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Go Green! 10 Easy Ways

to Live a More Eco-

Friendly Life

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Go Green is available. Most of us want to be more “green.” We also want to be more organized. The good thing is that both of these goals can work together. Many organizing tips also help us to be more environmentally friendly. And they are easy to do. 1. Shop the bulk bin aisle. You will save lots of packaging and usually money as well by shopping the bulk bin aisle for food items like nuts, flour, cornmeal, coffee, granola, pasta, and beans. Decanting into reusable containers allows you to see when you are getting low. Remember to buy only as much as you will use within a reasonable time so food does not go bad. 2. Being green is “in the bag.” Ditch single-use bags. Reusable plastic, silicon, or cloth bags and pouches are stronger and can be used over and over. Bring them when you go grocery shopping or on your next mall run. 3. Plan your grocery shopping and don’t stuff your fridge full. Know what you have on hand and/or how much you need to buy so food does not go bad before you can use it. Don’t over- stuff your fridge. Doing so makes it too challenging to see what you have at-a- glance. I hate throwing wilted lettuce or moldy berries in the compost pile because they got pushed to the back or because I didn’t think to use them soon enough. Adjust your crisper drawers: fruit does better with low humidity and vegetables with higher humidity. 4. Be green with cleaning products. If you mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of warm water and add it to a spray bottle, you’ll have a clean, chemical- free, fragrance-free, and inexpensive household cleaner. Otherwise, use sustainable, do-it-yourself, dilutable concentrate cleaners. It’s easy to quickly pick up a fresh bottle of multipurpose cleaner at the store, of course. But if you buy a concentrate and make your own, reusing your spray bottle each time, doing so will help keep some plastic out of the landfill. 5. Reuse and repurpose when you can. Repurpose shoe boxes for storing toys or extra office supplies. When you have empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls, they can be used to organize cords and cables. Cut sponges in half. Use one- half until you can’t use it any more, and then use the other half. A pool noodle can be placed in boots (cut it down to size) to retain the boot’s shape. 6. Reduce paper coming into your home. Save some trees by going paperless when you can. Set up digital file folders on your computer and drag bills, receipts, recipes, etc. into them. Opt out of as many paper catalogs as you can. Get your news and magazines in digital form. This will save fuel, as well as forests. 7. Have more than one recycling container. If your home is two stories, consider having two recycling containers…one on each floor. Some people have a recycling container in the bathroom as well as the kitchen. We are all more likely to recycle when it is convenient. 8. Declutter. Extra kitchen items, gently used clothing, or furniture donated to thrift stores is an excellent form of recycling. You benefit from removing things you do not need, and someone else who can use these items will benefit as well. 9. Reuse fabric. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones. You can buy these fairly inexpensively. Alternately, if you sew, you can make your own to go with your kitchen or dining room. Add old towels or dishcloths to your cleaning caddy instead of paper towels. Old sheets can cover plants when the weather turns cold. 10. Plan your errands. Can you do all of your errands on one day in one trip? Plan your route so you don’t cross back and forth across town. You will save gas as well as time. If your plans include a grocery trip, consider putting a cooler in the car for cold items as you travel from place to place. Back to Go Green Index