By:  Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Chair

NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Acts: Recycling the Correct Way

Despite being taught to recycle everything, everything cannot be recycled. About 30% of what ends up in our recycling containers doesn’t belong there. Contaminated materials being tossed into recycling bins are causing recycling centers to dispose waste by the truckloads to landfills. Some simple recycling Do’s and Don’ts

1. Don’t be a “Wish-cycler”. While tossing items like shoes, bicycle tires, old garden hoses, Styrofoam coolers, & plastic toys into the recycling bin might be done with the best intentions, these bad recycling habits are counterproductive. “Wish-cycling”, tossing non-recyclable materials into recycling bins, adds financial expense & labor to every system in the world. Someone has to manually pull these things off the conveyor belt & send them to the landfill. What can be recycled varies from community to community depending  upon  how  far  away processors are located. When in doubt call your local recycling facility or throw it out.

2. Do recycle all clean, dry paper & paper board products. Shredded paper can be recycled in paper bags, but not loose. Don’t recycle any soiled or coated or sticky paper, examples being envelopes with a clear plastic windows or sticky notes. Cracker, cereal, cookie boxes are okay as are the non-greasy side of pizza boxes. Rinsed out milk & juice containers are dependent upon where you live. Used coffee cups are a no-no!

3. Empty, clean & dry should be your household motto. Food residue of any kind, just one empty jar of peanut butter can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables. Aluminum soda cans & tin cans can be recycled if they are empty, clean & dry. (I put mine through the dishwasher.) Aluminum foil with food stuck to it, bottle caps, soda can tabs & razor blades should never be recycled. Once again, when in doubt, throw it out!

4. Don’t recycle anything smaller than a credit card. Small items like bottle caps or tiny pieces of paper can become stuck in recycling processing machines.

5. Try the “poke test” with plastics- if you can press your finger through the plastic, it doesn’t belong in the recycling bin. Sandwich bags, plastic wrap, plastic grocery bags, produce bags, newspaper bags, & most cereal bags do not belong in the recycle bin.

6. Whether it’s broken window glass or a broken beer bottle, never put broken glass into your recycling bin. It can clog machinery and/or be dangerous for employees handling recycling.

7. Don’t assume all plastic is single-stream recyclable. The number inside the triangle of chasing arrows, called Resin Identification Codes, were not designed for consumers, but rather for processors to bale recycling materials with consistency. Ignore the numbers & recycle single-use rigid cleaned plastic containers only: water, salad dressing & shampoo bottles.

While almost anything is technically recyclable, processors need to have enough of a homogenous material supply to make it worth their cost for labor, space & marketability. Recycling is based on supply and demand. Processors need to be able to purchase materials and break them down for reuse at a cost that will sufficiently pay for labor & transportation and still make a profit for them.

By: Laurie Dameron
BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development

Another Way to Cut Down on Single-Use Plastics!

Along with your reusable shopping bags in your car, keep small containers for leftovers at restaurants.  Since most places use Styrofoam, which is very bad for the planet and is not only not recyclable but takes years to decompose and has many harmful chemicals, your simple action can make a huge difference!  Even if a restaurant uses other plastics and even compostables, it’s still “single use.”  And it encourages more plastic to be produced or uses paper made from trees.  

If I’m going out for Chinese, I know I’m going to have leftovers and take Tupperware or glassware with.

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

To sign up for Laurie’s monthly music and “Green News,” write to WindchimeL@aoL.com

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By: Marikay Shellman
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Act: “Do a whole lot of nothing”

I was amused to read this headline: “Don’t you dare rake your leaves this fall.” by Dana Milbank, author who typically writes satirical political articles.  A recent transplant to country living, he was perplexed to find few pesky bugs bothering him.  After spending years trying to destroy the bug populations in his city yard- citronella tiki torches, garlic-based repellents, fogging screened in porches, & resorting to chemical insecticides- he learned from entomologists that cities & suburbs, due to abundant use of insecticides & destruction of habitat, have created “insect wastelands.”  In the country (& wilderness) the eco-system is in better balance with birds & frogs, snakes, fish & spiders keeping insect pests in check.  “The problem isn’t that we have too many bugs in cities & suburbs: the problem is that we don’t have nearly enough.  We’ve been so successful at vanquishing the little critters that the entire insect world is in big trouble…”   The insect population is declining by 1-2% per year leading to the loss of 1/3 of the insect population by 2040 according to Scott Black of Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  Our entire food chain is dependent upon insects for crop pollination.  We are already seeing the decline of bird & mammal populations.  

• Allow your lawn to be shaggy, leaving it at least 4” high for overwintering.  Cutting your lawn too low in the fall weakens the grass and makes it vulnerable to dry and cold weather.

• Don’t rake & bag your leaves, allow them to nourish the soil as they decompose and help protect your lawn & shrubs from harsh winter & spring conditions.  Leaves provide habitat for insects.

• Don’t cut back your perennials or deadhead your flowers.  Not only will the stems provide nesting for insects, perennials have more resiliency when their stems are left to overwinter.  

• Don’t use pesticides which include fertilizers.  Pesticides kill beneficial insects, one key example being caterpillars which are an essential protein for many birds.  Many pesticides are approved by the EPA despite the harm they pose to insects.  Testing occurs only using the European honeybee, not the more sensitive native bee, butterflies, moths, lightening bugs, or other invertebrates.  The combination of chemicals used in the “real world” can be much more toxic.  

• Turn off exterior lights at night.  

So do a whole lot of nothing & allow your yard to be shaggy.  You’ll be helping out a whole lot of insects.

By: Megan Shellman-Rickard
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Acts: Eco-Friendly Menstrual Products

Menstruation is a natural and essential process. While we can't avoid it, we can certainly choose the products we use during our periods. Most menstruators rely on disposable menstrual pads and tampons, which are not only harmful to the environment but can also be harmful to our health. 

Eco-friendly menstrual products are those that are made from sustainable and biodegradable materials. These products are free from chemicals and toxins that can harm the environment and our bodies. Eco-friendly menstrual products include menstrual cups, cloth pads, and period panties. Unlike disposable products, they are reusable and can last up to ten years with proper care. In addition, there are disposable menstrual products that are produced with organic materials that are made in a more sustainable manner and without harmful chemicals, toxins, and plastics.

There are many benefits of using reusable, eco-friendly menstrual products. They are cost-effective in the long run. Traditional disposable products may seem more affordable, but you must keep buying them every month and there is a cost to both your body and the environment. Conversely, eco-friendly reusable products only need to be bought once and can last years. Most eco-friendly menstrual products are healthier for our bodies simply because they do not contain chemicals and toxins. Many options are also more comfortable to wear and can reduce the risk of infections.

Disposable menstrual products, especially those with plastic applicators and wrappers, have a huge environmental impact. They contribute to landfill waste, plastic pollution, and deforestation. Research has shown that an average woman uses up to 11,000 disposable menstrual products in her lifetime. That's a lot of waste, much of which takes hundreds of years to decompose. Eco-friendly, disposable menstrual products do not contribute as heavily to environmental degradation as they are biodegradable and require less resources to manufacture. Some reusable products, with proper care, can last up to 10 years.

Choosing the right eco-friendly menstrual product can be a daunting task. You must consider your flow, lifestyle, and comfort. Menstrual cups are perfect for women with a heavy flow as they can hold more blood. Cloth pads are ideal for women who prefer a more traditional option and don't mind washing them after use. Period panties have the added benefit of not requiring any additional products. They are perfect for women who have a moderate flow. Sustainably manufactured disposable products are a simple way to make a difference by using less plastics and items that biodegrade much faster. Making the switch to eco-friendly menstrual products is not as difficult as it seems. Start small and try out different products until you find the right one for you. Research the brands that prioritize sustainability and choose one that aligns with your values and budget.

Click here for resources about eco-friendly menstrual products:

https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/sustainable-period-pads

https://vegoutmag.com/shopping/sustainable-tampons-and-pads/

https://period.co/

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/best-period-underwear/

Zero Waste Initiative

By:Laurie Dameron, BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development

Cut Down Plastics Use

Choose glass or aluminum whenever possible but when those are not available you can cut down your plastics usage simply by purchasing the largest plastic container and refilling the smaller container to use over and over!  

Thank you!  

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

To sign up for Laurie’s monthly music and “Green News,” write to WindchimeL@aoL.com

Or visit www.LaurieDameron.com

Please visit and LIKE https://www.facebook.com/WhatCanIDoSpaceshipEarth

Bring Back the Pollinators

By: Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual 

Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Soil Health is a Climate Solution.  While we all know that pesticides kill pollinators, fertilizer application causes widespread harm to soil health killing a wide world of soil invertebrates that live below our feet. In the Farming with Soil Health webinar, I was reminded of basics of Soil Invertebrates: Only 2% of insects are harmful, 40% of invertebrate pollinator species are at risk of extinction, and By minimizing disturbance, maximizing biodiversity in planting Native plants that bloom throughout the season, & Creating species habitat by leaving the leaves & stems & some dead branches or logs, we develop Soil Health.  

(Photo courtesy of Xerces Society.)

What fascinates me are the invertebrates living in the soil- 25% of total diversity in life is found in soil! Fungi & Bacteria, Protozoa, Rotifers, Tardigrades, Nematodes, Potworms, Earthworms, all the Arthropods (Springtails, Woodlice, Millipedes, Centipedes, Spiders, Mites) and Insects such as Flies (Crane Flies, Moth Flies, Snake Flies, Dance Flies, March Flies, Flower Flies) and Beetles (Soldier Beetles, Fireflies, Tiger Beetles, Ground Beetles, Rove Beetles, Burying Beetles, Dung Beetles, Ants, Ground Nesting Bees, Wasps, Scarab Hunting Wasps)- all are Decomposers.  These animals tunnel and burrow in the soil, bringing subsoil to the surface, hydrating and aerating the soil.  As I learned about these amazing creatures, such as Millipedes can live up to 11 years and Woodlice (“rolly-pollies”) nurse their young and are good for detecting metals, and spiders are useful diggers, I was amazed by how many of these invertebrates live in leaf litter, under stones, overwinter in soil & under bark.  

Tardigrades live in leaf litter & within soil & are great scavengers & predators eating bacteria, fungi, algae.  

Not only does healthy soil filter & purify our water, reduce flooding, and provide greater crop yields and thus food production, it plays a crucial role in capturing and storing large amounts of carbon.  Healthy Soil is second only to oceans as a carbon sink, surpassing forests, reducing the impact of Climate Change.  Healthy Soil is a win-win for sustainability and for the human species.

Bring Back the Pollinators by Marikay Shellman

Summer is well upon us & your gardens should have signs of active beneficial insects such as few holes in a leaf or flower, a yellow stem.  These are signs of insects thriving in a micro ecosystem.   If you have planted native plants which are well adapted to the environment from which they came, they are less likely to be victim to pests.  Rest assured that if you see pests, predators are nearby.   Example: a lady beetle devouring an aphid.

Wonderful bugs to welcome into your garden are ground beetles who hide during the day just below the ground surface & emerge at night to feast on dozens of pests, slugs & snails & non-native spongy moths.

All bee species pollinate berries, fruits, nuts, and seeds including wasps which not only are important pollinators but also predators of garden pests.  Don’t be so quick to get rid of these beneficial insects.

Syrphid flies, also known as flower flies, look a lot like bees.  Not only are they great pollinators, the syrphid fly larvae can devour several hundred aphids before entering its pupal stage.

While you should rid your garden of invasive non-native weeds, leave your native plant beds a bit on the unmanaged, wild side which will provide food and nesting habitat for pollinators.  Beware of mulch.  Colored or rubber mulch is toxic to pollinators & heavy mulch blocks the ground for soil nesting bees.

Remember that the vast majority of insects are not pests.  That caterpillar that is devouring a juicy leaf in your garden will turn into a beautiful butterfly or moth.

By: Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Member

We are grateful to Candace Fallon, Senior Conservation Biologist Xerces Society, for her excellent Earth Day presentation, Fireflies: Conserving the Jewels of the Night.  With so much information in her presentation, I thought I would review some of the most important facts for NFBPWC members to remember and to act upon. 

Fireflies are in trouble, threatened by 6 negative impacts:

The most important thing we can do to help these magical insects is to give Fireflies shelter that is free from pesticides, mowing, and trampling.  They need moisture, clean fresh water with native vegetation in which they can burrow, and eat snails, slugs, and earthworms.  Don’t over tidy in your rush for Spring clean-up.

Those leaves that you left last fall need to stay on the ground providing moisture in the soil & shelter for insects.  Rather than using bark mulch, use those leaves as mulch.  Don’t rake or leaf blow.  Refrain from mowing as female fireflies spend most of their time on the ground first as larvae & then laying eggs and mower blades are devastating.  Males use taller grasses and dried plant forbs as resting places.  Unkempt areas in your yard and garden, downed logs & leaf litter are ideal. 

As you head to your nursery, ask for pesticide-free native plants, including asters, goldenrods, & milkweed.  Native brushy shrubs will add diversity in heights for perches for fireflies. 

We all need to reduce night light pollution.  Fireflies and many other insects and birds need dark skies.  Limit your outdoor lighting to areas only necessary like sidewalks & patios.  Where you must have lighting, use dim red lights and motion detectors.  Join International Dark-Sky Association.

What we can all do is advocate and educate.

 

By:   Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual
Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Here’s a Simple Act for May: No mowing your lawn for a whole month!  “The goal of No Mow May is to allow grass to grow for the month of May, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators.  This is particularly important in urban areas where floral resources are often limited.” (Bee City USA).  No Mow May is a catchy phrase, however, it depends upon where you live.  It might make more sense to have a No Mow April or No Mow Spring; whenever you notice the daffodils popping & robins eating worms, the native bees and bumblebees are beginning to emerge and need food and cover from the chilly nights. 

The start of growing season is a critical time to give lawn flowers a chance to bloom and provide nectar and pollen for these early emerging bees and pollinators to fed themselves & their offspring.  Don’t jump into Spring Garden cleanup.  Leave those leaves that you didn’t rake last Fall as they provide much needed protection from the Spring winds and lingering frosts for both plants and invertebrates. 

Many bees & butterflies don’t emerge until late May.  Notice chrysalides still clinging to the dried standing plant material you left last season.  Longer grass can provide shelter for many invertebrates, and several species including ground beetles and some butterflies (fiery skipper and sachem) use grasses as host plants. (Xerces Society).  

We need to re-think the American lawn.

40 million acres, 2% of the land in the US, are covered in lawns which are mowed, raked, fertilized, weeded, chemically treated, and watered.  These neatly kept monoculture lawns provide little food or habitat for native bees and pollinators, and the pesticides & lack of habitat are contributing to one in four bee species being on the verge of extinction.  “Weed and Feed” products contain toxins such as neonicotinoid insecticides, deadly to bees & other pollinators.

Last year I experimented with leaving half my lawn un-mowed for the month of May and the pollinators did come, for example this Sphinx moth on a dandelion flower (photo to the Left taken by my grandson Dylan Rickard).  When it is finally time to mow, turf grass extension specialist, Paul Koch, University of Wisconsin, explains that: “You never want to remove more than one-third of the green leafy tissue at any one time.”  By raising your mowing height to four inches and mowing every other week, your lawn will flower throughout the growing season attracting more bees & butterflies.  You can over-seed your lawn with of “bee lawn seed mix” typically including white clover and creeping thyme.  Longer grass shades the ground underneath keeping it cooler and maintaining moisture.  It’s a win-win situation.  Less time mowing, less expense in upkeep, less water use, and providing a diversity of plants equals a huge positive for pollinators and your pocketbook.

Balancing the urge to have a lawn for playing with your dog and wanting to create habitat for pollinators, try mowing a smaller portion of your lawn and leaving border areas of bunch grasses and shrubs.  You can always make your patio or balcony more pollinator-friendly by planting pesticide-free native plants.  If your neighbors or HOA are wondering about your long grass, print out free NO MOW MAY sign available from https://beecityusa.org>no-mow-may .  Office Depot will laminate them, “outside” thickness, for a minimal charge.  Involve your community members and city officials or HOA board members by asking them to adopt a No Mow Spring policy.

By:   Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Member

98% of insects are NOT pests and “yet most of the chemicals now used kill all insects, our friends and enemies alike.” (Rachel Carson, Silent Spring)

Spring is springing and so are bugs. There is no need for pesticides as there are plenty of non-chemical tactics to battle the bugs: basil to keep flies away, dish soap to rid of ants, a spray bottle filled with water & lemon or lime juice for spiders, a cockroach trap from a wine bottle lined with maple syrup & rubbed with cooking oil, salt for a flea infestation, and Neem Oil for many types of pests.

The number & diversity of insects are declining at an alarming rate due to habitat loss, climate change & use of pesticides. By transforming part of your lawn into an insect friendly habitat, you can attract pollinators and provide habitat for native insects. Lawns are like deserts to insects. Simply leave a section of your yard untouched, allowing vegetation to grow & produce seeds & flowers. Fallen leaves & stems, sticks, and especially logs should be left for insects to use for habitation. Add native plants; they will thrive in your landscape, use less water and attract natural insect enemies to limit damage from those pest species.

Urban areas can exceed rural areas in providing diversity & abundance for pollinators including planting native species in containers on your balcony or on rooftops.

Limit your use of outdoor lighting which is one of the major causes of insect decline.  Nocturnal insects are attracted to artificial lights, killing many of them. Amber or red colored lights, best to use outdoors when a large amount of light is necessary, produce wavelengths that are not as attracting to bugs thus killing fewer. Do NOT use “bug zappers” which purposely kill all insects, especially our friendly insects.

For those of us that left the leaves and native flower stalks all winter, leave the leaves which are providing shelter for insects & pollinators. New growth will pop through this bed of dead leaves. Trim stalks at uneven heights between 6-12 inches. Leave the stubble on the ground as some stem nesting bees might be living in them. Ground nesting bees are 70% of our native bees. Leave some bare ground areas to provide for these ground nesters, especially sandy areas. Remember that a leaf being eaten is providing food for leafcutter bees, 30% of our native bees.

Bumble Bee Watch has put out a call for community collection of valuable data. “As you take your daily walk along your neighborhood trail, putter in your garden weeding and planting, or sip on your coffee on an outdoor patio, keep your eyes and ears open and your camera handy. If you spot a bumble bee foraging or crawling around on the ground, take a photo, a few photos. Then submit your photos to bumblebeewatch.org, along with the date and location of your sighting.” Bumble Bees, major pollinators for blueberries, tomatoes, & wildflowers, are nearing extinction.