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Rev Up Your Recycling Efforts!

Last week, you did some investigating to find out what kind of recycling services are available in your area. In order to take advantage of those services, though, you need to create a system at home for separating your recyclables out from trash (of which you'll have less), and then separating recyclable materials from one another - preferably in a manner that makes it easy to properly dispose of these items.

Your Action for Today:
Create a Recycling System

Creating a recycling system is easy, and can be as low-cost as you'd like. Whatever you choose, make sure that you create a system that you know you'll use on a daily basis. You'll need to:

1. Choose a place to store recyclables before disposal. This can be indoors or out, as long as it's convenient for you. If you'll be taking your recyclables to a collection center or location yourself, you may want to designate two locations: one for immediate storage of separated items, and another, larger space for storage until you take them away.
2. Choose what materials you plan to recycle. Depending on the service you plan to use, and whether it picks up your materials at your home, you may be limited on the materials you can recycle. Services in urban and suburban areas will generally take aluminum, plastic (although often only certain kinds of plastic), glass, and paper. If you have to take materials in yourself, you may want to choose a couple of different materials to start, especially if you have to take them to separate facilities. Keep in mind that you may want to put some materials aside (worn-out electronics, for example) for special trips or collection efforts.
3. Choose receptacles for your separated materials. You'll want to have one receptacle for each type of material you plan to recycle. Oftentimes, curbside pick-up services will provide you with receptacles. If not, paper grocery bags or cardboard boxes (which can be recycled), trash cans, or plastic crates can work for economical solutions. If you choose, you can also buy receptacles for recycling, ranging from simple to very elaborate.
4. Choose a disposal schedule. With a curbside service, you'll know what day you need to have your receptacles out for pick-up. If you're transporting your materials yourself, make this a regularly-scheduled event. You'll feel better about your efforts if your recyclables aren't piling up in the garage, basement or kitchen!
5. Choose to make it happen! Act on your system plan in the next two days, whether that means actually setting it up, or ordering receptacles you just can't live without.

Record your thoughts and plans in your Green Journal and update the entry (or write a new one) when your system is in place.

Tomorrow: Take action to save energy.

Sincerely,

The GO Team
GreenOptions.com

What a Waste!

According to the Annenberg Foundation’s Garbage exhibit, the average American generates 4.6 pounds of trash per day - that’s 1460 pounds per year! Less than 25% of that waste is recycled, with the rest going to landfills (which are becoming harder and harder to create) or to incinerators. Decreasing the amount of garbage you put into the waste stream is an easy way to lighten your footprint.

Everyone Can Recycle

Recycling has become the green gold standard for most Americans – if they know nothing else about contributing to a healthy, more sustainable environment, they’re aware that the can recycle aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic. Many communities have curbside pick-up services available for recyclables, and a few cities have even mandated recycling to deal with shrinking landfill space. If you don’t have a pick-up service available, there are likely locations for dropping off recyclables. You may even be able to pitch those cans, newspapers and bottles at a location that benefits a non-profit organization you support.

Your Action for Today:
Learn About Recycling in Your Community

Earth 911 is your one-stop location for details about recycling services in your community. Visit their recycling page, and find out how easy it is to dispose of recyclables without throwing them in the trash! While you're at it, also take a look at the Recycling section of the Green Life Guide.

And...

Start your Green Journal! The Green Journal is your space on the Green Options web site to record your daily actions, to publicly commit to larger actions (as we’ll ask you to do in later lessons), and to discuss your efforts to live a greener life with other GO members. Starting a journal is easy:

1. You do have to be a member of Green Options to start a Green Journal. Creating a membership is easy and free, and we won’t fill your inbox with junk email.
2. Once you're logged in to your account, visit our Green Journals discussion board.
3. Click on "Post New Forum Topic"
4. Title your journal something like "Bob & Amy's Green Journal." Feel free to be creative (within the limits of the forum rules, of course!).
5. Every time you complete one of your daily actions, create a post in your journal for it. Write as much or as little as you like. Ask questions of other users - they can often be one of your best sources of information. By writing in your journal, you'll also be helping them with their own green journey.

Tomorrow: Start looking at your energy use.

Sincerely,

The GO Team
GreenOptions.com