Blogger Friend School #24

Here is this week's assignment from Nancy's blog:

This week's assignment is The Three R's -- Reduce, Recycle, and Re-use. I thought since today is Earth Day and this month is Arbor Day that we all could share ideas or tips that we use for recycling, reducing or re-using items in our home. Do you recycle at all? Does it just seem nearly impossible to recycle? Trying to catch every piece of trash that goes into the garbage is a hard one for me too. I have a friend who is very diligent with it and so are her children! It amazed me to see how they re-spect nature and use the Three R's in their home. I challenge you all to write about your ventures with recycling, reducing, and re-using your trash and take a pledge to at least try to use some of the tips that you read about on this assignment. Don't forget to add your favorite scripture for this assignment.

Go here if you would like to participate.

Reducing

• I am careful to try to drive as little as possible by running errands on days that I will already be out.
• I think I must be anti-grass. I absolutely refuse to water our lawn in the summer unless it is dead (which has not happened). It embarrasses my kids, but I can't stand wasting water on a weed. I have been looking into ground covers for a couple of years, but we have dogs and I cannot find anything feasible that is not considered invasive here (yet). In the meantime, we keep adding new gardening areas to the backyard. I mulch all of my garden beds, even my vegetable garden, to help conserve water (and control weeds).
• The kids and I had a talk about reducing a couple of months ago, and we are trying, somewhat unsuccessfully so far, to reduce and eventually discontinue the use of paper towels. I have been saving old dish towels for this purpose. I also wash and re-use plastic freezer bags.
• We try to conserve electricity and gas by keeping our thermostat as low as we can stand it in the winter and as high as we can stand it in the summer. We are also careful to turn off lights, computers etc., when not in use. We use surge protectors for our TV and DVD player so we can turn everything off when we don't use it. Someone told me years ago that a TV draws power even when it is not on. I started using a surge protector for ours and turned it off when we were not using it, and there was a noticeable difference on our next electric bill. I don't know if this is accurate information, but we noticed a difference, so we keep doing it.
• We have also slowly switched over to compact fluorescent light bulbs over the last few years. I know that there has been some concern about them lately, but the savings has been tremendous for us!
• We only wash full loads of laundry. I use cold water except for towels and bedding. I use a clothesline in nice weather, but it broke last year and needs to be replaced. With the nice weather, I have been itching to rig something up so I can hang our clothes up!

Recycling

• We have a recycle bin that we use pretty diligently. However, the recycling company that our city hires only takes certain plastics, and we do not recycle plastics that the company does not pick up. We recycle paper, most plastics, cans and glass (unless we reuse them).

Reusing

• We try to reuse whatever we can, but I do not like clutter, so if I cannot think of a use for something right away, then I get rid of it. I do try to think of uses for items before throwing them away. It is fun and challenging to try to find uses for various items.

Pledge

There is a recycling center not to far from us, so I am going to find out exactly what they accept and begin taking recyclables there. We will be more diligent about getting rid of the paper towels. I am also going to try composting this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's ideas. I think that it is easier to slowly change the way we use our resources rather than trying to change everything at one time. I know that we have a lot of room for improvement, but I want any changes we make to last and not feel overwhelming, so we take things a little at a time.

"The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?" Psalm 24:1-3

HomeschoolBlogger Comments
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Apr. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Sawickis

Okay, maybe I was being a little hard on myself.

But you've definately got me beat with reusing plastic bags. That could also save me a small fortune.

Yeah, good scripture verse. Great minds think alike.

P.S. It took me forever to realize why that sounded like I'd just read it.

*Kristie*

Apr. 23, 2008 - Hello

Posted by nancysnook

Great minds do think alike! A lot of us are doing the same things...I reuse bags always, unless the zip thing in them won't stay closed, then it's history. Thanks for sharing...slow and steady wins the race..

Nancy

Apr. 23, 2008 - Yes add me

Posted by Anonymous

Yes, please add me to your friends list. Great tips you have there! Those energy saving one are good.

Apr. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MoreLittleWilsons

A homeschooling friend has been using cloth bags for groceries.. and has found herself without plastic bags for using in her garbage.. or emptying her rabbit cage. I told her her rabbit cage mess could be composted..

but it's true, when you don't get the grocery bags, then what do you use? I haven't used grocery bags in years, we just take the groceries off the conveyor counter, put them back in the cart, and put them into the van - no bags. When we get home, we get laundry baskets to bring the groceries in. I have a few cloth bags, but I forget to bring them in. I find my cloth bags are good for library books..lol

Apr. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

As someone who sells <a href= http://bulbster.com/lightbulbs/index.php>light bulbs</a> for a living, I am less enthusiastic than most about compact fluorescent bulbs. This is due to the fact that the ones currently available contain significant amounts of mercury. If one of these bulbs should break inside of a person's home, it could cause a challenging disposal situation. It is my belief that the technology should progress to a point at which the mercury levels are low or nonexistent before people changeover their entire homes. Another consideration is that as these bulbs burn out, they will most likely be thrown away as though they are normal rubbish and landfills will have incredibly high levels of mercury in their soil as a result.

Apr. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by bethanyrae

That is so funny about being anti grass.....I hear you. I'll only water the small part right in front of house where we laid sod once upon a time.
bethanyrae