Going Green Tip 1 – Tackle Your Trash!

Going "green" is all the rage - as it should be, but it's easier to fill our homes with "greener" accessories that still somehow find themselves ending up in the landfill. Sometimes, it's easier to trick ourselves that it's just as good to "buy" green then to "live" green. But, the truth is, being "green" is a lifestyle - a lifestyle that comes in many shades and can vary from one family to the next. The important thing, here, is not that we all try to be greener than the next person, but to change a little at a time our daily habits and routines. Baby steps.

This week, I want to challenge you to "tackle your trash." Not necessarily literally, but if you're up for the mess...go for it! Take a hard look at the contents in your trash can. Write a list (preferably on a scrap piece of paper or on the back of junk mail). Then, beside each item, brainstorm some ways that you could minimize or completely eliminate those items from your "trash list."

For example, my list might look a lot like this:

paper towels - Switch to cloth towels. I will use cloth napkins for dinners, gradually increasing my supply. I will use blue "shop rags" for dirtier messes, dish towels for dishes and simple water spills and rags from old clothes to clean up really gross messes. I may hide one roll of towels to be used in case of pet messes, but I'll put them up where my kids and husband won't see them.
pizza boxes, toy packaging, food packaging, drink packaging - Recycle them. Also, I can look for food/drink products that come with less packaging in the first place. I could also make more of my food rather than buying so much store bought, which would cut down on the packaging in itself.
junk mail and papers - Recycle the paper that I already have and sign up to have my name put on the "no junk mail" list.
2 magazines I've already read - The ones that are already in the trash, will stay there. But, from now on, I could send my magazines to friends. (My friends and I actually already have a "magazine circle" where certain magazines take certain trips around, and we all participate so we get to read some magazines we normally wouldn't get to without subscribing to 20!
Tinfoil and saran wrap from leftovers - Some people would say to "rinse it," but I'd rather pay more attention to my leftovers and put them into glass storage containers that I'll wash later.
Toilet Paper - Technically, I could do a few things here. But, this is one that I choose to keep. Although, I could buy more "biodegradable" stuff, I'm not sure if I'm willing to do that just yet.
Baby diapers - Will consider using the new cloth diapers.

Once you have your list, the next step is to act on it. Begin setting yourself up for success. If you plan to make crafts with some of your trash (paper towel tubes, empty milk cartons, etc.), then set out a tub or box to put them in. If you choose to recycle, prepare a place to do so. If you plan to make a switch to other materials (like cloth napkins), you should go ahead and build your stash so they're ready to use and temptation doesn't have time to set in.

If you would like more information about recycling in Western KY, you can read THIS ARTICLE.

If you have questions or would like ideas for this process, leave a comment!