What's going on?

Next Green Elk Rapids Meeting - Wednesday, April 5, 4:30 - 5:45 pm - Location TBD

WOW! - Green Elk Rapids Brings Doug Tallamy to Speak in Elk Rapids this Summer💚

​Thursday, August 24, Doug Tallamy,  professor, researcher, author, will be hosted by Green Elk Rapids on Thursday, August 24, for a community presentation. More details to come!
"​“All plants are not created equal, particularly in their ability to support wildlife. Most of our native plant-eaters are not able to eat alien plants, and we are replacing native plants with alien species at an alarming rate, especially in the suburban gardens on which our wildlife increasingly depends. My central message is that unless we restore native plants to our suburban ecosystems, the future of biodiversity in the United States is dim.” - Bringing Nature Home - Doug Tallamy
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Some books written by Doug

Recycle your Boat Shrink Wrap with michiganrecycles.org!

Recycle boat shrink-wrap and other materials into something new, like Trex, with the EZ-Fill recycling program. All you have to do is:

For Boat Owners near Elk Rapids: 13948 Bluewater Dr, Kewadin, MI 49648, 231-313-2627
www.northshoredock.com is on the drop-off list

 ​Ground water awareness week - March 7

​This MI Environment story is part of National Groundwater Awareness Week and is from the most recent State of the Great Lakes report.
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Three-dimensional rendering showing data from more than 8,000 water wells. It is vertically exaggerated 100 times to show the subsurface geology of Gladwin County.

DNR Donates Poached Game to Communities

​DNR tracks down deer and bear poachers: What happens to all that meat?

New Michigan Recycling Legislation Troubling For Air Quality

Gov. Whitmer recently greenlit chemical recycling in Michigan, granting the petrochemical industry a big win. Michigan advocates, including the Ecology Center, are now working furiously to repeal the bad decision. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

February 10, 2023

 

Chemical Recycling Greenlit in Michigan

Why the New Legislature Needs to Reverse Course ASAP

Chemical recycling, advanced recycling, or plastic-to-fuel technologies – these are the names the petrochemical industry deceptively uses for facilities where plastic waste is melted and boiled into either fuel or more plastic using chemicals and heat. We call these methods greenwashed incineration, burning plastic, and a false solution. 

The technologies used in so-called chemical recycling – pyrolysis and gasification – release high volumes of air pollutants and produce large quantities of toxic chemicals. Until recently, these facilities were regulated as incinerators in Michigan and thus subjected to a stringent permitting process. But at the end of December 2022, Governor Whitmer signed a bill that included provisions to reclassify these facilities as manufacturing, thereby deregulating them. 

The proposed bill package was initially a carefully negotiated set of changes to the state's solid waste laws to strengthen Michigan's recycling policy. But, unfortunately, at the eleventh hour, the petrochemical industry won provisions to deregulate the management of mixed plastic waste by greenlighting chemical recycling.

Read our blog to find out why Michigan's new legislature needs to reverse course as soon as possible.   

Read More
 
 
 
 

Ecology Center
339 E. Liberty Street, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 761-3186
info@ecocenter.org

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 FYI clean water enthusiasts - Help Monitor our Water Quality

EGLE Main GovD banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2023
Jeff Johnston, EGLE public information officer, JohnstonJ14@Michigan.gov, 517-231-9304
Tamara Lipsey, Aquatic Biologist, LipseyT@Michigan.gov, 517-342-4372

Enrollment, training open for Michigan Clean Water Corps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program

The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), a network of volunteer monitoring programs that collect and share surface water quality data statewide, is accepting enrollments for the 2023 Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) season. Volunteer training will take place in person May 5, 2023, or online May 9, 2023.

CLMP volunteers monitor water quality, invasive species, and habitat conditions in Michigan lakes. Volunteers receive detailed instructions, training, and equipment, and the data they collect are added to the MiCorps Data Exchange, a public database that includes CLMP lake information dating back to 1974.

Interested volunteers are encouraged to enroll early, as some program options have March enrollment deadlines. Other options allow enrollment into May and into the summer. Details can be found on the CLMP Enrollment Web page.

There is no cost to attend either the May 5 in-person training or May 9 online training, although registration is required. The in-person training will take place concurrently with the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association annual conference May 5-6 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan, but conference attendance is not required. Training is required for new volunteers, and experienced volunteers are always welcome. Anyone interested in learning more about the CLMP is invited to participate regardless of their intent to enroll a lake and conduct monitoring this year.

Direct questions about the CLMP to Erick Elgin, Michigan State University Extension, at 218-340-5731 or ElginEri@MSU.edu; or Tamara Lipsey, Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), at 517-342-4372 or LipseyT@Michigan.gov.

EGLE established MiCorps in 2004 to engage the public in collecting water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. MiCorps is sponsored by EGLE and is administered in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, and the Huron River Watershed Council. 

To stay up to date on other EGLE news, follow us at Michigan.gov/MIEnvironment.

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February Almanac

Birds! 
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Black-capped Chickadee. Photo by Nick Thompson, Madisonaudubon.org

Green Elk Rapids Hosting Super Recycling in Elk Rapids on May 13th, 2023!

Watch for an updates to accepted materials soon - ​Saturday, May 13, Super Recycling Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Village Recycling Center on Bridge Street, adjacent to the police station.  

Mark Your Calendar for 2023 Hazardous Waste Collection!

2023 Climate Incentives

As mentioned during our Green ER kickoff meeting last week, here is some info about green incentives available this year: 
​Getting away from fossil fuels – and saving money – just got a lot easier. If you’re looking to upgrade your home to be cleaner and more energy efficient, the federal government is offering some massive discounts starting in 2023 thanks to the newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act.  ​
​Coming In 2023: New Ways For Homeowners to Save Money While Fighting Climate Change
Public Law 117-169, 136 Stat. 1818 (August 16, 2022), commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), amended the credits for energy efficient home improvements under § 25C of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and residential energy property under § 25D of the Code. These FAQs provide details on the IRA's changes to these tax credits, information on eligible expenditures, and provides examples of how the credit limitations work. 
​​Frequently asked questions about energy efficient home improvements and residential clean energy property credits
Electric vehicle subsidies, Home energy efficiency tax credits, Heat pumps and wood-burning stoves, Electrification rebates, Solar, batteries and geothermal, Funds for farmers​, Emissions impact​
Hot deals: A consumer’s guide to the new climate law

Thanks to all the Green Elk Rapids Committee Members Who Attended 2023 Kickoff!

Green Elk Rapids enjoyed an energizing start to 2023 at Townline Ciderworks last evening (1/18/2023). Our committee members weighed in on various activities under consideration for 2023. We will be laying out those efforts for the year soon as well as providing resources available for homeowners to promote care of the environment. Thanks to Townline for hosting us - What a lovely venue​💚
A special thanks to our members who brought yummy snacks to share and Ellie Johnson who generously shares her time and tree expertise with us.

Upcoming Events in 2023:

May 13 - Super recycling led by Kathie Carpenter

"Green Intentions" exhibit moved to the Elk Rapids Government Center

December 2022 -  The Elk Rapids Government Center is currently hosting the Green Elk Rapids “Green Intentions” display.  “Green Intentions “ is a scaled-down version of the exhibit displayed at Dennos Museum in 2022, and is expected to travel to other locations during the coming year. The "Green Intentions" display chronicles the efforts of the "Green Elk Rapids" committee to raise awareness and appreciation for environmental issues and the natural environment.
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"Green Intentions" currently on display at the Elk Rapids Government Center

Nature Fest 2022

Nature Fest 2022 was an outdoor event in Elk Rapids organized by Green Elk Rapids.

Nature Fest Content Partners:

Organizations who participated in Nature Fest 2022:

Nature Fest 2022 Sponsors:

Nature Fest Mission*

*graphical display of Nature Fest Participants' mission statements

Older Content...

ONGOING PROJECTS:
MDOT highway pick-up:  To be announced
Beach pick-up: To be announced

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COMMUNITY INVITATION - Join us!

Green Elk Rapids is a local volunteer organization committed to raising awareness of environmental issues.

We pursue our mission through collaboration with local organizations such as schools, village government, businesses, and community organizations.

Our programs have included films, educational forums, nature hikes, student projects, guest speakers, and special community service activities - Plus the debut of Nature Fest in 2022. 
The beginning of Green Elk Rapids

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​“The future will belong to the nature-smart—those individuals, families, businesses, and political leaders who develop a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the natural world and who balance the virtual with the real. The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.”
—Richard Louv
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