Why I'm Green

Whether you're black or white, a red Republican or blue Democrat - there's no reason you can't be Green. I think it's important I take the time in this blog entry to explain why I'm green and why I think each of us ultimately should care enough to go even a little bit green.

I was listening to a radio show the other day when one of the on-air personalities whipped out a "Top 10 Ways to Have Environmentally Conscious Sex" list. Tips included purchasing organic cotton lingerie, showering together to save water, etc. Albeit funny, this list was a bit ridiculous.

I'm not expecting myself or all humans to make unreasonable sacrifices to be a bit more green. But I do have a hard time hearing that some friends/family members don't do the easy green things, such as recycling and switching over to LED light bulbs. The way I see it, whether you believe in climate change or O-Zone depletion shouldn't effect your decision to preserve the environment. As far as we know, there's only one Earth. We certainly won't be around forever, but many generations will. Why not do something now to help protect this one Earth and preserve the generations of the future?

What's your reason for being green? Please share below!

Say Yes to Tree-Free Billing and No to Junk Mail

It took me a while to get accustomed to online billing, but the benefits are two-fold: reduce paper waste and save a stamp! Switching over to online billing is easy (directions come on almost all paper bills), and both you and the planet will be happy you did.

Did you know? Nearly one billion trees-worth of paper are trashed each year in America, and almost 700,000 tons of waste are generated by paper bills.

You can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by opting out to pre-approved credit card offers. I signed up and opted out about a year ago and receive hardly any credit card offers any more. Here's how the following site works: When you opt-out, the credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion) remove your name from credit card and insurance pre-approved distribution lists. Find and more and register at https://www.optoutprescreen.com/.

Wal-Mart's Saving Grace (Recycling Plastic Bags)

The time it takes consumers to travel from a store to their home is the average life span of most plastic shopping bags. Yet the bags last in a landfill practically forever because they don't decompose.

I have begun carrying reusable canvas bags, but sometimes it's nearly impossible to avoid the plastic bag. So what should you do with your bags?

I recently found out that Wal-Mart (along with Whole Foods, Giant Eagle and some other grocery stores) now collects and recycles plastic shopping bags and plastic dry-cleaning bags. This news is music to my ears as plastic dry-cleaning bags have been an Achilles heel of mine for a while (see the posting, "A List of Things I Hate"). While I am by no means a Wal-Mart shopper or supporter, I do applaud this decision - even if the motivation behind it not pure.

So when you're not recycling your plastic bags, how do you reuse them? I found out from my friend Kelly last night that she saves and reuses dry-cleaning bags to pack clothes that wrinkle when traveling. Apparently wrinkling is caused by friction; so save those bags for packing for your next vacation.

Composting Questions Answered

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to ask questions or make comments. I'm thrilled to help out however I can or make recommendations. Please feel free to continue sending in comments!

"How can I compost in a condo?" My sister Ashlee, who was one person who inspired me to blog and writes A Year in the Kitchen (a fantastic foodie blog), asked how someone who lives in an apartment or condo can compost. Ash, you may not be crazy about this answer, but here goes. Vermicomposting is using red earthworks or red wigglers to break down compostable material. The best - and pretty much the only - way to compost indoors is to use vermicomposting. Read more at Wikipedia (thanks Dave for the link!)

Personally I don't know if I could handle vermicomposting, so here is an alternative. You know how people often buy carbon offsets (e.g., because you can't stop driving, you essentially give money to a non-profit for how much carbon your car burns; the money is then used for alternative energy resources) - you could make a pledge to be more diligent in your recycling, purchase organic produce or begin using a reusable coffee cup.

"Are coffee filters really compostable?" Mrs. Riehle, from what I've found, coffee filters compost best when using vermicomposting. The worms need bedding, and it seems they love paper! However, if you're not into vermicomposting, I found a few reusable coffee filters online. Check these out - another simple change you can make each day:
http://www.ecofilter.com/
http://www.greenhome.com/products/kitchen/coffee_accessories/tea000001
http://www.greenfeet.com/itemMatrix.asp?MatrixType=1&GroupCode=6011-05890

How Old Nike’s Become New Playgrounds

Just because you’ve bought a new pair of athletic shoes doesn’t mean that the old ones should end up in a landfill. Nike’s created a solution that lets you recycle your old shoes. “Reuse-A-Shoe” is part of Nike’s LetMePlay campaign, where worn-out athletic shoes of ANY brand are collected, processed and recycled into materials used in sports surfaces like basketball and tennis courts, tracks and playgrounds. Find out more at http://letmeplay.com/reuseashoe.

Since its inception, Reuse-A-Shoe has recycled more than 20 million pairs of athletic shoes – giving thousands of children around the world access to new playgrounds and athletic facilites.

How do I recycle my shoes?
Visit http://letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/locations and find out if there is a location near you where you can drop off old shoes. Remember, Nike collects any brand of athletic shoes.

If there are no drop-off locations near where you live, send your old shoes to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070