"Cool" Things Happening in Your City

Let’s face it, some cities are way ahead in the fight against global warming. Here are a few companies in select places that are making some “cool” changes.

Los Angeles, CA.

Beautiful Celebs and Hotel Heiresses are not the only ones making the news in LA these days. Los Angeles County has recently passed a bill that will soon ban all styrofoam and products made of styrofoam to be used, produced or sold in stores within county limits. Polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is a petroleum-based product that is very hard to recycle and non-biodegradable. So many restaurants use it because it’s low cost of production. However, the environment is paying a HUGE PRICE for the estimated billions of Styrofoam containers used annually in the Los Angeles area.

Let's hope plastic wrap is next on the hit list! Since its introduction in the 1950s, plastic wrap has mostly been made either of a plastic called polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or, later, of the more familiar polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Both of these chemicals are dangerously toxic—during production, during use, and during incineration. Furthermore, both plastics on their own are fairly rigid, so manufacturers generally add in softening chemicals called phthalates, which are known to cause hormonal disruption and developmental problems, and have been found in our food supply.

Other areas including Santa Monica, Malibu, Berkeley, and Suffolk County New York have banned the use of Styrofoam products.

Great Job, LA!

Atlanta, GA.

Green Express of Atlanta is the first courier company to make the switch to hybrid delivery vehicles. Their traditional cars were getting 22 mpg, now their hybrid vehicles are getting 50 mpg. Best of all they have done this without raising the prices of their courier service. Most of the inner city driving uses very little fuel since the hybrids emit basically no emissions under speeds of 30 miles mph.

Customers appreciate their efforts to make positive changes, and they are busier than ever! Way to go Green Express, of Atlanta!

I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO! - Not just for the beautiful scenery, great food and diverse culture, but for their willingness to be a leader. Just recently San Francisco has become the first city in the United States to ban plastic shopping bags in certain establishments. The city by the Bay’s Board of Supervisors approved the groundbreaking legislation that would officially ban plastic checkout bags supermarkets by September and pharmacies by early 2008. City officials believe other major cities like New York, LA, and Chicago will follow suit.

4 - 5 trillion plastic bags are used annually, but they no longer will be used (legally) in San Francisco:)

Chicago - Spreadin' the word!

Want a sneak preview of the movie 11th hour, before it opens to the public? On Thursday, August 23rd, the Landmark Theater at 2828 N. Clark is showing the movie for free at 7:30 pm. But remember, it's first come, first served! Make sure to tell them you're with A Fresh Squeeze.

Also, An Inconvenient Truth will be shown for free on August 22nd at 8:15 pm in Grant Park. For more information,kc

 Hybrid Taxi's  - It's great to hear some major cities are making a big push to get more hybrid taxis on the road. Though, it may not help them drive any better... it will certainly cut back on pollution and that's awesome. San Francisco, Las Vegas and Chicago have incorporated hybrid taxis. New York City, which currently has 475 hybrids, will require all 13,000 taxis to be a hybrid or fuel-efficient car by 2012. (Seems like an awfully long time - let's see what we can do to make this happen a lot faster)