Here are some very simple ideas on how you can help limit your negative impact on the environment.

REDUCE Buy tote bags for shopping trips. Keep them in your car if you’re forgetful.   Most grocery stores sell them cheap, find them in thrift stores, or check out www.reusablebags.com, www.envirosax.com, and www.ecobags.com for more stylish options. If you forget the tote bags, re-use the plastic ones. Or if you’re crafty, a quick online search can yield websites that show you how to crochet a reusable bag out of your old plastic bags. Bring reusable tupperware to restaurants to take leftovers home in so you don't get a new throw away container each time. Use the compact florescent lightbulbs in the house, but please dispose of them responsibly. Buy tupperware (or reuse food containers) and divide up snacks yourself instead of buying overpackaged products. Check back with us for links to biodegradable containers we’re testing. Reduce the number of plastic baggies you use by saving and reusing the inner bags from cereal boxes. They're made of waxed paper, and keep things just as dry and separate as baggies. Buy all natural cleaning products, or make your own at home from simple items. Plant a vegetable garden, eat and share the crops. Hang a clothes line and when the weather is appropriate, hang laundry to dry REUSE Start using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.  Offices often provide throw away plastic utensils, paper/plastic cups etc.--don't use them. Take in your own permanent utensils, plate, mug, or whatever you use to work, so you don't throw away something every time you get a drink or eat something at the office. When you have a party at home don't use throwaway stuff, be willing to do a little extra work for clean up by using the real thing and washing dishes instead. If you do use disposable plates and utensils, buy the biodegradable kind. Check back with us for more info as we test out different kinds! Use baby washcloths and cloth diapers instead of paper towels for wiping kids hands and faces, or cleaning around the house. If you really prefer paper products, buy ones made of recycled paper. You can find 100% recycled paper products anywhere. Try www.marcalsmallsteps.com or www.seventhgeneration.com for products available at stores.   Buy a neoprene or stainless steel reusable water bottle. This is better than reusing a plastic bottle because they can be washed.  Coffee drinkers can bring their own travel mug with their own coffee brewed at home. Shop at yard sales, second hand stores, consignment shops and websites where people sell their used items (ex craigslist). You can also sell used items to these stores instead of throwing them away - and get a little extra pocket money. Websites to sell or give away your used but still usable things: freecycle.org, craigslist.org, throwplace.com, iReuse.com. IReuse.com will also help you find a recycling station for your unusable items. Foam packaging can be reused!!! Donate foam peanuts to a local packaging store or the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council (1-800-828-2214) can tell you where in your area you can drop them off for recycling. The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, www.epspackaging.org/info.html, can tell you where to take foam blocks. RECYCLE Recycle - Seriously, this is so easy today we can’t think of a single reason why EVERYONE doesn’t do this! Most plastic containers, tin and aluminum cans, and paper are recyclable almost everywhere. Plastic bags can be recycled at some grocery and mega stores. Find out what is recycled in your area and if you need the reminder, post a list by trash and recycle bins. Go to www.earth911.com to find recycling centers for various materials in your area. In the family of one of the authors of this website, we recycle so much that we only take two trash barrels to the dump 4 times a year (and that is with kids!)  So it really can be done, and is often very easy. If there is no recycling in your area, push for it through your town/community/office, etc. Recycle at the office too. If your company doesn’t have a recycling program, suggest starting one. Check out www.mymanatee.org. Click on Recycling under the Services tab and click on the link for commercial recycling to get started on a plan. Start a compost pile. Check out www.howtocompost.org; or www.compostinstructions.com to get you started. These are information websites, they are not trying to sell you a several hundred dollar compost bin. Car batteries can be recycled. Other batteries, specifically rechargeable ones, should NOT be thrown in the regular trash. Paint, used motor oils, certain electronics, batteries, and florescent lightbulbs have special rules. Ask at town hall for your area’s options, some have a hazardous waste day to drop off certain items for free or at a lower cost than recycling centers for these items. For more information, go to www.earth911.com/hazardous/ REACT Think before you buy--do you really need it, or is it just another piece of junk/clutter that will end up in the garbage soon?  Could you get it used instead? Think before you throw away, can it be recycled instead?  Can someone else use it? Can you donate it somewhere?  Can you re-use it somehow? Teach your children, not to have the throw way mentality that we all seem to have--if it breaks fix it, don't just throw away and buy new If you have a choice, buy wood, metal, glass, ceramic or cloth items instead of plastic ones.  Write to companies that are making positive environmental changes -- it only takes a few minute to e-mail or write to a company, let them know that their efforts mean a lot to you the consumer and that you will support them in that by using their products over others. Ex.  An author of this website has written to a major delivery company that decided not to allow idling of their trucks, we write to our State Representatives to tell them we want them to support green policies, etc.  Ask your local retailers to put out recycling cans, use recycled products, stop using Styrofoam whenever possible. Or write letters if you’d prefer. It can’t hurt to ask. Write to companies that you would like to see improve in their environmental policies, and suggest that you may be more likely to pick another company over theirs because of the other company’s environmental practices. For example, an authors of this site wrote to a major coffee distributor and asked that they consider filling people's mugs rather than supporting throw away containers as much as they do.   Don't be afraid to gently suggest to friends that they try any of these or other positive environmental ideas. Get out there! There are so many groups that have a variety of goals you’re sure to find some that have goals that speak to you. Join, support, take action, spread the word! Some of our favorites are: www.wecansolveit.org www.NRDC.org www.pluginamerica.org

Mission: A. Present ideas for individuals and families to minimize their negative impact on the environment B. Reduce waste, initially through recycling efforts C. Promote alternative fuels and energy sources D. Conserve and protect the natural treasures we still have: our state and national parks and forests, waterways, and oceans. Contact us with your feedback, suggestions, your own favorite eco ideas at: info@getanecolife.org