Green Initiative Articles

October 2008

Oct. 5 - ONCE AGAIN, WHAT IS 'SUSTAINABILITY'?

In a recent series of articles in the Telegraph Herald, Dubuquers learned more about sustainability, which is "a community's ability to meet the environmental, economic and social equity needs today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs."  The City of Dubuque is  focusing on this goal for the betterment of our future. 

            In the Sept. 21 article, community leader Nancy Van Milligen used the example of Farmers Markets to enhance sustainability and reduce carbon footprints:  "We know how beneficial it is for our bodies, but choosing locally grown products also reduces energy costs related to transportation," she said. 

            Res parishioners: As a sustainable action, visit the Dubuque Downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays until the end of October for a resplendent array of late- season veggies, pumpkins, bittersweet, apples and pears, honey and the ever-popular Sinsinawa breads. Another option convenient for Northend parishioners: the Farmers Market, Dubuque County Fairgrounds, Tues. and Thurs., 3:00-5:30 through October.   Farmers Markets: a delicious, green, fun, bright idea! 

Telegraph Herald, Sept. 21, 2008. p. 1, and the Social Justice Green Team

 

 

Oct. 19 - RECYCLING FACTOIDS, #1 of 2.

Reported in the Sept. 23, 2008, Telegraph Herald sustainability series:

 

• About 97 percent of everything (1500 tons) that goes into Dubuque's recycling bins gets recycled.

 

• The recycling center finds markets for  recycled products. For example, Dubuque's [recycled] metal cans end up at a steel mill in Chicago and  plastic to Waterloo for recycling. Newspapers go to a de-inking mill in Canada.

 

• 93 percent of Dubuque homeowners recycle at least once a month.

 

A bright idea from Social Justice Green Team: Here are move recycling possibilities you may not know about: paper egg cartons; paperback books; paper ice cream cartons, corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened); clean plastic flower pots (rinsed); beverage bottles; clean aluminum foil, pie pans.

 

 

Oct. 26 - RECYCLING FACTOIDS #2 of 2 FROM THE T.H.

• Good news:  93 percent of Dubuque's homeowners recycle once a month. 

• Bad news: Of all residential materials ending up in the landfill, about one-third of these items could be recycled. 

• Dubuque's recycling rate: about 40 percent. National average: 32 percent. 

         Telegraph Herald sustainability series, Sept. 23, 2008

Suggested Resurrection green goals:

• Recycle once a week. 

• Did you know that you can recycle worn out (clean) pots and pans (stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum), margarine and ice cream tubs, rinsed cleaning containers, clean pizza boxes.

Carry on, Res recyclers! 

Get more information  about recyclables at http://www.cityofdubuque.org/index.cfm?pageid=579#582_0