Eric DesRoberts continues his monthly series of facts and tidbits he’s uncovered during his research to better understand products and packaging. You can also check out his past Fun Facts here.
1. In 2011, Call2Recycle collected more than 7.6 million pounds of rechargeable batteries from small electronics, tools, and mobile devices. This figure includes nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, and small sealed lead acid batteries under 11 lbs. This equates to nearly 122 million AA batteries… that’s a lot of channel surfing.
2. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are pollutants that have been shown to negatively impact wildlife and humans. According to the FDA, over 95% of dioxin exposure comes from the consumption of animal fats.
3. Over 1,500 US power plants reported 2,324 MMT CO2E emissions in 2010. This information is mapped and compared to emissions from refineries, metals, minerals, and pulp and paper sectors in an interactive info graphic produced by the EPA.
4. Fryer oil is currently selling at $0.40/pound and is often purchased from restaurants to be processed into biofuels or animal feed. As it turns out, $0.40 is the price that makes used grease appealing to thieves and causing problems for local authorities. Without political support for corn-based ethanol, what should we expect for the future of biofuels?
5. According to a recent report from the National Research Council, roughly 12 billion gallons of municipal wastewater effluent is released into an ocean or estuary daily. The report emphasizes municipal wastewater reuse, and recognizes the potential to increase water availability.
