This was taken directly from their website: www.vetrazzo.com

Exquisitely repurposed glass

With Vetrazzo Surfaces you can express both your styles and your respect for the earth without compromise. Vetrazzo is 85% glass, and all the glass we use is recycled – so it really is good for the environment.

Strong & Beautiful

Vetrazzo’s artful surfaces are incredibly strong, durable, and a joy to live with, now and for a long, long time.

Example: I bought some shampoo and conditioner that I didn’t really like, and since I can’t return it, I put it on freecycle and someone picked it up the next day.  I have posted packing peanuts, moving boxes, even cabbage that was in my CSA box that I won’t eat…

Just log onto the website and join the freecycle community closest to you.

While I was on maternity leave I emptied out my closet (got rid of 8 bags of clothing), cleaned out the kitchen (2 boxes of glassware and vases), cleaned out my office (filled 6 boxes), and started getting rid of baby stuff (7 bags).  I may still have some baby weight on me, but my house doesn’t!

Where did I donate everything?

The e-waste went to the El Cerrito e-waste event which is held 2x’s year and to CARH, the Community Assistance for the Retarded and Handicapped- every couple of months they come to the house and pick up unwanted household items.  CARH also took a lot of the clothing.

The Alameda County Computer Resource Center accepts most electronics and offer free pick-up for Berkeley residents.

I also love the El Cerrito Recycling and Berkeley Recycling Centers.  In addition to recycling your standard plastics and paper, the El Cerrito Recycling Center offers free mulch, has a free community book exchange, and a Goodwill reuse station on its premises.  the Berkeley Recycling Center will take or buy back most materials and appliances.  The Davis Transfer Station in San Leandro also accepts most materials.

We also recycle food scraps in our house.  El Cerrito will allow you to put food scraps in your greenwaste bin which has greatly reduced the amount of trash we have.  As a family of four we were able to downgrade our trash can size to the smallest one.  (I suspect many people are doing this because trash prices keep going up!)

Recycling mattresses?  Ask the retailer you are buying it from if they can recycle your old mattress.  Salvation Army accepts mattresses in good condition, as well as other items such as furniture and clothing.  The Berkeley Transfer Station takes mattresses for $10.

For the compact fluorescent bulbs I was able to drop them off at Ace Hardware.  Home Depot and IKEA will also take them.  EcoLights.com has prepaid return shipping and recycling kits for fluorescent lights, batteries and mercury-containing devices.

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Richmond is a fantastic resource for getting rid of things such as batteries, cleaners and solvents, paints, used oil, car products, and pesticides.

I like the free iRecycle iPhone app- it lets you access the national recycling database run by Earth911.org.

Now if only I knew where to start in the garage.

RECYCLING HOTLINES:

Alameda County: 877-STOPWASTE
Contra Costa County: 800-750-4096
Oakland: 510-238-SAVE
Berkeley: 510-527-5555
StopWaste Hazardous Waste: 800-606-6606

Green market research firm SBI Energy forecasts that in the next five years, the market for energy-efficient home renovation products will grow 15 percent, 50 percent faster than the renovations market as a whole. According to the report, the energy-efficient market will reach $35 billion and claim 15 percent of all home renovation dollars spent. “The growth will come as a result of the tax credits, new incentives, and the reality that more agencies and utilities are promoting the fact that adding improved energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to decrease home utility bills,” says Norman Deschamps, author and SBI Energy analyst.

Source: SBI Reports

1) EAST BAY GREEN TOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE
This holiday season you can treat those you care about to the special treat of a GIFT CERTIFICATE for an East Bay Green tour. Or you could give back to the community by Sponsoring A Seat on the bus for a student. More information on tours and itineraries www.ebgt.org

2) HOLIDAY GREEN GIFT SHOW
Local, Sustainable Gifts Faire Amanda’s Restaurant 2122 Shattuck Ave. @ Center St., Berkeley, CA Dec. 5, 12 & 19 – 11AM to 6PM

3) EAST BAY EXPRESS HOLIDAY GUIDE
Check out their amazing online Holiday Guide.

4) OAKLAND HOLIDAY BUY NIGHT
Come on out for shopping, food, hot cocoa, wine, beer, and entertainment for the family inside Jack London Market. Pro Arts Gallery and Oakland Grown will provide over 75 shops full of affordable gifts. Jack London Market, Oakland Dec 10th and 11th, 5-10pm

5) WORLD OF GOOD
A local East Bay Business selling products that benefit people and the planet.. Over 16,000 products that match your values this holiday season. Buying products on WorldofGood.com ensures a fair wage is paid to producers and helps build healthy, local economies and thriving, sustainable communities for people everywhere. $5 of every purchase will go to programs of Green America like: Climate Action, Fair Trade, responsible investing, and others

6) ECO METRO GUIDE
The Eco Metro Guide is full of coupons to use at local stores and their website is a great resource of upcoming events and bargains.

7) YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Don’t forget your corner bookstore or merchants. By resisting the urge to buy online you can help your neighbors stay in business during these challenging economic times.

Love “The Green Guide.”  Lot’s of great eco-friendly advice.  Check out this recent article on living roofs:

http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/garden/budget-green-roofs?source=email_gg_20090520&email=gg

Check out this way cool new tool…

“The Solar Map is an interactive tool for viewing information and locations of existing solar installations in Berkeley.   It is a calculator that can be used to determine the potential size and cost for solar electric and hot water systems on any rooftop within the City and allows you to design a solar energy system to meet your energy needs.”

http://berkeley.solarmap.org/solarmap_v4.html