Response # 4: Earth911.com

The website, Earth911.com, reaches beyond teaching its visitors how to recycle. At the top of the website is a recycling center locator. This is not just a listing of places that recycle items, it’s has a search section that allows visitors to look up exactly what they want to recycle. Additionally, the locator has a convenient feature that povides mapping information, phone numbers, addresses, and even curbside drop off sites.

Beyond the locator, there are many articles discussing environmental topics. These articles have comment sections allowing for more in-depth dialog. Furthermore, there are multiple links to other environmental friendly sites. These sites offer additional information and tips, for instance, organizational fundraiser opportunities involving recycling. Many of the sites visited had the Better Business Bureau stamp of approval on their pages. Earth911.com, and many of its linked sites, can be followed on Facebook and Twitter with weekly newsletters to keep visitors informed about current issues.

Overall, Earth911.com is a website designed to educate and assist those seeking to lower their carbon footprint, and live in a more sustainable lifestyle. With easy to find recycle centers and tips on how to live green, Earth911.com takes the stress out of wasting less. Earth911.com has something to offer both those that are new to recycling and the seasoned veterans as well. I highly recommend visiting and bookmarking Earth911.com.

Reading Response #5- I Wish Local Burger Were More Local

The website localburger.com showcases “The World’s Most Local Burger”.  Local Burger is a fast food restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas that offers healthy meals, that are locally grown, at an affordable price.  This website offers a description of how and why Local Burger came about, it’s mission statement, Local Burger merchandise, directions and hours of operation, and most importantly what it has to offer.  I found the website to be very credible and well put together.  Everything is mapped out pretty well and most potential questions are answered for me.  It did leave me wondering how the cost of running a place like this may differ from our local gut rot joints.  If it is any more expensive, it sure doesn’t show in the prices.

There are huge benefits with what Local Burger has to offer.  First and foremost, Local Burger offers healthy meals that one knows exactly where their meal came from.  Everything served at Local Burger comes from local farmers.  It also prides itself on using only fresh, organic, sustainable fare that is free of unnatural additives and preservatives.  This is something we just don’t hear about too often.  Local Burger states it’s food is also good for the community and the world in general.  Recycling, advocating  for the humane treatment of animals and workers,  and composting organic waste are all part of Local Burger’s expertise.  So, what about the food?  The food  has landed them in prestigious food magazines such as Bon Appétit and Gourmet.  The website also shows the current menu, offering foods for both vegetarians and meat eaters alike.  Not so unusual, until you read exactly where each product came from.   

The ideals of owner Hilary Brown could start a new fast food evolution.  Hopefully there will be more to follow.  Her dedication to serving “good” food has earned her awards for 2008 Emerging Business of the Year and put her on the Sundance Channel.

Response #4: Terracycle Product Placement

At first glance the Terracycle website really catches your eye with the claim that you send them recyclable trash, and they will turn it into cool stuff for you to use. At this point you become interested and scroll down the page, where you discover that only certain brands of trash are accepted. Under each category of items they are looking for, you will see a brand name that sponsors it. For instance, you will see that Lays sponsors the, “Chip Bag Brigade™”. I find it very interesting that this website talks a lot about how kids can make money for their schools, and get cool toys from recycling, etc.; yet they are clearly advertising products.

Think of it this way; if you tell a child that when he recycles a bag of chips he will raise two cents for his school, and the type of chips on the website is Lays, which bag do you think he’ll choose at the store? Call me paranoid, but I can’t help but speculate that this is a brilliant ploy by major food and drink companies to not only increase their popularity in the public eye, but also increase their sales! Is recycling for cool stuff really worth all of that?

While I do believe that this website doesn’t necessarily have recycling as its main concern, I can admit that regardless of the implications it does do some good. Sure, you can just as easily recycle the normal way and not have to buy a Snicker’s bar to do so, but at least this is getting people interested in the idea of recycling. If this is what must be done for people to see that re-using things is better than just burying them in a landfill, then I suppose there is some inherent good in that.

http://www.terracycle.net/