Greenish Neighbor

07/12/2025

Plastic pollution and waste doesn't start or end with straws. But if you don't need or want one, just say so.

Welcome to Day 10 of Plastic Free July! Today's suggested action? Skip the straw. While it's truly a small act, it reminds us that one of our greatest tools for preventing waste is to refuse items we don't need.
There is nothing wrong with asking for a straw if you want one, but it can be frustrating if you're dining out and a server drops a handful onto the table without even asking first. It's also annoying to find straws inside a takeout bag, although our outreach team notices this tends to happen more when ordering from a drive-thru than when ordering inside a restaurant.
How do you avoid unwanted single-use straws? Toward Zero Waste Wake County Government Greenish Neighbor

04/30/2025

So it's l the last day of Earth Month and I admittedly have felt really down this year about the state of things and have not done much of my usual "hey, try reducing waste this month" posts. This year ... Ugh.

I am just devastated by the actions of this administration (not just regarding the environment, but I'll try to stay focused here) and am befuddled that over half of the voting population in this country chose this.

Where did we lose our way?

⬛ Changing the mission of the EPA to a propaganda outlet for promoting the disregard for environmental protections and the removal of regulations.
⬛ Removing protections of wetlands
⬛ Cancelling grants and funding for important environmental studies
⬛ Removing climate and other important data from government websites
⬛ Creating chaos by firing federal workers who care deeply about our natural lands and national parks
⬛ Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement
⬛ Flat out ignoring science

I am heartbroken that people voted for this. I'll get back to the usual programming soon but just had to let it out once and for all.

I'll leave you with this video from one of my favs: Elle Cordova
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIwMKE4pbmR/?igsh=MWxrMHZxZHh4aDRyZA==

Photo is of a monitoring outing at a wetland in Chapel Hill. Find out more about the value of wetlands here:
Carolina Wetlands Association

03/06/2025

It's magical when my worlds collide like this!

My department at NC State is partnering with the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors as well as NC Realtors to host this workshop event. We're thrilled to be working with the new sustainability committee for the RRAR and the wonderful Ashley Rummage, Realtor !

See the details here: https://cvent.me/kvznDo

Anyone interested can attend. If you are a real estate agent the registration is free!

Please join us on April 11th!

NC Realtors
www.RRAR.com

02/05/2025

People!!! 💚💚💚

Stop the madness.

Even when responsibly disposed of they continue to cause problems. We snapped this picture at the landfill in Apex yesterday, while providing a tour to a local school. Plastic bags, film, and wrap were piling up at the litter fence faster than the litter crews could bag it. While sitting there watching bags blowing all over, I wondered how much it costs to build and maintain over a 1,000 ft. of litter fencing and pay the three litter crews I saw chasing bags down (6-days a week), and if there was a way to prevent it, and then I remembered, there is! SWITCH to and make a HUGE difference in your local environment.

01/12/2025

Moving Soon? 👇👇 This is how you do that without purchasing and getting rid of cardboard boxes. Reuse is always better than recycling.

Save some trees and check out GreenBox Rentals - New on the NC Green Business Directory brought to you by Greenish Neighbor !!!

01/05/2025

New on the NC Green Business Directory . . .
Bluestem Conservation Cemetery
https://www.bluestemcemetery.org/

✳️ Discover a place of reverence in a nature preserve.
With quiet areas for reflection, open space for contemplation, ​a trail network for mindful recreation, ongoing grassland restoration, ​and a conservation cemetery for natural burial.
✳️ Open dawn to dusk every day - ​1900 Hurdle Mills Road, Cedar Grove, North Carolina 27231

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A lasting gift you can give your loved ones is expressing your intentions for how to handle your passing from this Earth. If that plan includes a burial that is natural and has the least possible negative impact on the environment as possible, consider this new addition to the NC Green Business Directory.

We welcome Bluestem Conservation Cemetery to the directory!

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"We practice a reverence for land through values of integrity, utility, simplicity and sustainability. For every gravesite, we consider the impact of digging and disturbance to the soils and root systems. We calculate for stormwater and install water protections. And we consider the wildlife already living here." - Bluestem Council of Stewards

01/04/2025

New year, new goals of reducing your waste to the landfill?

A few options for those of you local to the RTP area:

♻️ The Recollective offers . . .

Next Level Recycling Home Collection Program: https://therecollective.co/

Community Compost Program: https://therecollective.co/communitycompost/

🟩🟩🟩

♻️ Anything With A Plug Recycling offers . . .

Drop off Recycling of Almost Anything (especially if it's broken beyond repair and has a plug) at their location or at one of their Free Mobile Drop Events: https://www.anythingwithaplugrecycling.com/

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♻️ Wake County Waste and Recycling offers . . .

Free recycling drop off for a number of recycling categories like scrap metal, cardboard, food waste, etc.:
https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/waste-recycling/facilities/convenience-centers

❔❔❔ Let me know your questions! And don't forget when you recycle curbside, don't put your recycling in plastic bags!

12/14/2024

Anything With A Plug Recycling is at 1261 Buck Jones Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606 today until 1:00.

Time to purge the things bogging you down. They take almost anything for recycling.

Follow Anything With a Plug Recycling to find out where and when the next collection will be.

09/07/2024

Know your recycling!

Select all items that are accepted in 'mixed recycling' at Wake County Convenience Centers.

GOTCHA! The truth is none of these items are accepted in 'mixed recycling' in any municipal recycling program in the entire state of NC. They should ALL be kept out of 'mixed recycling'.

06/29/2024

I'm very lucky that my day job is in this department at NCSU! Well done my friends!

https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/biological-and-agricultural-engineering-nc-state-university-rankings/?utm_source=CALS+Bulletin&utm_campaign=077140f5c1-CALS+WEEKLY_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a4d08d890f-077140f5c1-83090146

NC State University

The graduate program in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering has ranked No. 3 in the nation according to the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings.

06/08/2024

Did you know that you can avoid plastic bags at the Cary Farmers Market by grabbing a free reusable cloth bag!

The dedicated and talented folks in the Toward Zero Waste Makers group sew bags from scrap and surplus fabrics for the market.

I had a great visit with these awesome TZW volunteers today and spotted some bags in use around the market.

Want to learn more, visit: https://towardzerowaste.org/makers-community-page/

Toward Zero Waste Makers Toward Zero Waste Cary, NC

04/23/2024

YES to all this 👇👇

Wake County Waste and Recycling shares their top 12 tips to reduce your carbon footprint through waste-conscious living, this and beyond!
1. Reduce your food waste
2. Use reusable cups, plates, utensils, bottles, and containers
3. Recycle right
4. Donate old clothes
5. Buy only what you need
6. Shop with reusable bags
7. Invest in quality products that last
8. Avoid buying fast fashion
9. Buy used
10. Support companies that are environmentally responsible
11. Compost
12. Speak to your local representative and vote on policies that protect the environment

Wake County Government