The Web site, which includes several features that are common on different social networking sites, is committed to connecting people and businesses on green issues, and was developed to serve as an educational tool to teach people about ways in which to be more environmentally sound. Waste Management sponsored the creation of the site in an effort to get more people to start thinking green.

"Waste Management is an environmental company that is committed to not only providing its comprehensive waste and environmental services, but also engaging customers and all of its various stakeholders to think about the environment," said Joe Vaillancourt, managing director of Waste Management's organic growth group.

"We believe that by promoting and creating a dialogue about things such as conservation, recycling, and renewable energy that awareness about our environmental operations and our business offerings will increase."

Vaillancourt added: "The management of waste remains at the core of our operations, but the company is always looking for innovative ways to engage stakeholders, protect the environment and grow its business. In January of this year we launched ThinkGreen.com, which is an interactive web site that describes our waste operations.

"Recently, INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort worked with Waste Management to create the "Don't Waste It" exhibit, which educates park goers about our operations. Now with the start of Greenopolis.com, we are further expanding our efforts to educate about the environment and grow our business."

Greenopolis.com provides numerous features to its members, including:

- MyOpolis - The interactive social network section of Greenopolis.com where members can create profiles, build networks of friends and keep track of their "Greenopolis Points." Users can access features and tools, such as Blogs, forums, events calendar and other online features.

- Groups - Greenopolis offers online tools for community action groups such as David Gershon's Green Living Handbook, Low Carbon Diet, and Cool Corporate Citizen.

- GreenMedia - The Green Broadcast System (GBS) gives users up-to-the-minute news stories, articles, thought-leadership, blogs and published data through an RSS feed for Greenopolis.com members.

- Marketplace - This feature provides shopping, local environmental services directories and a materials exchange. The materials exchange, "Free'N," helps members locate and exchange items as an alternative to throwing them away -- promoting reuse.

- Games - User's can suggest, play, rate and review sustainability-themed games helping to build a searchable directory of the best sustainability games on the Web.

- Green Profile - Each member can create a unique profile to track their environmental progress. The profile includes a Green Badge that becomes greener based on the user's activity on Greenopolis. Badges are shared with other Greenopolis.com members and have the ability to be shared on other Blogging sites and networks such as MySpace.com.

- Merit Badges - Merit badges are designed to help users track their learnings and actions in specific environmental areas. Activities and content on the site is tied to merit badge categories. Users earn points that will eventually accumulate into enough "merits" to earn a badge. Greenopolis merit badges include: Green Energy and Conservation, Clean Abundant Water, Clean Fresh Air, Healthy Soils and Forests, Reuse and Recycle, Reduce Waste, Green Community and Education, Wildlife and Habitat Conversation Protection, Climate Change and Carbon Footprint and Healthy Sustainable Food.

Greenopolis' current partners include dozens of environmentally friendly businesses, organizations and universities, which include: Cabot Cheese, Johnson School of Cornell, General Motors, Georgia Tech, Green Mountain Coffee, Keep America Beautiful, and InterfaceFLOR.

"As businesses identify more ways to reduce their carbon footprint, this web site is a terrific way for them to connect with potential partners and customers," said Joe Laur, director of content, Greenopolis.

"The best results come when everyone is working for the same goals, and in this case, the goal is protecting our environment. Greenopolis is a terrific way for people to learn about how to be more green, and they'll also have a chance to earn rewards from our numerous partners."

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