Common Recycle: Batteries, Magazines, and Shoeboxes

Common Recycle

Have you ever wondered how to recycle those everyday things? Well, I sure have, and I hope many others have, too. In this first post of the Common Recycle series, I will talk about how to recycle three common items.

Batteries

Now, I'm talking about those single-use batteries that you use in everyday electronics like remotes, flashlights, toys, and cameras. Most are dumped in the trash, but this can be a problem. Certain chemicals can leech into the landfills and further contamination. In order to prevent this, go to earth911.com, enter "batteries" into the search box, define your location, and poof! you'll be given a local business that recycles batteries (most likely Batteries Plus).

Chargeable batteries are a little different. Most are Nickel-Cadmium batteries and cadmium is a toxic metal. Therefore these batteries must be disposed of properly. A search at earth911.com will likely give you the result of Radio Shack, even Best Buy.

So overall, batteries ARE recyclable. Just save used batteries in a small bag and drop them off on one of your trips into the town.

Magazines

Yes, paper is recyclable. But I know of a better way to recycle old magazines: package filler! I recently came across this discovery when my parents were out of filler tissue for a care package. I took a magazine out of the trash, ripped out the pages, and stuffed them inside the box. Perfect! So instead of spending money on filler tissue for gifts and packages, just use old magazines. It's very original and prevents extra spending and allows further use of an otherwise trash-bound item.

Shoeboxes

As a student, I often don't have the money to buy typical storage containers. Therefore I utilize shoeboxes, a great form of storage! I use some to store winter clothes (like scarves, gloves, beanies, thermals, etc.), some to store DVDs (most shoeboxes are the perfect size), and just all-around junk. They're box-ish, and therefore easy to stack and store in a closet or under the bed. These shoeboxes would eventually hit the recycle bin but using them as storage containers prevents the purchasing of other containers that require more resources and energy to manufacture.

Reusable Bottles, Goodbye Plastics

I'm sure more people these days are using reusable bottles instead of plastic ones than five years ago. The truth about BPA (bisphenol-A), the introduction of stainless steel bottles, and the realization that bottled water isn't that special (most comes from tap) has changed how society looks at refreshment. This is one achievement I believe we should all be proud of. Yet, there is always room for improvement.

I personally have three Camelbak bottles (2 were given to me for free) and one stainless steel bottle. In the past year, I can only recount several instances where I used plastic water bottles (and were for sure recycled). An impressive streak, if I'm not too bold to say. I hope everyone has a similar story and on a daily basis refuses plastic in favor of reusability.

The following are several trusted brands of reusable water bottles I suggest you to check out and possibly purchase:

• http://www.camelbak.com/
• http://mysigg.com/
• http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/
• http://www.kleankanteen.com/

And of course, if you just visit your local store there's bound to be reusable bottles on sale and perhaps for a cheaper price than these national brands. But as a precaution, do check to make sure that it does not contain BPA or other harmful chemical. Most bottles are labeled "eco-friendly," "BPA free," and "no harmful chemicals."

If you're having difficulty convincing yourself to buy one, look at these facts from Earth911.org:

• Americans buy an estimated 29.8 billion plastic water bottles every year.
• Nearly 8 out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill.
• Less than 1 percent of all plastics is recycled. Therefore, almost all plastics are incinerated or end up in a landfill.

Also, bottled water these days tend to cost around $3 per dozen, or $.25 a bottle. Reusable bottles have a price range from around $8 up to $20. It's safe to say the average person drinks at least 2 bottled waters a day, which adds up to over 700 bottles a year, or around $200 a year. That's a lot of money for something that you can get out of your tap/fridge/filter at home, which you already pay/paid for. If an average reusable bottle bought around $12 were used in place of those 2 bottles, you would recoup the cost in roughly a month. So, here's the math again:

So according to the numbers, common sense, and a good sense of responsibility, you can infer that buying a reusable bottle to replace the plastic ones you periodically buy is the right choice.

Green Lifestyle: Clothing 101 - Selection

Between a shirt made in China and a shirt made with organic cotton grown here in the USA, which would you choose? Hopefully, the latter. It is simple decisions like this that can lead you to a greener lifestyle.

When shopping for clothes, first look for clothes made in the US. They are obviously shipped a shorter distance than ones from China or some other country which means less fuel and less pollution.

Then look for clothes made organic cotton. Basically, cotton is one of the most dirty agricultural products out there, and these toxic chemicals harm the environment in the most severe of ways. By choosing organic cotton, you are buying cotton that is grown without pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic chemicals that are known as harmful to both humans and the planet.

Lastly, try to find clothes that are made of recycled and/or reclaimed materials. Nowadays there are many companies that manufacture jeans, T-shirts, and accessories out of old denim and refurbished leather.

All these tips about clothing ensure that you are making the least amount of impact on the planet. We are a consumer society and our shopping habits and preferences can change the outcome of industry. We choose what we want and in turn we, in a way, control the "demand" part of supply and demand. Supply changes when demand changes.

Green Lifestyle: Clothing 101 - Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle

Now, you just bought a brand new 100% organic cotton t-shirt and are itching to flaunt it off. You do so. And do so, and do so, and do so for however long. Then, like all other clothing items, it starts wearing out and soon enough you're itching to get rid of it.

Instead of throwing away that precious o-cotton, think about reusing, repurposing, or recycling it. There are several ways to do this, here are some:

1. Donate - If the clothing item is in decent enough shape, consider donating it to Goodwill or the Vietnam Veterans of America. (I prefer the Vietnam Vets over Goodwill because they donate those clothes to the vets and their families directly.) For Goodwill, you can drop of your donation at any store and for the Vets, you can schedule a pick-up via their website.
   


2. 3R - Crafty with the needle? Then repurpose those battered up clothes, especially if they're not decent enough to donate. You can do the 3R's (Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) of clothing by just doing this simple step. Also, it can be guaranteed that you'll be the only one wearing that repurposed hybrid o-cotton shirt.
   
3. Alternative Uses - If your clothes are way too tattered to do any of the previous two ideas, consider turning that shirt or blouse into a dust or wash rag. Why buy specialized rags at the store when you can save money by recycling your old clothes? Those beaten shirts work well when detailing the car as well.

All in all, don't throw away your old wardrobe without taking a quick peek at them and possibly give them a renewed chance at life. It's one less thing to clog the landfill.

Hello!

Hey there! So this is my first post on my blog dedicated to the "Life in Green" and my perspective on living an environmentally and ecologically conscious lifestyle.

Here I will blog about various ways and ideas for leading realistically sustainable lives. I am not here to rant about Climate Change or Global Warming; my focus is on the solutions, not just the problems. You do not have to be a tree-hugger nor a skeptic to follow these ideas and lifestyles. My expectations are for you to perform or attempt to try any one of my ideas or advice. If you do, we have created a better future.

"Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence." -Ovid