The Indy 500 Goes Green

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer…Well, not quite, but it will be just as fast if not faster. My husband is a television watching Indy 500 fan. He has had the opportunity to attend trial runs, but has opted and prefers watching the race on television. There are fewer crowds and the television cameras always seem to give you all of the pictures that you might miss from sitting in the stands. Fortunately, this Sunday, he will pull himself away to enjoy part of the day with the family (no couch potatoes here).

This is probably one place where the star-studded attendance of celebrities like Marcus Allen, Jenna Elfman, Patricia Heaton, Florence Henderson, Drew Lachey, Ludacris, Marlee Matlin, Bode Miller, Jason Priestly, Slash, Kristi Yamaguchi (I think that’s enough name dropping) and more is overlooked by something much bigger – the actual race of The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race (affectionately called Indy 500 or “The 500”). Recognized as one of three races that make up the Triple Crown of Motorsport, the Indy 500 is an annual race held over the Memorial Day Weekend in Speedway, Indiana.

Besides fast cars, celebrity appearances, and the possibility of the first woman, Danica (with two other women, Sarah Fisher – a driver and team owner, and Milka Duno also racing), winning the race, there is something new this year at the 92nd Indy 500 as it GOES GREEN! Spearheaded by Planet Green, celebrities (here we go again) will offer eco-friendly tips throughout the day (from drinking organic beer – hmm - to requests to “USE THE RECYCLING BINS ON RACE GROUNDS” – pretty simple) on things fans can do to make a positive difference. Planet Green is also outfitting the Indy 500 “after-party” cleaning crew, in organic cotton t-shirts, who will sort through all of the garbage produced during this eventful weekend identifying items that can be recycled and taking them to recycling centers. All of the green clean-up footage will be featured on “G-Word,” which is a new series on Green Planet presented by “Garbologist” Todd Sutton.

If you’re attending The 500 or any other outdoor event, then make it a green and natural experience with the following tips:

#1 Transportation
Consider carpooling or walking to the event. Many venues have hotel/motel accommodations within walking distance which fill-up with other sports (or whatever the occasion) lovin’ people like yourself. Depending upon the time of day of the event and weather, a relaxing stroll to begin a day of excitement may be just what you need to ensure a good time. With so many others attending, you are bound to make a few friends. Share a car, share the sidewalk, share some green tips along the way.

#2 Drink Plenty of Water
With a long day ahead, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can sport a fancy reusable water bottle with selections available for children and adults. If bottled water is still your speed, then check out this line of eco-friendly bottled water (yes, it made me laugh too). Remember to recycle because those plastic bottles can be made into some really cool stuff.

#3 Pack a Lunch
Save a dime and cut down on disposable containers. We all know one of the easiest ways to save money is to BYOB (bring your own bag) of food. Many outdoor venues allow patrons to bring in “outside food.” Eat more affordably, eat more nutritiously, and eat more eco-friendly. There are plenty of convenient and attractive storage food containers for traveling and outdoor use. Enjoy more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

If you're going to the race, then have fun. Maybe, we'll see you in the stands as we're watching on televison from home.

Take it! It's free. Really, it is.

When was the last time you heard that statement only to learn there was a catch? Well, when you become a part of the Freecycle™ network, then you are bound to hear that a lot, and yes, it is true.


The Freecycle™ Network was founded in Tuscon, Arizona by Deron Beal in May of 2003. He saw an opportunity to “turn trash into treasure from perfectly good items” that were being tossed out as garbage, by their owners, and would eventually end up in a landfill. This private, non-profit organization started with a handful of 30 to 40 members and has grown to a network of millions from more than 75 countries. Their mission is simple, “to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” Do you want to become a part of this generous community that promotes environmental sustainability and reuse? Find a local Freecycle™ network near you.

Recycling Center Adventures

We had a pretty exciting day at the recycling center. I wanted to go to a dedicated recycling center, but the two closest ones were out of business. Can you imagine in a time like this? Anyway, you can always rely on your city waste company to be there ready to take your garbage. This was a new experience for my children. In my single years, going to a recycling center was a great way to get a few dollars for spending change. I had no clue about the environmental impact.


I was proud of the items we put together to take. Hey, we were going to make a difference and every little bit counts. The center is on our way to town making it convenient to include it in our weekly errands. This waste/recycling center is the cleanest (also no foul smell) dump I’ve ever gone to. I have been to a waste center where you had to step on other people’s garbage just to dump what you had. It was beyond gross.



I had great helpers with the distribution into the correct containers; clear glass, glass with color, plastics, newspaper and paper. There were so many bins, but very well organized. When I saw the people, who looked like regular recyclers, come in with their truck load of goods, our few boxes of recyclables seemed so trifling. Regardless, our items are going to be reused and made into something FANTASTIC! You just wait and see.

Here are some of the sights we saw. I thought these stacks of aluminum cans were so cool. We didn’t earn any money, but we gained an experience. The children had some fun and learned the importance of recycling, whenever possible, regardless of the amount.







The process of recycling involves a little more than placing it curbside or taking it to a center. Whether you’re starting a program in a community location or your home, there are a few things to consider before you start.

#1 All things are not recycled equally.
Items that can be recycled range from the overused paper towel to that hard to put down cell phone. It is amazing how many times a material can be used if recycled. Going from “you are what you eat,” to “you wear what you eat – or what your food comes in” is an example of how some of these recycled items are being used.



Most residential recycling programs include the following common items: plastic bottles, glass, paper products, and aluminum cans. You are not limited to these items, but they are a few good ones to start with in your program, especially if you are new to the “practice” of recycling. So, decide what items you are going to recycle and work from there. If you’re adventurous and these items are not exciting enough for starting your program (rubber and scrap metal may be your style), then check with your local recycling center to see what other items they accept. The idea is to recycle and not become the neighborhood junkyard.

#2 A successful recycling program takes some effort.
As with most successful programs, the “dirty” work behind the scenes is often forgotten. When you recycle, you have to take on a “new way of thinking.” No, this is not cult indoctrination. You have to stop doing what is EASY (open – use – toss into garbage) and actually take the time to THINK before tossing, to rinse (in some instances), and then sort with like, other recyclables. I was amazed at how quickly I reached for the garbage can after emptying a can, jar, or yogurt container. After I got my rhythm going, I had a nice little collection going on my kitchen counter which brings me to the next point.

#3 Designate a recycling area with proper containers.
Setting up your recycling area with the proper containers is important because you don’t want your program to take over your home and you also want to be able to accommodate your efforts. Our “holding area” started around our kitchen island. After missing our weekly scheduled trip to the recycling center, our “recycling containers” (paper bags), took over creating a big trash section in our kitchen. Everything was moved to our already crowded garage. You guessed it. This weekend is going to be spent cleaning our garage and making a dedicated recycling area. I will probably use old boxes from Costco as containers.

#4 Breakdown, Bundle, Remove, Rinse, and Stomp, then Sort
Prepare your recyclables before going to the center or placing curbside. All cardboard boxes should be broken down and flattened (not stomped on to flatten), newspapers bundled, bottle caps removed from plastic bottles, food containers rinsed, and aluminum cans flattened or stomped (kids love to do this). Save the bottle caps because some places are able to use them. After preparing your recyclables, sort them into the proper containers. Sorting before going to the center will save you time and can make the process run more smoothly.

#5 Maintain your recycling area.
Water bottles are probably the safest item to have hanging around after use. What I mean by this is, there is less of an attraction for creatures. I don’t like bugs of any sort. Be sure to rinse any food containers right after emptying. This will reduce the potential for attracting bugs or pet curiosity, properly prepare your recyclables for the center (empty and clean is preferred for food containers – glass, etc.), and create a cleaner environment (less smelly in the car too if you don’t have curbside pick-up) until your weekly garbage pick-up or center visit.

Something I also noticed during the first week of recycling. Our garbage can was a lighter load. It is pretty cool knowing that we’re sending less to landfills and contributing to product creativity. You may see me wearing one of these stylish fleece hats this fall which are made out of recycled plastic bottles. We may have drunk from some of the bottles that made those hats.