Tips
Recycling Tips, Substitute Reusable Items for Consumables
The 2nd R in the “Reduce, Reuse Recycle” Waste Hierarchy of Waste Management strategies “is Reuse.” This waste management strategy is easily achievable at home where domestic or household waste comprise of paper, food scraps, yard trimmings, plastic, metals, glass and others. Paper is 28.2% o and plastics 12.3% of total domestic waste. Reducing these numbers will be a big help to the waste management efforts and will be good for the environment. Here are some tips to substituting reusable items for consumables:
• Use rags, sponges, towels for wipe-ups and cleaning
Instead of using paper towels and other disposables for wipe-ups and cleaning, use rags, towels and sponges. Maintain a large supply of wash cloth and rags to ensure that you will have enough clean supply. In the end buying extra kitchen towels and wash cloths to build a supply will come out cheaper than regularly buying disposable substitute such as paper towels. Wash and dry the rags, sponges and towels as often as possible to ensure that no bacteria live on it.
• Substitute paper napkins with cloth napkins
There are inexpensive cloth napkins that you can buy for everyday use. Again, the initial cost of stocking up on cloth napkins will be offset when you lessen the frequency and ultimately stop buying paper napkins.
• Use a reusable shopping bag instead of plastic bags
When you shop bring your reusable shopping rather than have the grocery put them in plastic bags. Your reusable shopping bag can carry more weight than plastic bags, hold more items, protect bottles and glass jars better, will last you a longtime, will lessen trash and save energy and resources.
• Use plastic food container instead of plastic bags
Use plastic food container instead of plastic bags when storing food in the refrigerator and cupboard. They are reusable, last longer than plastic bags, leak free, keep out insects and lessen odor in the refrigerator.
• Use rechargeable batteries rather than disposable batteries
Rechargeable batteries can be used for almost anything, from flash lights to digicams. It will come out cheaper in the long run rather than buying disposable batteries every now and then and are better for the environment.
Tips on Recycling
Recycling is a way of dealing with waste and other used materials by converting them into new products. Recycling is a vital element of the waste reduction efforts and is the third factor of the “Reduce. Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy which categorizes waste management approaches according to their benefits in the collective efforts to save mother earth.
Recycling also avoid waste of materials that can still be useful; lessen the utilization of raw materials; decrease the usage of energy; lessen air pollution brought about by burning and water pollution from landfills by decreasing the need for the traditional waste disposal; and decrease greenhouse emissions.
• Practice waste segregation
Set up your home to make recycling simple and trouble free. Maintain separate waste bins or baskets for recyclable materials side by side with your usual waste baskets all around the house. it is less uncomplicated to chuck recyclable materials in a separate basket than it is to delve through the garbage to separate them.
This will also encourage members of the family to participate in the recycling efforts since it will not need the extra effort to search for the recycling bin that may be set in, say the garage or the kitchen.
One area where a waste bin for recyclable materials is very much needed is the bathroom where there are plenty of recyclable materials that can be found such as empty shampoo sachet and bottles, toilet paper tubes, facial tissue and soap boxes.
Other areas in the house that can benefit from a waste recycle bin other than the kitchen, bathroom and garage is the study room or home office.
For organic waste such as food waste, maintain a container or an organic waste tote in your kitchen top and a bigger one underneath the sink. Make sure that the organic waste bin has a lid and properly covered.
• Check if there is curbside pick-up in your area
Most areas in cities have curbside pick-up for recyclable materials. Check with you local public works refuse department what items they are accepting for recycling so that you are properly guided. The usual recyclable items that are accepted are as follows, but some accept more while some accept less:
- Aluminum and steel cans – aerosol cans, beverage cans, food cans
- Aluminum food packaging ( clean) – dinner trays, foil, and pie plates
- Paper – magazines, newspaper, paper cardboard boxes, phone books, office and computer paper, shoe boxes, food boxes, toilet paper and paper towels tubes and more.
- Plastic water and juice bottles
Energy Saving Tips
Energy Saving Tips
The importance of saving mother earth and all its resources cannot be stressed enough. One of mother earth resources that is slowly being depleted is energy. Although there are alternative sources of energy that is being developed such as wind and solar energy, the fact is the greatest source of energy is still fossil fuel. It takes million of years to create and form fossil fuel. At the moment supply or reserves are being used up much faster than it is being formed. Coal, petroleum and natural gas, are fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and its production, use and eventual depletion have raised environmental concerns. It is the responsibility of everybody to help conserve energy and save mother earth. There are a lot of ways to help in the energy conservation efforts and these we can all do.
Here are some household tips to help save energy:
Lighting and other household appliances
• Make sure to turn off the lights when they are not in use
• During the daytime open the windows and take advantage of the day light
• Use low energy light bulbs
• Don’t leave appliances such as computers, video and television when not in use
• Unplug charging devices when not in use
• Only switch on the dishwasher when it is full
• Set the washing machine at 40⁰ rather than 60⁰
• Limit the opening and closing of the refrigerator doors
• Position the refrigerator at least several inches away from the wall to allow the motor to breathe and not be overworked. Also, keep it away from heating appliances such as a stove or oven.
• Don’t put hot food in the refrigerator, allow it to cool first.
• If the suction of a refrigerator’s door is weak or damaged, fix or replace it.
• Thaw frozen food inside the refrigerator, rather than using a microwave or thawing it in water. Thawing food helps in the cooling.
• Replace old refrigerators, those that are 10 years older or more. New models have energy saving features and motors that are energy efficient
Heating and cooling the house
• During summer or when the weather is sunny and hot, close the curtains and blinds to keep the house to lessen the need for air conditioning and fans
• In winter or during the colder seasons, keep the doors closed, use weather strips to prevent drafts and don’t leave doors open longer than it will take to get out or in
• If the windows of your home have no double glazing, heat will escape through the windows. Close the curtains at night to keep the heat from escaping
• Lower the temperature of the thermostat an hour before leaving the house of before sleeping
• Set the thermostat one degree lower during the day
• Some areas in the hose such as the staircase, storage spaces, empty rooms and the entry hall do not require heating or at least a lower temperature
• Use alternative source of heat such as a fireplace every once in a while
• Lower the thermostat and wear warm clothing inside the house
• Don’t leave large objects in front of the radiator
Latest Eco Tips
Latest Eco Tips
Planet earth is the only livable planet in the whole universe. It is the only one we’ve got and we better take care of it. Unfortunately, there are so many pressures on this earth’s environment that are slowly destroying this planet. These include urbanization that increases this earth’s hard surface, over population, water and air pollution, strains on water supplies among others. These pressures manifest the conscious or unconscious deeds of millions of individuals, families and communities. Fortunately, more and more people are becoming aware of what these pressures are doing to the environment and ultimately to planet earth and are doing their best to lessen them if not to arrest them. Here are some eco-friendly tips or tips to help the environment. Some of them you maybe doing already:
• Use public transport, bike, carpool to work or school, walk, keep tires inflated, or driver slower
Since majority of all traffic is commuters, it will greatly help the environment if most commuters will use alternative transportation as much as possible. It will save fuel, lower emission, save tires and even save lives.
• Recycle, compost, reuse and reduce
Most of this earth’s wastes come from domestic waste or trash. Recycling, composting, reusing and even reducing that trash will save energy and landfill space. It will save you some dollars. Refuse plastic bags as a packaging material bring instead a shopping bag where you can put all your purchases. Com posting of leaves. grass and food and vegetable scraps will help fertilize your garden.
• Save up on water
Water is no longer unlimited in some communities. Rivers, wells and dams are slowly drying up. Here are some tips on how to save water: Check drips on faucets and don’t allow faucets to run, don’t water lawn or garden at midday, wash dishes with a basin or run dishwasher only when it is full and take short showers.
• Avoid using herbicides or pesticides on your garden
These pesticides and herbicides including nitrogen fertilizers are the chief water pollutants. If you need to fertilize, use organic fertilizers.
• Save energy
Use light and airy fabrics for curtains in summer and lined curtains for winter. This will considerably lower your power bill and help conserve energy
The Three Rs of Recycling
The Three Rs of Recycling
Green living is mainly focused on how to reduce pollution in our environment. Recycling is one activity that we do in order to reduce our carbon imprint and reduce our waste, thus reducing the chances of environment degradation. In recycling, there is what we call the three Rs. This involves recycle, reduce and reuse.
One of the strategies in waste management is the reduction of waste consumption. Being the first level in the hierarchy, logic also dictates that if one reduces the amount of waste, one also reduces the chances of reusing and recycling of materials.
There is also what we call source reduction. This is the reduction of waste at the source level. This is done through designing and producing products that are less toxic to the environment. This is done so the toxicity level of trash in the landfills is also reduced.
Reuse is another level where in before disposing the waste, reuse. This means that if the product cannot be unmade, then it must be reused for a different purpose. Because of this, people, in theory, will purchase less, saving them money and saving the Earth as well.
Believe it or not, reusable items can be sold. All you need is to have a little creativity to create products out of trash.
The last level of waste management is to recycle. Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into something new. In the United States, old cans, bottle, paper and plastic is put inside recycling bags and sent to the processing plant. It is the reproduced in another form which in turn is purchased.
Because of the 3R Principle of waste management, there has been a reduction of landfills, prevention of pollution which in turn decreases the greenhouse gas emissions, leading to a healthier environment.
Benefits of Recycling
Benefits of Recycling
Many people know that recycling exist and many may even know how to recycle. But have you ever wondered what some of the benefits of recycling are and why you should do it? Here is a quick glance at just a few of the benefits.
Recycling Helps the Environment – Recycling reduces the amount of waste and toxic chemicals that are released into our drinking systems and into the air when the trash is burned at a waste site.
Recycling Helps Maintain Our Resources – Many resources like precious metals such as silver, copper and gold along with oil are resources that will one day be exhausted. By recycling these things you can prolong them from being exhausted.
Recycling Can Help To Create Jobs – For every recycling center there is a need for people to run it. This in turn will help create jobs within it for more people. Creating jobs is a great way to help the economy along with helping the environment.
Recycling Can Have Financial Rewards – Some recycling centers will pay you per pound on various items such as metal and paper. You can also recycle many products directly to the manufactures who will buy back old items to refurbish them and resell them.
So no matter what benefit you are searching for when it comes to recycling you will find it. Recycling is not only good for the environment but also for the community, the economy and even at times for your pocket book. With all of these benefits it’s it time you started recycling?
How To Get Your Kids to Recycle
How To Get Your Kids to Recycle
As parents, teachers and caregivers we all want to give our kids good values and teach them lifelong lessons. The best way to do this is to start young so they can take these lessons and values on with them. Recycling is something that many parents and teachers hope that children will do. Here are a few tips to help you get your kids to recycle.
Make Recycling an Everyday Thing – In order to learn lessons kids need to have it repeated time and again. By recycling every day you are showing the kids that it is something you believe in and something you want them to do.
Teach Them The Benefits – Teach them about not only the environmental benefits but also about the benefits of the community and even financial benefits. Help kids to recycle not only paper and plastic items but also video games, DVDs and CDs. They can do this at many different store locations and will earn money for their next purchase.
Reward Them for a Job Well Done – Everyone loves a reward and while you know that the reward is really the benefits of helping the environment, creating jobs and reducing the amount of waste, kids may need a reward. Reward them with something that is being reused such as a new toy from a thrift store or even a new item that is made with recycled materials. This way they can see exactly what is done with the items they recycle and it will make everything much clearer for them to understand.
Latest Recycling Facts
Latest Recycling Facts You Should Know
Recycling for many has become a way of life. Due to the fact that there are so many different benefits that come with recycling from saving money, doing a good thing for the environment and learning to use less, many people do it all the time. Here are a few facts you should know when it comes to recycling.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Over 40% of soda bottles and paper products are being recycled.
• Over 50% or appliances and steel products are being recycled.
• In the 1990’s the US had only one recycling program that was curbside. In the last 20 years that has grown to over 10,000 programs with more than 12,000 recycling sites drop off services.
So what can you do to start recycling? There are many things you can do right in your home that will help in the recycling and reusing efforts. Here is a quick list just to get you started:
Recycle plastic grocery bags – Let’s face it we all have tons of them laying around the house or in our garbage every time we grocery shop. Bag them up and take them back to the grocery store. Many stores have a program where you can drop them off or just reuse them for your next order.
Plastics and Paper – Contact your local township hall to find out how you can obtain a free recycling bin. During the week you place all your recyclable materials in it and then just place it alongside your garbage for weekly pick up on the same day.
These are just a few easy ways to start recycling and enjoying the benefits it offers.
Tips for Recycling in Your Home
Tips for Recycling in Your Home
Recycling is an important part of many people’s everyday life. There are many easy ways you can recycle and help to improve our environment. Here are a few quick tips that will help you incorporate recycling and reusing into your life.
Get A Curbside Bid – Contact your city hall and find out how to get a curbside bin for recycling. Once you have it, use it! You can easily place plastics, cardboard, newspapers and cans into the bid all week long. Then come garbage day you simply set the bin out with the garbage. Not only is this great for recycling you will also save money by using less trash bags.
Recycle Water – You can go as far as to have your plumbing altered to a new structure that will take rainwater and filter it for use in your home. But for those who can not afford such an overhaul you can easily recycle some of the water you use. If you are rinsing fruit or vegetables place a large pot under the faucet as you rinse them. Then take that water and water your household plants or even your garden.
Start a Compost Pile or Container – People throw away tons of unused food and fruit or vegetable peels each year. If you have a garden save your unused food and use it as a fertilizer. Not only are you reducing the amount of waste you have you are also doing something good for the environment. Many fertilizers are not good for the soil but by using old food you are avoiding an chemicals and toxins not only in the soil but also in the food you grown.
Recycle Your Old Electronics
Recycle Your Old Electronics
For most people when they think about recycling they automatically think about plastic bottles and newspapers. But have you ever thought about your old electronics and electronic parts? Let’s take a look at what electronics you can recycle.
Computers
If you are purchasing a new computer but the old one is still in working condition you can donate it to a local school or library. If it does not work you can contact one of your local electronic repair shops to see if they have a recycling program or contact a recycling center near you.
Cell Phones
There are many different charities that will accept used cell phones. Additionally there are also several companies online that will offer you money for your used cell phone as long as it is in working condition. You can also check to see if your service provider offers a cell phone recycling program that will give you money off your next cell phone.
Hearing Aids
While hearing aids are not the normal thing you think of when you think about electronics they are after off an electronic device. There are so many people who need hearing aids who can not afford them. Donate them to a charity that will help get used, working hearing aids into the hands of people who need them.
Game Disc/DVDs/CDs
Many stores now offer to buy back your game disc, DVDs or CDs and will offer you a percentage of what you paid for them. This can then be applied to new items within the store.
