Lawn mowing season will be here before you know it. Last summer we shot this video to demonstrate how you can “green” up your yard care. Check it out.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Thinking about greening up your life? Start with the Three R's; REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE. Keep these simple words in mind when shopping and before tossing things into a waste can.

REDUCE - When shopping, plan ahead and make lists. Buying only what you need reduces waste and takes up less space at home. Look for items with less, or even no packaging. Many fruits and vegetables grow their own "packaging", like bananas for example. Bring your own reusable shopping bags to reduce the need for plastic bags.

REUSE - If you do bring home your groceries in paper or plastic bags, challenge yourself to use each one at least one more time. Those big paper bags make excellent recycling sorters for cans, bottles, plastic and paper. I use the small plastic bags as lunch bags, craft bags, muddy boot bags, and have even crocheted them into pot scrubbers, hats and gift bags! When you are done using them or find you are collecting too many of them, go on the the next step...recycle them.

RECYCLE - Even those pesky plastic grocery bags can be recycled if you know where to take them. Most large grocery stores all offer recycling bins for them. If you don't see a bin, why not ask? You could be the spark to get them started.

Need to know what you can recycle? Check with your local waste authority for lists of items and locations. Not all will recycle everything, but I am delighted to report that I now have a drop off location that will take plastics 1 through 7, glass bottles, steel and aluminum cans, paper and corrugated, all in one place. It took a little research, but now I have reduced my "trash" from 4 kitchen size bags to less than 1 per week.

The Natural Resources Defense Council website has additional ways you can implement the Three R’s.

Friday, February 20, 2009