Intro.

to Environmental Science
Bio 138 or Geo 138
Fall 12, Mon/Wed 3:10-6:00pm

Joe Mueller
joe.mueller@marin.edu
Phone 485-9537
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Wednesdays

DATE

SUBJECT

ACTIVITY/FILM/DOCUM

Aug

29

Visit www.footprintnetwork.org
The Story of Stuff
Use footprint calculator. Assignment due today

Aug

24

Use of lab analysis equipment

Aug

29

See Film Mindwalk

Discuss, Paper due Sept 5

Select Env organization

Sept 3

Share your thoughts on env orgs

Sept 10

Discuss Environmental Organizations

Presentations

Sep

17

Discuss Environmental Organizations

Presentations

Sep

24

Field Trip to Calif. Academy of Sciences

Sep

29

Environmental Activism

Oct

Geology analysis lab. Rocks and minerials

Oct

13

1:00-3:00.

Oct

20

Microscope use lab. Microbes

Oct

22

Saturday Field Trip. Meet at Point Reyes Visitor Center at 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

Field Trip to Marin Recycle Center

Oct 27

Marine Systems Analysis Lab

Nov

Local Food Analysis

Survey Analysis

Nov

10

Your Place in the Food Chain

Exercise Analysis

Nov

17

Soils analysis lab

Discussion

Nov

24

Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec

Climate Change and Ozone Depletion, Ch. 15

Film-Heat

Dec

Climate Change and Ozone Depletion cont.

Review Course and for Final

All Papers Due

Dec 15

Final Lab Exam

EVERYDAY THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE WASTE

Waste not, want not. Buy only what you really need. Think before you buy: Do I really need this? How much will I use it? Could I borrow or
rent it instead of buying it? And lend your items to friends!

Donate unwanted items to charity, friends or family

If its broken, fix it! And, whenever possible, pay a bit more for more durable, long lasting products, rather than disposable ones.

Reuse glass jars and bottles, yogurt cups and margarine tubs, aluminum foil, fabric, boxes, bags, packing material, wrapping paper, etc.
When they can no longer be used or passed on to others remember to recycle all recyclable materials.

Bring your own coffee cup and water bottle rather than using disposables.

Just say no. No I dont need a bag, I brought my own, thank you. Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store, drug store, hardware
store, clothing stores, etc. For one or two small items, just carry them out.

Less Packaging. Buy in bulk whenever possible (bring your own bags) and look for items with less packaging. When packaging is
unavoidable, look for reusable, recyclable or recycled content packaging.

Buy used instead of new. Buy clothing, furniture, toys, books and other items at consignment and thrift stores, garage sales, antique
stores, etc.

Use cloth napkins, tablecloths and dishtowels instead of disposable paper items. Rags can be made from soiled or torn clothing that
cant be donated.

Make double-sided photocopies to avoid paper waste. Use 100% recycled paper whenever possible.

Make your own notepads. Paper that has been used on only one side can be cut and stapled to make handy note pads for the desk or by
the phone.

Buy rechargeable batteries that can be used over and over again and then bring them to Household Hazardous Waste Facility when youve
exhausted them.

Pack waste-free lunches and picnics. No more plastic wrap! Instead use durable reusable containers or recyclable aluminum foil. No
more disposable plates, cups and silverware. Avoid juice boxes, foil drink containers, or Styrofoam containers (none of these items are
recyclable). Pack drinks in Thermos, steel or glass bottles.

Compost food scraps in a compost bin (with yard waste) or in a worm bin.

Write to companies to tell them what you think about their packaging and products.

Support organizations that promote waste reduction!

REDUCE WASTE AT WORK

Conduct a waste audit.

Make double sided copies.

Make fewer copies. Make only as many as you need and share when possible.

Avoid fax cover sheets. Use a plain paper fax.

Use single spacing and smaller fonts and margins to reduce the size of forms and reports. Eliminate unnecessary forms and reports.

Use e-mail and voice mail instead of memos whenever possible. Circulate written memos instead of distributing copies. Post
announcements on bulletin boards.

Proof computer drafted documents on the screen before printing.

Fold, staple and address design mailers when sending direct mail to avoid the use of envelopes.

Purchase products with less packaging and reusable or recyclable packaging.

Buy in bulk when possible to reduce packaging waste. Some vendors even take packaging back for reuse.

Print addresses directly on envelopes instead of labels.

Avoid non-recyclable papers such as glossy, thermal fax, adhesive (stickers, "post-its", etc.) or brightly colored papers.

Combine your garbage and recyclables with another office(s) if your office is small.

Place recycling containers at every workstation. If thats not possible, place well-labeled containers for recyclables in convenient, visible
locations, such as near copiers and vending machines.

Collect and reuse paper that has only been printed on one side in fax machines, printers and copiers or as scratch paper.

Invest well in a copier and printer that will reliably produce double-sided copies.

Reuse envelopes and file folders. Place a label over or whiteout the old address. Use reusable envelopes for inter-office mail.

Use newspaper instead of polystyrene "peanuts" for packaging. Reuse packaging received in shipments. Mail Boxes, Etc. also accepts
this packaging for reuse.

Use CALMAX! CalMAX is a free service designed to help businesses find markets for materials they have traditionally discarded.

Contact iReuse. Purchase remanufactured office equipment. Sell or give old equipment and furniture to others or donate to charity.

Borrow or rent equipment that you only use occasionally.

Encourage co-workers to keep reusable mugs, cups, plates and utensils at their desks and to bring their lunch from home in reusable
containers.