Shopping Bags

Plastic is one of the worst trash creations ever. It does not decompose nicely and we use huge quantities of it. I compost and recycle, and have noticed that most of my garbage is composed of platic packaging.

The problem with plastic is so serious that the United Nations has called for a complete worldwide ban on plastic grocery bags. "Single-use plastic bags which choke marine life should be banned or phased out rapidly everywhere," said Achim Steiner, head of the U.N. Environment Program. "There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them any more, anywhere." Although some people think recycling is a cure, and recycling plastic bags is on the rise, in the US alone it is estimated that 90 BILLION BAGS a year are not recycled.

An easy way to address this is to decrease the amount of plastic you bring home from the grocery store every week. I have two methods:

1. Use cloth bags at check-out

2. Instead of using plastic for my produce, I started collecting and reusing the mesh bags you get when you guy 5-10 lb packages of onions, potatoes, lemons, etc. Run a ribbon through the mesh around the top to use as a tie, then use these at the store. This is a 1 minute project - give it a try!

Garburators and the Environment

Garburators increase the fat we put down our drains by about 20 percent. This clogs up our home and city sewer lines. Unclogging them requires costly chemicals and plumber services. Try to minimize what you put down your sink by using a sink strainer. Clean that out regularily and dump the contents into your compost. You will save yourself money on chemicals and plumbers as well as save the environment from chemicals!

Rainwater Harvesting: Rainbarrels

Water is tomorrow's oil. We are running low on water and can easily save water.

One way to save water is to harvest rainwater.
Rainwater harvesting is finding any way to save rainwater for a dry day. This is especially useful if you live in an arrid zone. One way is to use a rainbarrel.

Place rainbarrels in an unnoticed area, or hide with vines and bushes.

If you are handy, you can make your own rainbarrell. Find instructions on Youtube.

Unplug Chargers

Be sure to only leave your cell phone, laptop, etc. plugged in long enough to charge it. As soon as it is charged, unplug it from the wall. Do not leave chargers that are not charging plugged in or it will continue to draw power.

When you get a new cell phone - recycle the old one, don't throw it out! Old cell phones leak toxic waste into our water and land.

Bottled Water - NEVER!

Vow to never buy bottled water again. Get your water from the tap - the same place most bottled water originates!

Bottled water creates approximately 1.5 million tons of plastic trash each year. That plastic uses up to 47 million gallons of oil each year to produce. Most bottles are not even recycled, with over 80 percent of plastic bottles thrown away. Plastic takes about 1000 years to deteriorate.

Bottled water is expensive, produces a hideous amount of waste, and is not safer or cleaner. In fact, tap water has higher standards than bottled water.

So, pledge today to never buy bottled water and sign the petition.

Hang Your Clothes to Dry

Your clothes dryer uses 5-10% of your house electricity, plus wears your clothes out.

Lose the dryer - hang your clothes to dry. Besides saving electricity and extending the life of your dryer (saving the environment by not needing to replace it) this saves your clothes from coming out of the dryer wrinkled and needing ironing. Get a clothes hangar for indoors, hang a clothes line outdoors. Easier yet, hang any clothes that will end up on hangers directly on to the hangers. They dry and you don't need to move them from the clothes line to the hanger - easy! Reduces your work, your energy used, and saves the environment!

Turn the Thermostat Down in the Winter

Put on a sweater and slippers and then turn your room temperature down a degree or two. I used to feel uncomfortable with the house below 72 degrees F, now I rarely like it above 67 degrees F - it's just what we are used to.

Buy a programmable thermostat and have the temperature drop automatically at night but warm up before you wake up. You can also set it to turn way down when you leave the house during the day.

On top of that, if you are running out for a few hours, turn the heat off or reset the thermostat to go off for that period of time and turn back on before you get home.

Digital thermostats are not expensive or difficult to purchase. Buy one today - it will quickly pay for itself. And, don't forget to turn the room temperature down.