It’s that time of year when gifts abound---some we want and some we want to re-gift. Electronics always seem to gain popularity during gift-giving season. Who can resist the newest IPhone, Palm Pre, IPod, laptop, or new flat screen Hi-def TV? And what about getting ready for holiday visitors? Is the tree up and decorated with those to-die-for glass ornaments? Don’t forget the Christmas lights, electric Menorahs, and be sure to change the light bulb in the guest room!

Did you know that everything I mentioned can be recycled---even the mattress I didn’t mention but is on my personal wish list? Now we have a way to be proactive, to avoid the procrastination of “I don’t know where to take all this stuff.” I present to you: http://earth911.com/

On earth911.com, you can enter what item you want to recycle, your city or zip, and you are given a list of places that can help you repurpose, reuse, or dispose of these things.

Of course, this is more than a helpful hint, it’s my way to remind you of some of the environmentally friendly elements of Virgin Galactic’s new consumer spaceship, VSS Enterprise. One of the requirements Burt Rutan faced in his effort to win the Ansari X Prize in 2004 was that the spaceship had to go up and back into space twice using at least 80% of the original materials. Burt achieved this using over 90%, saving both materials and cost. Also, a horizontal takeoff at high altitude reduces the amount of fuel needed to propel the ship into Outer Space, spewing much less pollution than normal rocket launches. Another important point is that Virgin Group has a company whose aim is to create more environmentally friendly fuels. Even SpacePort America is being built with sustainability as its focus. So, once again, boys and girls, the moral of this story is what Virgin Galactic is doing will impact our planet in many positive, green ways.

The second moral is: we can impact our planet in positive, green ways if we make a decision to recycle!

Barbara King  |  Co-President  |  greatgetaways.travel  |  913.338.2244  |  800.546.TRIP  |  Virtuoso Member