Non-Toxic Air Fresheners

PENCINTA ALAM SEPTEMBER 2015
GREEN LIVING COLUMN
NON-TOXIC AIR FRESHENERS
By Wong Ee Lynn
<wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com>

Clever advertising makes us believe that commercial 'air fresheners' and deodorisers can make a room smell fresh and clean, but there is nothing clean about the butane, propane, dichlorobenzene, phthalates and other toxins found in most store-bought air fresheners. These products do not actually improve the quality of indoor air, but merely masks other unpleasant scents, and can contribute to a host of ailments including breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea.

Chemical-free alternatives are available in natural and organic food stores, but are usually too expensive for the average homeowner. If you are going to use air fresheners often, it is best to make your own air fresheners and experiment with the recipes and ideas below until you find one or several that suit your needs and purposes.

1. Use good quality, natural essential oils (such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint) in an aromatherapy diffuser to create an inviting and calming indoor atmosphere. You don't even have to buy a diffuser. Boiling some water in a saucepan and then adding a few drops of essential oils or some lemon peel, mint leaves or lavender flowers to the boiling water after you turn off the heat would serve your purpose just as well. Do not buy cheap essential oils such as those found in RM5 stores, as they have usually been adulterated with petrochemical products or alcohol

2. To eliminate bathroom smells, leave a little box of matches in your bathroom cabinet. Strike a match after flushing. The smell of sulphur from the burning matchstick (admittedly not perfect but still less harmful than hemical strays and fragrance gels) will mask and eliminate other unpleasant smells.

3. A freshly-unwrapped bar of soap (choose natural and phosphate-free soap whenever possible) will work wonders in deodorising a room, closet, bathroom or car interior, so consider doing this right before guests arrive. As a bonus, if you are using lavender or citronella soap, it will also repel insects and roaches. Once the soap has lost its initial fragrance, you can still use it in the shower or at the washbasin.

4. Many houseplants, including spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) and aloe vera, have incredible air-purifying qualities, so be sure to add living and not artificial plants to every window and area that receives natural light. Read up on the plants in advance to ensure that they do not pose any danger to pets and children. Plants with a pleasant natural fragrance such as pandan, lemongrass, musk lime, mosquito plant and potted herbs are also good additions to a home.

5. Make your own vinegar-based air freshener spray by mixing 1.5 cups of water, half a cup of white vinegar (natural, not artificial or 'cuka tiruan') and 12-15 drops of pure essential oils in a spray bottle. Shake it up and use the solution to spray a room before guests arrive, or to eliminate smells near pet litter trays, rubbish bins and in bathrooms.

6. Alternatively, make a baking soda-based air freshener spray by pouring 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 5-6 drops of pure essential oils into a spray bottle and topping it up with water. Shake it up and spray it to freshen up a room, fabrics, shoes and car interiors.

There are many ideas online on how you can make your own potpurri, orange and clove pomanders, beeswax candles, scented cloth sachets and even scented gels. There are no limits to what the human imagination can think up when we are determined to do the right thing for Mother Earth and human (and animal) health.

MNS Green Living teams up with TEEAM to collect e-waste and fluorescent lights

PENCINTA ALAM MARCH 2015

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

 

MNS Green Living teams up with TEEAM to collect e-waste and fluorescent lights.

(By Wong Ee Lynn, wongeelynn@yahoo.com)

  

MNS Green Living is pleased to report that our MNS Headquarters in Jalan Kelantan now has electronic waste (e-waste) and compact fluorescent light (CFL)/ fluorescent light (FL) collection bins, thanks to the assistance of The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM). These bins are placed by the door to the MNS office, beside the Green Living Little Free Library, to enable members of the public to correctly dispose of their light bulbs, fluorescent light tubes and other electronic waste (e.g. batteries, unwanted appliances and gadgets) for recycling and safe disposal.

 

This initiative by TEEAM, a non-profit volunteer-based trade association, is made possible thanks to the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants Programme. However, Green Living strongly believes that the collection, recycling and safe disposal of hazardous wastes falls within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and alternatively, the Ministry for Natural Resources and the Environment, and should not be made the responsibility of non-governmental organisations.

 

Representatives from TEEAM set up the bins and delivered an awareness talk at the MNS HQ on 7^th Feb 2015. The eye-opening video presentation was followed by a lively discussion session. We would like to put on record our utmost appreciation to Dr. S.O. Lai and Ms. Thila of TEEAM for their tireless efforts in raising environmental awareness and facilitating the collection of e-waste.

 

To contact TEEAM, please email teeam52@gmail.com / teeam@teeam.org.my.

 

FACTS ON E-WASTE AND CFLs / FLs:

 

1. In Malaysia, used and discarded electrical and electronic appliances and components (including batteries) are commonly known as 'e-waste' and are categorised as scheduled waste under the code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005 under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

 

2. The SW110 wastes are defined as wastes from the electrical and electronic assemblies containing components such as accumulators, mercury switches, glass from cathode ray tubes and other activated glass or polychlorinated biphenyl-capacitators, or contaminated with cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, copper, lithium, silver, manganese, or polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

3. If e-waste is disposed of in landfills, the opportunities to recover and recycle the metal, plastic or glass components would be lost. Further, hazardous metals and materials can leach out and contaminate soil, water and air.

 

4. In Peninsular Malaysia, all scheduled wastes, including e-waste, lightbulbs and light tubes, are collected for safe disposal and recycling by Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd, a waste management and renewable energy development company.

 

5. CFLs and FLs are an energy-efficient alternative to incandescent lamps for the following reasons:

• Three to four times more energy-efficient.
• They cost less to use.
• They reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution from energy production.
• They last up to ten times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.

5. However, CFLs contain, on average 3 – 4 mg of mercury a unit. FL tubes contain, on average, 8.3 mg of mercury per unit.

 

6. All fluorescent lights and tubes are considered hazardous waste in Malaysia when they are discarded because they contain mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal with toxic effects. Exposure to, and contact with, mercury may lead to mercury poisoning, which can be lethal.

 

7. When mercury-containing CFLs or FLs are placed in the rubbish bins and collected for disposal, the lamps or tubes are broken and mercury is released to the environment. Mercury vapours from broken lamps or tubes can be absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. People who are particularly close to the breakage are especially at risk. Mercury from broken lamps and tubes can also be washed by rain water into waterways.

 

8. To prevent breaking fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, package fluorescent lamps and tubes carefully when storing and transporting them. Do not tape tubes together. Store and transport fluorescent lamps and tubes in their original boxes or another protective container. Store them in an area away from rain so that if they break, the mercury from broken lamps or tubes will not be washed by rain water into waterways.

 

9. In the event you accidentally break a fluorescent light or tube, vacate the room immediately and open all doors and windows. The only person(s) who should remain there are person(s) tasked with cleaning up. Do not use a standard household vacuum cleaner to clean up the broken pieces. Only a vacuum cleaner designed specifically for use with hazardous wastes may be used. However, most of us will not have one at hand.

 

Instead of vacuuming, wear latex gloves and carefully clean up the fragments. Use strips of duct tape or masking tape to pick up the fragments. Wipe the area with a damp sheet of newspaper or paper towel to remove all glass fragments and associated mercury.

 

Keep all people and pets away from area so that mercury-containing pieces and powder are not tracked into other areas.

Keep the area well ventilated to disperse any vapour that may escape.

After clean up is complete, place all fragments along with cleaning materials into a sealable plastic bag or lidded jar. Wash your hands. Recycle the pieces along with intact lamps if the recycling collection contractor permits it. Label the plastic bag or jar clearly to warn people who may be handling the broken bulbs to prevent injury or other harm to them.

 

10. When bringing your used CFLs and FLs to a CFL/FL collection bin, put the bulbs into their boxes for recycling. If you have not retained the bulb’s original box, use the box that the new/replacement bulb came in. If you have no bulb boxes at all, wrap the bulb in a sheet of newspaper and put it in a plastic or paper bag to prevent breakage before putting it in the CFL/FL collection bin.

MNS Green Living and TEEAM team up to recycle CFL light bulbs and tubes!

 

Lightbulb and E-Waste Collection and Recycling Programme and Awareness Talk

Date: Saturday, 7th February 2015

Time: 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

Venue: MNS Headquarters (http://www.mns.my/spage.php?pg=contact)

The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) in collaboration with MNS Green Living will be setting up collection bins in the Malaysian Nature Society headquarters to enable members of the public to correctly dispose of their lightbulbs, fluorescent light tubes and other electronic waste (e.g. batteries, unwanted appliances and gadgets) for recycling and safe disposal.

- Why can't we just dispose of these items with our regular household waste?

- What constitutes scheduled waste?

- What happens to these items once they are sent for recycling?

- How do these items harm the environment and human health if not properly disposed of?

To find out the answers to these questions, please come for the awareness talk at the time and location stated above! Refreshments will be served and we would be happy to collect your light bulbs and e-waste from you on the same day. We will also conduct a Spot Quiz on light bulbs and e-waste recycling. This event is free of charge and open to all. We hope to see many concerned Earth citizens there!

 

 

 

The Green Living Donation and Disposal Checklist

PENCINTA ALAM FEB 2014

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

THE GREEN LIVING DONATION AND DISPOSAL CHECKLIST

By Wong Ee Lynn

gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com

The Green Living Special Interest Group often receives inquiries on how to recycle, donate or dispose of particularly troublesome items. Seeing as that most people would be carrying out spring cleaning in the first quarter of the year, we have compiled a list of organisations and disposal methods for particular items. As this list is not an exhaustive one and is mostly relevant to those living in the Klang Valley, we welcome all your suggestions and recommendations at gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com

1. Dry cell batteries and used light bulbs: Ikea (at No.2 Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya) provides bins for the collection of used batteries and lightbulbs for recycling and safe disposal at the Lower Ground Floor, right outside the checkout counters, to the left of the wrapping counter.

2. Leftover paint: There is no reason why you cannot store leftover pain for reuse in touch-up paint jobs. If the quantity is large, you can call up the nearest schools and community centres to ask if they need the paint for school/community beautification projects. If the quantity of leftover paint is small, you can save them for touch-up jobs or to paint repaired and refurbished furniture and wooden pallets and crates. If the paint has dried up, check with Alam Flora or your local waste collection facility to see if you can send the cans for recycling or put them out for collection with your usual rubbish. Seal the paint cans securely with their lids to prevent small animals or birds from getting trapped inside the cans.

3. Old mattresses: This is a tricky item to deal with. What is the reason you are throwing out an old mattress? If it is damp, torn, stained or damaged, then it belongs in a landfill. Tie it up with string and put it out for collection with your usual rubbish. If it is usable and clean, put it out in the sun for a few days to get rid of moisture and odors. Check with organisations such as Reach Out Malaysia (Email: stand.o.fish@gmail.com) to see if there are street folks who could use a mattress. Be prepared to deliver the mattress yourself, as most non-profit organisations are volunteer-run and lacking in manpower and resources.

4. Old clothes, household items and knick-knacks: There are several organisations that collect such items for reuse, recycling and redistribution to the needy. Lovely Nursing Centre for the disabled has a charity shop in a shophouse in SS26/6, Taman Mayang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, which collects household items, books and decorative items for resale. Pertubuhan Amal Sri Sinar (http://recyclecharity.org/en/) has orange-coloured donation bins with hutches in various locations in the Klang Valley, and also has mobile collection services every weekend from 8.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. in Taman Megah PJ, Puchong and other locations. The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merit Society has a large donation bin in Centrepoint, Bandar Utama. Clothes for men can be donated to Reach Out Malaysia for their street clients, which consist mostly of men.

What NOT to give: Please dispose of all broken and damaged items. Clothes that are too stained, dirty, or torn should not be donated but should be used as rags. You can also donate torn and stained clothes to the nearest animal shelter for use as animal bedding, or give them to your mechanic to use as garage rags.

5. Airtight lidded plastic jars and coffee mugs: You know those transparent plastic containers with screw-on red plastic lids that your festive cookies come in? Please wash and dry them and save them, along with coffee mugs, for our indigenous friends to use in their kitchens. Gerai OA, a non-profit fairtrade organisation, will collect them from you at their stall/booth during events. To find out their schedule of events, go to: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.96049827366.86091.29058727366&type=3#!/geraioa?fref=ts. Note: Please ensure that the jars have not been used to hold non-food items such as soap or household chemicals to avoid contamination and poisoning.

6. Infants' and children's toys: Please clean and dry your unwanted toys for donation to a local non-profit organisation, Need To Feed The Need (NFN) (Email: nfn.official@gmail.com) for distribution to needy children living in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Please ensure that toys are not broken, damaged or dirty. Toys must be in good working condition and should not be too bulky or heavy as the children and their mothers often have to walk some distance to collect food and other donations.

7. Old cell phones and cell phone batteries: Nokia Malaysia accepts all old phones for recycling. You can drop off your old phones in the box at the Nokia office in Amcorp Mall, from 9.00-6.00 pm on weekdays. The address is Suite W-10-21, 10th Floor Melawangi Business Suites, Amcorp. Contact number: 03-79572211. (Thank you to Gan Li-Kim for the recce work!)

8. Old magazines: Old but not outdated or torn magazines can be donated to your usual clinic, hair salon, barber shop, or mechanic for their waiting area. Please do not give catalogues, junk mail or TV channel guides. These items belong in the recycling bin.

9. Old books: Children's books can be given to local non-profit organisations such as Kawan-Kawan Mari Kita Membaca (Email: info@marikitamembaca /rusaslina.idrus@gmail.com) or The Revolving Library (https://www.facebook.com/therevolvinglibrary/info) for their education and literacy programmes for underprivileged children. Books for adults can be donated to the Lions Club of Petaling Jaya via their donation bin in Naga's Restaurant, Brickfields, or donated to Green Living (Email: gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com) for fundraising purposes.

10. Electronic and electrical appliances: There are currently no known electronic waste collectors in Malaysia that are certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. Most backyard e-waste collectors will just strip electronic devices of metals that can be recovered for recycling, and then the other components will end up in the landfill. Consider whether you can try to repair and reuse the particular device. Google the address of the local office of your electrical appliance's manufacturer and find out if they have "producer take-back" measures in Malaysia. Most computer manufacturers will accept old PCs, notebooks, batteries and other devices for recycling. In the case of electrical or battery-operated devices with simple components such as alarm clocks, table lamps and blenders, if they are beyond repair, you could try to take them apart entirely and separate the components into plastic, metal and glass for recycling.

11. Old furniture: Old but usable furniture made of real wood, bamboo or metal can be cleaned up and donated to charity. Organisations such as Pertubuhan Amal Sri Sinar (Contact: 03 4297 7022) will come to your home to pick up bulky items such as sofa sets, bicycles and refrigerators, but please do your part by ensuring that the items you wish to donate are clean and in good working condition. Furniture made of plywood, fibreboard and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) should not be donated as they usually have been treated with formaldehyde, and over time formaldehyde can leach out and cause poisoning and contamination. This is especially so when the said items of furniture have been exposed to heat and moisture. They should instead be taken apart and tied or bagged up for collection with usual rubbish. Hopefully, in future there will be better, safer ways of recycling or disposing of MDF, plywood and fibreboard products, and they will be manufactured using safer methods and chemicals.

12. Expired medicine: Expired medicine should not be disposed of in landfills or down water treatment systems, but should be dropped off in the collection boxes at government hospitals, (e.g. Hospital Kuala Lumpur) for safe disposal. (Source: http://www.pharmacy.gov.my/v2/en/content/return-your-medicines-program.html)

Natural Disinfectants and Deodorisers

GREEN LIVING COLUMN PENCINTA ALAM JULY 2013

NATURAL DISINFECTANTS AND DEODORISERS
By Wong Ee Lynn

Bacteria are a natural part of the ecosystem. Our attempts to keep our homes and families healthy should be with the goal of having a clean, pleasant-smelling place to live, where potentially hazardous bacteria are controlled by basic hygiene.

A healthy human immune system can easily cope with normal household germs, and is in fact at greater risk from the chemicals used in many cleaning products.

In recent years, we have seen a boom in anti-bacterial products, from kitchen sponges to dishwashing liquid. Not only can disinfectants be health risks in themselves, many disinfectants contain chemicals, such as triclosan, which can affect the central nervous system of humans and other mammals, and cause organ damage. Health and environmental experts caution against anti-microbial products (sponges, toys, soaps, washcloths, aerosol sprays) because:

(1) They create a false sense of security and there is no evidence at all that they make a home safer or protect humans against illnesses and infections;
(2) They are likely to unfavourably alter the balance of microbial life in the home, leaving behind those that are more resistant to disinfectants and harder to kill;
(3) Surviving bacteria are likely to become resistant, and could make homes, like hospitals, a harbour for truly dangerous bacteria. In cases where you truly need a stronger disinfectant, e.g. in cleaning the cages and living areas of pets that have recently suffered deadly infections such as parvovirus, the best choice is a properly diluted solution of chlorine bleach.

However, most of our daily cleaning activities would not require the use of bleach. For general purposes, there are excellent natural disinfectants which include lavender oil, tea tree oil, grapefruit seed oil and other citrus extracts.

A basic list of products and tips:

1. Use cleaning cloths instead of disposable disinfectant wipes. Cotton material, e.g. old t-shirts, is best for cleaning and polishing, and can be tossed in for washing together with the rest of the laundry when dirty.

2. Instead of having various types of household cleaning agents, purchase an all-purpose biodegradable cleaner to use for most general cleaning, including mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom and wiping down furniture. If the product is unscented, you can always add a few drops of pure essential oil, such as tea tree (antifungal) or peppermint and lavender (deodorising, antibacterial) to a diluted solution prior to cleaning.

3. White distilled vinegar is great for cleaning glass and windows and does not contain harmful ammonia.

4. Borax is a natural mineral product that kills bacteria and mildew. It can be used to soak nappies, whiten clothes, soften water and increase the effectiveness of plain soap It is also good for preventing odours and preventing mildew and mould growth, for example, in the bathroom.

5. Avoid all aerosol furniture polishes, especially those containing silicone. Experts recommend dusting with a soft cloth dampened with a little water. Good furniture does not need to be polished more than once a year, and you can use beeswax-based polish and other natural furniture polishes for this purpose.

6. Toothpaste can be used to polish and clean delicate metal jewellery.

7. You can make a metal/brass polish using a paste of white vinegar or lemon juice mixed with bicarbonate of soda.

8. If you have cats, clean the litter tray daily and wash the litter trays using soap and water at least once every few days, rather than purchase scented or antibacterial litter so that you can put off cleaning the litter tray.

9. Microwave your kitchen sponge (wet, not dry) for 2 minutes on high heat to kill germs at least twice a week, rather than buy antibacterial sponges.

10. Rather than purchase shoe sprays and powders, stuff your shoes with scrunched up newspaper (you can reuse the newspaper for each pair of shoes until they fall apart). The carbon in newsprint will deodorise your shoes, while the paper will absorb moisture.

11. Reduce the number of clothes you own that require dry-cleaning. Most of the clothes that require dry-cleaning can be safely washed by hand using a mild soap and gently hung out to drip-dry in the shade.

12. Instead of using fabric softener to add fragrance to your laundry, put herbal or floral sachets in your closet and clothes drawers instead, to help your clothes smell fresh. Alternatively, you can also put half-unwrapped bars of lemon or lavender scented soap in your closets as inexpensive and reusable deodorisers.

13. For clothes to stay white, use borax or oxygen-based bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution instead of chlorine bleach to whiten the clothes. Use natural indigo solution in the final rinse to brighten your whites.

14. Instead of antibacterial foam carpet cleaners, sprinkle the carpet with plain bicarbonate of soda. Leave for an hour or two for the soda to deodorise the carpet, and then vacuum. When more intensive cleaning is necessary, clean your carpet with a steam machine and plain water.

15. Use normal soap bars instead of antibacterial shower gels and creams. Soap bars use less packaging and weigh less, and are therefore more environmentally friendly to package and transport. There is no necessity to use antibacterial soap for your daily baths. The belief that soap bars harbour germs is a marketing ploy to create fear and thus sell antibacterial products. Our parents and grandparents did without antibacterial soap and no-one fell sick or died from using and sharing normal inexpensive soap bars.

16. Commercial air-fresheners work by masking unpleasant odours, coating your nasal passages with an oily film, or numbing your sense of smell with a nerve-deadening agent. Instead of using commercial air freshener sprays, gels and canisters, try these simple deodorising tips instead –
(i) Increase and improve ventilation. Open windows daily to clear stale air and toxic fumes. An extractor fan can help in the kitchen and bathroom.
(ii) Empty your rubbish frequently. When your rubbish bin is wet or dirty, wash it using a handful of soap powder/flakes, some water and an outdoor/bathroom broom. Put the rubbish bin upside down outdoors to air-dry.
(iii) Declare your home a no-smoking zone. Smokers will have to learn to regulate their habit, or smoke outdoors.
(iv) Grow indoor plants to improve air quality.

17. Do not use cut flowers to deodorise a room. To make flowers look and smell perfect, the floral industry uses more pesticides than any other agricultural business (since consumers do not, after all, eat flowers). They also use vast quantities of floral accessories (such as plastic wrap and ribbons), floral preservatives and non-native flowers. Purchase potted local plants instead.

18. Insecticides are poisonous and should be avoided because of their negative health and environmental effects. You are unlikely to have a problem with pests if you pay extra attention to cleaning and tidying, and block the entrances of pests (e.g. by installing mosquito screens and covering bathroom and kitchen flow holes at night). Food should be stored in airtight containers such as glass jars, or stored in the refrigerator, to avoid attracting pests. Don’t leave crumbs and unopened packages, and empty wastebaskets regularly. Essential oils such as that of peppermint, eucalyptus and citrus can repel ants and flies, while citronella oil will repel mosquitoes.

19. Instead of purchasing car air fresheners, put a bunch of pandanus leaves or lavender in your car to add fragrance and repel insects. Alternatively, put orange or lemon peel in a cup in your car to remove stale odours. Another simple air freshening method is to open one end of the packaging on a bar of soap (lavender scented soap works particularly well) and put the bar of soap in your car.

(Images reproduced from Wikipedia without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use)

Green Living Column, June 2013: Removing Weeds The Natural Way

PENCINTA ALAM JUNE 2013

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

REMOVING WEEDS THE NATURAL WAY

The rainy season is upon us again, and it usually results in an increase in weeds. The use of chemical weedkillers and herbicides, however, has been linked to water and soil pollution and the deaths of insects, frogs, toads, birds, tree shrews and even companion animals such as dogs and cats. How, then, do we remove weeds without resorting to chemical weedkillers?  Here are some safer ways of removing weeds and preventing weeds from growing:

(1) Spread layers of wet newspaper on top of areas where you do not want weeds to grow. This prevents sunlight from reaching the soil and thus inhibits the growth of grass and weeds.  Old garbage bags, pieces of tarpaulin or old carpet and shower curtains work as well. However, this method can be rather unsightly, so you may wish to restrict this to the insides of flowerpots, borders and in the spaces between plants.

(2) After pulling out weeds, sprinkle normal table salt on the soil to stop weeds and grass from growing. Be careful not to salt the soil where other plants such as flowers grow, as you might end up inadvertently killing them. Salt also works well on edges of lawns, in cracks in the concrete or in the spaces in between tiles.

(3) Spray vinegar directly onto weeds to kill them. However, vinegar can kill other plants that it comes in contact with, so although it is eco-friendly and biodegradable, it takes a little forethought to manage an effective application. Applying vinegar onto weeds is best done on a sunny day without the risk of wind blowing the vinegar onto other plants or the rain to dilute or wash the vinegar away.

(4) Make a liquid soap spray to spray directly onto weeds. Mix 5 tablespoons of liquid soap (such as dishwashing liquid) in one quart (4 cups) of water in a spray bottle. Coat the weeds with the soapy water. Works best on hot days as well.

(5) A kettle of boiling water is usually enough to kill weeds, especially those growing in cracks in the concrete, but does not prevent weeds from growing in the same spot in future.

Towards a Cleaner, Greener Home

TOWARDS A CLEANER, GREENER HOME  

Homemade duster
Make your own dusting cloths. Stir in one cup of lemon oil with two cups of hot water. Dip lint free cloth into the potion and let it air-dry. Then store the duster in a covered metal container until you're ready to dust. The oil picks up the dust and the lemon gives your dusting a fresh aroma.  

Shoe cleaning
A quick way to put a beautiful shine on your shoes is by rubbing them with a banana skin on black shoes or the soft side of a lemon skin on brown shoes.  

Cleaning a mirror
Dip a soft cloth in a weak solution of vinegar and water, and then wipe the mirror clean. This works better than commercial spray cleaners, which can leave a film or deposit.  

Cleaning filthy fridge seals and finishing off the exterior
The plastic seals of refrigerators can be wiped free of debris using a toothbrush with toothpaste. Mildly abrasive toothpaste helps to cleanse and brighten fridges without the scratching properties of most household cleansers. Apply liberally with the toothbrush and scrub until stains disappear. Then wash down with wet cloth and dry thoroughly. Failure to dry the seal properly will allow mould and mildew to grow, so finish the job by wiping the seal carefully with a dry, absorbent cloth. The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) found in many toothpaste brands acts as a cleaning agent, which neutralizes acids. It is also an abrasive, which removes built-up dirt.  

Doing the dishes
Rinsing dishes before food residue hardens makes cleaning them easier and uses less detergent.

 Cleaning tiles
Most commercial tile cleaners do more harm than good because they contain chloride, a serious irritant to the eyes, nose and skin. Wipe or spray vinegar onto mould or mildew, leave overnight and scrub in the morning. Use a firm bristled brush.  

Clothes that need dry-cleaning
Try to buy items that do not require dry-cleaning, as most dry-cleaning solvents are toxic and have been identified as endocrine disrupters that have been linked to breast cancer. If you must dry-clean, air the clothes thoroughly before bringing them indoors. Many garments labelled "dry clean only" can be safely hand-washed using mild soap.  

Keeping drains clean and open
Your drains can be kept open, clean and odour-free without the use of corrosive drain cleaners. There are two simple rules: 1. Never pour grease down the drain 2. Always use a drain sieve. In addition, use this preventative measure for routine maintenance up to once a week. Pour ¼ cup bicarbonate of soda down the drain. Follow with ½ cup vinegar and plug the drain until fizzing stops. Flush with 4 litres of boiling water. If you have two sinks, plug one side before commencing the procedure. Also try this method if a clog does happen.  

Buying a carpet
When buying a carpet, choose natural materials such as cotton and wool over synthetics. Buy rugs and carpets that haven't been treated with insecticides and fungicides. When rugs are cleaned, make sure no pesticides are used. Avoid commercial products containing chlorine, formaldehyde and solvents such as trichloroethylene, methylene and nitrobenzene.  

Make your own natural antibacterial spray:
Mix 20 drops of pure essential oil of lavender and 1 cup water in a spray bottle and shake to blend. The essential oils of lavender and thyme are more antiseptic than phenol, the industry standard.  

Reusable and Unbleached
Store food in bowls or Tupperware that can be reused endlessly. Use unbleached coffee filters. Use waxed paper, as it is biodegradable, instead of foil and plastic wrap.  

Oil-Based vs Latex Paint
Oil-based paints are toxic. They cannot be thrown out in the trash, but require special "hazardous waste" handling available at only some recycling facilities. Use latex paint instead. To dispose of excess latex paint, leave the can uncovered to allow evaporation, then pull out the hardened paint and recycle the can. Never pour paint on the ground or wash brushes outside, as the runoff can contaminate groundwater.

Disposing of Expired and Unused Medicines

PENCINTA ALAM JUNE 2010
GREEN LIVING COLUMN

DISPOSING OF EXPIRED AND UNUSED MEDICINES


Expired and unused medicines sitting in our cabinets may not seem like a major environmental concern compared to, say, cars and refrigerators, but trace levels of drug residues have been found in lakes, rivers and other water sources. Medicine that ends up in our waterways harms aquatic life and may find its way back into the human water supply chain. There is also a risk that medicine in rubbish bins and landfills may be accidentally ingested by stray animals, wildlife and birds.

What can we do about unused, expired and unwanted prescription medicine? The best policy is always to REDUCE:

1. It's best to have fewer leftover medicines in the first place. If you're trying a new over-the-counter medication such as a headache reliever, buy the smallest amount possible, even if a larger size is on sale.

2. For a prescription medicine, don't hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist whether different quantities and potencies are available — you can often save money and reduce waste if they can tailor the prescription to your needs.

3. Tell your doctor not to give you a particular medicine if you know you're not going to take it.

4. Take medicine as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Don't stop taking a medicine part way through the course of treatment, unless you are having a serious adverse reaction, without first discussing it with your doctor. Even if you feel better, use up the entire prescription as directed to make sure that all the bacteria are destroyed.

5. Be aware of expiry dates and storage advice for medicines. Should it be refrigerated? Should it be kept in a cool, dark place? Failure to follow storage advice normally ends up in waste.

6. Use up your personal care products (shampoo, cleansers), vitamins and supplements rather than leave them to expire and then try to find ways to dispose of them.


Some pharmaceutical companies offer takeback programmes for their products. These programmes collect medicines in secure containers and send them to a high-temperature incinerator, which is a disposal method recommended by the World Health Organisation.

However, this programme is not widely available in Malaysia. While it would be good for us, as consumers and concerned eco-citizens, to lobby pharmaceutical companies to implement measures to take back unused and unwanted drugs, in the meantime, we still have to find ways to dispose of unwanted medicine that would cause the least harm to humans, animals and the environment:

1. Crush pills or capsules, or dissolve them in a small amount of water.

2. Mix liquid medications with an absorbent material such as kitty litter or sawdust.

3. Place the old drugs (crushed or diluted with water to prevent scavenging humans from consuming and misusing it) in a sealed plastic bag, and conceal that bag in a second plastic bag or other container, such as a plastic or glass jar. Label the container properly with the words "MEDICINE" so that the rubbish collectors can separate it for incineration.

4. For your own safety and privacy: Dispose of the prescription label separately from the drugs, and cross out personal information.

DO NOT:
1. Do not conceal discarded medicine in food. This is to prevent consumption by scavenging humans, pets or wildlife.
2. Do not give your prescription medicines to someone else.

Humans take anticonvulsants, contraceptive pills, antibiotics, antidepressants and pain relievers. Birds, fishes and frogs don't. Let's try to keep it that way.

Lower-Impact Renovations

PENCINTA ALAM FEBRUARY 2010
GREEN LIVING COLUMN

LOWER-IMPACT RENOVATIONS
By Wong Ee Lynn


The latest buzz in the residential market for home improvement enthusiasts is green living. Green renovation means creating a cleaner environment and using cost-efficient energy-saving building methods. Here are some low-impact home improvement ideas:

• Choose sustainable materials for your home finishes. Items like countertops, wall surfaces, and flooring can be sustainable. Use finishes like recycled plastic, salvaged steel, salvaged wood, bamboo and rattan.


(Photo: Kitchen countertop made of recycled plastic resin. Photo credits: Wong Ee Lynn)

• Whenever possible, salvage and reuse building materials like wooden beams, railroad sleepers, and bricks, flooring and tiles that were once part of other buildings.

• Opt for locally-mined and produced stones and tiles and locally-sourced bamboo, rattan and wood. Not only will it translate into lower shipping and transport costs, less fuel used for transportation also means lower carbon emissions.
• Opt for long-lasting materials like stone, marble and salvaged hardwood, not cheap but easily damaged materials like fibreboard. Materials that are not durable cost longer in the long run, as they will frequently have to be replaced.

• Select low-toxic paints and finishes for the interior and exterior of your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), paints, stains, and other architectural coatings produce about 9% of the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer and commercial products, making them the second-largest source of VOC emissions after automobiles.

- Alternative paints to explore:

Latex Paint:
Because they use water as the carrier rather than petroleum-based solvents, latex paints have lower VOC levels than oil-based paints. Latex paint actually contains no latex, so it won’t affect people with latex allergies.
Latex paint cleans up easily with water, so you don’t need harsh VOC-emitting solvents to work with it. It can also be “recycled” by combining leftovers. Oil paints cannot be recycled in this way.

Natural Paints:
“Natural” paints are made mostly of renewable or abundant naturally-occurring materials such as citrus oil, lime, clay, linseed oil, milk casein, and chalk. Because natural paints do not contain petroleum products, they emit few, if any, of the EPA-listed VOCs.

• Install low-flush or dual flush toilets to conserve water usage. Additionally, you can also install aerated faucets for sinks and showers to provide a more satisfying wash with less water.

• Conduct an energy audit by doing an inspection of your house and looking for any areas that might be letting in too much solar heat in the daytime. By installing awnings and bamboo blinds, you save on air-conditioning bills and reduce indoor heat. See if there is a non-profit organisation in your area, like CETDEM (www.cetdem.org.my), providing green building services that will conduct an energy audit for you for a small fee, or offer advice for free.

Alternatively, look up green tips on the websites of environmental NGOs to find out how to reduce your home energy usage. The MNS website carries tips on how to reduce indoor heat: http://www.mns.my/artsig.php?aid=230

• Look at the product labels. The Green Seal (www.greenseal.org) logo means products have low levels of volatile organic compounds. The Forest Stewardship Council helps promote responsible forestry standards, therefore, look for their label on lumber products.

Collection of Used Batteries for Recycling

PENCINTA ALAM MARCH 2009
GREEN LIVING COLUMN

COLLECTION OF USED BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING
By Wong Ee Lynn


Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. In landfills, heavy metals have the potential to leach slowly into soil, groundwater or surface water. When incinerated, some heavy metals such as mercury may vaporize and escape into the air, and cadmium and lead may end up in the ash.

Recycling batteries keeps heavy metals out of the soil, water and air, and saves resources because the metals and plastics recovered can be used in making new batteries.

Used batteries are classified as ‘scheduled waste’ due to the harm they could cause to the environment and to human health. There are currently very few facilities in Malaysia that collect used batteries for recycling, and batteries should never be disposed of in normal recycling bins (for paper, glass, plastic and metals) or in charity bins.

Below is a list of the most common batteries and how you should dispose of them:

Automobile Batteries (Lead-Acid Batteries)

These are the most widely recycled batteries as almost every retailer of automobile batteries (auto workshops, battery shops) will collect or buy back used batteries. Reclaimers separate the plastic from the lead and both materials are reprocessed and recycled by battery manufacturers and other industries. A typical automobile battery is made up of 60%-80% recycled lead and plastic.

Cellular Phone Batteries

Most rechargeable cellular phone batteries are small sealed lead acid batteries, and the rest are nickel-cadmium batteries. Fortunately for us, most cellular phone service centres for major cell phone manufacturers/companies (Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Siemens) provide bins for the collection of used or damaged cell phone batteries. To find out where to send the used batteries of your phone’s particular make or model, visit the website of the particular cell phone manufacturer and follow the public relations and environmental standards links. Failing that, e-mail the Customer Service Department of the phone manufacturer with your query.


Household Dry Cell Batteries

Household dry cell batteries would include alkaline, carbon-zinc, mercuric-oxide, silver-oxide, zinc-air and lithium batteries, both rechargeable and non-rechargeable. Green Living has made inquiries with Alam Flora and was instructed to deal directly with Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd, which collects, deals with and recycles scheduled wastes in Malaysia. Green Living has made arrangements with Kualiti Alam for the collection of household batteries.



Members are encouraged to set aside all their used household batteries and store them in a dry, safe place, away from water, direct sunlight, flammable materials, children and animals (A lidded jar or container is a good start) and bring them to the MNS Office in Jalan Kelantan, where Green Living has provided a secure bin for the collection of batteries.

At the same time, Green Living wishes to remind everyone that reducing is always a better option than recycling. To reduce your household’s use and disposal of batteries, please heed the following:

1. Buy fewer battery-operated gadgets and gifts. Try to make sure your next gift to someone isn’t a cellular phone, Game Boy, remote controlled car or some other unnecessarily battery-powered device.
2. Buy solar-powered or dynamo-powered gadgets (flashlights, calculators, watches) whenever available. This could also save you money in the long run.
3. Always opt for rechargeable batteries rather than batteries you have to replace.
4. Learn to take proper care of your battery-powered devices (laptops, cell phones, digital cameras) to prevent damage to batteries and devices caused by charging for too long or improperly.
5. Whenever available, use ‘hybrid’ batteries such as rechargeable nickel metal hybrid (NiMH), as they are longer lasting, less toxic and will not discharge quickly when left idle, unlike rechargeable batteries using older technology.

Light Bulb Collection and Recycling

PENCINTA ALAM FEBRUARY 2009: GREEN LIVING COLUMN

LIGHT BULB COLLECTION AND RECYCLING
By Wong Ee Lynn


WHY ARE LIGHT BULBS CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS WASTE?

Fluorescent light bulbs, although energy-efficient, contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and other fluorescent light bulbs are categorized as hazardous waste, and if discarded in the trash, may break and cause mercury to be released into the environment.

Once in the environment, mercury can be converted to an organic form that accumulates in living organisms and contaminates the food chain. To prevent this, light bulbs should be taken to a recycler before they break. Recyclers can recover the mercury and other components such as glass, phosphor and aluminium for reuse.

If your local authority offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the light bulb(s) in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. However, if your municipality incinerates its garbage, contact your local authority instead for other household hazardous waste collection options. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or tube or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.


WHERE IN THE KLANG VALLEY CAN I SEND LIGHT BULBS FOR RECYCLING?



For all of us living in the Klang Valley, Ikea (at No.2 Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya) provides a used lightbulb collection service at the Lower Ground Floor, right outside the checkout counters, to the left of the wrapping counter. Just deposit your used light bulbs in the bins provided. If the bulb is broken, put it in a can or jar with a lid before putting it in the bin. Ikea engages the services of a waste management contractor that will crush all used bulbs using a 'bulb eater' with activated carbon filters that capture and neutralise the mercury vapours released from the bulbs during the crushing process. The crushed bulbs and filters are then disposed of in a secure landfill in Bukit Nenas, Seremban.

We at the Malaysian Nature Society thank Ikea for this socially and environmnetally responsible initiative.




WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE LIGHT BULB COLLECTION AND RECYCLING SERVICES?

As environmentalists, we can try to lobby the government, the electronics and lighting industry and electronics retailers to:
- Reduce the mercury content in fluorescent lighting products;
- Start a ‘manufacturer take-back’ policy that requires manufacturers to accept and recycle their own products at the end of the products’ useful lives; and
- Set up more collection points for hazardous household waste such as light bulbs and batteries.