Jaime Bedrin: Citizen Reporter

• Power On!

  I’ve got a new kid. And with babies come lots of toys that require batteries: swings, mobiles, white noise machines, breast pumps, vibrating seats, bouncy seats to keep at grandma’s house. You get the picture. I’ve got an assortment of batteries in sizes that would rival a lingerie store.
  
  Trouble is, used batteries = waste. In fact the EPA says Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year. Part of the problem is that batteries contain heavy metals that can be harmful to the environment when improperly discarded.
  
  I could try rechargeable batteries, but I haven’t loved them in the past. When I’m in the field reporting a radio story, I need a reliable energy source. And I don’t always have a way to recharge batteries on the go. So I decided to find a way to recycle my Duracells and Energizers.  
  
  Turns out, the building where I teach at Columbia University’s School of Journalism has a bin for batteries. It’s located ...read full post
  
  
  Comments (0)  |  July 1, 2009

• Stop The Ketchup!

  In New York City, you can get anything delivered: cat food, diapers, egg salad, fries. But with the greasy fries comes lots of ketchup.
  
  I don't have anything against Heinz or Hunts or Annie's, but I do have a problem with waste. Order a basic grilled chicken sandwich and you get a dozen or so packets of ketchup, mustard and mayo. That's not including the plastic utensils, paper napkins and salt and pepper.
  
  I'd use a few of the quarter ounce packets for dipping, but always have a ton leftover. I tried to save them for the future. But I live in a one-bedroom apartment with my husband, our cat Nina and our son Henry. I only have room for a dozen or so packets.
  
  I tried keeping the ketchup, but it just gets in the way.
  
  Then a lightbulb went off -- a green bulb. Instead of constantly shuffling the packets around my pint-size kitchen, I could return them to the diner where I always order my chicken souvlaki greek salad -- or any diner for ...read full post

  
  
  Comments (1)  |  June 15, 2009

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