July 13, 2008

  • What steps can average people take to live a "greener" life? Do you have any tips to share?

    This is a fantastic question with a very simple answer: Do anything that you can! A great way to start going green is to recycle. Most cities have a recycling program. In mine, we can purchase one or several recycling bins for $5 each. On a day that correlates with our trash pick-up, we set out our bins. It's really simple and easy to recycle your trash. You might be thinking that you'd forget to look at half the things you end up throwing away. If you can force yourself to look at the recycling labels on the products you use for at least three days, you'll be recycling without even thinking about it. I promise.

    The second best thing you can do is cut down on your use of plastic bags. Ask for paper bags when you can, and recycle the bags by taking them back to the grocery store and using them again. You can also purchase a reuseable grocery bag from almost anywhere now. Most of the larger bags don't cost more than $0.98. It's an inexpensive way to do a little bit to cut down on excess waste. Wal-Mart and Target are big into the new reuseable bags (aside from grocery stores). Target even has several styles that range in very large to very small. They even have a medium sized bag that can be folded and zipped up to fit into your purse or pocket. You just have to carry it in with you and ask them to place your items in that bag when you check out. If you absolutely cannot get anything other than a plastic bag, save the bag and use it to take your lunch to work or school. You can even use them in your smaller trash cans in your office area or bathroom. The key to going green is to conserve and be creative with the materials we have so that we don't waste something that could have several other uses.

    A third and more intense way to go green is to visit sites like http://www.green.org/, http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php, or http://www.thegreenguide.com/. These sites list green products that are safe and friendly for the environment as well as how to tell if a product is green or not (whether it lists it on the label or not). Another route would be to take the time to look up homemade cleaning supply recipes for those pesky stains and bathroom grime.

    Like I said before: ANYTHING HELPS! If we all do at least one thing to help save our environment, we'll be better off in the long run. It's as simple as picking up a piece of trash in your neighbor's lawn, carpooling, and putting your coke can in the recycling bin. If you need any advice or tips, feel free to visit the sites above or contact me. I'd be happy to help!
       

    I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!