Everyone is talking about going green.
What does that mean? It is a conscious movement toward protecting the natural resources we all depend upon for daily living.
With the price of gasoline, I suppose we are all thinking of ways to save gas, but did you know that much of our household trash and commercial waste is being disposed of in the ocean? In the ocean of all places! As if oil spills and off-shore drilling weren't enough burden on the marine ecosystem.
There is something we can all do to reduce the amount of waste we create as consumers and it starts at home.
It will take a little more effort that we are used to, but it is worth it when you consider how much trash could be used as a resource.
Here are four simple ways we can reduce the load coming from our homes into landfills or oceans.
1.
Reuse: Instead of throwing away cardboard boxes, use them for art projects or reuse them as mailers.
A shoe box makes a great mailer and saves money you would spend to purchase a box at the post office.
A plastic juice bottle with the top one-fourth cut off can make a safe vase for flowers.
An empty bottle of dish wash makes a fun squirt bottle for summer outdoor water activities.
A soup can may be used as a pencil holder.
Cover it with contact paper to keep the rim smooth and avoid cuts.
An oatmeal canister can hold small toys like Legos and action figures.
You can even cut "windows" and a drop down door for your castle.
2.
Recycle: Collect glass, cardboard, aluminum, and plastic that you would normally toss into your trash can.
Purchase some inexpensive plastic bins at your local department store and use them to hold your recyclable items.
We keep our recycling bins in the garage where they are out of sight but convenient to the kitchen where most of our trash is created.
Be sure to rinse the residue from cans and bottles so you don't attract bugs! We also collapse food packaging that comes in boxes to conserve space in our collection area.
About every three to four weeks we carry our recyclable items to our local recycling center.
Some cities offer curb side pickup, which makes it even easier.
3.
How many plastic bags do you bring home from the store in a week? Probably far more than you can possibly use.
Don't throw them away; take them back to the store next time you shop.
Many grocery stores collect them for recycling.
I prefer to use canvas bags because they hold more and stay put rather than sliding around and scattering the contents all over the trunk.
It may take a few trips before you get used to taking them into the store with you.
Several times, I've had to go back to the car to get them, but once you get used to shopping with a lightweight bag on your shoulder you probably won't ever use one of those wire or plastic totes the store offers.
Simply toss your items into your canvas bag and empty it on the counter when you are ready to check out.
4.
Most of us probably do not throw our old clothes away.
Most leave them hanging in the closet taking up space we could actually use to get better organized and find the items we do want to wear.
Go through your closet about once every two or three months and remove the clothes you no longer enjoy wearing.
Take them to Goodwill or donate them to another charity where they may be reused while they are still in style.
Some skirts and shirts contain enough material that can be can used for craft projects.
I hope you will begin to use these simple tips to reduce your volume of household discards and help the environment.
When we help the environment, we help ourselves, other people, and the plants and animals that depend upon the earth for existence.