Reduce - Reuse - Recycle and Make a resolution to recycle more in 2008!

I feel that we are so overexposed to these words that we no longer think about what they really mean. We live in such a disposable economy and as a result, our landfills are filling up entirely too quickly. My goal each day is to NOT put items in the trash and figure out a way to

• not use it as much (reduce)
  
  
• reuse it if I can
  
  
• recycle it when I can no longer use it anymore

Reduce - the concept behind reducing is to reduce your overall consumption of EVERYTHING. Do you really need the item in the first place OR if you do need the item, can you get away with 100 vs. 500 of the item? Think of this when it comes to any document you print, the amount of food you serve at an event, or the number of guest gifts you provide your attendees to cite a few examples.

Reuse - is it something that can be reused? From vases and stones and sand for floral arrangements to signs to informational brochures to beverage napkins that have been untouched by human hands.

Recycle - if your jurisdiction has a recycling program, use it to the max! If it doesn't, write your local officials about starting one. There is no better time than now to talk to your local officials about green initiatives! Before you thrown ANYTHING away, ask yourself, can this be recycled? Check out the list in my Green Tip of the Week provided by Co-op America . Another great site is www.earth911.com.

Green Tip:

Make a resolution to recycle more in 2008!

Co-op America has a fabulous list of 21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle. From appliances and batteries and cloths to technotrash, toothbrushes and razors, you'll find it all here!

Getting Cold to Fight Global Warming and What To Do With Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

On Saturday, December 8th, I jumped into the icy Chesapeake Bay for the Third Annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event was organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to raise awareness about the growing crisis of global warming and to raise the funds needed to continue the fight against it.

Thanks to supportive friends and family, I raised over $1,300! I had the best time the day of the plunge. Over 200 men, women, children and dogs took the plunge in 49 degree water on a partly sunny 40 degree morning.

View a completely fun, totally inspiring two minute video of our Plunge (keep your volume turned up!)

I hope you'll join me next year!

Green Tip:

What To Do With Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

Don't leave your Christmas tree for the trash collector (unless your jurisdiction has a special pick up for trees).

Cut it up and use the needles as mulch, the branches as kindling and the trunk as firewood (after it's dried out).

If you don't have a wood burning fireplace, give your wood as a belated holiday gift to your friends and family!

Source: ehow.com