Paper chase…
…because we just can’t stop with the Earth day ideas.
- When you forget to bring your grocery bags from home, “fine” yourself by buying new ones to use for the groceries you’re buying. Use the old ones whenever you bring something somewhere – and give a little reminder like “keep the bag – use it at the grocery store!” (thanks to Ri for this suggestion)
- Drop off used magazines at the doctor’s or dentist’s office; coffee shop; hospital; jail (especially good for hobby magazines like cars and sports); the local child care center/elementary school (child-appropriate); or art centers. Many catalogs and old greeting cards can even be used for art projects. Cut the mailing label off first.
- Shredded paper is often collected by humane societies or vets for animal bedding. Ask if you can donate yours.
- Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can go right back to the package/mail store. It saves them money (which helps save you money), and it saves the landfill!
- Even though it has nothing to do with paper… you know those vases that showed up with your flowers? Return them to the florist. No more bud vases breeding in your closet or filling the table at your next rummage sale. Just clean them first, please. Fill with hot water and some distilled vinegar; let them sit overnigt; wash with hot soapy water in the morning.
- Reduce your catalogs – it’s one thing to get the ones you want, and another to get on the mailing list for every related (or not so related) thing under the sun. Don’t you hate that? Sign up at www.catalogchoice.org where they work with the retailers to clean up mailing lists.
- Reduce your junk mail – there’s a comprehensive list of do-it-yourself info at Eco-cycle, or you can pay 41pounds.org a mere $41 to do it for you (and they donate $15 of that to an eco-friendly group). The name 41 pounds comes from the amount of junk mail each adult receives in a year. Scary.
