The landfills are a a major source of greenhouse gasses that are warming the planet and melting the Arctic. It’s highly important that we stop throwing so much away and start using things like reusable bags to cut down on our waste. Not only that, but in these economic times, it behooves us to make use of the things we have rather than throw them out.
1. Start composting. You don’t need any fancy equipment aside from a shovel. Items that can be composted include vegetable and fruit scraps and peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, leaves, and newsprint. Avoid putting dairy products, meat, and glossy paper into your compost pile or bin. Turn the contents over with a shovel every few days, letting the sun heat it up and break it down into rich nutrients your plants can easily access. Well-composted organic matter does not have any significant odor, so do not be put off by the notion of decaying items in the back yard. You could purchase a compost bin if you prefer a very contained operation. There are even earthworm compost kits available in which you load a tray with scraps, and the worms silently turn it into solid earthworm castings and very dark liquid “compost tea” that you can use on everything from houseplants to hostas.
2. Recycle shoes that you no longer use. Companies like Nike recycle your old shoes to use in their program that surfaces children’s playgrounds, making them a safe play area for your children. A quick search online will point you in the direction of ways to participate.
3. Take advantage of used clothes by selling them or shopping at resale shops. There are enough used clothes out there to keep the planet clothed for quite some time. Many people are turning to places like Good Will to shop for their outfits these days. If you look carefully enough, you can find quite a bit. You can also shop resale shops that only purchase brand name clothing and find things that have only been worn once or twice. One of my favorite purchases was a gorgeous holiday dress for my daughter; $11.00 for a Jessica McClintock dress in perfect condition!
4. Start bartering instead of throwing things away and buying new ones. Craigslist is a great resource for people who are willing to wheel and deal to get what they need. Another way of trading is to set up a “community box” in your neighborhood with people you know. The way this works is that you place your unwanted items in the box and pass it on to the next person on the list. He or she chooses items, and adds unwanted items to the box and sends it on its way. When the box makes it back to you, any of your original items get donated to charity, and you start again.
5. Find uses for items that are broken or misplaced around the home before you discard the item. Plastic utensils that you do not use in the kitchen anymore that are not broken and are safe may be just what your child is looking for to put in their play kitchen or to use with their play-dough set.
6. Use reusable bags and/or organic cotton bags rather than plastic or paper. We add tons of paper and plastic bags to the landfills every year which then end up scattered all over the planet.
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