Week 5 – Recycling
Filed Under (Goal Setting) by Small Changes on 01-03-2010
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Three of the easiest things we can do to help preserve natural resources and the earth’s environment. Whether you believe in man-made global climate change or not, there is strong evidence that shows that the earth’s environment is changing. Natural resources, like oil, minerals, and wildlife are disappearing. Someday in the not so distant future, we may not have enough trees to make paper or cardboard, oil to make plastic, or space to dispose of the tons (and tons) of waste we generate each year. The simplest ways to conserve resources are to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources. It is true that many of you may already do these steps, but the change for this week is asking you to do just a bit more. Recycle more, Reuse more and Reduce more.
Your Small Change: For this week, make one change to increase the amount of waste that you reduce, reuse or recycle.
More Information: Below are some web sites with resources and information on “green” lifestyles. The first three are local resources that have information on local activities; businesses and resources that can help us change things for the better right now. The others provide more general information applicable to anyone that is interested in a “greener” lifestyle. Explore these resources and congratulate yourselves on steps you have already taken. Then look for new ways that you can reduce your environmental footprint in 2010 and beyond.
Local Resources:
EcoLifeSTL: Your Source For a Greener St. Louis – www.ecolifestl.com
Missouri Botanical Gardens Earthways Center – www.earthwayscenter.org
City of St. Louis Recycling Program – stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle
General Information:
Green Living Tips – www.greenlivingtips.com
The Green Guide – www.thegreenguide.com
Lite Green Living – www.litegreenliving.com
Remember, even small steps can make a big difference. Each small behavioral change becomes a new habit, such as recycling paper instead of throwing it in the trash. The new habit can be expanded, perhaps to recycling beverage containers. Then you might take another step, replacing disposable water bottles with a reusable water bottle. Suddenly, you have not only reduced waste, but you have increased recycling and reduced resource consumption by not purchasing bottled water.