It was Earth Day 1993 when President Bill Clinton launched his ambitious "greening the White House" project. That effort saved more than $1.4 million in its first six years, largely from improvements in lighting, heating, air conditioning, insulation, water sprinklers and other measures.

During George W. Bush's two terms, workers installed three solar systems, including a thermal setup on the pool cabana that heats water for the pool and showers, and photovoltaic panels atop a maintenance shed that supplement the mansion's electrical supply. Bush also made a big push to recycle office paper, although the overall go-green effort lost momentum during his tenure, according to many outside observers.

President Barback Obama promised before he took office that he wanted to sit down with White House staff to evaluate what could be done to conserve energy in a 132-room behemoth of a mansion/office that leaves an EEE-sized carbon footprint.

The first-family took action to set an eco-example for the nation. First lady Michelle Obama planted and currently harvests an organic herb and vegetable garden on the South Lawn. The Obamas have installed an environmentally friendly wooden swing set for their children on the White House grounds. Cushioning underfoot is made from recycled rubber tires.

To aid in this effort, the GSA and the White House purchased Fibrex Group Envirodesign Heritage recycled plastic lumber picnic tables. Each of these picnic tables is made from 4,980 recycled plastic milk jugs. These durable and maintenance-free tables were placed in seating areas behind the White House for faculty and staff members to enjoy during their coffee, lunch or free time breaks. Envirodesign benches and picnic tables will never rot, crack or splinter and will stay beautiful for years to come.

Please send us a quote request or give us a ring at 1-800-346-4458.

~Original from Huff Post Green

Lego-building has been a pastime ingrained into the memories of our childhood. Castles, houses, and pirate ships were creations that we considered masterpieces, the colorful bricks constructed in ways that allowed us to build magic from a box.

Unlike many of our favorite childhood toys, Legos are still being used today. However, one group of children is advancing beyond many of our architectural limits to create scientific Lego robots that suggest solutions to the industry's biggest problems.

The FIRST Lego League is a competition that was founded in 1998 by Dean Kaman, who wanted to encourage children to celebrate engineering and science. (FIRST, which has members from all over the world, is an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.") Each year, the competitors — ages 9 to 14 — are tasked with a topic on which to focus. This year, the topic is "Trash Trek."

26,000 teams from 80 countries have been asked to pick a problem relating to the waste and recycling industry, figure out what's already being done to solve the problem, and improve a solution or develop a new solution all together. In order to do this, the teams are encouraged to do research and talk to local experts regarding the issues they're trying to solve.

Kim Wierman, director of the FIRST Lego League, explained that the children are tackling some of the biggest problems facing the trash and recycling industry today. Wierman listed everything from food waste to space junk to figuring out how to best dispose of diapers. Some teams are even trying to develop ways to better educate consumers on how to recycle, possibly by building apps that could be used across the industry.

"Really no issue is too big for us to consider because these kids are amazing when you unleash them," Wierman said. "I have no doubt we’re going to see some really amazing solutions."

The competitions are regional, with about 800 qualifying events and 100 championship events happening across the US and Canada. In 2016, there will be a world festival in St. Louis where the top performing teams are invited to compete. This year's competitors were presented with their challenge in August, and will compete in competitions from January to March, depending on their regions.

Once the teams choose the problems they'd like to tackle, they're faced with a multi-layer competition. First, the challengers use the Lego Mindstorm product — a robotic brick that is programmable — to design a robot that will be used to complete a set of tasks on a game field. The teams have less than three minutes to complete 15 "missions" with the robot, such as picking up items and disposing of them into the correct bins.

Next, the challengers must present the solutions to their chosen waste industry issue to a panel of judges, all of whom are volunteers from the respective regions. At the end of the competition, the teams are judged on robot design, project solution, and overall collaboration, teamwork, and "gracious professionalism." Cash prizes and the chance of a product design or patent are all up for grabs at the championship events.

"There have been ideas that have been generated in the past that have actually been implemented. Lands' End was presented an idea during our food safety season [in 2014] and they ended up with a new lunchbox design because it kept food cold longer. The kids got credit for that and got royalties on those sales," said Wierman.

Last year's theme of food safety generated impressive ideas from the contestants. One team developed an idea for a food packaging barcode that could be placed on food that needed constant refrigeration, erasing itself if the food was left at a temperature that was too high. With the barcode erased, grocery stores would know that the product was left at dangerous temperatures and would not sell the product. The team of 12-year-olds was awarded a patent.

"We get everything from simple solutions to really sophisticated, high-tech things that may be implemented," said Wierman.

Courtney Weiss, a STEM AmeriCorps member, has been assigned to work with the Juneau Economic Development Council in Alaska as an advisor to the FIRST Lego League competition. She is responsible for recruiting teams from eight elementary schools and two middle schools in the Juneau region, as well as doing administrative work for the coaches.

Outside of being creative and having fun, Weiss believes that the competition is important because it prepares the children to have a sustainable future.

At the Fibrex Group, we also believe in teaching our children about sustainability and recycling at home, school and play. Our vast assortment of recycling solutions can teach kids that by recycling and being cognizant about the environment around them, they can be empowered to help save the planet. Something as simple as recycling plastic bottles can even create products such as picnic tables, park benches, or even playground equipment for their schools and parks. Please check out our website or give us a call at 1.800.346.4458 to find out how we can assist your efforts to close the loop. Work. Play. Recycle.

Original Content By Kristin Musulin | Waste Dive

September 24, 2015

Public awareness of how germs are transmitted from person to person has popularized the use of disinfectant wipes and dispensers which help prevent the spread of germs.  Antibacterial wipes are utilized to disinfect and sanitize nonporous surfaces which have been proven to be essential for preventing the spread of germs and controlling dust.  They are commonly utilized in high and low traffic areas, in private and public facilities, such as airports, train stations, bus depots, restrooms, nursery schools, food service facilities, health clubs, spas, doctors’ offices, laboratories, physical therapy centers, hair, nail and tanning salons, retail stores, hospitals, assisted living centers, offices, manufacturing plants, cruise ships, gyms, and supermarkets.

By strategically placing the Disinfecting Wipe dispensers in the most convenient, easy to find, locations, they will be noticed and used more frequently.  Employees and visitors value efforts to create a healthier environment with less risk of cross contamination.

National grocery pioneer Whole Foods Market will be placing the Fibrex Sanitary Wipe Dispensers within select stores in the next few months. Stores such as Palm Beach, North Miami & Winter Park in Florida will be the first locations to highlight the new custom branded dispensers. Fibrex Group is very excited to partner with Whole Foods Market in this new endeavor.

For more information about Fibrex’s wipe dispensers or recycling stations please check out www.fibrexgroup.com. Or give us a call at 1-800-346-4458 to get a quote.

Two government agencies have announced a goal that could serve as a rallying call to reduce tonnages of disposed food.

The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week set a countrywide goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent within the next 15 years. It is the first national goal of its kind, according to the announcement.

Of the 37 million tons of food waste generated by the U.S. in 2013, 35.2 millions, or 95 percent, was sent to landfill, EPA statistics show. The EPA says its recent initiative is an attempt to limit landfilling and improve food security in the U.S.

"Let's feed people, not landfills," said Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator. "By reducing wasted food in landfills, we cut harmful methane emissions that fuel climate change, conserve our natural resources, and protect our planet for future generations."

The EPA and USDA are hoping the public and private sector can help make use of excess food by donating it to charities and other organizations that work to "improve overall food security."

Since 1960, when just over 12 million tons of food waste were generated, food scrap generation has skyrocketed in the U.S. After hitting 23.9 million tons in 1990 and 30.7 million tons in 2000, food waste generation has continued to climb, with 2013's total representing an all-time high.

At the same time, USDA data indicate food insecurity has also risen. In 2000, just over 10 percent of U.S. households were considered food insecure; in 2014 the number rose to 14 percent.

The US Composting Council and six other groups voiced "strong support" for reduction target. In a letter sent to both the USDA and EPA, the groups stated, "This goal, while ambitious, is doable."

While we strongly encourage composting, another easy way to avoid significant damage to the Earth is to recycle at home, work and play. Check out the diverse recycling bin offerings at the Fibrex Group  to see how we can assist your sustainable efforts.

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling - September 22, 2015

The fall season is upon us which means football time! Special event staff at universities and colleges throughout the country will have to deal with trash and recycling collection. The recyclable Encore collection boxes are a great budget friendly solution to your needs. Festivals, football tailgating, concerts, weddings and holiday events are all great applications for the Encore Trash and Recycle Boxes!

The Encore Special Event Box is a recycle-friendly trash or recycling container that includes a "multi-function" lid and 55 gallon liner bag. Containers are plain and can be customized with your company logo or event identification sticker.

Please contact the Fibrex Group at 1.800.346.4458 for more info or visit us at www.fibrexgroup.com.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is encouraging educators in Pennsylvania to get their students involved in the Recycle-Bowl competition. Recycle-Bowl is a program designed to invigorate student participation in recycling through a national K-12 recycling competition.

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization, has announced registration will begin on Aug. 3. Go to www.recycle-bowl.org to register.

The objectives of the competition include: new recycling programs established within schools, the increase of recycling in schools that currently recycle and the provision of teacher/student educational opportunities about recycling and waste reduction.

The Recycle-Bowl competition begins Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 15.

“The Recycle Bowl offers a fun way to introduce or expand recycling programs within our schools. Encouraging students to recycle will emphasize the importance of recycling elsewhere,” said Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are grateful to Keep America Beautiful for providing this resource to our local schools.”

For information on recycling containers for schools, contact The Fibrex Group.

The Daily Item

The Fibrex Group is pleased to provide our custom RecyclePro 1 recycling receptacles to Curaleaf for their collection of prescription medicine bottles. Curaleaf’s mission is to produce pharmaceutical grade, standardized dose medical cannabis for use by an educated medical and patient community to improve health, well-being and quality of life. They are one of only four cannabis producers licensed by the CT Department of Consumer Protection at this time. The collected bottles will be recycled for use by other @curaleaf patients in their dispensary.

RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles have covers and bodies that are silk screened with clear messages and logos that look professional and last indefinitely. We allow you to choose the message/logo you want for each opening of our recycling receptacles. Custom messages and corporate logos are easily prepared to customize your RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles for a minimal set-up fee. Value series units do not come with interior liners.

Available in three different sizes, these smartly designed recycling receptacles are already a favorite of commercial designers and purchasing agents across the country. Make RecyclePro Recycling Receptacles your preferred collection choice. Contact the Fibrex Group or call 1.800.346.4458 to find out how we can help you!

The Fibrex Group has a new and better way for you to learn about Play Mart Playground’s recycled structural plastic play sets, early childhood development equipment, swings, slides and site furnishings as well as  dog park equipment, shade shelters, climbers, borders, surfacing and steel playground equipment. Check out our new updated playground website. We offer all of this along with our indoor, outdoor and office trash and recycling containers.

We are known for our extensive and innovative options in recycling containers; waste and trash receptacles; park, mall and site furnishings; and playground equipment. We can help municipalities, businesses or institutions provide attractive recycling receptacles and site furnishings for work spaces and public spaces to promote good environmental stewardship while reducing waste and increasing recycling awareness.

In Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, and New Jersey we sell, install and service Play Mart equipment. If you purchase or make decisions for a public or private preschool, day care, church, military housing installation or state or regional parks, contact us. You can expect superior green design products and dependable customer service with pride and attention to detail. Work. Play. Recycle

Since 1950, Pebble Beach has been host to what is quite simply the finest exhibition of showcars in the world. Held each August on the 18th Fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an annual gathering of rare and antique automobiles, international automotive luminaries and motorcar enthusiasts from around the globe. It is an event of dazzling elegance, appropriately held at a resort famous for both its beauty and its refinement.

The Concours d'Elegance has always been the site of some of the automotive world’s most significant "firsts." Bugatti presented its first-ever gathering of the only six Bugatti Royales ever made at the 1985 Concours d'Elegance. They are widely considered the world's most valuable cars.

Four years later, the only three Alfa Romeo BATs were similarly brought together here. Ferrari made a major market introduction at the Concours d'Elegance in 1994; so did Rolls-Royce/Bentley. In fact, the Concours d'Elegance was the first concours in history to be chosen to display automakers' current prototypes.

The Fibrex Encore Special Event Box is a recycle-friendly trash or recycling container that includes a "multi-function" lid and 55 gallon liner bag. Containers are plain, come in solid black or white, and can be customized with your company logo or event identification sticker. Each special event recycling container comes complete with container bottom, container lid & 55 gallon liner bag. Pebble Beach chose to use our black box as it exudes an upscale image and sleek lines while collecting trash or recyclables at their premier exhibition.

The Fibrex Group is proud to announce the launch of it’s new, updated playground page on the website. The new portal will feature Play Mart Playground’s recycled structural plastic play sets for preschool & elementary ages, early childhood development equipment, swings, slides & site furnishings such as benches, picnic tables & trash/recycling receptacles. Dog park equipment, shade shelters, climbers, borders, surfacing & steel playground equipment will be added to the site shortly.

Fibrex Group is known for its extensive and innovative selection of recycling centers, waste receptacles, park, street & mall site furnishings and playground equipment. Providing attractive green design recycling receptacles, site furnishings & amenities in public spaces promotes good environmental stewardship while reducing waste and increasing recycling awareness.

We sell, install and service Play Mart equipment in the states of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, and New Jersey. Our customers include public & private preschools, elementary schools, day cares, churches, military housing installations and state/regional parks. Fibrex clients can expect superior green design products and dependable customer service support done with pride and attention to detail. Work. Play. Recycle