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What to Do with all Those Pennies |
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Written by Steven Grande
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I know I am not the only one that has a penny jar taking up way too much space somewhere at home. The question is what can you do with its contents. Well, you could "save for a rainy day," or maybe go to your local bank and ask for some penny rolls and start counting. I might have the coolest idea yet and you can help save the planet while you are at it. It's Coinstar's "Change for our Earth Campaign."
 According to the Change for Our Earth Campaign website , we have to think if it as a new form of recycling. When you put those unused coins back into circulation, fewer coins are produced. That translates to some pretty heavy environmental savings.
Check out this example - I keep my pennies in a 1-gallon water jug. If I put those coins back into circulation, my environmental savings would equate to 2,600 liters of water consumption, 51.1kwh of energy consumption and nearly 2 tons of geological waste.
These numbers represent the impact on the environment from the processes of copper mining, coin production and logistics. Coinstar can also double your warm-fuzzy feeling of giving back by giving you the option to donate your deposited coins (minus 8.9 cents/dollar) to the WWF (not that WWF...the World Wildlife Foundation).
So, get the kids together and start combing the sofa cushions for extra dough and head to your nearest supermarket. Together, you and the kids can help stay environmentaly friendly while getting rid of that dusty old penny jar.
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