By Marie Schoenfeldt, PLS, CLA

“Going Green” is on everyone’s mind these days, but just what does “going green” mean? becoming an alien? making sure your grass is green? the wearing of the green? Going green means that we are doing our best to protect our environment and keep our world safe for generations to come. Part of going green is related to what we consume and how we handle our waste. What do you perceive as a “green” product? or doing the “green” thing? Most will describe a green product as one on the market that has taken on the connotation of an environmental political marketing adjective. In other words, the manufacturers and distributors of these products are appealing to the environmentally astute consumer.

Many people believe that the materials used in green products are rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, cork, wood, grasses, etc. Others believe that green products may be biodegradable and that their substance should break down into carbon dioxide, water, and natural materials that do not harm the ecosystem. Still others believe that any energy-efficient product is a green product.

The seven-member NALS Green Team put together a great booklet to aid in the transition to a “green” or “sustainable” office. Print this information and hand it to your employer. Not only will he be helping the environment, he will be saving on his overhead. In our offices, our schools, and our homes, there are many ways to improve our environment. A community college, as part of its welding training, is now teaching online using Lincoln Electronic equipment, thereby introducing students to the program where they can learn and train without burning up products and things into the atmosphere before actual practice.

Some people go green by recycling for money. The United States “Cash for Appliances Rebate Program” offers rebates when a new, energy-efficient appliance is purchased to replace an older appliance. (Wish I had known that two years ago.) You can also get cash rebates on water-efficient toilets and other bathroom fixtures. (See www.toiletrebate.com.) Another way to recycle merchandise is to sell it. Surely most of you have done this without even realizing it is a way to “go green.” Potential buyers are always looking for a bargain.

Many companies, such as Next Worth, Gazelle, and YouRenew, will take used electronics and offer cash for them. Often they will take care of shipping costs. Donations of usable products are also a great way to recycle and receive a tax deduction. You can get paid to recycle residential trash at www.recyclebank.com.

Do not forget those unwanted cell phones are needed for our military friends and loved ones who are overseas. There are many drop-off spots. Companies will clean up the cell phones and deliver them to the troops.

While conserving fuel and energy is a well-known means to going green, there are additional ways to make a difference that might not be widely known but that can produce equally positive results.

Avoid excessive packaging. Not all retailers are concerned about overly-packaged products that simply create waste and take more effort to produce, eventually harming the environment by filling landfills and creating unnecessary waste. Consumers can send a subtle message to these companies by not purchasing their products. Environmentally-conscious consumers check the ingredients on everyday purchases to see if what they are buying is harmful to the environment. Look for natural ingredients.

Google “green products” and you will find a multitude of articles and lists on how to go green: from “in the kitchen,” to “on a budget,” to “byob” (bring your own doggie bag—biodegradable that is). Another website lists the many uses of baking soda for natural skin care and for making your hair clean and shiny.

Use natural exfoliants such as lemon peel, coffee grounds, sugar, and salt, not plastic. Most conventional products are liquid-based and contain synthetic beads that do the exfoliating. The problem is that these beads go right down the drain and make their way out into our waterways and eventually end up in the oceans. These tiny beads take many years to break down and can choke marine life, from the largest whale to the smallest plankton.

Ever hear of the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”? This is a floating island of plastic debris, discarded bottles, bags, bits of nylon rope, and a myriad of throw-away products which will always be with us.

The United States consumes 30 billion plastic products and 10 billion paper products, cups, plates, grocery bags, etc., every year. The polystyrene and Styrofoam products are bad for the environment and, more importantly, bad for your health. They take eons to break down and, during that time, release potentially toxic by-products.

Use everyday staples to clean your home—vinegar, baking soda (great for absorbing odors). Try orange peel for an atomizer and room freshener. Use vinegar or a baking soda solution to clean your coffee pot; just run it though the regular cycle. Baking soda is great for cleaning combs and brushes. Google “uses for baking soda” and click the first choice—“Sixty Uses for Baking Soda”— for many more ideas.

A website, www.thegloss.com, sets out many uses for Vaseline® petroleum jelly—a great moisturizer after a bath. (I have tried it since researching for this article and it works!) Coat your eyelashes before going to bed with petroleum jelly; it makes them grow longer and thicker. Soften your elbows and your cuticles. Check out the Vaseline® website for lots more uses.

Keep in mind the four Rs of going green— reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle—in that order. Before something goes into the recycling bin, it is important to first ask ourselves if it can be reused first. An old can, with a little paint, becomes a planter. Poke a small hole in a plastic milk jug to slowly water outdoor shrubs and plants. Many food containers (ice cream, Cool Whip®, coffee— this list goes on and on) can be recycled to store food and other items. Some containers are pretty enough to use for small house plants.

Skip the dry cycle on your dishwasher; wash clothes in cold water; shut down and unplug electronics when not in use; use a small power strip to help stop the flow of electricity. A battery charger uses 7-10 watts daily. Other unnecessary watt-consuming items include mobile phone chargers, digital pictures, and laptop power adaptors. Look around your home. What other products can be turned off or unplugged when not in use?

I recently read in the local newspaper that some states are now proposing to stop the indiscriminate distribution of phone books. In my area, we have two “yellow pages” companies who deliver a book automatically for every phone to every household and business. If one has two phones, one gets two books; nine phones, nine books. Most people just toss one of the new ones out with the old one. However, there are several places that have bins where one can discard unwanted phone books. Contact the companies and request that they stop automatic delivery of any unwanted books.

Take advantage of your city’s recycling programs. Separate glass, paper, and plastics. The pickup service is usually set up to take these items in separate trips. If you do not have pickup service available, there will be at least one recycling plant in your area. Our city just got the first solar-powered recycling compactor for plastic products in the state. This is in addition to the many regular recycling containers that were recently placed at various high volume sites. A close check has shown that these areas are much more litter-free than before the containers were distributed for use.

If we do not participate in going green, we will be drowning in waste, toxins, and pollutants in a few short years. So, how green is your valley? Mine is getting greener every day.”

Photo credit: Flickr/shehal