Vocal Trash is everywhere! You never know where we’ll pop up next…on TV, on a friend’s CD player, at a community clean-up event, in a school auditorium or on a big arena stage. We recently hit the road for some of the best cardio we’ve had in a while, with a mid-day workout break where our instruments got a great workout, too.

Eye Spy…Vocal Trash at Flywheel

Thanks to our hosts at Flywheel Texas in Plano for inviting us to their cycling class, where we backed up Justin Timberlake’s new album with a pop-up performance from Vocal Trash LIVE!! The cycling class was a terrific workout (um, one of us is hooked!) but it’s also great entertainment for us to see how versatile and impromptu our performances can be.

Tight spaces? No problem! A room with an echo? That’s fun to play with. New exposures, opportunities and constraints give us more fuel for great ideas. It’s also an inspiration to participate in our audience’s curious explorations with our instruments. The sound, texture and flexibility of our trash talkin’ music makers is one-of-a-kind fun in the hands of everyone!

Take the eye spy Vocal Trash challenge today – where’s a unique and unexpected place you’d like us to pop into for a performance?? We’d love to share our energy and earth-conscious message with everyone, everywhere. Remember, Earth Day is just around the corner, as well as every day of the year. Recycle, reuse and THINK…about where you’d like to see us next!

Harmoniously,

Kelsey

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino, Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you “THINK… before you throw it away!”

The post Vocal Trash is everywhere appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Vocal Trash is fueled by inspiration when we get to perform in front of a group of kids. Check out this video and you’ll see why!

Vocal Trash Gets Kids to THINK…

We’re jazzed each time the phone rings with a youth group booking, in part because their audiences are so lively, cheerful and fun, but also because it gives us a chance to get our message to people of such a young age. The kids walk, skip, dance and drum out of the performance loaded with energy and ideas for how they can help the planet. They pledge to “THINK…before they throw it away!”  Their enthusiasm is contagious as they encourage each other, their friends and their families to do good things for the environment and each other. Through music and dance, our Vocal Trash Kids Program is true edutainment that teaches them how to be the best people they can be, and also discourages bullying and the use of drugs or alcohol.

We’re constantly evolving the show to tackle the attitudes and issues these kids face, to make sure our Kids Program truly connects – that it’s fresh, meaningful and exciting and really sticks with them. We got some great comments on our March 1 Facebook poll, asking “What’s the biggest challenge our youth faces today?”  We’re working on weaving in these thoughts and ideas to help communities get the word out in a fun way, and help kids feel good about making great choices. We appreciate all that communities are doing to guide kids and we’re honored when we can be a part of their good work.

Vocal Trash is deeply dedicated to our Kids Program. No group is too far away or too small. From neighborhood groups to Girl/Boy Scout troops, we’re motivated to get out our message through the universal language of music and dance.

Want to help us get the message out? Let your school administration, PTA or kids group leader know that Vocal Trash is a fun way to get audiences of all ages (parents and teachers love it, too!) to THINK… Share our music, share us on Facebook, book us for your group of any size, and help spread the word!

Harmoniously,

Kelsey

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino, Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you “THINK… before you throw it away!”

The post What Do Your Kids THINK…? appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Sharing is Caring!

It’s such a thrill for us to share our love of music and performing; it’s even more thrilling that we’re doing it to get a message out that can truly change the way we all live, play and work. From toddlers to seniors, from school groups to festivals and corporations, we love to see all kinds of people SPARK to what we say and how we say it. We could really feel the love and the energy last Saturday when we hit the big stage for AdvoCare Success School 2013.

Vocal Trash Hits the Big Stage

It was a rush to perform in front of 20,000 peeps and see ourselves bigger than life on the screens ringing the Ft. Worth Convention Center. We were in fantastic company, on the bill with speakers George Bush and Jason Witten. Crazy that this gig was right across the street from my house – what a great (green) commute! After heating up the stage for an hour, we were just as fired up to get up close and personal with fans that spilled out into the lobby to check out our instruments and talk trash with us.

We’ve loved watching the Facebook posts roll in saying we brought energy and inspiration to the conference – what a great crowd! I got so much back, though, working that stage in front of so many people. What if every one of them, even just once each day, now stops and THINKS before they throw something away? Each person. Even just once a day. That could add up to 20,000 x 365 = 7,300,000 “things” saved from the trash and upcycled, reused or recycled. That’s an amazing amount of stuff!!

YOU can make this number even bigger! Share our music, share us on Facebook, book us for your group of any size, and help spread the word. Every person who hears our message adds up to less waste and less stuff in landfills.

Let’s all THINK…before we throw it away!

What did you upcycle today?

Harmoniously,

Kelsey

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino, Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you “THINK… before you throw it away!”

The post Sharing is Caring! appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Kids Teach Us to Recycle and Reuse!

Hailey is an 8-year-old recycler who really knows how to reduce the amount of trash in the landfills and reuse packaging material in her home. She shows off a home she made for her stuffed pig, Wilbur – cutting the box and adding leftover wallpaper to make him his very own designer pig pen. Best of all, the cardboard from his packaging will not be forced to sit in a landfill for 15 years before decomposing!

Hailey also converted an old glass food jar into a piggy bank. This small action saves the glass from ending up in a landfill for an astounding 1 million years!

What Can I Do To Make a Difference?

You may be wondering, “Where should I start?” Take a look at the City of Novi, Michigan’s rundown of how long it takes for your trash to decompose naturally, which should get the creative gears in your head spinning…

You Still Need Help?

If you’re stumped for ideas, you can find many resources online. For instance, PlanetGreen.com lists five uses for just about everything – from old shoelaces and chopsticks to bottle caps and plastic bags.

FamilyFun.Go.Com also has a treasure trove of activities for a rainy day when you’ve got nothing better to do than… oh… save the planet. It may seem like a small step, but if every person in America recycles just one piece of packaging, that saves over 311 million items from cluttering our landfills.

Here at Vocal Trash, we love to see young people who are creative and passionate about conservation. Let us know what projects you’ve been working on to recycle, reduce, reuse and you just might end up in a future episode of the Vocal Trash Street Show!

As always, remember to…

“THINK…Before you THROW IT AWAY!”

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you “THINK… before you throw it away!”

The post Kids Teaching How To Reuse… appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Vocal Trash Wants Your Ideas For Earth Day!

With Earth Day today, you are likely thinking about the environment and recycling a lot more. Anyone who is dedicated to sustainability and saving the planet will occasionally feel angry and confused. Why aren’t there appropriate recycling bins everywhere? Why are products and packaging materials still being manufactured that are so bad for Mother Earth? Why won’t everyone do their part?

Yet, it’s important to remain positive and hopeful. The Vocal Trash crew urges you to think of even just one little way you can change your own behavior and purchasing habits. Focus on those areas that you DO have control over! Try to encourage and inspire others to follow in your conservation foot steps this Earth Day.

Here Are Some Ideas:

• Switch to 100% recycled fiber toilet paper and save 500,000 trees from being cut down!

• Keep your sandwiches in a reusable container to avoid dependence on plastic bags, which stay in landfills for 1,000 years! 

• Leave reusable cloth grocery shopping bags in your car, so you never forget them!

• Instead of buying plastic bottle drinks, buy a reusable aluminum container for your beverages..and use it!

You CAN Make A Difference!

You may think, “What good will reusing just one bag really do?” But it’s amazing how the smallest action compounds over time. Think of it this way:

• If you reused just ONE bag in your everyday life… that would save around 6 bags a week.
• That works out to 288 bags per year saved from landfills.
• So, over the course of one’s lifetime, it would reduce the need for over 20,000 plastic bags!

Ditching plastic bags protects marine life, reduces energy consumption related to manufacturing, reduces the spread of toxins in the soil (that leech out of the bags over time as they decompose) and keeps our planet greener.

Hey Trash-Heads: Share Your Thoughts!

Sometimes people want to help, but they’re just not sure where to get started. You can lead by example and be a beacon of light to others this Earth Day and every day. Please share your ideas on one way you are making a difference today!

And, as always,

“THINK…Before You THROW IT AWAY!”

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post Share Your Ideas And Celebrate Earth Day! appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Reuse Trash to Get Fit!

Maybe your resolution this year was to recycle more and improve your efforts at conservation. That’s an admirable goal to have and it’s one that we here at Vocal Trash take to heart. Yet, you can totally combine your goal of reducing pollution and landfill waste with another common aspiration: to lose weight! How, might you ask? We’ll show you!

Weight Loss With Old Trash 101

In this edition of the Vocal Trash Street Show, Kelsey Rae, Steve Linder and Larry Parish  demonstrate how common household items can be turned into workout equipment!

Don’t let this 16 pound plastic tub of kitty litter sit in a landfill for 100 YEARS!

Fill it up with water or sand after the litter is gone and use it as a weight to do arm curls and for lunges or squats when you hold one in each hand.

Laundry containers work great for DIY weight-lifting too!

Use them with the liquid still inside as you do your laundry or when it's empty fill it with water or sand.

Flip over a metal wash bin and use it for step-ups!

Combine  this move with your litter or laundry containers to increase your efforts with muscle building and cardio.

Make sure the tub is on a non slip surface and you step securely on to the tub.

An old guitar cable may have frayed wires and no longer function, but it makes the perfect jump rope! 

Use your imagination but make sure to keep safety in mind as well.

Steve also reminds you not to forget your reusable water bottle to hydrate yourself while working out!

Making sure you are replenishing your body as you sweat is essential for maximum muscle building.  If you are dehydrated your cells won't have the proper material to rebuild what you tear down which is muscle fiber.  Refilling your bottle is better than adding more plastic into landfills and does a body good.

What’s Wrong With Just Recycling?

You may say, “Well, I’m doing the right thing. I’m not throwing my kitty litter containers and laundry detergent bottles into the trash; I’m recycling them!”

While recycling is always better than throwing away in the trash, keep in mind that it does require a lot of energy to recycle old materials into new ones. This burns fossil fuels and maintains our dependency on foreign oil. Boo, hiss!

Besides, you also have to consider the big, old trucks coming to pick up your recycled goods and how much energy that uses too. Let's use your creativity to reuse and decrease your dependency on fossil fuels.

Why Upcycle?

There is something poetic about turning your trash into treasure. By reusing and upcycling, you don’t require any additional energy expenditure – except for your own, while you exercise with these reusable goods, of course!  Wink, wink!

Thanks for taking this time to think about environmental issues and getting yourself fit at the same time.

As always, “THINK…before you throw it away!”

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post Fun, Alternative Workouts with Vocal Trash (Video) appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Would You Like To Star In A Vocal Trash Video?

In this special edition of the Vocal Trash's Street Show, three-year fan Amanda shows off the creative purses she made by recycling plastic Ziploc bags and shimmery pink duct tape (yes, they make pink!) She says it’s a fun activity she can do with her friends, while also following the principles of recycle, reduce, and reuse. Kids can do some amazing things!

Do You Want To Show Us Your Recycling Project?

Vocal Trash loves to hear about all the creative ways our fans recycle and reuse common everyday items that would normally sit in a landfill for years. Visit www.Facebook.com/VocalTrash and post a photo of your item for consideration. You just might be selected to appear on the show!

Where To Find Creative Projects To Help You Reuse…

1. At MakingFriends.com, you can find a number of projects to make out of glass jars, tissue boxes, coffee cans, paper bags, old computer stuff, egg cartons, newspapers, twist ties and more! Personally, we love this clothespin dragonfly magnet…

And how about this photo frame made from old tissue boxes?

2. Disney’s Family Fun website also features 40 recycled crafts you and your family can do together. Check out these cute can robots…

Or how about this winter penguin display made from old socks?

3. You can find craft ideas at CraftBits. For instance, why not make an edgy belt out of old aluminum pop tabs?

And isn’t this sock monkey the cutest darn thing?

4. You’ll find a number of conservation projects at KinderArt, such as…

A fish made from pie plates! Or…

A paper mache coffee tray gargoyle!

5. At AllFreeCrafts, you can search by recycled containers, denim, cardboard, old cards, light bulbs, household items and more. We love this recycled denim rug…

And these mosaic flower pots made from old broken plates!

Waste recycling can be fun and rewarding. Whether you need a gift for a birthday or Christmas, or you just want to show someone you value their friendship, homemade from the heart is best (especially when it helps save the planet)!

As always, “THINK…before you throw it away!”

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post Amanda – Creative Upcycling with Kids (Video) appeared first on Vocal Trash.

What Can You Do With Magazines & Newspapers?

What do you do with your old magazines when you’re done reading them? Do they sit around your house for years? Do you just throw them in the trash? Even though you can recycle them, 25 PERCENT of our landfills are filled with old magazines and newspapers that are just tossed out.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
— Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax

Did You Know…?

Magazines are made out of paper that has been coated and buffed by a process called "supercalendering," in order to give a glossy appearance. The paper is covered with a white clay called "kaolin" and put under high pressure rollers. This makes the resulting shiny pages suitable for color photographs. That's a lot of processing, don't you agree?

How Long Does It Sit In Our Landfills?

A newspaper will decompose in a landfill in 25 weeks…

But a magazine takes more than a YEAR to decompose! (Additional processes equal longer landfill time.)

Getting the Word Out

Many consumers are afraid to put magazines into paper bins, but the glossy paper does not contaminate paper recycling. Magazines are now accepted by all curbside recycling programs that collect paper. Find out more about your local recycling program using Earth911.

Every day, Americans buy about 62 million newspapers and throw out around 44 million of them. If we recycled just half our newsprint every year, we would need 3,200 fewer garage trucks to collect our trash.

Reusing Magazines:

The Vocal Trash crew recommends donating your old magazines to the following places:

• Airplanes
• Churches
• Colleges
• Craft Stores
• Dentists’ Offices
• Doctors’ Offices
• Fitness Centers
• Hobby Shops
• Libraries
• Preschools
• Senior Centers
• Work Break Room

Reusing Newspapers:

You can donate your newspapers to many of the same places you would donate your magazines, but Vocal Trash recommends also using your newspapers as compost.

1. Shred the newspaper into narrow strips by hand or in a paper shredder.
2. Spread a 10-inch layer of shredded newspaper at the bottom of your compost bin.
3. Layer several inches of green compost material.
4. Add half an inch of dirt.
5. Water the layers.
6. Repeat with additional layers if desired.

Art Projects Are A Great Way To Reuse Magazine & Newspapers!

You can also cut pictures and words out of newspapers and magazines to create art projects like greeting cards, posters and collages. When you’re done, be sure to recycle the rest of your materials in the appropriate bin! Use Earth911 to find a good place to recycle magazines and newspapers in your area.

Remember Vocal Trash says…

"THINK before you THROW IT AWAY!"

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post How Do You Reuse Magazines and Newspapers? (Video) appeared first on Vocal Trash.

What You Can Do With Cardboard

In the United States, 90 percent of all products are packaged and shipped using cardboard, according to Earth 911; and, as Annenberg Media reports, cardboard accounts for 41 percent of all municipal waste in the United States. Only 25 percent gets recycled, which means that 75 percent of used cardboard ends up in landfills.

"Thanks to my mother, not a single cardboard box has found its way back into society. We receive gifts in boxes from stores that went out of business twenty years ago."
~ Erma Bombeck

How Long Does It Take For Cardboard To Decompose In A Landfill?

There are many factors that affect how long it takes for cardboard to decompose. It can take years if it is packed tightly in sheets with little surface area exposed to the elements, as in landfills. In a home garden, cardboard used as mulch – shredded and soaked with water – the cardboard can decompose rather quickly and be completely broken down by microorganisms within 3 months. 

How To Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Cardboard

If you’re wondering what to do with cardboard, here are a few great ideas…

• Mulch! As mentioned, you can recycle your cardboard in your own backyard garden. According to Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture, “Cardboard and newspaper (several sheets thick) are effective mulches around vegetables or flowers, used to block weeds and retain soil moisture.” They add that the paper also blocks light, preventing weeds longer than traditional mulches, and also decreases the amount of other mulches needed. They add, “There is the benefit of reusing paper products, which reduces costs and the need for their disposal in overcrowded landfills.”
   
• Make crafts! Disney’s Family Fun site shows you how to make everything from racecars, mazes and puppet stages to seats, art galleries and dragon costumes out of cardboard! There are countless fun ways to reuse cardboard in your creative endeavors.
   
• Pet Toys! Animals like rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice and rats are easily entertained with boxes to chew. These products are not harmful for animals to shred. If you have cats, you can turn long cardboard tubes into cat teasers or mice toys using these instructions.

• Breakdance on it! Yes, it’s true – you can recycle cardboard by using it as a practice space for your dance moves. Check out the Vocal Trash crew’s breakdancing skills in this video!

Why Recycle Cardboard?

Sure, trees may be a renewable resource because we can always plant more, but the decomposition of cardboard releases methane – a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Also, the cutting down of trees destroys ecosystems, where birds, squirrels, and other animals live. Furthermore, processing the pulp and creating boxes consumes energy and releases emissions into the atmosphere.

For all these reasons, we need to reduce, reuse, recycle – and…

“THINK… before we THROW IT AWAY!”

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post Why Are You Not Recycling This Material? appeared first on Vocal Trash.

Are you one of the many people who have been recycling plastic bottles with the bottle caps still on?

Well, first of all, bravo to you for thinking before you threw that bottle away! Recycle bins are one of the most powerful weapons we have in environmental conservation today. However, we still have a long way to go in terms of plastic bottle recycling. It’s not a perfect process as Kelsey Rae, Steve Linder and Greg Dugan of Vocal Trash explain in this video. The type of plastic the bottle is made from and the type of plastic the lid is made from require two totally different recycling processes at two totally different recycling facilities. So all those caps you’ve been sending into the recycling bins and machines have been going to waste in landfills!

What You Can Do:

Good news, gang! There is a way you can recycle bottle caps. The good folks at Aveda have made it easy for you. Simply send an email to CapCollection@Aveda.com to receive 20 prepaid postage mailing labels and call your local UPS to schedule a pickup for all the old bottle caps you’ve been collecting. These bottle caps can then be recycled into new shampoo or conditioner containers, face wash jars, or body wash bottles.    

Types of Plastic Bottle Caps To Save:

In addition to plastic water bottle caps, you can also collect…

•  Laundry Caps
•  Soda Pop Tops
•  Milk Jug Carton Lids
•  Peanut Butter & Mayonnaise Lids
•  Ketchup, Mustard & Salad Dressing Flip-tops
•  Shampoo Bottle Lids
•  Make-up Tops
•  Face Cream Plastic Lids
•  Any Plastic #5 Lid

The program does not accept: yogurt lids, pharmaceutical lids, tub lids (margarine, cottage cheese), or non-screw-tops. As a general rule, look for thick, sturdy plastic lids that screw onto their bottles.

As An Added Bonus…

Not only are you saving tons of plastic from ending up in a landfill somewhere, but you are also preventing any of those colorful lids from winding up inside the stomachs of marine-life and birds.

Everybody, "THINK…before you throw it away!"

Vocal Trash is a troupe of environmental entertainers who have been engaging audiences with their unique and exciting brand of entertainment for a decade from New York to Seattle. Whether in Madison Square Garden or the Venetian Hotel and Casino,  Vocal Trash is environmentally conscious using upcycled materials on stage. The group asks that you "THINK… before you throw it away!"

The post Are Your Water Bottles Being Recycled? (Video) appeared first on Vocal Trash.