For years I couldn't care less about the environment. And then one day, when I was on vacation and visiting a beach, I realized just how much pollution was really out there. I was watching garbage wash up on shore, and I realized that I just couldn't keep living the way that I was living. Instead of contributing to the mess that our society had made of our natural resources, I started focusing on preserving energy and recycling the items that I used every single day. The impact was amazing. Before I knew it, I was able to save money, live better, and enjoy clean energy. Read this blog to learn more. 
Understanding Environmental Impacts
Tiny Home Septic Tanks: 4 Options To Consider Before Installation
Living in a tiny house comes with many sacrifices, and one of them is often the bathroom. Composting toilets or portable septic tanks can only hold so much waste before it needs to be drained. If your tiny house is situated in a more permanent location, then you can have a septic tank installed that improves the use of running waters and toilets in the home. But before having a septic tank installed, there are many options to consider. Choosing from the following four options will help you make the best selections for your tiny home and have a septic tank that properly fits your needs. Tank Material A tiny house typically has a smaller lot and less space to work with for a septic tank installation. Instead of installing bulkier tanks made of concrete, you can choose a lightweight tank that is easier to transport and install on your land lot. One of your options for the tank is fiberglass. The material on a fiberglass tank is durable and will last for numerous years. The material can help prevent roots from pressing into the tank, and it’s easy to transport and install on a small lot of land. A similar tank option is a plastic tank. Not only are plastic tanks easy to transport and install in small areas, but they can often be purchased for a lot cheaper than other septic tank materials. A ribbed design on a plastic tank helps keep them strong and durable from roots and general pressure from the ground. This helps prevent any cracks or odor leaks in your tank. Tank Size & Capacity If you’re living in a tiny home, then you will likely only need a tiny septic tank. One of the smallest tank sizes you can purchase is 750 to 900 gallons. These sizes are recommended for homes with two rooms or less, giving you plenty of space to properly flush and dispose of waste. Regulations vary by region, so it’s important to ask septic tank installation specialists for the smallest size possible. Not only will you have less toilet use in a tiny home, but the water consumption will probably be lower. Tank Location The location of your tank installation is important when considering a tiny home. Many tiny homes may be held up on wheels or a trailer. The support of this trailer depends on the ground below it. If the septic tank is located too close to the tiny house, the ground can become soft and impact the even level of the home. A septic tank installation should be located well away from the home’s property. Heavy rains and groundwater can also impact these tanks, so it’s a good idea to keep them completely away from the area of the home. A septic tank professional can run lines that lead from the tiny house’s plumbing and directly into the tank. Vent Pipe Installation To help prevent septic odors from entering your tiny home, you need to consider the installation of a vent pipe. A septic tank specialist can install a vent pipe that helps eliminate odors and ensures that toilets flush correctly. Tiny homes that formerly used compost toilets or portable septic tanks may not have these vents installed. With such small space in a tiny...
read more5 Ways to Encourage Participants at Large Events to Utilize the Dumpsters
Whether you are arranging a spring fun run for your community or hosting an annual school fair, if you organize any large event, then you will most likely have to deal with a large amount of trash. It is important to encourage participants and guests to use proper waste disposal receptacles, such as trash cans and dumpsters, during and after the event. Otherwise, your event grounds may become unpleasant and dangerous during the event and your cleanup efforts will have to be increased. Encouraging participants to use proper receptacles for their trash is simple, but you have to take active steps toward encouraging proper behavior both before and during the event. 1. Secure Enough Dumpsters The first step to help your participants use the dumpsters at your event is to make sure that you have enough dumpsters. If your dumpsters get too full throughout the course of the event, trash will start to build up next to them and, eventually, participants will not see the point of making a trip to the overflowing dumpsters at all. Most dumpster rental companies can help you determine how many dumpsters you will need to contain the trash at your event. However, you should be prepared to provide the company with an idea of how many participants you expect as well as what types of trash will be produced at the event. When calculating trash, do not forget to include trash the vendors may have behind the scenes, such as bulk food boxes. 2. Place Dumpsters Strategically Your dumpsters are less likely to be used if your participants have to go out of their way to find them. However, you do not want them to be a large distraction in the center of your event. Ideally, your dumpsters will be spaced out through the event grounds. You may want to provide several smaller waste containers in the main event area that volunteers regularly empty in dumpsters that are located near the exits of the event. 3. Advertise the Event as a Green Event Getting your participants to think about trash and the environment before they even set foot inside your event can help create a culture of respect that could result in less trash pickup at the end of the event. Simply advertising your event as “green” shifts participants’ focus to environmental concerns. Of course, if you advertise as a green event, it is a good idea to include environmental activities or other methods to reduce waste as well. 4. Post Signs for the Dumpsters If people are excited about your event, they may not want to stop what they are doing to look for a trash can. Posting fun, creative signs can draw attention to your dumpsters, making them easy to find and part of the overall experience of your event. One Danish experiment found that when green footprints were painted on the ground leading to recycling bins, 46% less trash was littered in the area. If painting the ground is not an option, you can post signs with sassy comments, encouraging participants to keep going to find the trash cans. 5. Make Announcements during the Event Finally, you should make announcements during the event to remind participants to use the designated trash cans. Depending on the tone of your event, these can...
read more5 Reasons To Get Your HAZWOPER Certification Online
Whether you are an employer with employees who need to take HAZWOPER training or you are an individual that needs HAZWOPER certification for your employment, you should consider online HAZWOPER training. Online courses are offered for the initial 24 or 40 hour training as well as yearly updates to maintain your certification. While traditional HAZWOPER trainings may be conducted on the job site or over a weekend at a training center, there are several reasons why you should see if online training is a better option for you. You Can Take the Course at Your Convenience Perhaps the most obvious reason why you would want to take a HAZWOPER training course online is that the course may be taken at your own convenience. This means that you can take the course after work if you are taking the course on your own or during downtime at your job site if your employer is sponsoring the course. Most online courses consist of several modules, which may be paused if you are unable to complete them in one sitting. They can also be repeated if you did not fully understand the information the first time. While you complete the modules, you may have access to a live instructor or you may be able to leave questions for your instructor to answer at a later time. Because the course can be completed at your own pace and in your own style, you will likely understand the material more thoroughly. Your Practical Skills Can Be Observed Through Your Job HAZWOPER certification requires a practical component, in which you demonstrate your comprehension of the material covered in the course. In traditional classes, this practical component is usually completed through simulations. However, if you have a job that requires HAZWOPER certification, it is possible for you to show your competence on your job site. When you do this, you can overlap your work duties with your training, making the most of your time. Your Certification Will Be Mailed Directly to You When you complete a HAZWOPER training, your certification belongs to you, even if the course was paid for by your employer. Employers are not allowed to keep your certification from you, as per the HAZWOPER standards. However, some employers may attempt to refuse to issue your certification if you stop working with them when you complete the training. If you sign up for online training, your certificate can be mailed directly to you, bypassing your employer if you so wish. You Will Have a Record of Your Answers For most courses, once you sign up for them, you will have access to them indefinitely. This means that you will be able to look up information as you need. This can be especially helpful if you asked questions in an online forum associated with your course and you want to reference the answers your instructor gave you at a later time. If you do not have unlimited access to the course, you should be able to download most of the materials for use at a later date. You May Have Extended Opportunity to Ask Instructors Questions If you take a course over a weekend or during your working hours, your instructor may cover material quickly. You may have questions relating to the material a few days...
read moreDumpster Rentals vs. Junk Removal Services: Which Is the Right Choice for You?
Cleaning out junk can be a liberating experience as you free up space in your home or garage for items you actually use. There are several ways to address the problem and eliminate unneeded items from your home or property. Sometimes it calls for renting a dumpster, while other times it calls for a junk removal service. Consider these factors when deciding which is right for you. What does the majority of your junk consist of? Sometimes the items themselves give you clues to whether renting a dumpster is the answer or whether you need junk removal services. Consider the size and weight of the objects, the amount of junk you have and whether the items are allowable in dumpsters. Hazardous items like batteries, tires and paint are often prohibited either by law or by the dumpster rental service. If a large portion of your items are prohibited, dumpster rental may not be for you. Likewise, if your junk consists primarily of large pieces of furniture, a dumpster may not be the most convenient means to get rid of it. How much time do you have to spare? Cleaning out your own junk and tossing it into a dumpster allows you to control what gets thrown and what does not, but it also takes time. If you find yourself limited on time (and energy) there are several options. Contract for Junk Removal Services: The contractors typically arrive and get right to work loading your junk on their truck and promptly haul it away. You don’t need to do any of the heavy work and the job is usually completed in a day or two. Enlist the Help of Friends and Family to Load the Dumpster: There is no shame in asking for help when you need it. Family and friends can be a great service when it comes to toting junk to the dumpster saving you time and energy as you sort through your junk. Rent a Dumpster for a Longer Period: If you have limited time to spare, but prefer to do the work yourself, consider renting a dumpster for a longer period of time and spending some time every day on the task of clearing out your junk. While it may take longer than hiring a junk removal service, you maintain control over sorting and decision making. Are you physically able to move the junk? If you have physical limitations, moving or lifting items to fill the dumpster may be a challenge. Unless you can enlist the help of others to help you carry and toss the junk into the dumpster, you may be better off with a junk removal service. However, with a rear door dumpster, you can wheel trash to the dumpster with a wheelbarrow or dolly and load the dumpster without the need for major lifting. If you are able to move the items and only have problems with lifting, this may be a good alternative for you. Which option costs more? That depends on the nature of the job. To remove a few pieces of furniture, a junk removal service may be less expensive, but for loads miscellaneous items in a garage or attic, a dumpster is probably the better deal. The cost of a dumpster rental depends on the size of dumpster you...
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