Reduce my ecological footprint

My third time going to recycle metal and they tell me they pay for it. I had a big lamp, a broken shovel, some aluminum blinds, old door hinges, a faucet (with copper pipe), a hairdryer and a DSL modem. They gave me $16.10. I think they did it by weight.

I wish they would have told me that I could get cash when I dropped off my old microwave. Oh well, now I know.

Finally used my reusable grocery bags at Kroger yesterday. Got 30 cents off for using them. Had six, only needed five. Those bags hold alot and they’re alot easier to pick up and carry.

I bought a reusable lunch bag too and I’ve been using it.

Now that I’m not going to have anymore store plastic bags, I guess I’ll have to use more kitchen plastic bags for my garbage and Monti’s liter. :\

I went to the recycling center for the first time on Saturday. They helped me unload my car…which was nice because it was only about 10°F outside. I had a alot of paper and plastic. It feels good to throw out less garbage. I will try to cut down on the amount of recycled things by doing two things: I’ve emailed two places to stop sending me their catalogs. When more come in I’ll make sure to let them know I don’t want them anymore. In the next two weeks I’ll have some money to buy a water purifying dispenser and a water bottle.

I keep forgetting to take my reusable bags to the store with me. Now, at least, I have put them in my car. Hopefully that will help remind me.

Yahoo Green

TreeHugger

Aluminum Water Bottles

I bought 10 reusable grocery bags from Green Valley Bags on ebay.

They are slightly stinky though, new stinky smell. I’ll have to air them out before I use them.

I found a privately owned recycling center I can take my paper, plastic, metal and such to. It took me searching all over the net, one email and two phone calls to finally find it. Now I must get some containers for my garage so I can sort the stuff.

Some websites I want to keep track of: (seeing as the only thing that’s locally grown and fresh here in the winter are xmas trees)

Natural Resources Defense Council, Eat Local

Local Harvest

I’ve been switching my bills to paperless. Phone/Internet/Cell phone bill, credit card bills, bank statements. Now I need to check with the utilities and mortgage companies.

April 2007 Shape Magazine is all about being eco-friendly. It’s given me many good ideas. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do some things though because of money issues but I’ll do what I can.

“Even the smallest things we do…will make a big difference for the world we’ll pass on to our children.” ~Al Gore