Avoid aerosols: Aerosols can't be recycled--which means that they are guaranteed to end up in landfills--and some of their ingredients contribute to air pollution. Instead of aerosols, look for spray bottles, liquids, powders, and roll-ons.
Better off boycotted? Choose something that you feel is not good for the environment. Once you decide not to buy it, write a letter to the company's president (the address is often right on the package) and tell him or her why you have decided not to buy the product anymore. If lots of people did this, companies would start making more environmentally responsible products!
BYOB: Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Disposable plastic grocery bags clog landfills at a rate of several million per day. This goes for sandwich bags too. When packing a lunch for work or school, replace the plastic sandwich bags with a reusable container. Free, reusable bag patterns.
Cold is cool: There are detergents on the market that don’t need warm or hot water to get your clothes clean. This will save you money and will keep CO2 out of the air.
Free Stuff! : FreeCycle is not a charity or a business. It's a way for perfectly good used items to find a new home (other than the landfill). Instead of throwing out things like furniture, dishes, bikes, and electronics, people in a reuse group give these items away for free to other people in their community who can use them. Find a local reuse group.
Green Shopping: Deal with environmentally friendly products and companies. Here's just a few examples...
- http://www.envirosponsible.com
- MSN product links
- Green company links
Support Local Farmers: Typical grocery store produce travels nearly 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate. All this traveling burns fuel and results in lots of carbon emissions (pollution). Buying from local farmers means you're not only getting the freshest food possible, you're saving energy. Attend our new Sage Market! To find other farmers nationwide, visit eatwellguide.org, localharvest.org, sustainabletable.org, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture at www.ams.usda.govfarmersmarkets/map.htm
