Judy Dearden, President
We are thankful that once again we were asked to participate in the Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital’s Earth Day Celebration in the atrium in May. There were over 475 attendees and many HHGTF members available to answer questions and give advice on “Avoiding Toxins in Our Everyday Lives”. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time for this wonderful event!
REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS
As we try to eliminate single-use plastics from our lives, one way to do that would be to invest in reusable, washable produce bags. If you shop at Heinen’s, look for their display of reusable bags. Then take your reusable shopping bags whenever you go shopping. Each time you say NO to plastics, you say YES to a healthy planet!
AVOIDING TOXINS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES
Just the other day, I heard again, someone say, “People just don’t know..” They were referring to many of the environmental issues we face today, from the plastic pollution in the waters around the world that are killing the marine life, chemicals such as Roundup that is in our food, the plastic particles in the air we breathe, and the toxic chemicals in our everyday cleaning and personal care products. Thousands of chemicals are used in everyday products, in our water, our food and in the air, we breathe. It’s the chemical soup of modern life and it’s virtually impossible to escape them. A large proportion of these chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors. They mimic our hormones and disrupt virtually every aspect of human health, beginning at our most vulnerable time, in the womb. Experts believe the rise in the use of industrial chemicals is linked to issues like lower IQ, cancer, and reproductive problems. No matter how busy we are in our lives, we must all pay attention. Read the articles and watch the TV episodes dealing with all the many types of toxins and pollution. Read labels on products and educate yourself on what you should try to avoid. A great source of information about the safety of products is the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org). The EWG is a non-profit, American Activist organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants, and corporate accountability. Attend presentations given on environmental issues such as those hosted by the Highland Heights Green Task Force.
ALKALINE BATTERY RECYCLING
Alkaline batteries are 100% recyclable. Through a mechanical separation process, the components are separated into three end products. All of these products are put back into the marketplace for reuse.
Please consider recycling your single-use AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries at one of the collection boxes at the following locations: City Hall, JT Highland Auto, and the Wildcat Fitness Facility at Mayfield High School. ONLY ALKALINE BATTERIES CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THESE LOCATIONS FOR RECYCLING.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- July 20 – Visit our table at the Highland Hts. Community Day 12-6:00
- Aug 16 – Field Trip—City of Euclid Wastewater Treatment Plant, call 440-646-9820 for time
- Sept. 4 – Gazebo Party w/50-50 raffle, potluck 6:30 p.m. This is a ZERO WASTE EVENT.
- Oct. 2 – Movie and Discussion Night – 6:00 p.m., Movie at 7:00 p.m. – Highland Hts. Community Park Pole Barn -Documentary Movie on the toxins in our lives.
- Nov. 6 – Business Meeting – Election of Officers Community Center – 7:00 p.m.
Thank you to all for continuing to be interested in our shared environment and how to keep it and ourselves healthy. Please visit www.highlandhtsgreen.com or email hhgreentaskforce@yahoo.com
or call Judy Dearden @ 440-646-9820 for more information.