Tips on How To Save The Environment (Part 2) REUSE & RECYCLE

Note : Our 2nd Part on what each and every one of us can do to contribute towards a safer, cleaner and better world for ourselves, our children and theirs, for now and the future.
Take care....(Greensleeves)

Source: http://globalstewards.org/ecotips.htmSecond: Reuse

The media has done a wonderful job of selling us on the attractiveness and benefits of buying "new", "improved", "special", etc. products. However, we already collectively own so much that we could all survive for quite a while on the existing products - if we just reused them a few times!

SECOND : RE-USE
•Garage Sales: Shop at and hold garage sales - this is a great way to reuse products.

•Reusables: Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.

•Donations: Donate (and buy used):
◦household items - clothes, furniture, dishes, books, sports equipment, magazines, appliances, electronics, business attire, wedding attire, etc. (to charity)

◦women's business attire (to Dress for Success)

◦computer equipment◦cell phones, cameras, iPod/MP3 Players, laptops, PDAs (to Recycling for Charities)

◦cell phones and ink cartridges(to Cure Recycling - profits from reuse of items support the CURE Childhood Cancer organization. Free postage. Another place to donate cell phones is Collective Good). If you would like to start your own recycling program, check out Wireless Recycling. Learn how to erase cell phone data with this free data eraser.

◦building material (to companies who specialize in selling used material). One organization: Habitat for Humanity

◦eyeglasses (to Lions Club, For-Eyes, Pearle, or Lenscrafters)

◦extra hangers (to your local dry cleaners)

◦art materials (to a school or cultural organization)

◦unwanted boxed/bagged/canned food (to homeless shelters, food banks, or soup kitchens)
◦etc.

•Buy/Sell Used Items: Buy and sell your items on sites such as:
◦local thrift stores
◦Ebay
◦Craigslist
◦Amazon (search on specific refurbished product)
◦local newspaper listings
◦local material exchange sites (search in your area)
◦garage sales (search in your area in the 'for sale' > 'garage sales' section
◦used refurbished computers (check your computer manufacturer's website or Amazon
◦local used furniture stores (search in your area)
◦local consignment shops (search in your area)
◦Recycler's World facilitates buying and selling used products (for home and work)

•Freecycle: The Freecycle Network provides an online community tool for giving and receiving free stuff.

•Share: thingloop facilitates sharing our belongings with each other.

•Throwplace: Throwplace.com lets you list items online that you would like to give to nonprofit organizations, businesses, or individuals.

•Community Swap: Organize a community swap program (i.e., designate a place where people can leave unwanted items for others to use).

•Packing Peanuts: Drop off at a local packing, shipping or moving store.

•Wash and Reuse Plastic Bags: With either a wooden bag dryer or in the washing machine.

•Buy Durables: Buy products that will last and take care of them.

•Teach Thrift: Teach your children the value of being thrifty (the wise economy in the management of money and other resources; frugality).

•Frugal Printing: Use both sides of each piece of paper -- for note taking or printing documents from your computer (at home or work). Create note pads by stapling together once-used paper.

•Kitchen Reuseables: Instead of buying these items new, save and reuse all: paper bags, rubber bands, twisties, boxes, and packaging material. Reuse your plastic bags with a handy bag dryer.

•Library: Pick up books from your local library or used book store. The library is also many times a great place for finding magazines, CDs, books-on-tape, and videos.

•Share with Neighbors: Join in with neighbors to purchase infrequently used products such as lawn mowers, ladders, etc.

•Refurbished Computers: Buy refurbished computers for less

•Rechargeable Batteries: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery recharger (some battery rechargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries). Solar powered battery rechargers are available online.

•College Reuse: Dump and Run is a nonprofit organization that organizes the collection of college students' castoff items in the spring, so they can be sold to incoming students in the fall. The proceeds are then donated to nonprofits.

THIRD : RECYCLE
•Recycle Bins: Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage

•Recycling Fact Sheet: Create a local recycling fact sheet for yourself and interested neighbors. The local Yellow Pages, Internet Consumer Recycling Guide and Recycling Resources are great resources. Find out where you can recycle:
◦glass
◦paper products
◦plastic grocery bags (better yet - use cloth bags)
◦plastic - including 1 - 7 identification codes
◦aluminum
◦cardboard
◦tin cans
◦scrap metal
◦motor oil (one quart of oil can kill fish in thousands of gallons of water)
◦ink cartridges
◦household appliances such as refrigerators
◦computer equipment and other electronic devices
◦aseptic packaging (square boxes used for liquids)
◦styrofoam
◦tires
◦athletic shoes (contact a local sporting goods or athletic shoe store - some donate used shoes, others recycle them)
◦etc.

•Recycled Content: Ask your local retailers to stock more products made from recycled materials and buy products made from the highest recycled content whenever possible.

•Green Paper: In general, try to buy products/containers made from recycled material as often as possible to support the recycled product market. When purchasing paper products (toilet paper, etc,), look for paper that has been recycled using a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste. Also, purchase from companies that do not use chlorine to bleach their paper products (which creates dioxin waste).

•Natural Fertilizer: Leave grass clippings on the lawn as fertilizer.

•Composting: Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps. Learn more at Wikipedia's Compost page.

•Pack-it-Out: If you are traveling and no recycle bins are available, pack your recyclables home with you whenever possible.

•Eco-Friendly Burials: For the ultimate in recycling, check out the growing movement in eco-friendly burials and conservation burial. Also, eco-friendly recycled paper coffins are becoming available.

•Recycled Gold: If you are shopping for wedding rings or other jewelry consider buying recycled gold jewelry and synthetic diamonds and gemstones.

•Hazardous Waste: The other key aspect of dealing with waste effectively is to dispose of toxic products at a hazardous waste facility. Products requiring special handling include:
◦Building Materials - paint , varnish, paint thinner, solvents, rust remover, wood preservatives and driveway sealer
◦Automotive products - gasoline, transmission oil, brake fluid, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, power steering fluid, used motor oil,used oil filters, used antifreeze
◦Household cleaners - spot removers, rug cleaners, metal cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaner, drain cleaner
◦Pesticides - insect killers, weed killers, flea products, moth crystals, fertilizers with weed killer
◦Miscellaneous - photographic chemicals, acids and corrosive chemicals, pool chemicals, compact fluorescent light bulbs (mercury), Ni-Cd batteries