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Tips on Conservation & Recycling
by W.Holidays
Here are just a few things you can do to help the earth.
Water Economics:
- When
brushing your teeth, turn off the water until it's time to rinse. Use
this same principle when washing dishes and your car.
- Don't
take 20 minutes showers.
- Water
your lawn in the morning. Water evaporates faster in the afternoon and
night watering promotes fungus.
- Install
a Toilet Displacement Bag or Toilet Dam, both are cheap and easy to
install. They save at least a gallon of water per flush.
Stop
the junk mail or at least recycle it
Write to:
Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
This service sends a request to have your name removed from mailing
lists. A notice is sent every six months to firms; however, compliance
is voluntary.
Use low-phosphate or phosphate free detergents
Over half of the phosphates found in our waters
are from detergents. Phosphate is not a necessary
ingredient for cleaning. Liquid detergents are usually free of
phosphates.
Get yourself a market bag
When making a quick run to the market use your
own reusable market bag rather than the paper or
plastic bags.
Take care of your water heater
Insulate your heater with a "pre-fab blanket"
found in hardware stores. Make sure you don't block the air vents in
gas heaters. Every 2 months drain off about 2 quarts of water from the
valve faucet located at the bottom of the tank. This will reduce
sediment and improve efficiency.
 Don'ts
Don't buy halon fire extinguishers.
Don't buy aerosol cans containing CFCs.
Don't use pesticides, ask your garden center for alternatives for your
specific problem.
Don't use Styrofoam.
Don't litter.
Don't use higher wattage light bulbs than necessary. Look in to the new
florescent bulbs. They are incandescent in feel and have a much longer
life span (5 years).
Do's
Do use rechargeable batteries rather than
disposables, but don't mix rechargeable and disposable batteries.
Do recycle (newsprint, paper, glass, aluminum, tin cans). Call your
local refuse department and ask for your areas recycling guidelines.
Do reuse when you can, plastic containers, for examples, are great for storing nuts and bolt or craft supplies.
Do reduce the amount of waste, turn off lights when not in use.
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