Earth Day Pledge, better late than never!

[jenniferpy1]

I know Earth Day was yesterday, but I've been thinking....(Oh,no! What now?)

As you all know, if you suffer from a serious coupon clipping addiction like myself, you are surrounded by paper and lots of it! From newspapers, magazines, computer paper, sales flyers and packaging of all sorts are surrounding me right now. I've already switched to reusable grocery bags, so I've cut down on the number of those plastic t-bags & paper bags that used to clutter the kitchen pantry. Now, I just need to do something about all this paper. I can't save the planet by myself, but what I can do will go a long way.

I was reading an article this morning in Women's Day that said "if you recycle your Sunday paper every week, you will keep four trees alive per year and increase earth's oxygen". It also suggested that you "repurpose cereal box liners as wax paper for wrapping sandwiches". Do you know how many cereal boxes pass through this house? Many! It also said if you "recycle a six-pack of aluminum cans every week, you will save enough energy to power a television for 936 hours". Since Nickelodeon is on from the time the kids get up until the time they go to bed, I'm planning on crushing those cans from now on. I just purchased a can crusher for $8 from Harbor Freight and had my DH install it for me. We don't have a recycling program here with our trash service, so I'll save the cans in a large trash can and when it's full, take it to the recycler myself.
I'm sure many of you have read/seen this mag article since they offered a FREE subscription recently. It had several other tips listed, but these made me think of the recent increase of paper and packaging around here associated with coupon trading/redeeming.

My local post office has a blue recycle bin right at the front door. I pass it at least three times a week. I often put junk mail in it before I leave, but rarely remember to bring last months magazines in to be recycled. Instead, they collect dust. I need to take all this wasted paper to the PO at least once a week. NOW, I just need to get a system in place at home for storing all this paper. Any suggestions?

AND does anyone know of a company that will send return envelopes to you for recycling printer cartridges? My WM used to have a roll of them, but no longer does.

Who else wants to pledge to do better this year?

[daisycrazy]

I don't know of any companies that do that but my children's school collects them as donations from families and the the proceeds go towards the school. I bet if you called around you'd find somewhere quick to drop them off. ? HTH!

..........."""AND does anyone know of a company that will send return envelopes to you for recycling printer cartridges? My WM used to have a roll of them, but no longer does."""

[shsshorty7]

I think Petsmart has the ink things..

[Genevieve]

A thought about recycling magazines, before you send them off to the recycling bin, why not drop them off at a Nursing Home, Senior Center, etc., they are usually desperate for these types of things. Then they can recycle them. Just a thought. Jenny

[hcwhcw]

I just saw something on TV about "green cleaning" parties - home get-togethers where people learn how to make non-toxic cleaners from common ingredients. It sounded like a good opportunity to get together with friends while learning something useful and saving money. That's all I really know about it. It was a short news piece. But here is the Web site, if anybody wants more info.

Make a Clean Sweep with a WVE Green Cleaning Party! — Women's Voices for the Earth