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Have a
Green Spring Clean for
Earth Day
by Alex Carrier
 It’s
time for the yearly
ritual of spring
cleaning. In a month
featuring Earth Day, how
do you clean (and
inevitably discard) in a
green manner?
Being environmentally
responsible has become a
matter of national
importance. Current
studies and surveys show
consumers want ways to
realistically be green.
The
rules of green spring
cleaning start with the
three rules of
conservation. Reduce,
reuse, and recycle.
Consider what you plan to
throw out. Can it still
be used? If it is
something you use and
plan to get new, is new
really needed or just
wanted?
Begin with usable items
you don’t want. Have a
community or neighborhood
swap. Everybody brings
their stuff together in
one place to get rid of
what they don’t want and
pick up things they
need. Good for your
environment and good for
your economy.
Sell
what no one needs at a
combined yard sale or
donate to a local charity
such as Goodwill or
Salvation Army. For
household goods, check
with local service groups
to see if they can use
them to help neighbors in
need.
The
Internet can be a green
way to dispose of items.
Try the web version of
yard sales: on-line
auctions. These usually
charge a small fee even
if your item doesn’t sell
and a percentage of the
sale price for sold
items.
Use
auction website tutorials
to learn how to best
market your item. If you
know someone who
regularly uses these
sites, they might be able
to give you profitable
pointers.
An
excellent electronic
alternative to on-line
auctions is
freecycle.org.
On this site, you list
your items and people who
need them call or email
you. This is also a good
place to get what you
need for free.
Freecycle membership is
free and there are
freecycle groups in or
near most cities. This
site is dedicated to
keeping usable items out
of landfills.
Another way to reduce
what you discard is to
get creative. Many items
have more than one use if
you just use some
imagination. If you are
not good with creative
thinking, check out craft
sites and ask other
people for ideas.
There will be items you
need to discard.
Thinking green with your
garbage is important.
Recycle items such as
paper, plastic, glass,
metal and aluminum.
Keep
all items in their
original labeled
containers. Labels
should have instructions
on how to properly
dispose of the contents.
Many cleaners cannot be
flushed down a sink or
toilet.
Many
household items and
products constitute
hazardous waste and
should be disposed of
appropriately. Check
with your local waste
disposal facility to what
is considered hazardous
waste. They may have
special disposal sites
for these items.
Don’t use your toilet as
a trash can. One
particular hazard many
people do not consider is
disposal of prescription
or over-the-counter
medications, vitamins,
minerals and other
products.
Studies have shown that
chemicals from
medications that have
been flushed into sewer
systems have caused
drastic damage to our
waterways. This
pollution is finding its
way back into our homes
and our bodies and
causing more damage.
To
find out which products
require special disposal
and how to appropriately
dispose of them, check
with the
Environmental
Protections Agency
or find
information at your local
library. You can even
check with local
pharmacies and hospitals
to see if they have
programs to help with
disposal of medical items
and waste.
The
best way to be green is
to think green from the
beginning. Find and use
less toxic alternatives
to the household products
you currently use.
Often, simple basic
alternatives work as well
and are much cheaper.
Buy
products made from and
packed in recycled and
recyclable materials.
Know what you have in
home inventory and keep
it organized and
accessible so you don’t
buy what you already
have.
Mark
the expiration date in
big letters on all
items. This way you will
be reminded to use the
product before the
expiration date.
Finally remember that
spring cleaning is
something you do not only
for your home place but
your place on our
planet. What you throw
out today could come back
to harm you tomorrow. |
