Small Changes Make a Big Difference.
Changing from bottled water to a reusable water bottle (our favorite tip, obviously) or walking just a few miles each week instead of driving can make a big difference in your daily footprint on Mother Earth. Here are a few suggestions for less wasteful living.
Filtered water, reusable water bottles and food containers
Fill up a reusable water bottle with filtered water and good things happen! You save money and the environment. The same goes for reusable containers. You'll save money on disposable wrappings like plastic bags and tin foil. And with nice reusable containers, you may be more motivated to bring your lunch to work, also saving you some cash.
Check this out, according to Mother Jones News, Bottled-water drinkers in the US alone in 2007 squandered the equivalent of 32 to 54 million barrels of oil. Triple that number for worldwide use. For perspective, imagine each bottle is one-quarter full of oil.
Be sure to check out filterforgood.com and start reducing bottled water waste today.
Compost More
According to the EPA, yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That's a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial to compost instead http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/benefits.html
Use Rain barrels. Yes, even in the city!
Urban rain barrels can be installed within your building complex and/or your own dwelling very easily. Rain barrels save you money on water that you would use to water your lawn and garden. Learn more about rain barrels here; http://home.howstuffworks.com/rain-barrel4.htm
Bike Often
Get some exercise, help the environment and get to work or school faster! Even if you replace your car with your bike a few times a week, it can make a huge difference. http://www.totalbike.com/web/articles/commuting.html
Take Public Transportation
When you don't want to bike, opt for public transportation a few times a week. Your individual effort to take public transportation along with other commuters will collectively have a huge impact on improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions, while also saving natural resources. http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/public_transit.htm
Buy Second Hand or Freecycle
Conspicuous consumption is in very poor taste these days! Check out your local thrift stores for the best deals in town, it can't be beat. You're supporting local businesses, helping to deter landfill overflow, while also getting some great deals. Other ways to give old items new life is by joining your local Freecylce group and post quality items that you don't want or need anymore. http://www.freecycle.org/
Interested in Zero Waste? Learn more about the Container Recycling Institutes Zero Container Waste campaign http://www.container-recycling.org/zbcwaste/
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