Recycle In the Kitchen. One of the easiest, most convenient ways to cut back on your carbon footprint is to keep an extra waste bin next to your trash can. Simply rinse aluminum cans, plastic jugs, and glass jars and put them in your extra bin. If your city provides a free recycling service (mine does), this not only helps the environment, but could also cut back on your garbage bill. If you are currently paying for two garbage bins, you may be able to cut back to only one, and your recycling efforts will have an effect on the environment AND your wallet!
Recycle Plastic Bags. Pop a nail in a wall somewhere and hang your plastic shopping bags on it instead of throwing them in the trash. Better yet, invest in reusable bags once and you'll never have another plastic bag to recycle.
Recycle Newspapers and Magazines. Don't forget to recycle your newspapers! On second thought, cancel the delivery altogether and get your news online.
Educate. Teach your children not to litter. Set a positive example by stopping to pick up trash in a parking lot, for instance. If every able body picked up one piece of trash every day, imagine how much cleaner our environment would be, and this effort doesn't cost you a penny!
Full Loads Only. When you wash laundry, wash a full load. Top load machines use almost as much water to do a small load as they do a large one. Upgrading to an energy efficient model might be a sound investment too, but remember to be sure your old washer (and dryer if you replace it too) are properly recycled.
Take a Bath. If you're in the mood for a long shower, take a bath instead. Showers are notorious for wasting water. While we're on the subject, installing water saving shower heads is very simple and effective at reducing water waste.
Dishwashers are Not Water Hogs. When washing dishes, use your dishwasher. It probably uses much less water than you will if you do the dishes by hand. If you simply must hand wash, fill one sink with soapy water and one with clear water, and turn the water off as you wash.
Save In the Shower. Don't shave in the shower. This goes for men and women alike. Men, fill your sink with water, don't leave the spigot running as you shave. Women, use the bathtub. It's a much easier, safer process anyway.
New is Not Necessarily Better. Use a traditional broom and mop to clean floors instead of disposable alternatives, which add additional unnecessary waste to our already polluted landfills. If you have a bagged vacuum cleaner, use it only on carpets since the bags have to be replaced the more often you use them.
Compost. Consider using food scraps, coffee grounds, used paper towels, and banana peels in a compost pile rather than throwing these things in the garbage can. Much of the garbage can be recycled or composted with only a minimal amount of effort. If you simply don't have the space or inclination to compost, use your garbage disposal instead of throwing food away.
Ah Ha! The last step gave me another idea! I'm amazed at how much food is thrown away in some of my friend's homes after a nice dinner. I save just about everything. Vegetables can be used in soup the next day, lasagne, spaghetti, and pot roasts are better the next day anyway! Instead of tossing the item, at least try to come up with an idea for using it in a day or two. Try to think of something BEFORE you put it in the fridge though, or you're creating a potential science project!
Stop Throwing Money In the Garbage. Minimize your disposable purchases. Paper towels can be replaced with reusable napkins which don't take much space in the washer anyway. Paper plates can be composted but wouldn't it be better to use your lovely dishes in the cabinets anyway? Buy the kids a special cup that they really like so they'll want to use it instead of getting a new one (or grabbing a disposable one).
Just Say No... To Styrofoam! Support the "greener" establishments by frequenting restaurants that use real silverware and dinner plates, avoiding the fast food joints that use Styrofoam, paper sacks, and wax paper.
Waste Not, Want Not. Don't use a straw. Drink from a glass. Doesn't that sound like a much more enjoyable experience anyway?
Re-use More, Dispose Less. Buy reusable water bottles and use them. Install a water filter in your home instead of buying bottled water. If you can't afford a water filter (they can get pricey), get a water dispenser that uses 3 or 5 gallon jugs, then refill your jugs at the closest water filtering site. Where I live, I can get filtered water for 15c a gallon, and I'm not filling the recycling bin with gallon jugs and single serve water bottles.
Pedal or Walk. Walk or ride a bike instead of driving when you can. Why load the kid's bikes into the gas guzzling truck just to go to a park? Ride your bikes, get some exercise, and save the gas. You'll be saving the Earth AND your wallet!
Clean Green. Use simple household products for cleaning instead of harsh chemicals. You'll be amazed how much cleaning power is packed in vinegar, lemon juice, salt, baking soda and borax. Do a google and make your own green products. While you're at it, be sure to recycle old bottles instead of buying new ones. This process can save many families hundreds of dollars a year.
Use Less, Reduce Waste. Use what you need, but don't use too much! Most people use too much soap, laundry detergent, bleach, hair care products, toothpaste, mouth wash, cleaning products and dish washing detergent than they actually need.
Read more: How to Help Protect the Earth, 18 Simple Ways to Go Green AND Save Money Too | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5062264_protect-ways-green-save-money.html#ixzz1J3GndQrf
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