ECO-LIVING Tips
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...
Tip #1
Reduce is the most important practice in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce means to use less—use fewer material goods and resources. Using less means buying less which helps save money along with conserving important resources. A few simple ways to reduce: use coffee mugs instead of disposable cups, buy in bulk to save on packaging material, and cancel unwanted catalogs and mailings. You can explore many other easy ways to help save resources, energy, and money—everyday!
Tip #2
Reuse to lengthen the life of the items we use. Purchase durable goods instead of disposable items, buy and sell used goods, rent or share goods and equipment, and maintain or repair items that we have already. Reusing items keeps these goods out of the waste stream, creates less pollution than buying new or recycling, and saves money in both purchasing and disposal! A few simple ways to reuse: use cloth bags instead of plastic bags for all purchases, use stainless steel or other durable drink containers instead of disposable bottles and donate unneeded items to Reuse facilities, such as re:Create—Mahoning Valley's Material Exchange.
Tip #3
Recycle is the process of collecting used materials and reprocessing them into new products. Important materials to recycle include paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, tires, aluminum, iron and steel. Curbside collection is a convenient option offered in many communities. Recycling drop-off and collection sites for materials are located throughout Mahoning County. The recycling drop-off site at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click to see items that are accepted at this location.
Organic waste such as leaves, kitchen scraps and yard waste can be recycled by composting, either at home or at community sites. Electronics and Household Hazardous Waste Collections, sponsored by The Recycling Division of Mahoning County, offer residents a way to recycle materials such as batteries, pesticides, used motor oil, cleaners, oil-based paints, fluorescent bulbs and electronics to avoid contamination of the wastestream and the environment.
Recycling reduces pollution as less pollution is created by recycling than by the manufacturing of new materials. Recycling also saves energy. Recycling aluminum, for example, saves 95% of the energy that would be used to process new aluminum. The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can is enough to run a television for three hours! Recycling also reduces landfill waste and the costs associated with trash disposal. Recycling also helps conserve our precious natural resources. If all newspapers were recycled, over half a million trees would be saved each week. Recycling also reduces litter. You can help your community by putting litter in its place and recycling!
Tip #4
WARM WINTER ITEMS:
Winter in northeast Ohio can be brutally cold. If you have gently worn winter items that you have replaced, you may want to consider donating your coats, mittens, scarves, and hats to a local charitable organization. Many coat drives take place in November & December, but it's never too late to help those in need stay warm during the cold seasons.
COMPUTERS:
Goodwill Industries International and Dell have a free drop-off program for people who want to recycle any brand of unwanted computer or accessory. Local participating Goodwill centers include Boardman, Calcutta, Liberty, Salem, and Warren. Donation receipts for tax purposes are available upon request. For information go to http://www.goodwillyoungstown.org/
TIP #5
CELL PHONES | IPODS | MP3 PLAYERS | BLACKBERRY:
If you have an old cell phone (or similar electronic gadgets) you will inevitably upgrade it one day to a new model. What do you do with your old one? Make this year an environmentally friendly one and go green by recycling your out-dated electronics. You can get cash by selling it or you can support a charitable cause by finding a collection site for cell phones. You'll be doing yourself a favor and helping the Earth at the same time.
Ways to recycle your cell phone...
TIP #6
GRASSCYCLING
It's that time of year for growing grass and mowing! Grasscycling is an easy environmental practice that reduces curbside waste and saves you time and money. By leaving grass clippings on your lawn, you can save 25-35 minutes each time you mow, save money (no bags to purchase), and reduce the yardwaste in landfills. Because grass consists largely of water (80% or more) and has high nitrogen content, grass clippings easily break down within one to two weeks. The clippings return nutrients to the soil and help to make a healthier lawn. You can grasscycle with any mower by simply removing your mower's collection bag. Mulching blades or special attachments can improve the grasscycling performance.
For best grasscycling results:
· Cut no more than 1/3 the length of the grass
· Cut when grass is dry to the touch
· Cut when grass height is between 3 and 4 inches
· Make sure the mower blade is sharp
TIP #7
PLAN YOUR PICNIC
Summer is a time of family gatherings and picnics. Keep reduce/reuse/recycle in mind when planning your celebration.
• Buy bulk food items to REDUCE the amount of packaging.
• Use plates, glasses, napkins, dinnerware and tablecloths that can be washed and REUSED. Many disposable plates, cups and silverware items are durable and can be placed in your dishwasher.
• Encourage guests to RECYCLE. Let them know where to put empty plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles & jars. Your picnic may convince others to start recycling!
TIP #8
BACK TO SCHOOL RECYCLING TIPS
It is important to have a "Green" attitude while getting ready for school. There are lots of things you can do to help the environment. Below are a few simple tips:
• Recycled Scratch Paper: You're going to need scratch paper for drafts, preview prints, notes, phone messages, grocery lists, and much more. Gather last year's blank pages from composition books, notebooks and old papers. Put them in a conveinent spot to use for all of your scratch paper needs.
• Refill Current Ink Cartridges: Buying ink to refill your printer cartridges helps to save the environment and also saves you dollars.
• Double Sided Printing: Printing on both sides of the paper helps reduce paper waste. Remember to proof your work prior to printing and use the draft mode as much as possible.
• Reuse, Renew and Recycle Clothes: Before getting a new wardrobe check what you can reuse, what can be modified into new outfits and donate the rest.
• Use washable containers for lunches. Sandwiches, snacks, and other treats can be packaged in reusable, washable containers. Send inexpensive silverware that will be brought home and washed instead of plasticware that will get thrown out. Make sure to use lunch boxes or resuable lunch bags to reduce the "brown paper bag" waste.
TIP #9
AUTUMN CLEAN UP
Autumn is here and the leaves are falling. What to do with all those leaves? Many communities offer leaf removal services that pick up leaf piles or bagged leaves at your home and compost the yard waste. If you plan to use a composting service, be careful not to rake pieces of glass, plastic or cement into yard wastes. Sites that compost are under strict rules with regard to how many "inerts" are allowed in finished compost.
Leaves and yard waste should not be raked into streets, gutters or water bodies. The wastes can travel through storm sewers to rivers or lakes, where they can increase algae growth and reduce the oxygen available to fish and other aquatic life. Grass clippings from fertilized lawns are particularly bad.
You can compost at home. A little soil, water, and air is all you need to successfully compost your yard waste into a rich soil amendment. Yard waste can also be left on lawns or used to insulate plants for the winter. Remember, if you are composting at home do not tightly bag leaves and clippings for a long period of time. This will create conditions unsuitable for composting and will produce a foul odor like vinegar or ammonia.
Find out more about composting in your backyard...
TIP #10
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Planning on replacing your old Christmas lights with energy-efficient LED lights for your Christmas decorating? Don't through the old ones out only to wind up in a landfill. Add to your "green" efforts by recycling any type of old Christmas lights. The technology used for recycling all of the parts that make up strings of Christmas lights has advanced over the years and there are several different companies that will take your old lights so that new products can be made from them. You may even get coupons or discounts on new products!
Here are a few companies that will recycle your old lights:
Holiday LED's
Christmas Light Source
TIP #11
WANTED! WARM WINTER CLOTHES
Shopping for seasonal clothing sales? February is a great time to sort through your winter clothes. After you buy the wool winter coat on sale, give your old one to someone in need. With the extreme cold in the northeast, agencies are looking for warm clothes. You will reorganize your closet, and help someone stay warm.
TIP #12
GREEN SPRING CLEANING
It’s that time of year again! Our homes have been shut up all winter and most are in need of fresh air and a good cleaning. This year, give your house a green spring cleaning by avoiding dangerous chemicals and harsh cleaners. Here are some healthier ways to do it — for you and the environment:
• Open the windows. The best way to get dirty air moving out and fresh air moving in is to open the doors and windows.
• Skip the air fresheners. Chemical and aerosol fresheners can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation and are hard on the environment. Instead, use fresh flowers, an open box of baking soda, cedar blocks, or dried flowers to add natural fragrance to the room.
• Use vegetable-based cleaning products instead of harsh chemical cleaners. Vegetable-based cleaners, like those made with coconut oil, are becoming more popular every day. Choose vegetable-based dishwashing detergent, Traditional dish detergent is made from petroleum. If every family replaced just one 28 oz. bottle of petroleum-based dish detergent with a vegetable-based product, we could save 82,000 barrels of oil.)
• Vinegar, vinegar, and more vinegar. Nature’s cleaning miracle, vinegar can be used to clean just about anything. Use it straight to clean kitchen floors or wash windows, mix it with baking soda and essential oils to clean sinks, and even use it to remove stains in your carpet.
• Get some baking soda, too. Multi-purpose baking soda can be used for everything from freshening the air, to freshening the carpet or furniture, to scrubbing the toilet and tub.
• Skip the harsh chemical cleaners in the bathroom. Make that porcelain sparkle with non-chlorine bleach cleaners or white vinegar and a baking soda-water paste.
A "green" spring cleaning will make your home safer for your family and the planet!
TIP #13
RAIN, RAIN...
Are the rising costs of water putting a damper in your budget? There is an easy way to cut down on your water usage and reduce your monthly bill. A rain barrel can give you a free source of untreated water throughout the summer.
Most of the water that falls from the sky never gets absorbed by plants, but rather rain goes deep into the ground where plants can not use it or it gets washed away into sewer systems. As homeowners and gardeners we want to make sure to water what we plant. Why would we use treated and costly water? A rain barrel can supply enough water for your landscaping needs.
Be creative and find other uses for stored rain water. Install a rain barrel and start you own supply of this "free" resource.
TIP #14
SUPER CHARGE YOUR GARDEN FERTILIZER--ORGANICALLY!
If you have a spare garden bed, consider growing a patch of comfrey. Comfrey has deep roots that absorb nutrients from the subsoil, which are then stored in the leaves. Comfrey leaves have a high level of nitrogen making them a great activator for compost piles but their real value is in making comfrey fertilizer for your plants.
Comfrey is a hardy plant that will regrow from small pieces of root so it is important to choose the site with care. Comfrey rarely sets seeds so it won't infest your garden. The plants will do well in full sun to near full shade in an area that gets lots of moisture. Space the plants 2 to 3 feet apart and stand back and watch it grow. In the first year cut the flower stalks and add them to the compost heap. In the second year you should be able to get 3-4 cuts from a single comfrey patch. Just take a pair of shears and cut them back to about six inches from ground level. Wear gloves because the leaves can irritate skin.
Making Comfrey Fertilizer
1. Fill a barrel or plastic garbage can 1/4 full with comfrey leaves
2. Weigh the leaves down with a stone or a brick
3. Fill the container with water
4. Put a lid on the container
5. Let stand for 4 to 6 weeks. The mixture is ready when the leaves have rotted and are no longer visible.
6. Your liquid feed is ready to use in your garden!
7. If your comfrey plants have grown enough you can start a new batch
8. Another method is to use comfrey leaves as above but without the addition of water. The result is a thick, black concentrate. This should be diluted at 15:1 before use.
TIP #15
SUMMER SAAVY
Summertime is a season of fresh fruits and vegetables. Have you considered the benefits when buying produce from local farm stands or farm markets? When you buy locally grown produce you are receiving the freshest possible foods, picked at their peak and full of valuable nutrients. With a little effort you can even find foods that have been grown organically. The average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator, reducing taste and nutrition, not to mention the consumption of fossil fuels. Buying local produce also supports your local economy and the farmers in your community. When farmers can stay in business, open spaces are preserved and farmland is protected from becoming developed. You might be surprised to learn how many farms and farm markets there are in your area. Buy local and enjoy all of the benefits!
TIP #16
DON'T BROWN BAG IT!
Brown paper lunch bags are out...colorful, re-usable bags are in! Insulated lunch bags are an excellent way to store food until lunch time. They are perfect for taking meals to work, school, trips or picnics while keeping them cold or warm. As insulated lunch bags are re-usable, they can you money and are environmentally friendly. You can find these bags in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and designs to suit your style or taste. Enjoy lunch!
TIP #17
COMPOST IT!
Now is the ideal time to start a backyard compost pile. It is easy, economical and does not smell. Backyard composting offers more than just a way to get rid of fallen leaves and grass clippings—it's an excellent way to improve yard and garden soil, especially the clay soil dominant in our area.
All organic matter eventually decomposes, but mixing green and brown materials together in a ratio of half green and half brown will speed the process. Green materials, such as grass clippings or fresh green plant parts, supply nitrogen. Brown materials, such as dead leaves and plants, are high in carbon. Mixing the two assures good conditions for quick decomposition. Remember—the smaller the plant materials are, the faster they will decompose. So, shred, chop, or mow before putting them in the bin.
Moisture and air are required for the composting process, but too much or too little of either one can cause problems. Compost materials should be about the wetness of a wrung-out sponge. If your compost is too wet, it can smell. The solution is to add air by turning or mixing the pile. If too dry, the materials will take a long time to decay. Keeping the pile covered is one way to control moisture levels.
Turning your pile every week or two mixes the materials, speeds decomposition and is a good way to monitor progress. Your finished compost will be well worth the small amount of effort.
TIP #18
THOUGHTS OF CHRISTMAS GIVING
Trying to buy for someone who has everything? Don't want to give or receive anymore "stuff" that is not needed or wanted? Tired of paying for overhead costs like packaging, advertising, and brand names? Think about a "recycling" theme for this season by passing along gently used items. One of the most thoughtful gifts this year may be your gift to others in need. Obviously, monetary gifts are always welcome, however, there are many other ways to donate to charitable organizations. You can request that in lieu of gifts, a donation be made to your favorite charity, clean out closets and donate warm winter clothes and shoes, give away that piece of furniture or an appliance that is no longer needed, and non-perishable food items are appreciated. Got time on your hands? Volunteering can be one of the most satisfying experiences you will have in giving to others. Get your family involved, especially children, and make this season a memorable one for you and your family by giving to those who need it most.