size, and he got to break it in while fishing with Grandpa. So if you’re into rockin’ it organically, and like to support local business at the same time, be sure to visit Cool Green Fish and look around.

Really? The other day I posted on the Green Charleston Twitter feed one of my favorite concepts: that when you throw something away, there really is no “away.” This person didn’t get the memo.

Paint cans, old rugs, a box of food – this stuff does not belong here. We need to encourage others to use our recycling drop sites with respect, or they won’t be around much longer. I know taking your used paint out to Bee’s Ferry is a haul, but until Charleston County Recycling can provide more drop sites, it’s all we have.

Spring is usually the busy season for green events, but this September looks to be giving it a run for the money. There are 5 events just this week, including a Green Drinks Gathering, Green Business Networking Event, and fundraiser for Lowcountry Earth Force. This sustainable tour de force culminates with the Green Drinks Neighborhood Block Party on Sunday.  Later in the month, the Charleston Green Fair will be happening along with all its satellite events, including the Green Business Expo and Green Flix.

Be sure to check out all the events on our updated calendar, and let us know if we’ve missed any!

Even though we haven’t used a ton of our black gold bounty, we continue to add more and more organic waste to the family compost pile. We’ve been at it for many moons now, and it’s so much a part of our routine that I can’t imagine throwing our excess food into the garbage.

One thing to keep in mind: If you have a compost pile near palmetto trees, watch out for their crawling roots. I went a little too long without turning our pile, and it looks like nearby palm roots have infiltrated the bottom 12 inches, robbing the pile of some of the oldest and best compost. I’m wondering if I should have put a barrier at the bottom of the pile to keep the roots out – any reader advice is welcome.

>> Continue reading ‘Compost Update :: Root of the Problem’

It’s that magical time of year again when 3,800 pages worth of unneeded phone books arrive, uninvited, on my front porch. Out with the old, in with the new…but with a twist: The old phone books are 100% recyclable.  You can just throw them right into your blue curbside bins, and Charleston County Recycling will do the rest. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to keep these massive hunks of trees out of the landfill!

And back to the “unneeded” part (every year some phone book advocate shows up touting the greatness of their publication for small business advertising…yawn). Both The Real Yellow Pages and The Talking Phone Book have great online directories, so I think this year I’ll cut the cord and begin using them. Why use 3,800 pages of paper to do something the Internet can do faster, cheaper, and with less impact on the environment? To stop the phone book from being delivered to your home or business, you can simply opt out! Here’s how:

• The Real Yellow Pages: Fill out this form.
• Talking Phone Book: Email their distribution department.

If you want to take it up a notch, here are some great ideas from YellowPagesGoesGreen.org on how you can work with your local goverment to establish better practices for the distribution of phone books.

Recycling only takes a little knowledge, a little time, and a little motivation. If you see a neighbor throwing away materials that can be recycled, don’t be afraid to help them out. They may be missing the recyclable materials list, confused about their recycling pickup day, or unaware how important this basic civic activity really is – tell them. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a neighbor about this, leave a note or get creative: ask if you can have the boxes and then recycle them yourself. The point is, help them out – help us all out! Let’s keep scenes like this from happening on future trash days:

I also feel that while the drop sites give motivated recyclers an option, they are only part of the solution. I see scenes like the one above on every trash day, and sometimes the cardboard is actually broken down and stacked in a pile – they’re doing everything but driving it to the drop site! I know there is an issue with the trucks/equipment, but Charleston County needs to figure this out. If you feel like I do, and think cardboard recycling rates would soar if it was picked up curbside, then let the Charleston County Environmental Management team know — Call: 843.720.1111 Email: publicinfo@charlestoncounty.org Write: 13 Romney Street Charleston, SC 29403 —