environmental services
The EPA, or the US environmental police, works in agreement with other world organizations to create a better world with less pollution. The laws regarding pollution need to be more strict, with more fines levied against those who choose not to abide. You can do your part by demanding tougher laws for industries that are repeatedly caught dumping hazardous waste into the environment.

Perhaps the greatest contact the American citizen has with the environmental protection agency is the recycling program found in local cities and towns. There are laws governing the illegal dumping of hazardous waste into the environment. They push for corporations and businesses to join a recycling program to benefit the environment and serve as an example, with regard to the serious nature of pollution and overflowing landfills.

solid waste management
The Environmental Protection Agency covers endangered species, as well as air, water, land and hazardous waste pollution. They help to protect the environment in more ways that you could possibly think one agency is capable of doing but they manage to get it done. Without this agency regulating the industry and helping people get into a recycling bins program, this country would be in an appalling condition.

There is no denying the importance of the environmental protection laws in all industrialized nations. It is through their diligent efforts that the water, air and soil are protected. Consider it your civic duty to help start a recycling program in your area and teaching others that big changes start with the efforts of all concerned.

You will be doing your part to ensure that more people join the revolution in garbage recycling because every little bit counts when it comes to saving our environment.

It went to the point that human beings lived on a spaceship for a couple of decades because earth became “unliveable”. Who wants that?

The fall of the Lehman company we could not do anything about but we can do something about Global Warming ]]> http://chicagolawncompany.com/2008/09/let-us-do-something-about-global-warming/feed/ 0 http://chicagolawncompany.com/2008/09/reuse-waste-with-reuse-recycle-programs/ http://chicagolawncompany.com/2008/09/reuse-waste-with-reuse-recycle-programs/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:35:02 +0000 New Pro http://chicagolawncompany.com/2008/09/reuse-waste-with-reuse-recycle-programs/ If you do not engage in a recycling program, then shame on you. This is your home. It is where you eat, sleep, breathe and play each day. Every small step towards reducing the amount of garbage in our landfills, is a step in the right direction to preserving the environment.

recycling
Global warming is a very real threat to the preservation of this planet. You have probably seen television ads focusing on new hybrid vehicles that can help save the environment by producing less toxic byproducts from the burning of fossil fuels.

Does the burning of trash cross your mind as ways you can help save the environment? Our landfills are becoming overflowing with hazardous waste and other products that are not biodegradable. Plastic water bottles, disposable diapers and styrofoam containers, to name a few, are all becoming huge problems in most areas of the world.

If you are going to use recycling program, then you will need to make sure the recyclables go into the appropriate destination containers. Plastics, glass, aluminum cans and paper products will each have a separate container. You should also consider making a compost if you live in a house that has a yard, that will utilize any yard trimmings and left over food waste.

recycling services
If every person did their part to help combat overflowing landfills, then we could reduce our waste by fifty percent. That is half the amount going into landfills today. Perhaps there will come a time when we no longer have to continuously find new places to bury our waste.

Plastics would be reused. Organic materials would be turned back into the soil to enrich the ground for crops. It is a lovely sentiment and thought but not enough people are doing their part to help make this a cleaner world.

The need for more aggressive garbage recycling programs is pressing. If we do not take action to prevent the overfilling of landfills we could find ourselves in a world of hurt. Local sanitation programs need individuals to help by recycling their materials at home. Utilize as many recycled products as you can.

garbage recycling
The more recycled materials you purchase, such as benches, rubber mats and notebook paper, the more incentive to keep on with the trend to recycle the materials you already have used in your home.

Basic Considerations For Watering Your Lawn

1) Adjust sprinklers to water only grass areas. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I see homeowners with sprinklers that are throwing more water into the street than into the turf.
2) Mow grass to a height of 2 to 3 inches. Taller grass shades the roots and soil surface and helps reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. When in doubt, raise your lawn mower wheels to the highest setting.
3) Use sprinklers that disperse large drops low to the ground vs. high and misty sprays. Impact or impulse sprinklers are the best option.
4) Utilize quality water hoses with fittings that do not leak and waste water.

When to Water Your Turf

• 1) About one inch of water, twice per week (including rainfall) is adequate for maintaining a healthy lawn. Use a can or rain gauge to help determine the amount of water applied each time.
• 2) Water on a consistent basis in the summer. Keep your lawn on a schedule whenever possible.
• 3) A good soaking twice a week is better than watering lightly every day. Allowing the soil to dry between watering will allow the roots to grow to greater depths and help make turf more drought tolerant.
• 4) Water during the cool part of the day to minimize water lost to evaporation. Early morning hours prior to 9AM are the best. I tell folks to start their sprinklers when they get up for work (assuming they do not have an in-ground irrigation system), and shut them off on their way out the door. This usually means 1 solid hour has been utilized and equates to about an inch on the ground.
• 5) Avoid watering during midday hours when it is hot and sunny to prevent scalding the
• turf.
• 6) Watering at night is not recommended because the lawn stays wet for a long period in the night air which can bring disease and affect the health of your lawn.

When Watering Restrictions Hamper Your Irrigation

Township or city watering restrictions are sometimes imposed due to limited treatment capacity or reduced water supplies. Here are a few ideas in the event severe lawn watering restrictions are needed in your area.
1) Water less frequently, but gradually reduce the amount of water you give your lawn. This will help reduce stress and condition the turf if a complete ban on lawn watering becomes necessary.
2) Reduce the amount of foot traffic allowed on the lawn as much as possible. Let the kids play ball at the public park and not in your dried-out back lawn.
3) Allow the grass to grow longer to reduce moisture loss from the soil. You should also mulch your clippings so natural moisture is returned to the lawn.

Water conservation does not mean your lawn turns to straw and dies, it just means you have to educate yourself and follow a few simple guidelines and follow them strictly for the good of your lawn, and the environment.

But there is one issue that lawn pros and environmentalists come together and agree on, and that is that bagged “Weed and Feed” products are NOT conducive to healthy lawns or our environment.

I have previously written about pesticides, lawns and our environment, but want to reiterate some of the key points for you here as we near the fall season.

Why Weed-Feed Is Bad for the Environment

1. Bags of Weed-n-Feed sold to homeowners contain an over-abundance of nitrogen which detroys the soil and pushes too much top growth. They most normally contain “quick release” fertilizers that create fast greening, but no sustainable long term benefit to the turf.
2. Many experts will tell you that phosphorous leaching into groundwater is the big problem with these bagged products. And while I am not a fan of dumping mass amounts of anything on the lawn, I believe if homeowners and pros alike would follow labeling instructions, they are not endangering our groundwater or lakes. The key is FOLLOWING the DIRECTIONS on the bag! (I included this one in the interest of covering all bases!)
3. A granular weed-n-feed product like popular ‘4-step’ products contain herbicide and fertilizer in one convenient bag: just dump in your spreader, set the release rate, and lay it down…easy! The problem is that you are hurling massive amounts of granular weed killers everywhere weather there are weeds there or not. In addition, much of this granular mix is left on driveways and sidewalks where it runs off into the street and down the sewer drain.

It doesn’t make sense to throw weed killer in areas of the lawn where there are no weeds! What’s more, while the weed control does not selectively kill the grass plants, it still puts heavy stress and pressure on them and can weaken them over time.

What to do Instead of Using Weed-Feed

I recommend a balanced approach that utilizes target weed control as needed with the eventual goal of eliminating it completely.

This is accomplished by spot-spraying weeds using a garden pump sprayer with liquid weed control mixed with water (according to label instructions). In some cases, a blanket application of liquid weed killer may be needed, but over time, this will be reduced until the weed problem is manageable by good old fashioned “pulling” by hand. (My own lawn is now managed by just hand pulling of weeds)

In addition to spot-spraying of weeds, I recommend slow-release organic or semi-organic (called ‘bridge’ products or ‘hybrid’) lawn fertilizers. These products will add nutrients to the soil without destroying it in the process. They also support healthy soil biotics which are the foundation of healthy turf. Organics do need heat in order to break down, so use organic fertilizers in later spring and early fall.

On a final note: it’s not a good idea to completely “refuse to use pesticides” in your lawn if you indeed do have a major weed problem.

Think about this: if your weeds go to seed every year and spread out to all the neighbors on your block, and they do not share the same environmental devotion as you, won’t you be indirectly causing them to put down greater amounts of pesticides every year? Your weeds will continue breeding in their lawns, and they will soak them with more weed killer; year after year! Think about that.

As I always say, “Balance is the key.” When Mother Nature operates in extremes (hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes), people and the environment are damaged, but when she sees fit to offer us balanced conditions (warm breezes, light rains, sunny days), everyone is happy. Which attitude should we take?