Consumers take advantage of competitive pricing and close-out sales to upgrade their electronic items such as e-readers, cell phones, televisions, tablets and notebooks, but they may not stop to consider what becomes of their used electronics. The Illinois’ Electronic Recycling & Reuse Act (SB 2313) became effective Sept. 17, 2008. However, “Section 95. Landfill ban” […]

As the U.S. economy continues to struggle, retailers hope that sales and discounts will end the holiday shopping season “in the black.” However, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other marketing gimmicks may not be enough if consumers continue to buy foreign-made products. Shoppers need to become label-readers. They should consider putting items “Made in China” […]

Over the river and through the woods, To Grandfather’s house we go…. Anyone traveling to Grandma’s, to another relative’s home or to visit a friend who is hosting Thanksgiving Day can look for green travel options. Taking the train helps avoid long lines and high costs of air travel. Traveling by rail gives the driver […]

T’was the night after Halloween and throughout the house, candy wrappers were littered causing Mom to grouse. “Mommy, my tummy aches,” cried little sister Sue. “Mine aches, too,” said big brother Tom, “What should we do?” “I warned you,” said Mom, “about eating too much candy.” “Now you’ve got a tummy ache and it’s a […]

Marcia Ellis, president of Keep Evanston Beautiful, Inc., kicked off the group’s 25th anniversary celebration by saying KEB would be making changes during the coming year. “We are adding a few new R’s to our mission,” Ms. Ellis said. “The most notable one is ‘rebranding,’” she said, pointing to a poster with the new logo […]

 “Upcycling,” a new buzzword on the green-living scene, may be unfamiliar to some readers. It is “the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value,” according to About.com. The term was coined in the 2002 non-fiction book “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” […]

Evanston students return to school this week and bring with them a fresh batch of school supplies. Retailers that sell school supplies spend thousands of dollars on print, broadcast and new media advertising to capture this lucrative market. Yet few, if any, of the items featured in these ads are eco-friendly. A review of Sunday […]

As the new school year arrives, one simple choice for families is to pack waste-free lunches. By using reusable containers to transport lunch items, kids (and grown-ups) can be Earth-friendly and save money. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has several resources to help families achieve a waste-free lunch. Visitors to its site can download a […]

Manufacturers are responding to consumer demand for eco-friendly products with a range of “green” items available for outdoor activities this summer. Grilling can be a weekly activity, and Mojobricks is a good example of green product development. A Chicago-based company started by Fred Grosse, Mojobricks offers a sustainable alterative to charcoal for grilling. Mr. Grosse […]