“The disappearing nutrient”

An interesting article in Nature says that we’re running out of phosphate across the world.  Phosphate is a very critical nutrient that’s required for plant growth and is usually mined in some parts of the world.  Apparently, there’s less than 50 years worth of high quality phosphate available that could be mined.  Running out could lead to a massive disaster as food production would have to increase with the increasing population.  Some are considering recovering phosphates from animal waste – but that’s still a long a way to go.

Recycled drinking water?

Most of you are aware of the current severe drought situation in southeastern US. A lot of people in the southwestern US have been experiencing the drought for several years now. Some of these areas have their groundwater and surface water resources on the verge of exhaustion. In a recent study, researchers from Sand Diego have calculated that Lake Mead, which impounds the Colorado River near Las Vegas and supplies drinking water to most of Arizona and Nevada, could go dry in 13 years if the current climate change trend and indiscriminate use of water continues. Incidentally, these are some of the fastest growing regions in the US as well.When all fresh drinking water runs out, what will we turn to? There are already plans afoot to turn your own toilet waste into drinking water! Orange county in California approved a plan last year to recycle sewage into drinking water (link, link). It’s not as bad as it sounds – this recycled water may be fairly safe to drink. Eventually, we’ll face similar shortages of fresh water right here in in our neighborhood (think Atlanta). Will you be prepared to drink out of your toilet (not literally)? What do you think will lead to such shortages? Can we learn any lessons from the problems in the Southwest?

Wipe out Wireless Waste

Here’s a follow-up on what to do with your old cell phones:

Subject: INFO: Wipe out Wireless Waste

Keep Charleston Beautiful’s first annual Cell Phone Recycling drive, Wipe Out Wireless Waste:

Each year, Americans retire an estimated 130 million cell phones, of which only 10% are recycled or reused. These small electronic devices are extremely harmful to the environment because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. When not properly disposed of, these chemicals are absorbed by the soil and are washed into the ground water.

In order to reduce the amount of toxins entering our environment, Keep Charleston Beautiful (KCB) will be sponsoring a cell-phone recycling campaign during the month of January.

Bins are located at the following locations:

- Blackbaud
- Bank of America locations (all over Charleston)
- Earth Fare (Folly Rd)
- Benn and Jerry’s (Market)
- Rising High (E. Bay)
- Park Services (823 meeting St)

You can drop off:

- Cell Phones
- Chargers
- Phone accessories

Remember to:

- Remove your SIM card
- Clean phone memory

If you have any questions call Jenn Scales at 965-4082

***

Jennifer Scales
Coordinator, Clean City Clara Program
823 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29403
843.965.4082

"The Afterlife of Cellphones"

Some of us crave the latest/greatest cellphone that catches our eye. And when we do buy the new phone, often we throw the old phone away. Do you ever wonder what happens to your old cellphone that’s been thrown away? Now re-imagine this case with your old computer or your old MP3 player or another of your old electronic gadget that you replaced recently.

A lot of this “E-waste” is being shipped abroad, because we don’t have the space to keep it here! Read the following interesting articles and let us know what you think.

NYTimes, AlterNet, & GreenPeace.