10 Green Tips for Earth Day 2009!!

In honor of Earth Day 2009, which is tomorrow, April 22, celebrate awareness by considering these helpful tips (thanks to fellow blogger-Suddenly Frugal- http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/10-tips-for-earth-day/):

1. Recycle: This Earth Day, take a good hard look at your trash, and make sure you’re recycling as much as possible. Don’t forget about e-Waste like cell phones, MP3’s and laptops–they can all be recycled and repurposed, via retailers or household hazardous waste collection events in your community. Be responsible about your "disposables," and take care to lessen your impact on already overflowing landfills-while supporting agencies that help others.
2. Freecycle (TM): I don’t have to tell you about my love for http://www.freecycle.org/ If you haven’t yet given Freecycle a try, why not do so in time for Earth Day? This is a great way to recycle and trade onward right here in your own community using the power of grassroots connectivity!
3. Reuse. Leave behind paper plates, plastic forks and any other disposables. Choose reusable serving pieces instead. Also, figure out ways you can reuse items around the house like so you can keep them out of the trash. Remember the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make it your mantra and be a earth-savvy shopper! Re-using empty kitty litter containers as garden waterers and non-potable water storage for hurricane season is easy and earth-friendly. Cottage cheese containers are great storage bins; great for nuts and bolts, and for small toys for tiny hands. Using cloth napkins adds a nice touch to at-home meals without the impact of paper garbage and check out your detergent. Are you getting the greenest clean for your buck? Many earth-friendly and super-cleaning options are available at major retailers.
4. Wallet Activism: Look for products made from recycled materials, natural ingredients, and minimal or biodegradable packaging. By supporting eco-friendly companies your green supports the greater green. Drive-thru tip- unless you need it, say "no" to napkins and plastic ware...odds are, it ends up in the "junk drawer" at home and eventually the garbage, anyway. Also remember that buying local is the key. Supporting local business is supporting and sustaining your local community!!
5. Park It: Celebrate the beauty of spring with a walk when you could have driven. Carpool, take public transport, ride your bike. If you can’t do it every day, try once a week. When you do drive, make sure you pump up your tires so you can deflate your fill-ups. Remember-SunTran stops on campus-have you ridden the bus lately? It's a great way to lessen your carbon footprint. Taking the bus just once a week, or even once a month is a small step towards aware living!
6. Junk It: Putting the kibosh on junk mail and catalogues will save you time, save landfill space and save millions of trees. Use services like http://www.catalogchoice.org/ to opt out of receiving catalogs in the mail. This is a simple way to empty your snail-mailbox, lessen your impact on the local landfill, and be a savvy shopper. Most retailers offer a more expanded selection of items online than in print, so before you check "yes" to receive a catalog, take a moment to browse the electronic highway. Sensible shopping for a greener planet!
7. Bills. Bills. Bills. Try to go paperless for your banking, bill paying and at the ATM. Many service providers and retailers including banking, insurance, and credit companies offer discounts and reduced fees if you opt to go digital instead of getting paper copies. And just think, paperless means you'll have to hear that annoying shredder just a little less often!
8. Live Life Locally: Support your local farmers while enjoying fresh produce and organically grown goodies. Visit a website like http://www.localharvest.org/ to find local farm stands and farmers’ markets near you. This is a proactive solution to getting the best groceries and supporting local agriculture. Being a conscious consumer means that you shop close to home and take advantage of the local bounty. Check out co-ops too-bulk buying is a super savvy way to shop smart-you never know, a green grower could be just around the corner!!
9. Say Y-E-S to CFL’s: You’ll save time, money and energy by swapping regular, incandescent light bulbs for the compact fluorescent kind. Check online for recommended ways of disposing of your non-CFL bulbs and swap out only once the non-CFL has burned out. Also, check out your favorite home improvement stores and light bulb manufacturer online for coupons and rebates for CFL purchases.
10. Spread the Word: Tell your friends how easy it is to shave off some carbon here, save some resources there and conserve a little energy here. And then they can tell their friends. And then they can tell their friends… Perhaps the most important frugal advice out there! Share what you know and celebrate being savvy-EARTH-savers together!