Monday, April 22, 2013

Earth Day!

Here is a link to some Earth Day activities in Utah:
Don’t forget the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27th.

Other ideas how to celebrate Earth Day:
-Plant a tree.
-Plant a vegetable garden.
-Go on a nature hike. National Parks have free admission April 22nd- April 26th!
-Cook a special Earth Day meal using healthy organic foods.
-Reuse, Reduce, Recycle!!


Happy Earth Day!
 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Even Little Things Make a Big Difference

Through our continuous Department-wide recycling efforts we were once again able to donate our pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (http://www.rmhc.com/). Collecting tabs is a great way to remember the importance of recycling and help families in need.



Ronald McDonald House program provides affordable or free housing for parents so they can stay close to their children who are treated in a hospital. This helps parents concentrate on their sick children without having to worry about where to stay or what to make for dinner.

Instead of aluminum cans Ronald McDonald House collects tabs because it is more hygienic to store tabs than cans. Also, they are easier to store and transport. After the tabs are collected, they are taken to a local recycling center where they are weighed and valued. Then your local Ronald McDonald House Charities will receive a check for the total value of donation.

The Intermountain area hopes to someday match The Minneapolis/St Paul region that raises over $65,000 annually through their pop tab program!

Tabs can also be pulled off from soup cans, baby food, cat and dog food cans, snack cans, tuna, etc.

There should be a tab collection container by each appropriate recycling bin in the Heber Wells Building, or you can take your tabs directly to a big container in Masuda’s office (2nd floor), or there is a drop off container at the Ronald McDonald House, 935 East South Temple (801-363-4663).

 

Fun Facts

Pop Tab Measurement Equivalents
1 inch = 1 pop tab
1 foot = 12 pop tabs
1 pound = 1,267 pop tabs
1 mile = 63,360 pop tabs

Friday, March 22, 2013

Champion Recyclers

This time Commerce E-Team rewarded Elliott Lawrence from Property Rights Ombudsman’s office, Angela Hendricks from Consumer Protection, and Toni Heldman from Real Estate! Congrats and thank you for recycling and making our program a success!




If you have any recycling questions please don’t hesitate to contact Masuda Medcalf or Mia Larson.
Locations for the blue containers for plastics recycling:
-DOPL break room (4th floor)
-Next to 4th floor vending machines
-Lunch room (2nd floor)
**Please remove and save coke product lids for the charity program (My Coke Rewards)

Large bins for can recycling:
-Next to 4th floor vending machines
-2nd floor kitchen area by the service elevator
**Please remove and save tabs for Ronald McDonald House

Cardboard Recycling bins:
-Lunch room (2nd floor)
-DOPL (4th floor)
-DPU (4th floor)

There is also a smaller Gray container in Administration for batteries, small electronics, and powerstrips.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Holiday Upcycling Event Pictures

Thanks for everybody who came! We had a great time!


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Holiday Upcycling Event - Directions and Recipes

Homemade Detergent Recipe:

Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces (between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load).
Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes and enjoy the results! 
Use 1 Tbsp per load (or 2 Tbsp for heavily soiled loads).


Karen's No Streak Window Cleaner Recipe:
-1/2 TEASPOON BLUE LIQ DAWN DETERGENT -A SPRAY BOTTLE FULL OF WATER

Valeri's Winter Fruit Salad

1/4 c white sugar
1/2 c fresh lemon juice
2 t diced onion
1 t Dijon mustard
1/2 t salt
2/3 c vegetable oil
1 T poppy seeds
1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
½ red onion, cut in slivers
4 oz shredded Swiss cheese
1 c roasted pecans
1/4 c dried cranberries
2 apples -- peeled, cored and diced
2 pears --peeled, cored and sliced

In a blender combine sugar, lemon juice, 2 t. onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended.  With machine still running add oil in a slow, steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth.  Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.

In a large serving bowl, toss together the lettuce, cheese, pecans, cranberries, onions, apples and pears.  Pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.


Adele's Chicken Tortilla Soup:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut up or shredded
2 cans Rotel (I use one mild and one original) depends on how "hot" you like it!  
    (The one I made for the lunch was 2 milds as I did not know everyones preference!)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
one box (2 envelopes) Lipton noodle soup mix
1/2 chopped onion
1 tsp cumin
5 cups water

Add all ingredients together in pot, stirring occasionally, do not boil, it will thicken as it cooks

Serve topped with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, etc.

Freezes great!!!

Allyson's Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

2 cups flour
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter (cold)

2 T sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
¼ cup orange juice

1 pkg. cream cheese (softened)
 ½ cup sugar
1 T flour
 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350°.  Line 9x13 baking pan with foil, extending over the edges. 

For the crust, in a large bowl, using a pastry blender or knives, combine the 2 cups flour, powdered sugar and butter until well mixed.  The mixture will be crumbly, but press evenly into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine the 2 T sugar, cornstarch, blueberries and orange juice.  Cook on medium-low until thick and bubbly, stirring frequently.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, and 1 T flour until smooth.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  Pour over the hot crust.  Put the blueberry mixture in “blobs” over the cream cheese mixture.  Using a knife or toothpick, swirl the blueberry mixture through the cream cheese mixture.  Bake an additional 20 minutes or until center is set.

Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.  Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.


Upcycling Ideas


 






I could not figure out how to download instructions on some of these things, so if you want instructions beyond what you see here on the blog, send me an email (mmedcalf@utah.gov) and I will send the instructions to you be email.

How to make Plastic bag crafts - Instructions on this link:

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

E-Team Undercover Strike Again



E-Team strikes again! This time we discovered Taylor Bradley from Corporations recycling an ink cartridge. Way to Go Taylor and Congrats for your win! 



Keep recycling! You might be the next winner.


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

E-Team Goes Undercover



It pays off to recycle in the office. We are randomly rewarding some Commerce employees who we catch recycling.

Our first lucky winner is Thad Levar from Administration. Congratulations Thad and thanks for recycling!


Please recycle- you could be the next winner! 


Great flashmob recycling video:

 
Mia & the awesome E-Team