Earth Share of Washington - News

Stricter toy safety rules go to president

New rules approved Thursday night by the U.S. Senate would dramatically reduce the amount of lead and phthalates (a chemical used to make plastics softer) allowed in children’s products. The bill already passed by the House now goes to President Bush.

The legislation arose following recalls over the past year of millions of toys for having too high levels of lead. The metal can reduce intelligence. Phthalates, the other chemical targeted for reduction, is linked to developmental defects and other health problems. The ingredient is also used in shower ...Read the full story

August 13, 2008 | Comments Off

Go native to help save the Sound

By MIKE SATO

So here we are at the height of summer and how’s your garden doing? Ready to harvest the bounty of fruits, vegetables and flowers? Or have you thrown in the trowel, bandaged up the black thumb and figured that grazing the local farmers markets is the way to go?

Either way, when the harvest is done and the fall and winter rains come again, they will wash much of what we’ve done on the land this year down to the waters of Puget Sound. The oil, metals and chemicals end up in the water column and mud of the Sound, get i...Read the full story

August 13, 2008 | Comments Off

Rental Car Companies Increase Inventory as More People Rent a Hybrid Car

With higher gas prices and the benefits to the environment, more companies have started to rent a hybrid car. Enterprise, Hertz, and other top vendors are stocking up to meet the demand, according to Hybrid-Rental-Car.com, a web site with information to help people rent a hybrid car.

According to Hybrid Rental Car, there’s a lot more people asking to rent a hybrid car. Major rental car companies are responding. Many are increasing their inventory of hybrid rental cars and touting the car’s environmentally friendly features.

With gas still over four dollars a gall...Read the full story

August 13, 2008 | Comments Off

Summit emphasizes interconnectedness education, environment and economy

by Jasmine Okbinoglu

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is the motto for many with a “green” conscience.

But E3 Washington has three more words to help the state’s ecosystem: education, environment, economy.

At the E3 Regional Summit on Environmental Education and Economics for Yakima County, held at the end of June at the Carpenter’s Union Hall in Yakima, I learned these three things are key in making Washington — and the rest of the world — a better place for everyone.

Read more about E3 at the Read the full story

August 07, 2008 | Comments Off