Goal For The Green

Editor’s Note:  I am bringing this post forward to my front page, because of its relevance and importance.  It is my hope and desire that you will make recycling, and your own personal waste management, a top priority.

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It is the third R in the term reduce, reuse, and recycle. It is the re-making of old materials into useful new products.  The goal of recycling is to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials and energy usage, which then reduces green house gas emissions. By  recycling, we also lower the  amount of raw waste that would otherwise end up in our landfills. Recycling is the key component in waste management as we know it today.

The convenience of recycling at your curb-side now serves half of the U.S. population.  The top five most recycled items are paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and steel/tin cans.

In 2007, my area implemented the use of single stream recycling.  The company provides 65 to 94 gallon carts in which all materials are commingled.  This means that households no longer have to separate their materials into recycling bins.  Evidence has already proven that this method has increased the quantity of household recyclables.

My area also has a recycle depot.  I have not had garbage service for years, because of an altercation with the company.  I set up my own system in my garage.  It consists of two 32 gallon trash cans, one for plastic and one for trash,and 4 blue recylce bins for newspaper, magazines/junk mail, glass, and cans. We also have an area to break down and stack cardboard. When my children were still home we went to the dump every other Saturday.  Now, my husband goes once every 4-6 weeks, with one 32 gallon bag.  They know him at the dump, and the most they ever charge him is $3.00.  Many times they let him go for free because they know he is a disabled vet.  The average rate for disposal in my area is about $35 a month.  That’s a pretty good savings for not very much work.

Written in association with waste management experts

OK.. This may make a few of you squeamish, but at the same time, it is totally amazing.  An undisclosed Colorado town is painted red in ladybugs…millions of them!

See where the cutest ladybugs live!

It’s that time of year when the little brown creatures bring their their buddies into your house.  I have to draw the line, when they start showing up on my bathroom floor, kitchen counter, and oh yeah, SURPRISE…in the dishwasher!  Uggh! Regardless of everything you do to keep your house clean.  There they are.

I found this wonderful article “Rid your home of ants, without chemicals”, from my friend Chris over at Living Well Naturally, that I wanted to share with you.  The tips in the article are tried and true, and they really work.  The idea is to lure the ants out, the way they came in, with things you already have in your pantry.  Best of all, it’s cheap, it’s green, and it’s chemical free.

I was too late on getting this information to my husband, as he already had the person who treats our fruit trees (chemically free) come out and treat for ants.  He never did come indoors, but no more ants.  He will come back in 45 days just to be sure.

I sprinkled the Cinnamon by the front door, and put cut up strips of Bounce sheets in my pantry.  I’m so happy, to not see these little critters in my house anymore, especially in my kitchen.

It is my hope that you find this information useful and helpful.  By all means save yourself the money of having someone come out and do it for you.  Yes, there are companies that take care of the problem, and keep it “green.”  But, next time I see a little critter, I will be ahead of the game with this great information.

Special thanks to Chris for finding this.  We are working toward a better tomorrow, and many more to come!

See where the cutest ladybugs live!