All Roads Lead to the Mall: Days 21 and 22 - Bright ideas

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Days 21 and 22 - Bright ideas

Combining days because MallMom was sick this weekend.

Sara B. wrote to tell us about several great recycling efforts, including Stonyfield Farms yogurt cup recycling. Apparently, Stonyfield Farms has partnered with an organization called Recycline, and if you send your yogurt cups back to Stonyfield, they’re used to make toothbrush and razor handles. Then, if you send those products back to Recycline, they’re recycled again, to make plastic lumber, giving Stonyfield yogurt containers a third life!

Check out the links below for more information:

http://www.stonyfield.com/SpecialOffers/Recycline.cfm

http://www.recycline.com/

Sara B. also said that IKEA has a recycling program for batteries, and for CFL light bulbs, which we know have a much longer life than typical incandescent light bulbs, but which contain mercury, which should not be disposed of in the trash. IKEA has recycling bins in their stores for such bulbs.

IKEA has lots of other earth-friendly ethics. Check out their site at:

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_ikea/social_environmental/environment.html

Thanks for the great tips, Sara B.!

Tip for Day 21 – Not all wood is created equal. When buying furniture, check to see if the wood is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Tip for Day 22 – Plant local flora in your yard to provide homes for native insects and animals.

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Tips

Tip 49 – Use natural fertilizers such as bone meal, peat or compost in your garden and on your lawn whenever possible.
Tip 48 – Mix one part water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean and disinfect to clean bathroom fixtures, tub and toilets.
Tip 47 – Don’t accept the status quo. Look for greener options whenever you make home improvements.
Tip 46 – Take a weekly walk through your neighborhood to pick up trash.
Tip 45 – Turn off your car when waiting to pick up your kids at school.
Tip 44 – Rent glassware and china for parties instead of using disposable stuff.
Tip 42 - Explore natural remedies to "green" your medicine cabinet.
Tip 42 – Shorten shower time and save hundreds of gallons of water per month.
Tip 41 - White vinegar makes an excellent, non-toxic kitchen cleaner.
Tip 40 – Dispose of household hazardous waste properly.
Tip 39 – Keep a waste diary for one week to find areas where you need to improve most.
Tip 38 - Research ways to recycle for charity.
Tip 37 – Old habits are hard to break. Find something that motivates you and inspires you to change your wasteful ways.
Tip 36 – Reward your kids with a fun outdoor activity rather than a trip to the mall.
Tip 35 – Carry a mug in your car for fill-ups at your favorite café.
Tip 34 – Get children involved in environmental efforts to create habits that will last a lifetime.
Tip 33 - Search out environmentally responsible hotels on your next vacation.
Tip 32 - Don't throw it away until you're sure nobody else wants it.
Tip 31 - Give plastic food storage bags a second life by washing and reusing them.
Tip 30 - Limit shopping excursions to reduce temptation.
Tip 29 - Just say "no" to the little plastic toys in fast food kids' meals.
Tip 28 - Buy snacks in bulk and package them yourself in reusable containers.
Tip 27 - Choose eco friendly clothing and donating old clothes to a good cause.
Tip 26 - Replace part of your resource-sucking lawn with low-maintenance ground cover.
Tip 25 - Make a list of the small changes you can make, and try to implement one a week.
Tip 24 - Write to your members of Congress and the Senate and urge them to pass enviromental protection policies.
Tip 23 - Look for durable, locally-made toys with less packaging.
Tip 22 - Plant local flora around your home to attract native animals and insects.
Tip 21 - Check to see if the wood products you're buying are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Tip 17 - Unplug appliances when they aren't in use.
Tip 20 - Check out eco-friendly pet supplies to reduce your pet's carbon pawprint.
Tip 19 - Be creative! Find a second life for items you'd normally throw away.
Tip 16 - Drive the speed limit (or slower) to save gas.
Tip 15 - Cut unwearable garments into strips with fabric scissors to use as gift wrapping ribbon.
Tip 14 - Use diapers containing recycled materials if you're going the disposable route.
Tip 13 - Commit to just one small, but permanent, change today.
Tip 12 - To save energy, wash your laundry in cold water whenever possible.
Tip 9- Get a water filter and save water bottles for when you're on the move.
Tip 8 - Switch to rechargeable batteries.
Tip 7 - Put air conditioners on timers and don't cool unused spaces.
Tip 6 - Purchase unbleached paper products, and those made from recycled post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Tip 4 - Put a stop to unwanted junk mail and catalogs.
Tip 3 - Find a friend to exchange magazines with, and cut your subscriptions in half.
Tip 2 - Contact the Plastic Loose Fill Council Peanut Hotline at (800) 828-2214 to find out where to dispose of pesky packing peanuts.
Tip 1 - Go to the store with a list, and don't deviate from it.