I’ve heard a lot of “bad news” about recycling efforts. You probably have, too. I was sad to hear that curbside efforts to recycle plastic, paper, and aluminum often result in failure. Depending on your local recycling systems, much of what we think gets recycled, actually goes to landfills.

A while ago, I reported on a great project, Tops to Bottoms, that turned plastic bottle caps into park benches. Just this week I learned of two entrepreneurial efforts that are making a huge difference. Capitalism that fights climate change. What could be more American? Even if some of it happens in another country.

Recycled Billboards

Have you ever wondered what happens to the sheets of materials that wrap around billboards? To tell the truth, I never thought about it. I guess I’ve been too busy marveling at how quickly a billboard can change. Remember when it took days to paint a billboard, and the billboard stayed for a long, long time? Now a billboard changes, on average, every three months. Where does all that mildew-proof, fade-proof, weather-resistant, heavy-duty vinyl go?

Well, two California surfers started making surfboard totes out of colorful material. From there, the brother, Eric and Alec Avedisian’s business blossomed. Now, you can buy almost any kind of tote made from old billboard vinyl. Each is unique in appearance.

Oh my! Think of the landfill space saved!

Recycled Hair

My neighbor gets hair from a local salon to sprinkle in her flower beds. She swears it keeps the deer from destroying her tulips. Next spring, I’m getting on board that train.

Did you know that hair can absorb oil and hydrocarbons? All across Belgium, hairstylists are collecting hair to be repurposed rather than thrown in the trash.

Project Co-founder Patrick Janssen, explaining that 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) of hair can absorb 7-8 litres (1.8-2.1 U.S. gallons) of oil and hydrocarbons, said the mats can be placed in drains to soak up pollution in water before it reaches a river.

Reuters

What an elegent solution. There’s plenty of hair locally to sustain his mat-making business, so it’s also an environmentally ethical solution to a local problem.

I decided this year that Friday's will be a bit of a potpouri.  Some good news, some interviews, some things to make you smile. I hope you enjoyed this bit of good news.  

If you know anyone you'd like to see highlighted here, send me an email or leave a comment below.  I love getting to know people.  Especially nice people.