The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

At the time, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. “Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center.

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In a story headlined “Grime Wave,” The Daily reports that thieves from Oregon to Maryland are stealing large quantities of Tide laundry detergent by loading it into shopping carts and pushing it out of the stores, often to waiting getaway cars.  Here’s a TV news report from late last year about Tide thefts in Maryland.

Read more about Tide Crime Here

Wondering where to recycle your Christmas Tree in Gwinnett County?  Look no further.  Here are the Bring One For The Chipper, Keep Georgia Beautiful Christmas Tree recycling locations for Gwinnett County.

Christmas Tree Recycling Locations In Gwinnett County

Buford Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Buford Fire Station 14, 1600 Highway 23, 30518
• Buford Fire Station 24, 2735 Mall of GA Blvd., 30519
• Buford Fire Station 29, 2800 Thompson Mill Rd., 30519

Dacula Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Dacula Fire Station 16, 195 Dacula Rd., 30019
• Dacula Fire Station 17, 2739 Brooks Rd., 30019
• Dacula Fire Station 27, 2825 Old Fountain Rd., 30019

Duluth Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Duluth Fire Station 5, 3001 Old Norcross Rd., 30096
• Duluth Fire Station 7, 3343 Bunton Rd., 30096
• Duluth Fire Station 19, 3275 N. Berkeley Lake Rd., 30096

Grayson Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 8, 2295 Brannan Rd., 30017

Hoschton Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 18, 1515 Mineral Springs Rd., 30548

Lawrenceville Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Lawrenceville Fire Station 9, 1900 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30044
• Lawrenceville Fire Station 15, 275 S. Perry St., 30046
• Lawrenceville Fire Station 20, 1801 Cruse Rd., 30044
• Lawrenceville Fire Station 25, 3575 Lawrenceville Hwy., 30044

Lilburn Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 2, 12 Harmony Grove Rd., 30047
• Fire Station 3, 4394 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30047
• Fire Station 22, 2180 Stone Dr., 30047
• *City Residents ONLY: 107 Railroad Ave.

Loganville Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 28, 3725 Rosebud Rd, 30052
• Fire Station 30, 1052 Ozora Rd., 30052

Norcross Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Norcross Fire Station 1, 165 Lawrenceville St., 30071
• Norcross Fire Station 4, 5550 Spalding Dr., 30092
• Norcross Fire Station 11, 5885 Live Oak Pkwy., 30093
• Norcross Fire Station 23, 4355 Steve Reynolds Blvd., 30093

Snellville Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 6, 3890 Johnson Dr., 30039
• Fire Station 12, 2815 Lenora Church Rd., 30078

Sugar Hill Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Fire Station 26, 6075 Suwanee Dam Rd., 30518

Suwanee Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

• Suwanee Fire Station 21, 474 Old Peachtree Rd., 30024
• Suwanee Sims Lake Park, 4600 Suwanee Dam Road, 30024

We encourage you to participate in recycling your Christmas tree.

Bring One For The Chipper Gwinnett!

Please help support our sponsor:

Christmas Tree Recycling

Bring One for the Chipper

Bring One for the Chipper is not just for Christmas Tree recycling in Gwinnett County.  Bring One for the Chipper is Georgia’s annual Christmas tree recycling program.  Keep Georgia Beautiful works with sponsors to organize this annual Christmas Tree recycling event. Bring One for the Chipper’s Christmas Tree Recyclin sponsors include The Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company and WXIA-TV, and Ferry-Morse Seed Company. Many local sponsors and volunteers also make contributions and provide in-kind services across the state to contribute to a “Green” Christmas.  Bring One for The Chipper plays an important role in Georgia’s green initiatives.

This Christmas Tree Recycling program involves hundreds of Georgia communities and thousands of volunteers. Since the inception of this Christmas Tree Recycling program, Georgia has recycled an estimated 5 million Christmas trees. Mulch from these Christmas trees has been used for playgrounds, local government beautification projects, and individual yards. You can support the Chipper program by bringing your cut Christmas tree to a designated drop off site or volunteering with your local coordinator to collect Christmas trees.

How Would You Like Free Mulch?  Do you live in the Atlanta area?  You may be able to get free mulch delivered to you.  The mulch is the result of the Christmas Tree recycling.  Visit this link: Keep Georgia Beautiful Free Mulch

Recycling Christmas Trees In Gwinnett County

Gwinnett County Christmas Tree Recycling: Do you live in Gwinnett County? You can be one of the many Gwinnett community volunteers that will help make mulch from Christmas Trees at the largest Christmas tree recycling event in Georgia. Recycling your Christmas tree keeps Christmas trees out of your Gwinnett landfills by recycling them into mulch. This recycling effort saves precious landfill space and provides and easy and environmentally conscious solution for Gwinnett County residents.

When in Gwinnett: Saturday, January, 21, 2012, 9AM – Noon

Where In Gwinnett: Bethesda Park, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30044  - NEAR THE SOCCER FIELDS

Stay Tuned For More Info Regarding The Bring One For The Chipper Event!

Looking For Locations In Gwinnett County To Recycle Your Christmas Tree?  Visit: Recycle Christmas Tree Gwinnett

Gwinnett County to offer a rebate plan to residents who purchase qualifying Watersense certified toilets: Gwinnett water customers can get a rebate for replacing the toilet or toilets in their single family residential home thanks to a measure approved by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners.

Beginning January 1, 2012, only WaterSense certified toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) or less will qualify for a rebate.  The Gwinnett County program currently offers $50.00 rebates on toilets using 1.6 gpf or less and $100.00 rebates on eligible WaterSense certified toilets.  The option for a $50.00 rebate for toilets using 1.6 gpf or less will end on December 31, 2011 and completed applications requesting this rebate must be postmarked by then.

Only single family residential homes built before 1993 are eligible for the rebate for a maximum of two toilets per household. In addition only toilets purchased after September 28, 2007, are eligible for the rebate. The rebate is a lump sum amount as stipulated above and excludes the Georgia sales tax, additional installation parts, or labor costs.
Details of the Gwinnett County toilet rebate program and toilet rebate applications can be found on the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District website, www.northgeorgiawater.com. Customers may also request an application by calling 404.463.8645 or e-mail at toiletrebate@northgeorgiawater.org.

Funds for this program are limited, but Gwinnett County’s intention is to set aside funds for the toilet rebate program each year.Toilet rebates will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers who do not receive toilet rebates this year are encouraged to reapply next year provided funds are available.

Below is a recommended list of toilets that qualify for the Toilet Rebate Program.

Recommended List Of Toliets For $50.00 REBATE
WaterSense Labeled High-Efficiency Toilet

Green In Gwinnett Area: Keeping Gwinnett Green and Sustainable

It is that time of year again.  What time is that? The time to make sure you get your application in to the Suwanee Community Garden! Today is the deadline for CURRENT gardeners. Suwanee Community Garden applications from new gardeners will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at White Street Park. Fees vary ($50 to $100) according to the size of the plot requested and if the applicant is a City of Suwanee resident. City of Suwanee property owners and Suwanee residents receive priority.

For More Information Regarding The Suwanee Community Garden Click Here

Green In Gwinnett Area: Keeping Gwinnett Green and Sustainable

Gwinnett: we receive all types of requests from local Gwinnett businesses who want to be included on our website for their “green” products.  We don’t post about them unless they are truly a “green” or “sustainable” option that would benefit us in Gwinnett County.  We have come across a new Suwanee Georgia based company that meets and exceeds our criteria.  My Green Home uses a foil radiant barrier in your home’s attic to block radiant heat.  A couple of months ago this foil radiant barrier or thermal blanket as “My Green Home” calls it was installed in a volunteers house.  We monitored the utility bills and compared them with My Green Home’s claims of a 25% reduction and found an even higher reduction!  This foil radiant barrier technology works and it’s from a local Suwanee business! On the following page we have included more information that we highly encourage you to read. Read More Here: My Green Home Gwinnett

Draft Mode: If you have an inkjet printer you may be able to reduce the amount of ink it uses for normal and every-day printing by switching your printer to use “Draft” mode.  Inkjet printers produce output by moving the print cartridge along the page and spraying ink dots to create the printing.  In “Normal” mode, which is what most printers are configured with, the print cartridge makes multiple passes over the same area and sprays multiple coats of ink to make the characters bolder.  In “Draft” mode, the printer makes a single pass and moves to the next line.  This creates characters which are not as bold, but may still be acceptable for everyday printing.  Because the printer does not lay multiple layers of ink on the same space less ink is being used to print your document.  You can always switch later to “Normal” or “Best” mode when you need that extra special touch.

Save your color cartridges for color: In general, color cartridges cost more to run than monochrome (black).  Therefore, if you are printing a document which has no color you would think that the printer would just use the black cartridge, but this may not always be the case.  The color used in the document could appear black to you, however, could slightly be off-black.  When this happens, your printer tries to use the combination of black and color cartridges to match the color your computer is sending it.  If you are printing something that should be black, tell your printer to print everything in black and white or gray-scale.  This will tell your printer to not worry about matching exact color and just use the black cartridge for your entire document.

Even though you may tell your printer to only use black, most HP and Canon laser printers continue to use color cartridges anyway.  This will slow down the usage of the color cartridges but not stop them completely in these printers.  So, while having a color laser printer is great for when you really need to print something in color, buying a low cost black and white only printer is the better option since you would not need to use your color printer at all when only printing black.

Do you need a color cartridge? Some HP inkjet printers are able to print black-only even if the color cartridge is out.  So ignore that message that your color cartridge is out of ink, tell your printer to print in black or gray-scale only. If your HP ink jet printer refuses to print with an empty color cartridge, take the color cartridge out.  The printer may complain, but will most likely print just fine.  This applies only to HP ink jet printers which use a two (black/color) cartridge printing system.

Turn on Toner Save feature in your laser printer: Most laser printers have a feature that can automatically reduce the amount of toner which is being used while still keeping a reasonable quality output.  Turn on the Toner Save feature for your printer and watch those savings roll in.

Reduce Printer Stop/Start cycles: If you are using a laser printer you may notice that the printer does some whirling before and after every printed document.  If you are printing a single page the printer goes through a start-up cycle, prints the page, and then goes through the slow-down cycle.  The additional time and turning incurred during the start-up and slow-down cycles can greatly wear out the components inside your toner cartridge causing to lighter printing and increases the likelihood of developing defects.  While no printing is occurring, the components in your printer and cartridge spin just as if something was being printed.  In addition, toner continues to accumulate on the drum even though there is no printing.  This extra toner is swept into the waste-bin of the cartridge, reducing the supply of toner available for printing.

Of course, if you only need to print a single page, there is no way around this issue.  However if you are printing a document with many pages and you notice that your printer keeps stopping and re-starting during the output of the document (meaning that your computer is not keeping up with the printer), there is an opportunity to reduce stop/start cycles.  This could occur if you are printing documents from your accounting software for the year end taxes.  The computer may need to crunch numbers before the page is ready for printing.

To reduce stop/start cycles use the Printer Properties | Advanced tab and tell the computer to start printing after the last page is spooled.  Typically this setting is set to start printing immediately to improve user experience and reduce the perceived wait.  When you change this setting, your document will start printing when the computer is done generating the entire document, so there will be an initial delay between the time you start your print job and the time the print job starts printing on the printer.

This setting will reduce the number of times your printer needs to stop and wait for the computer to generate more pages.

Reduce Ouput Resolution: Just like the “Draft” mode on an inkjet printer, laser printers have “Resolution” a setting.  At lower resolutions less toner particles are used to create the image.  As a result, the printed output may be not as dark as it may be at higher resolutions.  If your printer is currently set to use resolution of 600 or 1200 DPI, try changing it to use 300 DPI.  Not only will you use less toner, but your printer will print faster.

For an eco-friendly Printer Cartridge Supplier we recommend using Print Green USA, Inc.  Their products are MADE IN THE USA and have the highest ISO 14001 Environmental Quality Certification.  Not to mention they have very low prices.

5. The thermostat

Set the thermostat a bit lower during the winter and a bit higher during the summer to save energy. Keep a sweater for the winter and a fan for the summer to help keep the office temperature comfortable.

4. Green Lunches

Bringing your own lunch can save energy by not taking the car to a restaurant and can also be healthier than fast food. Make sure you bring reusable containers and utensils and also recycle those products that you use that are recyclable…

3. Use care when printing

Do you ever print things you don’t really need? Not only are you wasting paper, but also ink and electricity. Avoid color printing when you can and reuse old sheets as scrap paper.  What type of inkjet or toner cartridges are you using?  Try using eco-friendly green printing cartridges from a certified retailer such as Print Green USA, Inc. where you can save money as well as the environment.

2. Non-toxic workspace

Make sure the cleaning supplies used are non-toxic , there are many options and most are cost equivalent with their nongreen counterparts.  Adding a plant to your workspace area can help absorb pollution as well.

1. Turn off the lights

It may sound simple, but how many times to you leave for the day and leave the lights on in your office? If you work with someone, make a plan that the last person out of the office turn the lights off.

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~ Green In Gwinnett Area Keeping Gwinnett Green and Sustainable