Interview: SMART WASTE

Earlier this month, I wrote a post about Smart Waste, which is a non-profit Lebanese association that is devoted to the advancement of environmental matters in an interesting approach, by combining creativity to waste management. I wanted to delve into more detail to learn more about this association, so I interviewed Soha Atallah and Ms. Nell Abou Ghazale, the founders and brains behind this wonderful, green organisation.

• Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us your role in the association?

I am Soha Atallah, LibanPack Director and National Coordinator of UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization). I have founded Smart Waste with Ms. Nell Abou Ghazale who also works with me at LibanPack, the Lebanese Packaging Center. Smart Waste is a personal initiative with Nell and it is completely independent from LibanPack and has other objectives which are mainly dedicated to the advancement of environmental issues, primarily that of increasing awareness about the detrimental impact of products at the end of their life cycle on the environment.

• How did the idea of SMART WASTE come about and how was the association created?

We have difficulty in throwing solid waste, and the idea started as a personal hobby of creating useful objects out of solid waste. Actually we have been thinking of creating items and objects made out of recycled materials and waste since a long time ago and the designs were actually ready in our heads and they were just waiting to be implemented, especially since some of our furniture made of recycled materials are not easy to implement and require specialty skills. Therefore, when we got the opportunity to participate as Smart Waste in the Garden Show Exhibition we decided to bring Smart Waste to life and we have implemented the design and showcased them in the exhibition. We were very happy that the people liked our ideas and were so enthusiastic of supporting our mission for preserving the environment.

Some of the products created by Smart Waste

• How does SMART WASTE operate exactly?

Smart Waste collects dying products that would otherwise end up in our landfills or in nature and give them a new life by transforming them into high-end objects. Besides being creative and user-friendly, each piece is carefully crafted by Smart Waste and is unique.

We are actually recycling metal, wood, glass and paper. In the future, we will work hand in hand with other structures who work towards the same goals, on creating campaigns in schools and other youth organizations, to raise awareness on recycling and reusing the daily waste produced in Lebanon. We have suppliers of raw material who provide us with the items we need for the collections we want to create. Sukleen is one of them.

Another product by Smart Waste

• Where are you exactly located?

For the time being we don't have a shop or a showroom at the moment; we are operating online through our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/smartwastelb and our website: www.smartwastelb.com. We can be reached by phone on 03 446 029 and 03 828 141. We are also participating in exhibitions such as the Garden Show and we will also participate in the Jardins de Mazaar Exhibition that will take place in Faraya from 14-19 August 2012.

• How many members do you currently have?

Our Association is still very young so at the moment we are only 4 persons.

• Can anybody join the association and if yes, how?

Yes our NGO is open for membership and this will be possible as soon as we finalize the full papers for registration at the Lebanese Government.

• The Main Objectives of Smart Waste are: 

1) Reuse Waste: By combining creativity to waste management and the "Recycle, Reuse and Reduce" concept, Smart Waste rethinks waste as raw material, for the creation of new and attractive products with an added value linked to their identity.

2) Protect our environment: Smart Waste prolongs the life of products that would otherwise be disposed if in nature at the end of their life cycle, and thus initiate a momentum towards the protection of the environment. 

3) Find Sources of Income: Smart Waste also contributes to the generation of income to unemployed individuals tasked to execute projects under the large umbrella of Recycling.

Soha Atallah wearing one of their funky creations!

Ms. Nell Abou Ghazale surrounded by Smart Waste items that they have created!

For more pictures, kindly check their facebook page.

I'd like to thank Soha and Ms. Nell for the time they have taken to answer my questions and what they have accomplished so far really is intriguing. This green approach is actually the first that I have heard of in Lebanon and is a great example for people to learn from. I wish you the best of luck in expanding your association and the work you do, and I look forward to hearing about Smart Waste again in the near future to see what more will be achieved!


And I would like to wish you all a peaceful and blessed Ramadan!!

Jazi xxx    

Green Tip of the Day: Get Yourself a Disposable Car Trash Bag

It's a sad thing to admit, but many drivers have the tendency to carelessly throw litter from their cars onto the streets, leading to roadside pollution.Even if you don't have this habit (thankfully), then I'm sure it gets annoying how much random litter can gather in your car, and let's be honest here, the small ashtray is not enough to hold the used tissues or snack wrappers.  That is why, it important to invest in a disposable car trash bag. It is cleaner, greener and much more practical. Also, let's not forget that disposable trash bags in cars will most definitely reduce the amount of waste on the roads, leading to a healthier street environment for all.

Below is the disposable car trash bag that I use for the house cars. It is the Be Clean Disposable Car Trash Bag, and it can be purchased at Cozmo for 1.250 JD with 3 trash bags in each pack.

The different options for attaching the trash bag to the interior of the car.

How the Be Clean disposable trash bag looks like once out of the pack.

I prefer attaching the bag to the glove compartment... It's the most practical option!

Here's another less practical, but still possible option of attaching the bag to the gear shift.

I found another very useful car trash bag with disposable liners on Amazon. Check it out here.

Hope you all consider this tip and start greening your not so eco-friendly cars with a disposable trash bag!

Anoud x

ALL IMAGES BELONG TO GREEN EVE/ ANOUD AL-FAWWAZ.

Lebanon: A Smart Approach to Recycling Waste

I have always been very curious to know what Lebanon is doing in terms of environmental sustainability and if the country is involved in any means of conservation and preservation. This is because I am half Lebanese and although I have lived in Dubai my entire life, I do visit Lebanon almost every summer.

Lebanon is made up of beautiful mountain landscapes, coasts and golden beaches. It is rich in nature and is a feast for the eyes, and so there is much to preserve in this country. This is where my curiosity stems from.

I was very delighted to come across SMART WASTE, which is a non-profit Lebanese association that is devoted to the advancement of environmental matters in an interesting approach, by combining creativity to waste management. The association particularly renders recycled solid waste into useful items, art and objects. So, when the products are at the disposal stage of their value chain, SMART WASTE, through smart and inventive solutions, reconsiders the waste as a raw material to create new and attractive products.

This is what I call Creative Sustainability!

For more information about SMART WASTE and to see the innovative products they have created, you can visit:

Their website: http://smartwastelb.com

Their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/smartwastelb

Very proud to see that my country is taking steps towards preserving it’s environment, for it’s beauty should not be wasted and withered.

Jazi xxx

Earth Hour 2012: What's your challenge?

Make your dare or accept a challenge now to help save the planet. Click here.


Anoud x

Arsenal's Eco-Friendly 125th Anniversary Away Kit

It's no secret I LOVE Arsenal FC and I am, despite their recent disappointing perfomances, a loyal fan, for better or for worse. Well, now I have another reason to support the English team, they've gone eco-friendly! Following in the steps of Barcelona, the new Arsenal away kit, their 125th anniversary away kit to be more specific, is made out of recycled plastic bottles!

It's definitely different than their usual kits, but I do like it for a change. Check out the picture & video below...

 




What do you think? Eco-friendly kits are surely becoming a trend in football, and we couldn't be any happier about it!

Anoud xx

Image: Arsenal.com

Green Is Sexy

It surely is!

'green is sexy' is a website started by three friends: Megan, Didi, & Rachel (as in THE beautiful actress Rachel McAdams) who discovered that making a great impact on the environment was as simple as sharing easy tips on how to live a greener and more sustainable lifestyle. 'Small changes: Big impact.'

'green is sexy' is very useful, informative and fun! The tips are separated into different categories: for your home, out & about, for the girls, for the boys, special occasions, for laughs, on the road, yard & garden, entertaining, workplace, & money savers. Simple, right? There's literally a tip for everyone for whatever interest :)
Make sure you give them a visit, make the most out of the tips, and join their community!


So to conclude, why is green sexy?

'Because being informed is sexy. Being responsible is sexy. Being eco-friendly is sexy. Making a difference is sexy. Green is sexy.'

Keep it sexy xx

Anoud :)

 
Image: greenissexy.org

Green Efforts

Walking around we spotted this in front of a construction site. Check out how POCHIN CONTRACTORS LTD aim to minimise the environmental impact of their site.

Great,

Green Eve x


ALL IMAGES BELONG TO GREEN EVE.

Green Eve Appreciates

Rio Ferdinand

The Manchester United and England defender is challenging himself to use energy more efficiently and becoming more 'energy fit'. He explains. "I'm keen to learn more about how I can save energy at home." He goes on to admit that he doesn't know much about efficiency but he is determined, with the help of the UK's largest energy company E.ON, to get himself energy fit. He plans on using advanced technology to help him use energy more efficiently like installing solar panels in his house.

To read all what Rio has to say about this click here.
 
What a great challenge to take on! Glad he recognises the importance of such changes and better use of energy!


Anoud xo


Images: facup.eonenergyfit.com, sevensidedcube.net
 

Exams

Hey guys! I know we've been a bit lazy these past few days but our holidays have finished and now it's time for exams... We've got a few days to study for our Urban and Environmental Economics and Cities and Society exams so we've been spending our days at the library trying to cover all the material. Obviously we wont be blogging as often but we'll be back as soon as we're done :) xx

Here are a few pics that we took while at the library, enjoy!

The University of Manchester is definitely green and we love it :) This is the coffee that they use!

New favourite water! It gets filled infront of you in the vending machine :)

Love the idea behind it!

Good luck to all those who have finals :)

Love,

Green Eve xx

Green Tip of the Day

Use both sides of a paper!

How simple and direct is this tip? Always aim to decrease your use of paper and take advantage of every bit of it. If you have a printer with the double sided print option then be sure to use it. This will save you half the amount of paper that you usually use. Of course, make sure it really is necessary to print; if there is no need for a hard copy and a soft copy is just as good then simply don't print and save some paper.

P.S. Don't forget to recycle once you're done with the paper :)




Love,


Anoud


Image from iconarchive.com

A Day in Manchester

I absolutely love Manchester during the holiday season. From the Christmas market and the street decorations, to the wonderful atmosphere, it is so beautiful and people are all out and about despite the extreme cold. Today me and Jazi went to do some last minute shopping before heading back home in a few days (eeek!!), and thankfully I had my camera stashed somewhere in  my bag. We went to Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens, and then decided to check out the 'greenest office building in Manchester' and show it to you all. So here we go:


Ok first off, as we were walking through Market Street, we spotted a little stand with very disturbing pictures of tortured animals and a sign that said 'Sign the Petition'. After asking about the cause and reading about the horrible stories, we immediately signed it. Basically it is a petition to call on the Home Secretary to close down the Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) animal testing lab. It is Europe's largest and has 70,000 animals imprisoned with experiments on horses, donkeys and deer. How horrible is it that EVERYDAY 500 animals die inside HLS? So please, if you are living in Manchester,  make sure you head down to Market Street and sign the petition! And for everyone else, please check out their facebook group here. Unfortunately, their online petition has now closed, but do check out the support it got and other animal-related petitions here.

 

Jazi signing the petition.

And then it was off to the beautiful Piccadilly Gradens:

 

 

Street performers on Market Street:

 

Random person roaming the market, wanted to be photographed :)

And finally, introducing Manchester's greenest building: The Number One First Street

Below is the Number One building, which is part of the 20-acre First Street scheme that is aimed at extending the heart of Manchester city!  The project is going to transform Manchester city centre with modern and GREEN boulevards that cater to residents, employees, and visitors as well.

On June 1, 2010 Manchester City Council relocated to Number One.

The Number One building & behind it home, Parkway Gate :)

The 'Green' Scale, with A being the most green and G being the least. Number one is an excellent B Green :)
 

 

With the beautifully lit reindeers in front of Number One.

JAZI♥

Alyazia again :)

xoxo,

Anoud♥


ALL IMAGES BELONG TO GREEN EVE. 

Green Tip of the Day

Recycle as much as you can!

This is one of the most obvious tips to going green. It has never been made easier than now with the emphasis of recycling in many places, not only through providing recycling bins, but also through informing you of what items can be recycled. So, if you ever see the recycling logo on a box, paper bag, bottle, etc... make sure you do recycle it. Also, if you have unwanted items, make good use of them by recycling them.

We are very proud to be part of the University of Manchester because of its emphasis on preserving the environment and the initiatives it takes to promote this cause. Throughout the campus, there are several recycling stations all over, with separate bins for each category of waste: cans, papers, plastic bottles, and general waste as shown below in the pictures.

 

 

Live, Love, Laugh... & Recycle!


Green Eve ♥