EarthTalk Q&A: Answers to Environmental & Sustainable Living Questions

I understand that there is a ban in place on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Where can I purchase a CFC-free refrigerator?

Chris Murphy Do condoms represent a significant portion of beach litter? Are there environmentally friendly condoms? —Wendy M., Olympia, WA Condoms are often found discarded on beaches along with straws, bottles and other trash. About 900 condoms were found on Florida’s beaches during a three-hour litter collection campaign in 1996. That’s five condoms per minute. […]

I love to play golf, but is it bad for the environment? —Jared Pyatt, Springfield, MO The relationship between golf courses and the environment is not a simple one. Many golf courses are public parks that help preserve native habitats and get millions of people outside. But golf courses can also be elitist playgrounds, put […]

Where can I go to find out how much energy my home uses annually?According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Outlook 2000 Report, American residential energy use will increase by more than 22 percent overall between 1998 and 2020.

Have you heard about the ingredient in shampoos and bath washes called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate? —Carol Bean, Lyme, NH Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a cleanser derived from coconut oil, used in a variety of household and industrial products. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) has similar foaming and cleansing effects, as do […]

The Facts on Used Jeans, Clean Windshields and Reusable Toothbrushes I have many pairs of blue jeans that are in decent shape, except the knees are worn out and they’re either too big or too small. Is there a place to take jeans where they can be reused in some way? —Janine Erali, Wyo Hills, […]

Your cover article “Talking Trash” in the March/April 1997 issue said there were only two curbside recycling programs in the country in the early 1970s. Where were they? —Bonnie Emerick, Chicago, IL According to Neil Seldman, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the two programs were in Marblehead, Massachusetts and Madison, Wisconsin. Seldman says […]

Taking a Stance on Nuclear Energy, Newspapers and College Recycling What is a breeder reactor, and what are fission and fusion? —Anthony Gill, St. Bonaventure, NY Sue Gagner, public affairs officer of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), offers this definition, “A fission reactor splits the nucleus of atoms into parts, while fusion involves combining the […]

What threats would oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge pose to wildlife? —Alexander Brower, Jefferson, WI The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) "among the most complete, pristine, and undisturbed ecosystems on Earth." ANWR’s Area 1002, the coastal plain where oil drilling is proposed, is home to […]

How can restaurants serve bison meat if there are so few of the majestic animals left in the wild? Aren’t bison endangered? —Pat Henderson, Columbus, OH The American bison, which is commonly called a buffalo, is not on the U.S. Endangered Species List. According to the National Bison Association, there are approximately 350,000 of the […]