Tag: recycling

Reduce Waste And Create a Tree-Free Home

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date December 22, 2015
No Comments on Reduce Waste And Create a Tree-Free Home

Yes, you read that right, a tree-free home can actually help the planet! We are not talking about live trees, though. Feel free to have as many of those in your backyard as you want. This is about reducing your consumption of products made out of trees, such as paper. Especially if they are disposable ones. Creating a tree-free home can seem like a daunting task. But if you take it one step at the time, it is completely doable. Here are some tips for you to start.

Whenever possible, switch to cloth

If you use paper napkins, stop. Buy a couple of sets of nice cloth napkins. They work the same, they look pretty and they actually make you seem fancier. Your guests will be impressed. Make sure to have at least a couple of sets, so you are not napkin-less when you need to wash them. Paper towels need to go too. Replace them with cloth towels (you can make your own by cutting up some old cotton t-shirts). get a small container to store the sued ones in your kitchen until you wash them for reuse.

Reuse, recycle, reduce waste

If you usually need to print documents, do so in paper that has already been used on one side. Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, note pads and any other paper product you can. For paper products that cannot be reused (say, toilet paper), consider buying bleach-free, recycled and with the highest percentage of post-consumer waste content available. Consider getting a dry-erase board instead of buying post-its, or buy a bunch of letter magnets for the fridge to leave messages to your family.

Go digital

One of the greatest advantages of the modern world is that is easier than ever to be paperless. Call every company that sends you bills and ask if they can send you only digital copies from now on. Buy an e-book reader and stop buying paper books and magazines. As an extra advantage, you will save so much space and you will be able to carry your entire library around. If you are afraid of tiring your eyes, make sure you buy a reader with an e-ink display that reduces glare (and saves so much battery). If you truly will miss paper books, consider buying only used books. They are cheaper too! Finally, say goodbye to your paper planner and download an app for your phone or computer. They usually have more functions, they are easier to use and they can track everything from birthdays to grocery lists.

Avoid buying freshly-cut wood

If you are doing construction work at home, look up alternatives to newly cut wood. For example, bamboo is resistant, looks great and it grows really fast, so it’s an eco-friendly alternative. Straw bale, cob and natural linoleum are great too. If you have an eye on a specific type of wood, find local places to buy used wood. You can get pieces that still look great, without cutting down additional trees.

Tags ecohome, garbage, paper, recycling, trash, trees, wood

Home Improvement

Create An Eco-Friendly Bathroom By Following These 3 Tips

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date November 24, 2015
No Comments on Create An Eco-Friendly Bathroom By Following These 3 Tips

The bathroom is one of those places that, unless you are using it right now, you don’t think about too much. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t have a huge impact on the environment. Everybody uses the bathroom, all of our homes have one, and we use it multiple times during the day. If you can make small changes to make your bathroom greener, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact, without changing your lifestyle at all. Here are some tips to have an eco-friendly bathroom.

1. Low-flow toilets

Toilets use up a lot of water. Clean, drinkable water that is getting wasted daily, unless you do something to conserve it. In fact, almost 30% of all water consumption in your house is done by your toilet, that’s a significant portion. Some old toilets use up to 7 gallons of water per flush, way more than it’s actually necessary to get rid of the waste. If you already have a low-flow toilet, you can install a dual flusher that will give you the choice for “liquid waste” and “solid waste”, in order to use just the right amount of water per flush. If you have an old toilet but can’t afford to buy a new one just now, you can do a temporary fix. Fill up an empty water bottle with pebbles and leave it inside the tank to displace some of the water. That way, the tank will fill up with less water and it will be less wasteful. If you are worried about low-flow toilets not being as “powerful”, put a trash can in your bathroom and throw away paper, feminine hygiene products, floss and other trash that you would usually flush. Find a trash can with a lid and empty it regularly, so you don’t have “smell” problems.

2. Low-flow shower heads

We should all strive to cut down on our shower time. Ten minutes is more than enough to get clean, anyway. However, some days we all want to linger a bit and relax. This is why low-flow shower heads can be such life-savers. They will cut down your shower’s water consumption to 2.5 gallons per minute, as opposed to 5-8 gallons that normal shower heads consume. That is a significant change, and it will save you money as well.

3. Sustainable bathroom products

Shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and other similar products can end up contaminating the water sources, filling up landfills or contributing to animal suffering. Strive to buy all-natural and sustainable products in recyclable packaging. Check out vegan and cruelty-free brands. Switching toothpaste brands will make almost no difference in your life, but it can really have a huge impact on the environment.

Tags bathroom, ecohome, recycling, vegan products, water

Eco Tips

5 Green Gifts For The New Mom

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date September 29, 2015
No Comments on 5 Green Gifts For The New Mom

Do you have a baby shower coming up and still don’t have a gift? Why not pick something cute, practical and green? New moms get enough adorable onesies that the baby will wear only once. Your friend or relative will be extremely grateful if you get her something practical. And the earth will be grateful if you pick something green as well.

1. Wool diaper covers

Most parents know of reusable diapers (and more and more young families are choosing to use them!), but most still use plastic diaper covers. Wool covers are made of natural fiber, which means that they will breathe better and are more gentle on sensitive skin. Besides, they are naturally anti-bacterial and they can absorb a lot of moisture, so they are perfect for heavy wetters. They are thick enough to double as shorts on warmer months and they can be extremely adorable. Since a family will need only 3-4 covers, you can gift them two and a bottle of wool wash and lanolin to keep the wool moisture-resistant.

2. Reusable wipes

This is such a useful gift, and you can make it yourself. You can buy a used wipe warmer in good condition pretty cheaply and gather cut-up squares of flannel or baby washcloths. Place in a box with some glass jars of scented washing solution and decorate with a cute bow. You can include a homemade card with instructions on how to use the warmer so the wipes are always ready for comfortable diaper changing.

3. Swaddle Blanket

The ideal swaddle blanket is the one that fits well, stretches and tightens up while still being breathable and gentle on the baby’s skin. Look for swaddles made out of light, natural fibers and breathable fabric like muslin. Bamboo fabric is naturally anti-bacterial, sustainable and breathable, while organic cotton is soft and gentle. Stick to light fabrics, as these are great for summer nights and can be paired up with more layers when the weather turns cold.

4. Hand-held baby food grinder

Most new parents are not aware of hand-held food grinders, and they will be so grateful when you introduce them to it. These tools are light, easy to clean, portable and green. They are perfect for parents that want to know exactly what they are feeding their children and want to avoid store-bough food. Besides, they don’t use electricity or batteries, which makes them easy on the environment as well.

5. Green toys

Nobody said you can’t give mom and baby something fun! However, you don’t need to fall back on cheap plastic that will end up in the trash in a month and can’t be recycled. Instead of contributing to our landfill problem, give green and sustainable toys. Keep an eye out for plushies made with organic cotton, bamboo wooden toys, plastic toys that are BPA-free, made with natural rubber or recycled.

Tags babies, ecohome, family, gifts, recycling, sustainable gifts, toys

Eco Tips Green Building Recycling

Five Fun Ways To Introduce Recycling To Kids

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date September 1, 2015
No Comments on Five Fun Ways To Introduce Recycling To Kids

So you’ve come a long way into educating yourself about recycling. Suddenly, you get the feeling that it is time to discuss this topic with your children. Recycling is a matter of raising awareness about the impact we have on the world we inhabit. If our goal is to create sustainable change, then change has to be transmitted to next generations. Thankfully for us, kids are more than willing to learn about planet earth and how to take care of it. So it is just a matter of finding the right approach. Let’s discuss some ideas.

Arrange a Field Trip
Even though it may require a little planning, a field trip to a recycling facility is a great way for kids to become acquaintance with the whole idea. Besides, meeting professionals and workers at a recycle center will certainly boost their interest in the topic. Remember that kids of all ages are interested on seeing and experiencing things for themselves, so a “hands-on” experience will always work wonders with them.

Start your own recycling project with them
Another great “hands-on” experience for the children is to start a recycling project at home. So why not taking a weekend off to spend some quality time doing something incredibly gratifying like recycling paper with them. There are plenty of tutorials over the internet to draw ideas from. I assure you that kids will love the idea of creating something new out of old waste paper.

Invent recycling games
Set up some games to educate your kids on recycling issues. Get creative and remember to focus on the experience. Allow them to be the recycling experts for a day or turn them into the ultimate recycling superheroes. Some ideas for you to experience with are to create games related to sorting garbage items, making organic composts and dumping the right kind of waste on the right kind of bin. And always give away prizes, and treats!

Discuss with your children on how waste affects nature
Be honest with them about the current environmental situation. Talk to them about the changes our planet is going through and our responsibility as humans in reverting this process. Educate them about contamination and how human waste has a profound effect on planet earth. Help them realize how recycling can lead to positive environmental changes.

Empower them
Information is power. Education is power. Awareness is power. Do not underestimate your children’s potential to become change agents. Empower them to take active part in every possible way they can. They’ll be more than willing to do so.

Recycling can be fun and games but it can also be a powerful transformation tool in our homes, our schools and communities. Don’t be afraid to raise awareness. As Gandhi once said: “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Encourage your kids to live under the same principle and keep change going!

Tags eco ideas, ecohome, green, green buildings, green house, recycling, tips

Lawn & Garden Recycling

Recycle Your Furniture For Your Dream Garden

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date June 16, 2015
No Comments on Recycle Your Furniture For Your Dream Garden

Looking for a way to revitalize your garden? Try furniture. And I don’t mean your typical patio chairs and plastic table. Oh no! Instead of throwing away old furniture (or sell it for 89 cents at your next garage sale which is hardly a deal), recycle it and give it new life in your garden!

Tags ecohome, furniture, garden, recycling, upcycling

Eco Tips

Camping Hacks For Your Next Eco Trip

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date May 18, 2015
No Comments on Camping Hacks For Your Next Eco Trip

Camping is the perfect green vacation. It will make you feel in contact with nature, enjoying the wonderful world we live in. Besides, it has a low impact on the environment (just remember to “leave no trace”) and it saves you money. It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned camper or if you are thinking of experiencing the great outdoors for the first time, these are some genius hacks to make your next camping trip easier.

Keep mosquitoes away naturally – Mosquitoes can ruin anyone’s night. They are annoying and relentless, but repellent sprays are harmful for the environment and loaded with awful chemicals. To truly keep the little pests away from your campsite, throw some sage into the fire, you will be surprised with the results.

Turn egg cartons into fire starters – Instead of throwing away your paper egg cartons, save them for your next camping trip. Fill an egg carton with light charcoal and close it. Whenever you want to get your campfire going, just lit it up. You will get a blazing fire in no time that will keep you warm and help you cook food without wasting gas or fuel like a stove. Just make sure to follow your campsite’s regulations when it comes to campfires.

Cook with natural herbs – If you are going to use your campfire to cook meats and veggies, avoid bottled marinades that are full of preservatives, take up space in your bag and contribute to the garbage problem. Instead, throw rosemary or other aromatic herbs right into the fire while you are cooking. You will get a nice smokey flavor in the most natural way, and your meals will taste amazing.

Filter water with nothing but cloth – Clean water is absolutely necessary, I don’t need to tell you that. It is recommended that you take plenty of water with you, but if you find yourself without bottled water and no other means to purify dirty water, this method can help you out. Put the dirty water into a container and stick the end of a piece of cloth in it. Put the other end of the cloth in the other container and wait for a bit. The water will filter itself through the cloth and you’ll end up with a container of clean water and another of dry sediment.

Bring a Frisbee – Never underestimate the power of the Frisbee. They are extremely fun, so you can enjoy your time outdoors by doing some exercise with your family and friends, sure, but they have some hidden uses as well. In a pinch, your Frisbee can be a cutting board, a plate, a water container and even a shovel. No camping bag is complete without a Frisbee.

Tags camping, diy, ecohome, recycling, tips

Eco Tips Featured

7 Reasons To Care About The Environment

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date May 1, 2015
No Comments on 7 Reasons To Care About The Environment

There are as many reasons to take care of the Earth as there are people living in it. We all know that, of course. But sometimes we forget the actual impact we have in the world. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some very tangible reasons to care about the environment.

1. The Maldives

The Maldives are probably the most vulnerable populated area when it comes to global warming. Rising sea levels threaten this little islands and eating away their land. Some very bleak predictions estimate that the Maldives will disappear below sea level in less than fifty years. People are already emigrating in preparation of losing their home.

2. Java, Indonesia

This is the world’s most populated island and as such, the world’s most polluted one. People produce so much trash and waste that it completely surrounds the island and it’s not even possible to practice water sports without a wave of pollution taking the fun out of it.

3. Accra, Ghana

Electronic waste is growing every day and we don’t even notice it. We’ve become accustomed to changing our computers fairly frequently as they develop faster and cheaper. But the other side of the coin is landfills all around the world filling up with our electronic waste. Nothing wrong with a new computer, we just need to learn to recycle the old ones.

4. Willamette National Forest

Only less than 1% of Willamette forest in Oregon, US remains intact. Most of it was cut down for agriculture and urbanization and the rest was lost to fires. Forests like this take multiple generations to grow, and now it’s not likely that we will ever get back even a fraction of what was lost.

5. The Amazon, Brazil

This rainforest is considered by many as the lung of the world. It plays a key role in the production of oxygen and climate regulation all around the world. And yet, every year we are losing a bigger part of it. Companies want to cut it down for farming land, urbanization and mining, and local governments are doing little to stop them.

6. Ken River, California

This is what an oil field that has been active since 1899 looks like. Drilling for oil has devastating consequences for the local environment that won’t just go away once we stop. And this is on top of all the other evils of fossil fuels we are so familiar with, like increasing emissions of greenhouse gasses.

7. Svalbard, Norway

The increase in temperatures because of greenhouse gases causes glaciers around the world to melt at an accelerated pace. This introduces large amounts of fresh water into the oceans, causing shifts in currents and climate. And, of course, a rise in sea level, which affects land close to the water, such as The Maldives.

Tags ecohome, ecology, environment, global warming, recycling

Eco Tips Lawn & Garden Recycling

Composting 101: Start A Compost Pile At Home

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 14, 2015
No Comments on Composting 101: Start A Compost Pile At Home

Every house with a garden or a backyard should have its own compost pile. Why? Because organic materials make up 30 percent of what we throw away. If you compost them, we turn them into precious nutrients for your plants and vegetables. If you don’t, then they end up as trash and take up space in landfills, where they also release greenhouse gases.

Basically, composting is an essential way to reduce your carbon footprint significantly. Not only does it reduce methane emissions from landfills, it also enriches your soil, to help your plants grow stronger. You will need to use less chemical fertilizers (or none at all), and, since it suppresses plant diseases and pests, you will use less pesticides as well. So why isn’t everyone composting yet?

It’s not difficult to start your own compost pile at home. You already have all the ingredients, you just have to create a new routine, instead of throwing them away, you add them to your compost pile. Compost has three basic ingredients: Browns, which include branches, twigs and dead leaves. Greens, which include vegetable waste, fruit scraps, coffee grounds and grass clippings. And water, that will help break down the other materials and turn them into compost.

The first step is to select a dry, shady spot for your pile or bin. If you don’t have space outside, you can use an indoor compost bin that you can find in any hardware store. Don’t worry, a properly-made compost pile will not smell nor attract pests. If you decide to do an outdoor pile, place it on bare ground, so worms and other organisms can enter your pile and help it along.

The second step is to add to the pile. Try to keep an equal ratio of green and brown ingredients, and make sure your pile is always damp. However, keep in mind that there are ingredients you should never compost, such as oils, meat products, milk, eggs, manure from meat-eating animals and plant clippings that have been treated with chemicals or diseased.

Once you have your compost pile going, you’ll want to keep it covered to retain moisture. You should also turn the material every too weeks at least, to help speed up the decomposing process. Use a pitchfork, a shovel or any tool you think will help, and mix and invert your pile. If you consider it seems a little bit dry, you can spray it a bit with a hose as you are turning it, to keep your pile moist. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, with a texture similar to soil, then it will be ready to use. The time it takes depends on the size of your pile and the materials you add but it usually takes from a couple of weeks to months.

Tags compost pile, ecohome, gardening, recycling

Articles Home Decor Recycling

8 Smart Ways To Organize Your Life With Magazine Holders

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 3, 2015
No Comments on 8 Smart Ways To Organize Your Life With Magazine Holders

If you really want to have an eco-friendly house, then recycling is the way to go. But there are more ways to do that than separating glass from plastic when taking the trash out. Another big part of recycling is finding new life for common objects. Like magazine holders. Despite having an incredibly specific name, they can be used for more than just holding magazines. Organize your house (and your life), save space and impress your friends with your craftiness, all with the help of the humble magazine holder.

1. Organize your make-up

With the help of a cute, decorative magazine holder, instantly get rid of the chaos that seems to follow your make-up wherever it goes.

2. Organize your toilet paper

This is the last time you will find yourself in the toilet without toilet paper. Your rolls will be dry and always at reach so you can finally do your business in peace. Your guests will silently thank you too, since they will avoid the awkward “there’s no toilet paper how do I ask the host” dance.

3. Organize your clutter

Find a nice wooden magazine holder and secure it to the wall in an unused corner. Now you have a place to store all the tiny objects that clutter your desks and tables but somehow manage to get lost every time you need them.

4. Organize your cling wrap

And your tin foil, wax paper, etc. Instead of letting those boxes occupy space in your drawers, store them in a magazine holder in the inside of a cabinet door. This will save you space and time.

5. Organize your mail

Secure a magazine holder (or several) to your wall and file all your mail, bills, important and unimportant documents, and every other piece of paper that always ends up getting lost when you need it.

6. Organize your produce

Keep your onions, potatoes and other non-refrigerated produce from rolling away with a couple of well-placed magazine holders. You will keep your counters and cabinet clean, and you will always know when you need to buy more produce.

7. Organize your curling irons

Hair styling requires a whole lot of products and appliances (at least, if you are like me it does). Keep your hot irons safely stored, secured and organized with a decorative magazine holder. This will also prevent all the cords from tangling, which will prolong their lifespan and save you time in the mornings.

8. Organize your cutting boards

Secure a magazine holder to the inside of a kitchen cabinet and keep your cutting boards dry, organized and always at reach. This will help you save space in your kitchen, reduce all the clutter and make your cooking a lot easier.

Tags diy, ecohome, home decor, magazine holder, organizing, recycling, save space

Eco Tips Gadgets & Gear

10 Super Cool Eco-Friendly Gifts For Kids

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date December 20, 2014
No Comments on 10 Super Cool Eco-Friendly Gifts For Kids

With the holiday season approaching us so quickly, it is time to get all of your loved ones mark off the x-mas list. Have you ever had an eco-friendly holiday? If you have, then thank you for helping prolong Earth’s life. If you have not, then you need to get on board. Start off small this year in purchasing eco-friendly gifts for the kids. Also remember to wrap the gifts with old newspapers. Recycling is the best gift you can give to Mother Nature. Anyway, this article is not about her; it is about gifts the kids can enjoy.

Here are a few eco-friendly gifts.

Yogen Charger: Forget about pulling the string on the back of a talking toy. Now you can pull a cord to charge your mp3, or phone. Great for the constant cellphone text addict. It is worth $50 bucks.
Upcycled BOOMBOX MP3 Player: Retro in its design and it does not need batteries to make some bombastic sound. It is 18.99. It is made from discarded boxes/wrappers in the likes of Skittles, and Capri Sun.

EcoZoo Cotton Kids Backpacks: Make going back to school after the holidays so much fun with these lovely backpack. Great for sleepovers too. I want the panda one for myself. They are $36 dollars at EcoGear.com.

Finders Re-Gifter: Go in your attic or basement and look for old telescopes, microscopes, cameras, etc. Gifting something of yours from when you were young can make a great vintage gift. Plus it is eco-friendly.
Crazy Crayons Eco Stars: These are only $6.95 and you get 20 of them. They will make a great gift or you can split it up and use them as stocking stuffers.
Terracycle Drinkpouch Pencil Case: This pencil case will be a kool stocking stuffer gift. It is made from recycled Kool-Aid pouches. It is worth $6.95.
Mix & Match Lunch Box System: Lunch is so much fun now with these bento lunch boxes. They range from $12.95 – $23.99. Plus when you wrap them up, do not forget to fill the compartment with holiday treats. Get them at LaptopLunches.com

Dress Up Animals: Who knew you could dress up wooden toys. These lovely wooden animals are $25.00 dollars. You get two outfit options. They are so much fun and are made of recycled wood. Great for the future veterinarian in the house. Get them at PlanToys.com.
Memoir Blanket: Use some of the old clothes they no longer wear and make them a quilt. If you cannot sew then ask a family member or friend if they can sew it for you.
Mix Match, the Sock Monkey: Hate having only one sock and cannot find the other one? Make a sock monkey.

These are amazing gifts for any kid. They might not be expecting any of them but what kid does not like a gift. Yes it might not be the newest Transformer or Matchbox car, but at least these toys are helping the earth and helping them become more self-conscious of their surroundings.

A merry eco-friendly holiday to you.

Tags eco friendly holiday tips, eco tips, ecohome, kids, recycling, toys