Recycle

You know the obvious recyclable materials - plastic water bottles, cardboard, tin cans etc. - but don't forget about the not-as-obvious items you're through with that can be re-used.

This Saturday, November 15th marks America Recycles Day. You’ve heard the recycling message many times before and you’re probably doing your part to decrease waste. You can feel like a big nag when you see someone improperly toss a recyclable item, but spreading the word on all the pros of recycling can only help the cause. It’s a simple ‘recycle bin versus trash’ mindset change in many cases - not requiring additional effort, just added consciousness. So, what a more appropriate time to review some of the major benefits of all your efforts than America Recycles Day? Some of the top reasons to recycle:

Thinking about Halloween costumes for this year? Rather than going to a Halloween speciality store and spending $40 on a costume worn once, try renting from a theatrical or costume shop. Feeling extra creative?

A common argument is that the recycling process causes more harm than good. While recycling vehicles & factories do give off carbon emissions, they're intercepting trash from landfills and oceans - which is much more harmful in the long-run. How can you limit the 'harm' of recycling in Philadelphia or your local area? Reduce the amount of materials you use in everyday life. Here are 6 ways to limit your waste:

CDs and DVDs are typically made from a combination of mixed metals - aluminum, gold, silver and nickel with petroleum-derived plastics and a combination of dyes. What does this mean to you? The blend of these materials make them almost impossible to recycle.

Glancing down a grocery aisle, bottled water looks so tempting. The beautiful graphics of green trees, exotic water from Fiji or France... it looks so healthy. It's easy to be duped by this misleading advertising. Growing up the Philly suburbs, I never bought water. Luckily, our tap was clean and my Dad didn't get the point in buying a typically free product. (Who knew Dad's crazy protest was actually helping the environment? ) The bottled water industry is an environmental termite. When you're drinking a bottle of water, you're consuming approximately 1/2 of that bottle in oil - talk about hurting your Carbon Footprint! Why is bottled water so bad?

As I'm taking 10 glorious days to rejuvenate from my normally hectic schedule, I can't escape my green observations & habits. Being green is a part of my lifestyle, and I have "green guilt" if I knowingly do something un-green... Whether I'm on the beach, in our beachhouse, or going for a run. In the past few days, I've learned some lessons from my new-found friends in Avalon, NJ, I'd like to share:

Many of us are gearing up for the long holiday weekend away. So it seems like a good time to review how we can put our best green effort forward when away from home, where it's often more challenging to do so. Whether you're hitting the beach, camping or visiting old friends, it's easy to let go of your good green habits when you have a change of scenery. Just like our eating & drinking habits change on vacation, so can our eco-friendly intentions. Here's some things to keep in mind to lessen your carbon footprint this weekend or whenever you're away from home:

With labor day coming up soon, many of you will be vacationing on the beach for one last hurrah. Make sure to pick up any trash or recyclables that you may have with you (or from nearby beachgoers) in the proper bin.