Natural Capitalism - Sarasota

"We ought to have something like this in Sarasota!" was the subject line of an email a friend recently sent me about this great organization in Fort Lauderdale ...

Trash to Treasure

is a non-profit organization that has a mission to locate clean, re-usable materials (called “clean scrap”) and redistribute these items as valuable educational and artistic resources. These items are typically discarded by businesses and households. In the minds and hands of creative individuals – teachers, artists and children – these “clean scraps” take on new life, beneficial to both children’s learning processes and the environment.

The Blacksmith Institute has published a list of the World's Worst Polluted Places 2006 Good places to not live near ...

They also highlight success stories

If you have never been it is well worth the trip... you will see where your garbage goes..

Tuesday Oct. 17
Wed Oct. 29
Wed Nov. 1

What: Tours of Sarasota County landfill, hazardous waste and recycling plants

When: 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Where: Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota

Thanks to greenerMiami I just found Planet Hazard its just wonderful what geeks are doing with google maps... here is a map of the Top Ten Polluters in Sarasota County, Florida

If you are a list person and like chemical names check this out Criteria Air Pollutants in Sarasota County, Florida

 

We spent time on February 22, 2006 during the Natural Capitalism Seminar developing ideas on the following two topics: 

• 1) Ideas for implementing natural capitalism in communities
• 2) Ideas for implementing natural capitalism in businesses

 

Waste/reuse/recycling Ideas

• Incentives for locally-harvested wood to be provided for local markets (current method for fire prevention = trees removed and burned)
• Downed trees as a resource
• Bacteria digester for ethanol
• Re-building waste utilization, i.e.