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Get over those easy eco-mistakes

Vanessa Campisi
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EASY ERROR:

Inconsistent recycling


Most of us recycle in the kitchen, but forget about it in other rooms. Yet think of everything that can be recycled in the bathroom (cardboard packaging, toilet paper tubes, plastic bottles), the study (paper, envelopes) and the bedroom (magazines, Kleenex boxes). More often than not, these recyclables end up mixed in with the garbage.

 

QUICK FIX:

Double bins

This is one of the simplest changes you can make. Every room that has a garbage bin in it should now have two: one for garbage; one for recyclables. The next time you open a tube of toothpaste, you won’t toss the cardboard box into the bathroom waste paper basket; instead, you’ll give it a proper home! It’s even possible to purchase a garbage can with a divider, such as this one from Simplehuman.

Image: istockphoto/hidesy

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Comments

Lucky me! I live in a dry climate so my clothes dryer is rarely used. I use the outdoor clothesline or on a rainy day I used an indoor rack. Love that free air-drying.
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 22:12.
I now use eco-friendly Fruit and Vegetable Wash, eco-friendly all-purpose spray cleaner and next on my list, eco-friendly liquid laundry detergent. I use for myself, an organically made hand-pump soap. What REALLY irks me....the recyclables left on the ground by those who just don't care plus the cancer sticks (cigarette butts). In the past I had thought of picking up all that stuff and either putting it in the garbage and recycling what I can but that would be a full-time job and now, I'm not physically able to do that any more. I sometimes think that picking up lazy people's junk shows them that they don't need to take care of their own mess, perhaps that's what's done at home, on the other hand, volunteers who pick up others' trash, recyclable and/or garbage, are trying to educate people. I guess some just can't be educated. Too bad. We've only got one Planet Earth and she needs to be preserved
Submitted by Ms. Carol Harrison (guest) on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 17:40.
In our household, my partner and I do as much "Green Living" as is possible. We recycle clothing recycled as textiles; compost; reduce, re-use; I can't afford eco-friendly clothing so I buy second-hand clothes. We don't use overhead lights (I'm light and sun-sensitive). We have drapes that keep the heat of summer (no summer this year, not in the Muskoka region) out and the cold... out. We try to keep the thermostat as livable as possible, wearing extra clothing when cold and minimal clothing when it's humid. He and I, we do try to minimize our "carbon footprint". My partner drives an Equinox SUV, so an electric vehicle is out....TOO expensive! Our local recycle facilties have a list of what NOT to put in our compost bin and what TO put in and that's what he and I do. We donate clothing to a second-hand store, use cloth bags for ALL our shopping needs. I clipped an article from the Toronto Star about corporate responsibility in making ALL things sold, recyclable. I will be e-mailing corporations to resepctfully suggest they start making all their packaging, recyclable or I will no longer be buying their products. There shouldln't be ANYTHING that can't be recycled, regardless of it costing extra for manufacturers and corporations to do so.
Submitted by Ms. Carol Harrison (guest) on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 17:33.
Also, dryer lint is compostable!
Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Wed, 05/06/2009 - 16:46.

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