Bette Midler goes green with NBC Universal

According to Bette Midler and NBC, you plant now, you’ll dig later.

Singing sensation and pop diva, Bette Midler has joined NBC Universal and their “Green is Universal” initiative in honor of Earth Day. Bette and hundreds of NBCU volunteers were in East Harlem, New York today for a massive tree planting. It’s all part of the “MillionTreesNYC” program which was set up by Mayor Michael Bloomberg which plans to plant one million trees in New York City by 2017.

Talent from “Saturday Night Live,” “Lipstick Jungle,” Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York City” will be joining in the effort on the east coast, while on the west coast, a similar event happens at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

In addition, NBC Universal has partnered with the Environmental Media Association, HP and Staples in a “Green Screens” initiative, a recycling drive for used electronics. Consumers are invited to drop off their unwanted electronics – cell phones, blackberries, cameras, PC’s, notebooks etc.– in recycle bins outside the “TODAY” studios in Rockefeller Plaza.

Additional free drop-off locations will be available at 76 Staples stores throughout the five boroughs and Long Island. A portion of the donated cell phones will be used to create a spectacular art rendering, designed by Kevin O’Callaghan, Chairman of New York City’s School of Visual Arts 3D Department, and his students. The artwork will be constructed and displayed in the “TODAY” Plaza throughout the week of April 21st.

Also during the week of April 21st, the “NBC Experience Store” windows will feature an art installation and decoupage of junk mail commissioned by GreenDimes, a company committed to reducing the amount of postal junk mail sent to American mailboxes. This creative design speaks to the magnitude of junk mail we receive, and the necessity to save trees. A special GreenDimes kiosk will be in the store throughout the week, where consumers can register to eliminate junk mail. A portion of the store’s proceeds from Earth Day will be donated to MillionTreesNYC.