Environment

Many things that end up on the curb each week aren't thrown out because they're broken or even obsolete — they're just not useful to their owner anymore and they take up too much space. Five years ago, a man by the name of Deron Beal set out to make us think twice about the value of the stuff we no longer use, through a network of community message boards called Freecycle.

Congestion fees may be a new concept in the United States, but the idea dates back decades and has been implemented in dozens of traffic-heavy highways and urban areas throughout Europe and Asia. Such measures have usually been successful in reducing congestion and encouraging the use of public transportation, while helping to raise the funds necessary to build alternative transportation infrastructure.

With food prices rising across the board due to higher fuel costs and a spike in the commodities markets, you might think that the organics boom would be the first suffer — especially in the midst of a recession. The logic goes that since wallets are tightening across the country, consumers will turn to cheaper meat and produce, eschewing concerns about pesticides, growth hormones and sustainability issues. But could the long term benefits of a changing food economy actually outweigh the negatives?

The Austin, Texas, headquarters of Dell computer manufacturer is now fully powered by renewable energy sources. Dell recently announced the completed changeover to power from wind and landfill gas for its 2.1 million square foot headquarters. The company joined forces with TXU Energy Wind Power and renewable waste expert company Waste Management for the green reincarnation—publicly billed by Dell as part of its efforts to be carbon neutral at its owned and leased plants.

Just in time for Earth Day, Toys "R" Us has announced a new line of sustainable toys that will begin appearing on store shelves in the coming weeks. The toys, which will use in recycled packaging and carry certifications from groups like the Forest Stewardship Council, come in response to the growing trend of families going green together.