Packing Peanuts

Call the Plastic Loosefill Council at 1-800-828-2214 for a list of locations where you can drop off those plastic peanuts that you get in shipments. Most UPS Store locations accept foam packaging peanuts for reuse. Check out www.theupsstore.com for a location near you.

Grasscycling

Bagging up leaves and other yard trimmings not only wastes your time and energy, it also puts a tremendous strain on the environment. Instead, try grasscycling. After you mow, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They will naturally decompose into the soil, helping to hold in soil moisture, prevent freezing, and return nutrients to the soil.

A Bright Idea

Lighting adds up to 15 percent of the total energy use in the average American home. So don’t overlook the obvious: turn off lights when you leave a room. Also, try using a lower wattage bulb or swapping out regular light bulbs for energy-saving, long-lasting compact fluorescents that can save energy and cash.

See Double

Whether you’re at home or at work, get in the habit of using both sides of a piece of paper. Kids’ art projects, grocery lists, and messages can give paper a second life. Check with your kids’ school to see if any of your waste (such as jars, magazines, paper towel rolls, newspapers, or plastic bottles) could be used for art projects. At the store, bring along your own shopping bags; either the plastic bags from your last trip, or better yet, a reusable tote bag.

Turn Trash Into Cash

If it’s worth something, you can make a tidy profit by selling toys, clothes, and books at a yard sale, consignment shop or on sites like Ebay or Craigslist. If that doesn’t work, donate it to your local thrift store or use Freecyle or Recycler’s Exchange to find someone in your area who might need it. One person’s junk is another’s treasure.

Follow The Sun

Even if you don’t have solar panels on your roof, you can make use of the sun’s power to warm your home in the winter. Leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. In the summer, block that warmth by closing shades and blinds on the sunny side of the house

Stop Junk Mail

Every time you order something online, fill out a warranty card, or join a club, your personal information is collected and sold to marketers who will flood your mailbox with offers, wasting paper as well as your time. To stop junk mail, start by contacting the Mail Preference Service to request that your contact information be removed from lists run by The Direct Marketing Association (a trade group of marketing companies.) Removing your information from this mailing list will cost $1 but it will also help to stop junk mail for up to five years. This can be done online at: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html, or by sending a postcard or letter to:

Mail Preference Service

Direct Marketing Association

PO Box 643

Carmel, NY 15012-0643

Credit card offers are another big source of junk mail. You can call 1-888-5 OPT OUT (or 1-888-567-8688) 24 hours a day to stop any and all unsolicited credit card offers from coming your way.