You probably know that recycling is one of the most important and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment. But do you know how much recyclable material is improperly disposed of here in the United States everyday? All those used tires, car batteries, old clothes, and paper waste ends up in landfills where it benefits no one. According to America the Beautiful, if the all the recyclable materials currently present in the U.S. waste stream were actually recycled, they would generate about $7 billion.

You may not even realize that what you’re throwing away is recyclable. To make sure that you haven’t been unwittingly harming the environment, check out the following list of common recycling mistakes.

1. Leaving out the bottle caps

Americans dispose of 25 million plastic bottles every hour, but too often their bottle caps don’t make it into the recycling bin, too. In the past, plastic bottle caps could not be recycled, but many recycling plants are now accepting them, so next time you toss out a used bottle, make sure to put the cap back on.

2. Recycling dirty paper

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, paper accounts for 27% of our municipal waste. In fact, we go through 69 million tons of paper in the U.S. every year. Unfortunately, just a few sheets of dirty or greasy paper or cardboard can ruin an entire batch of recyclables. So remember, if it’s dirty or contaminated with grease, it’s trash (we’re looking at you, discarded pizza box).

3. Failing to recycle magazines

It’s a common misconception that glossy paper products cannot be recycled. In truth, magazines can and should end up in the recycling bin. Unfortunately, just 20% of them ever do.

4. Not sorting recyclables

Plastic, paper, glass, metal — all of these categories include recyclable material; however, they cannot be recycled together. It is essential that you properly sort your recyclables.

5. Trying to recycle plastic bags

Americans throw out roughly 100 billion plastic grocery bags every year. You’d think that with all that waste, we’d have come up with an easy way to recycle these common household items. Unfortunately, most recycling programs do not accept plastic bags. If you want to stop these plastic bags from clogging up our landfills and waterways, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the store.

6. Not recycling at all

The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to recycling is simply not doing it. While over 87% of people in the U.S. have access to drop-off or curbside recycling services, too many people fail to properly dispose of recyclable items.

7. Being uninformed

In order to dispose of your waste properly, you need to know which items are recyclable and which are not. For instance, some types of glass can be recycled while others, like light bulbs and Pyrex, cannot.

8. Trying to recycle shredded paper

As much as 90% of office waste, including massive amounts of paper, can be recycled. However, if your workplace has the habit of shredding documents, those itty-bitty pieces of paper are not recyclable because they are not compatible with recycling plant machinery. Instead, create an office compost bin and throw shredded paper waste in there.

9. Including frozen food boxes

Boxes that are designed to hold freezer foods cannot be recycled because they are covered in a coat of plastic polymer that prevents the box from breaking up during the recycling process.

Now that you are aware of these common recycling mistakes, you can apply this knowledge to your own household waste disposal practices. Spread the word and save the planet!

This guest article and infographic was contributed by the green junk removal company, Junk King.

The post 9 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid When Recycling appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Businesses all over the world are making a conscious effort to adopt eco-friendly practices in their operations. In fact, in the year 2014, around 51% of American companies have announced their targeted greenhouse gas reduction levels. By going green, you not only contribute to the preservation of the environment, but you’re also likely to have higher sales. That’s because 71% of Americans will factor in the impact on the environment when shopping. And, at least 55% of consumers surveyed in 60 countries said that they’re open to paying more for goods manufactured by companies making reasonable attempts at going green in their operations.

If you’ve been considering making significant changes in the working of your small business, know that it is not all that difficult. Here are a few of the most convenient eco-friendly practices you can adopt.

Choose Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) Paper

Businesses make use of paper, various paper products, and packaging materials in their operations. In place of new paper, use PCW paper that uses 45% less power in the making process. Recycled paper also reduces wastage by 50% and cuts back on carbon emissions. If you cannot find entirely recycled paper in your going green efforts, opt for products that have the highest percentage of PCW.

Recycle All the Waste Possible

Offices and manufacturing units generate a surprising amount of waste. Install colored recipients with logos so your employees can segregate and dispose of waste responsibly. You can also choose bins according to the different categories of waste your small business typically generates. Accordingly, pick out paper, plastic, electronics, metal, glass, and even, organic items.

Install Energy-Saving Light Fixtures

Replace all incandescent bulbs and tubes with CFL and LED fixtures. While you’re likely to spend a little more on these options as compared to the standard light bulbs, you’ll notice that you spend less on the power consumption. Eventually, you’re likely to save up to $200 per bulb. And, since the power-saving fixtures last you much longer than incandescent fixtures, you’ll soon recover the additional cost which is a huge positive in your going green strategies.

Invite Energy Auditors to Check Your Workplace

Professional energy auditors can evaluate your home and workplace for the repairs you need to undertake to seal the small cracks and leaks in the insulation and airtightness. By making these changes, you can save up to 20% on the costs of heating and cooling the office and work premises. Some states may offer you free energy audits and assist you in the repairs needed.

Purchase Refurbished Equipment

Every workplace needs different equipment including computers, machinery, printers, copiers, and many more. As far as possible, opt for refurbished laptops, cellphones, tablets, and any other items by way of your going green policy. With a little research on online stores like Amazon, eBay, ReUseTek, or any other, you should be able to find barely used equipment for very economical prices. You can also consider searching the websites of the original manufacturers for their collection of checked, repaired, and repackaged products. By purchasing these products, you maximize their usage and prevent them from reaching landfills.

Adopt the Use of Biodegradable Cleansing Agents

Should you check the stores, you’ll find biodegradable cleansing agents like detergents, soaps, and any others you need around the workplace. With some amount of searching, you could pick out bulk packages that are more economical. These products are not just good for the environment, but they also protect your employees from exposure to toxins and other chemicals in the office area. The result – they’ll support your going green efforts enthusiastically.

Look for Alternative Energy Sources to Power Your Workplace

Sustainable power can be generated from wind and solar, hydropower, and geothermal sources. Contact your utility provider and ask about the green energy alternatives. In your efforts for going green, you might have to pay a slightly higher price for the power that goes towards the purchase of clean energy and feeding it into the electric supply grid. If your budget allows, consider installing solar panels to generate electricity for your workplace.

Choose Sustainable Inputs

Choose sustainable and eco-friendly raw materials for creating your products. Talk about your going green efforts on the company website and product packaging. You’ll find that your customers appreciate the fact and are likely to choose your products over those of your competitors. They might also consider your products safer to use. Even if they have to pay more, they may be okay with that.

Encourage your employees to follow your going green policy in every way they can. Carpooling, using hybrid vehicles, taking public transportation, choosing digital options over paperwork are different methods you can ask them to use. Make sure to let all customers and business partners know about the eco-friendly practices you’ve adopted. And, each time you earn a badge or a certificate lauding your efforts, add it on your website.
Do keep in mind that the going green policies you adopt are likely to pay off in the long run. You’ll have happy customers and also cut back on the costs of your operations. All it takes is some smart thinking and a little effort. Good Luck!!

The post How Going Green is Possible for Every Small Business appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

In our modern world, it is no longer possible to remain ignorant of the damage that we as a species are doing to the planet. We can see global warming in action all around us, watch the warnings on the news every day, and time after time our social media feeds are filled with another sad story about the newest animal facing global extinction.

It makes you want to do something about it, and the good news is, every one of us can make a difference, both personally and professionally. By adopting certain steps, we can achieve greater energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, changing our lifestyles for the better.

If you’re in need of a little inspiration to get you started, here are a few ideas you might want to explore…

1: Go Paperless

We all know that the more paper we use, the more trees have to be cut down to meet our needs, so one of the easiest ways to become more eco-friendly is by going paperless. We don’t mean just reducing how much you use – we mean scrapping it completely. Stop sending out printed invoices and correspondence and try to keep everything to email. If you store hard copies, move them all online (with backups, of course) and go entirely electronic. You’ll cut your costs, assist the environment, and make your business more efficient in one fell swoop.

2: Switch to Laptops

Almost all of us will use a laptop at home, often exclusively, so why are so many businesses still using cumbersome desktops? It’s a good question to ask yourself, especially considering that laptops use around 80 percent less energy than the alternative. Of course, we’re not suggesting that you replace them all instantly, but the next time you need an upgrade, buy wisely to improve your energy efficiency and reduce your monthly overheads.

3: Turn to the Professionals

There are also some more drastic measures that you might want to consider, especially if you have a business that generates significant air pollution. In these instances, we suggest turning to the experts for answers. Companies like ERG are probably your best bet, and should be able to help you make your venture more environmentally-friendly in no time. Such a move might seem altruistic and not particularly financially-savvy, but the truth is it could be a real selling point if you’re working with consumers who have strong ethics and shop with care.

Make a difference today: follow these three straightforward steps to get started.

The post How to Make Your Business Energy Efficient and Emission Friendly in Three Simple Steps appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

While planning a wedding can be both exhilarating and stressful for a bride and groom, it can seem even harder when you are planning a green wedding.

As more and more people are focusing on green products and lifestyles, many couples are working hard to make sure they have a positive impact on the environment.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can have a green wedding without having to sacrifice your comfort, quality or budget.

#1 The location

The first important way to go green for your wedding is to consider what kind of venue you‘ll be having your ceremony and reception in.

If you are so inclined, you can have a great, natural wedding outdoors. This can help you cut down on the need for extra lighting or air conditioning. You can still have the comfort that you require outside.

If you‘d rather have it indoors, you can still go green by having the ceremony and the reception in the same location. This will help you to reduce fuel emissions and other related energy costs.

#2 The invitations and other stationary

Another great way to have a green wedding is to make sure you are using eco-friendly paper and paperless communication.

For invitations, you should definitely go with recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Some paper can even be planted as they‘re embedded with seeds.

For save-the-date and other wedding communications, you can send the information digitally so that you don‘t have to waste any more paper.

#3 The catering

One of the most delicious ways you can make sure your special day is as green as can be is by making sure your wedding catering uses healthy, farm-sourced food.

More and more, farm-to-table movements are springing up all over the world, which means you can get your wedding catering done in an eco-friendly way. Because the food is grown locally, you can cut down on fuel emissions as well as require less refrigeration.

That is true for anywhere from a classy, catered wedding in Melbourne to a relaxed beach wedding in Miami, so you can have endless choices for great, healthy, earth-friendly wedding catering services.

#4 Your registry

When you are deciding on your wedding registry, you have a lot of choices to make sure your wedding can be as green as possible.

You can fill up your registry with items that you know or believe to be eco-friendly. There are many ways to check up on the most green options for your gifts, such as wooden bowls, glass pitchers, and many, many more products.

By working on a green wedding registry, you can be sure that you‘re contributing to a greener world through making smart, earth-friendly choices.

An alternative, and for some even better, option is to skip the registry completely and request that your guests donate to a charity of your (or their) choosing.

This can be a very effective way for you to help not only make your wedding day more green, but also to help other organizations in need.

#5 The flowers

You may not have thought about it, but the flowers you use may make your wedding more or less green. This is because many flowers that are sold in markets and supermarkets are actually not organic.

They use chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides, that can not only harm plants and insects, but also damage the soil and farm workers.

Just as your catering can be farm-to-table, so can your flowers be direct from the organic source. When choosing your flowers, make sure they‘re in-season and local so that you can be sure your flowers will be the best quality and at their freshest.

Another way to improve your green wedding is to use potted flowers or plants instead. That way, you can take those plants home after the dinner and plant them in your garden.

#6 The wedding dress

Lastly, you can make your green wedding even greener by focusing on the wedding dress.

No—you don‘t need to wear a dress made of leaves. Instead, you can wear your mother‘s wedding gown, either as-is  or adjusted according to your tastes.

If you don‘t have any access to a family wedding gown, it’s possible to go shopping for one. There are many different consignment boutiques and vintage clothing stores that can help you find a pre-worn gown.

If that doesn’t suit your tastes, you can still buy or have a dress made from organic cotton, hemp or silk.

The best green wedding tips

These are only some of the many ways that you can go about making sure your wedding is as green as it can possibly be.

With a greener wedding, you’ll be much happier and more at peace with the eco choices you have made, and well on your way to a happy, satisfying marriage.

Bio:

Since 2005, Jason and his team have provided exception and unique wedding catering experiences. On the day when every last detail needs to be truly beautiful and brimming with finesse, you can rely on G’day Chef to provide exquisite food and exceptional service.

The post 6 Green Wedding Catering Tips for Your Perfect Day appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Have you ever thought about the amount of paper you waste on writing? You throw it in the trash without regret. The majority of people underestimate the importance of recycling. There is a chance to change.

How is the purchase able to help people waste less paper? Giving credits to online services, which provide their activity in an online format, people reduce the use of this resource. This is not the only advantage they are able to offer. If you wish to save forests plant a tree and order a thesis. You can not only help our planet but receive high marks also.

Why should you use writing services if you are eco-friendly?

Whether these sites are environmentally friendly? These terms are not linked together at first sight. However, if a person deeps into the issue, he figures out that they have more in common than you believe.

• They don’t use paper, and this is one of the principal advantages. The significant part of forests is cut down consistently. If you make no efforts to save them, our planet has no chances to survive.
• The next advantage is time-saving. If you wish to join the movement against Earth pollution but have no time, essay writing services give you a chance. You can work together. When you fight for the future of our planet they give you a course work written without paper usage.
• You can be not only a model citizen but a diligent student. When you order a thesis, you get the guarantee of positive feedback. The majority of students claim that their academic performance has risen. To use less paper, you can even send the work to a professor via email.

Writing services can not only ensure the high mark that a student will get but a future of our planet. They also do their best to reduce the consumption of paper and cutting of the forest also.

Who writes the paper?

As a smart customer, you will wonder who carries out your task. These are professional writers who constantly improve their skills to make students happier. When you place an order, you get a chance to obtain the work which is done by a professor. This is a guarantee of the rightfully written statement.

These people regularly deep their knowledge to give customers work which is full of useful and proven information. You have no need to worry that you get an outdated one. When a person refers the work to writers from papersowl.com, he has no chances to fail the thesis.

What is your choice?

When you decide to buy a thesis, you reduce the consumption of paper in the world. Any decision you made influences the Earth. Whether you do a task independently or get help. If you wish to observe the nature’s miracle of recovery, the right choice is obvious.

However, this is not the last advantage of these services. You also get the work of high quality which gives everyone the chance to receive positive feedback. Everyone will be impressed by your approach to the subject. Moreover, you get all of these benefits for a reasonable price!

The post Using Online Writing – Green Way to Save Paper appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

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Are you tired of wasting time in the office? You should be because by wasting time on jobs that are unimportant you are losing time in other areas that you should be focusing on. For instance, you should probably be looking at ways to gain the upper hand with your business marketing. Unfortunately, you’re stuck handling the invoices and making sure that everyone is being paid the right amount. That’s an issue and one that you need to rectify. There are a few possibilities to consider here. You could hire a service to complete this job for you, and that’s one of the first possibilities we’re going to explore today.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a great way to pass jobs that you’d normally be responsible for onto something else. The best part about outsourcing is that you’ll be hiring a service rather than another member of staff. As such, it’s super easy to keep your costs under control and tight. You just need to make sure that you are using the right outsourcing service. There are plenty of outsourcers on the market providing a shoddy service for business owners and still making a fortune in profits. Using a poor outsourcing service is one of the easiest ways to damage your business reputation. Always check the outsourcing service you are using, ensuring it’s offering fantastic value for money and a brilliant level of quality.

Software Solutions

You might also want to explore different software solutions. How much of your day is spent wasted sifting through the junk and rubbish in your mailbox? We would imagine quite a lot, and it might be time to consider correcting that situation with an online po box alternative. Using a service like this, mail will be scanned directly and sent straight to your email. But that’s not the best part. You’ll never come across junk mail because it will be removed before you get sent the mail. Think about all the time you’ll save when you don’t have to sift through the mail to find what you actually have to read.

Delegation

You may not realize this but delegation is actually a rather tricky skill for entrepreneurs to master. Through delegation, you need to trust someone to complete a job to the same level of quality that you would otherwise complete yourself. You can see why that might be problematic for some business owners who hate the idea of losing control of a single part of their company. But it’s an action that must be taken because otherwise, you will start to spend more and more time on areas of your company that simply do not matter.

Automation

Last but not least, you can explore automating parts of your business model such as company invoices. You can outsource this job to an accountant, but you can also invest in software that will complete the job for you completely free of charge. You’ll be able to get the invoices sorted each month or week without anyone spending a moment on the issue.

As you can see then, there are various ways to cut the busy work out of your business schedule and you certainly should.

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Green offices are all the rage, yet many businesses do little more than pay lip service to the idea of reducing their carbon footprint. Smaller businesses consider such exercises a waste of time. What they fail to realize, however, is that going green does more than help the environment – it also saves money.

Reducing Paper Consumption

Ask yourself: what’s the cost of paper? It may only cost a few dollars to buy a box of inexpensive printer paper, but when you stack up all the boxes you use per year, the cost soon adds up. And it’s not just the financial cost, either. It takes one tree to make two boxes of printer paper. Much of the paper we use comes from sustainable forests, but making paper from wood pulp, packaging and transporting it, all comes at a huge cost to the environment.

Do you really need to print out documents? Probably not. In this day and age, technology makes it incredibly easy to bypass traditional methods of sending documents. Rather than printing off a report and posting it to a client, convert it to a PDF file and email or share it online. This will save you money on paper, printer consumables, and electricity.

Reducing Energy Consumption

At home, we are conscious of our energy bills because the money comes out of pocket, but at work, we don’t think about leaving lights on or turning up the air-con to max on a hot day. You can’t run a business without power, but there are ways to cut your energy consumption to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Create a “Green Office” strategy and encourage employers to contribute. Simple things like switching lights off when you leave the room, and not leaving electrical equipment on standby when not in use, all make a huge difference. Swap incandescent light bulbs with LED ones. You can also save money and help the environment by switching to a green energy supplier.

Encourage employees to work from home as much as possible. Thanks to technology, nobody needs to work in the office anymore. We can collaborate via Skype, Google Hangouts, and Dropbox, sharing documents, working on shared files, and swapping notes. Allowing employees to work from home one or more days a week will boost morale, make it easier for working parents to manage their home-life balance, save you money, and help the environment by cutting transport emissions.

If working from home isn’t possible, implement a car-share scheme or encourage employees to cycle to work (if practical).

Encourage Recycling and Other Tips

Ask employees to recycle paper where possible and re-use boxes and packaging. Get rid of the water cooler and fit a water filtration system to your mains water supply. Instead of providing plastic cups, suggest employees bring in their own reusable water bottles or supply some branded bottles instead.

Lastly, encourage your staff to bring plants to work. Green plants in an office filter out toxins in the atmosphere and improve productivity. They also look great!

The post Simple Ways to Create a Greener Office and Save Money appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

To adopt a greener lifestyle is to make a deliberate effort to conserve and protect the earth’s natural resources, while you live your life the way you want it but without disrupting the ecosystem or natural cycle of existence. It means ensuring sustainability and protecting the biodiversity of our world. It doesn’t cost anything; and no, it doesn’t mean giving up the good things of life either.

Actually, to choose a more eco-friendly life means to opt for a cleaner, healthier and more invigorating living that also saves energy and money. It will help you reduce waste around you and allow the earth’s resources to regenerate for everyone’s benefits.  Here’s how:

Save energy, every chance you got

From oil to natural gas to electrical power, energy is becoming harder to generate and more costly. Also, the energy the human population uses gives off as much as 21.3 billion tonnes of carbon every year, which accounts for 90% of all greenhouse gasses.

You can help reduce this toxification of the environment or carbon emission by at least 50% by saving energy every opportunity you have. This includes turning down your thermostat a little in the winter and then high in the summer.

In addition to protecting the environment, comfortably regulating your thermostats will also let you save on energy bills. For effectiveness, install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your cooling or heating system.

Also, try replacing regular light bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent bulbs, which produces 75% less heat and can last up to 10 times longer.

If your TV, computer, monitor and other electronic gadgets in the home are not in use, turn it off.  And make sure to do so too before bed. On average, idle machines take up 11% of the household’s energy use. But don’t just turn them off when idle, unplug from the wall socket to avoid power wastage. Note that electronic devices can still draw power when turned off but still plugged in to the power supply.

Also, as much as you can, use cold water or warm water for bath or your laundry, instead of hot water.

Reuse and recycle home items

Whenever you go shopping, make a preference for products that can be reused and recycled. If you have an old item (furniture, cloth, electronic device) in your home or that you no longer fancy, see if you can rebuild or recycle it to your new taste or simply donate or sell it (in a garage sale) to someone that might need it.

Get rid of it anyway environmentally convenient. But what you shouldn’t do is to let it pile up with other unused or discarded things in and around your home into a landfill.

Eat more organic foods

Food is central to our existence and is one of the most important ways you can adopt a greener lifestyle. By choosing to eat more organic or plant-based protein meals, and less meat, you’ll help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Besides, when you think about it, most of our meals come from thousands of miles away and have travelled around the world before reaching our table. Most of it is unhealthy to start it.

Also, avoid refined sugars. You already know that health-wise, it is bad for your waistline; but the processing is tough on the environment as well. Fruits and natural sweeteners are a greener, more natural option.

Green your personal care and leisure

A greener personal care and leisure products are simpler, more natural, more effective and more enjoyable. Go for sink baths to conserve water, use organic products and go for haircuts that are easy to manage. Also, don’t forget that eating healthy will give you a smoother and more natural looking skin and body.

If you want to indulge in some leisurely activity as a form of relaxation (we all do and need it), go for clean, healthy options. For example, feel like taking a cigarette? Go for the clean, odorless, and fine-tasting option of vaporizer instead such as the highly recommended magnetic induction and flavored Loto Lux.

Also, stop using plastic bottles. Avoid the waste, environmental degradation and hazard by rather refilling your own glass or steel water bottle.

Use less paper

Reduce your use of paper whenever you can. Send an email, rather than a letter. Catch up on the latest news and gossip on the electronic media, rather than on newspapers and magazines. Pay your bills online, use cotton napkins and towels, use recycled paper, and so save trees, as well as landfill space and trash.

Ditch your car keys; try hiking

Help reduce the large amount of carbon emission from daily city commute by cutting down on the number of times you drive. Occasionally, take a walk (if the distance is not so long), take a bus, ride a bicycle, and hop into a train for long distance journeys. You’ll be helping to sustain the environment, as well as save costs on gas.

Deciding to get more environmentally conscious or ‘greenvigorated’ with your lifestyle will fundamentally save you money and help you enjoy more natural living. It’s quite easy and noble, but it isn’t always sexy or so much fun for most people – at least at the initial time. But you can start by following these simple, assured steps.

The post Greenvigorated: Choosing a More Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Nowadays there are plenty of people who are concerned about the size of their carbon footprint. There are many ways that everyone can do their part in reducing how much waste we are leaving behind. Even pet owners can get in on the act. Here are 10 ways that people with pets can be eco-friendly.

Recycle Pet Food Cans

If your pet eats wet food out of a can, recycle the cans after you have fed them instead of throwing them away. By recycling, those cans can then be used for some other purpose instead of just taking up space in a landfill.

Donate to Shelters

Instead of throwing out old pet beds or food dishes, donate to a shelter if they are still in good condition. I am sure a shelter near you will benefit greatly from items that you are replacing. Call up the shelter to find out what they may need before just bringing the stuff over.

Adopt Your Pet

If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, adopt them instead of buying from a pet store or breeder. Adopting a pet will leave space available at the shelter for other animals that also need a home.

Buy Products that are Eco-Friendly

When you purchase products for your pet, make sure to read the labels to check that the products, and the company making them, are eco-friendly. If they don’t use biodegradable materials in the packaging, don’t forget to recycle (and think twice before buying it).

Make Your Own Pet Treats

You can help the planet by not buying as many pet treats from the store. Use less waste and packaging by making your own pet treats. It’s easy and there are plenty of recipes online for healthy snacks.

Use Natural Treatments

When possible use natural treatments for your pet. CBD oil, particularly the type extracted from hemp, can be used for pets who suffer from various ailments such as digestive issues, diabetes, arthritis, and many others. You can go to this website to read more.

Use Real Plates

When you feed your pet, try and use pet dishes, or cheap reusable plates or bowls instead of paper or plastic. You can easily designate a specific plate or bowl that everyone in the house knows is for your pet so nothing gets mixed up.

Eco-Friendly Toys

Try your best to only purchase toys for your pet that come from an eco-friendly company. If the toys are eco-friendly as well it’s even better. There are plant-based toys out there that you can purchase.

Make Your Own Cleaners

Everyone knows that pets can create a lot of messes. You can do your part by limiting the chemicals used in your home by making your own cleaners. They often work better than the ones you find in the store that are full of chemicals.

Compost Pet Poop

Not many realize that your pet’s poop can be hazardous, especially to our water sources. However, it can be used as a compost ingredient. You can find tutorials online that show you how to properly use it for your compost.

The post 10 Ways That People Who Have Pets Can Be Eco-Friendly appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

You probably know that recycling is one of the most important and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment. But do you know how much recyclable material is improperly disposed of here in the United States everyday? All those used tires, car batteries, old clothes, and paper waste ends up in landfills where it benefits no one. According to America the Beautiful, if the all the recyclable materials currently present in the U.S. waste stream were actually recycled, they would generate about $7 billion.

You may not even realize that what you’re throwing away is recyclable. To make sure that you haven’t been unwittingly harming the environment, check out the following list of common recycling mistakes.

1. Leaving out the bottle caps

Americans dispose of 25 million plastic bottles every hour, but too often their bottle caps don’t make it into the recycling bin, too. In the past, plastic bottle caps could not be recycled, but many recycling plants are now accepting them, so next time you toss out a used bottle, make sure to put the cap back on.

2. Recycling dirty paper

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, paper accounts for 27% of our municipal waste. In fact, we go through 69 million tons of paper in the U.S. every year. Unfortunately, just a few sheets of dirty or greasy paper or cardboard can ruin an entire batch of recyclables. So remember, if it’s dirty or contaminated with grease, it’s trash (we’re looking at you, discarded pizza box).

3. Failing to recycle magazines

It’s a common misconception that glossy paper products cannot be recycled. In truth, magazines can and should end up in the recycling bin. Unfortunately, just 20% of them ever do.

4. Not sorting recyclables

Plastic, paper, glass, metal — all of these categories include recyclable material; however, they cannot be recycled together. It is essential that you properly sort your recyclables.

5. Trying to recycle plastic bags

Americans throw out roughly 100 billion plastic grocery bags every year. You’d think that with all that waste, we’d have come up with an easy way to recycle these common household items. Unfortunately, most recycling programs do not accept plastic bags. If you want to stop these plastic bags from clogging up our landfills and waterways, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the store.

6. Not recycling at all

The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to recycling is simply not doing it. While over 87% of people in the U.S. have access to drop-off or curbside recycling services, too many people fail to properly dispose of recyclable items.

7. Being uninformed

In order to dispose of your waste properly, you need to know which items are recyclable and which are not. For instance, some types of glass can be recycled while others, like light bulbs and Pyrex, cannot.

8. Trying to recycle shredded paper

As much as 90% of office waste, including massive amounts of paper, can be recycled. However, if your workplace has the habit of shredding documents, those itty-bitty pieces of paper are not recyclable because they are not compatible with recycling plant machinery. Instead, create an office compost bin and throw shredded paper waste in there.

9. Including frozen food boxes

Boxes that are designed to hold freezer foods cannot be recycled because they are covered in a coat of plastic polymer that prevents the box from breaking up during the recycling process.

Now that you are aware of these common recycling mistakes, you can apply this knowledge to your own household waste disposal practices. Spread the word and save the planet!

This guest article and infographic was contributed by the green junk removal company, Junk King.

The post 9 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid When Recycling appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Businesses all over the world are making a conscious effort to adopt eco-friendly practices in their operations. In fact, in the year 2014, around 51% of American companies have announced their targeted greenhouse gas reduction levels. By going green, you not only contribute to the preservation of the environment, but you’re also likely to have higher sales. That’s because 71% of Americans will factor in the impact on the environment when shopping. And, at least 55% of consumers surveyed in 60 countries said that they’re open to paying more for goods manufactured by companies making reasonable attempts at going green in their operations.

If you’ve been considering making significant changes in the working of your small business, know that it is not all that difficult. Here are a few of the most convenient eco-friendly practices you can adopt.

Choose Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) Paper

Businesses make use of paper, various paper products, and packaging materials in their operations. In place of new paper, use PCW paper that uses 45% less power in the making process. Recycled paper also reduces wastage by 50% and cuts back on carbon emissions. If you cannot find entirely recycled paper in your going green efforts, opt for products that have the highest percentage of PCW.

Recycle All the Waste Possible

Offices and manufacturing units generate a surprising amount of waste. Install colored recipients with logos so your employees can segregate and dispose of waste responsibly. You can also choose bins according to the different categories of waste your small business typically generates. Accordingly, pick out paper, plastic, electronics, metal, glass, and even, organic items.

Install Energy-Saving Light Fixtures

Replace all incandescent bulbs and tubes with CFL and LED fixtures. While you’re likely to spend a little more on these options as compared to the standard light bulbs, you’ll notice that you spend less on the power consumption. Eventually, you’re likely to save up to $200 per bulb. And, since the power-saving fixtures last you much longer than incandescent fixtures, you’ll soon recover the additional cost which is a huge positive in your going green strategies.

Invite Energy Auditors to Check Your Workplace

Professional energy auditors can evaluate your home and workplace for the repairs you need to undertake to seal the small cracks and leaks in the insulation and airtightness. By making these changes, you can save up to 20% on the costs of heating and cooling the office and work premises. Some states may offer you free energy audits and assist you in the repairs needed.

Purchase Refurbished Equipment

Every workplace needs different equipment including computers, machinery, printers, copiers, and many more. As far as possible, opt for refurbished laptops, cellphones, tablets, and any other items by way of your going green policy. With a little research on online stores like Amazon, eBay, ReUseTek, or any other, you should be able to find barely used equipment for very economical prices. You can also consider searching the websites of the original manufacturers for their collection of checked, repaired, and repackaged products. By purchasing these products, you maximize their usage and prevent them from reaching landfills.

Adopt the Use of Biodegradable Cleansing Agents

Should you check the stores, you’ll find biodegradable cleansing agents like detergents, soaps, and any others you need around the workplace. With some amount of searching, you could pick out bulk packages that are more economical. These products are not just good for the environment, but they also protect your employees from exposure to toxins and other chemicals in the office area. The result – they’ll support your going green efforts enthusiastically.

Look for Alternative Energy Sources to Power Your Workplace

Sustainable power can be generated from wind and solar, hydropower, and geothermal sources. Contact your utility provider and ask about the green energy alternatives. In your efforts for going green, you might have to pay a slightly higher price for the power that goes towards the purchase of clean energy and feeding it into the electric supply grid. If your budget allows, consider installing solar panels to generate electricity for your workplace.

Choose Sustainable Inputs

Choose sustainable and eco-friendly raw materials for creating your products. Talk about your going green efforts on the company website and product packaging. You’ll find that your customers appreciate the fact and are likely to choose your products over those of your competitors. They might also consider your products safer to use. Even if they have to pay more, they may be okay with that.

Encourage your employees to follow your going green policy in every way they can. Carpooling, using hybrid vehicles, taking public transportation, choosing digital options over paperwork are different methods you can ask them to use. Make sure to let all customers and business partners know about the eco-friendly practices you’ve adopted. And, each time you earn a badge or a certificate lauding your efforts, add it on your website.
Do keep in mind that the going green policies you adopt are likely to pay off in the long run. You’ll have happy customers and also cut back on the costs of your operations. All it takes is some smart thinking and a little effort. Good Luck!!

The post How Going Green is Possible for Every Small Business appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

In our modern world, it is no longer possible to remain ignorant of the damage that we as a species are doing to the planet. We can see global warming in action all around us, watch the warnings on the news every day, and time after time our social media feeds are filled with another sad story about the newest animal facing global extinction.

It makes you want to do something about it, and the good news is, every one of us can make a difference, both personally and professionally. By adopting certain steps, we can achieve greater energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, changing our lifestyles for the better.

If you’re in need of a little inspiration to get you started, here are a few ideas you might want to explore…

1: Go Paperless

We all know that the more paper we use, the more trees have to be cut down to meet our needs, so one of the easiest ways to become more eco-friendly is by going paperless. We don’t mean just reducing how much you use – we mean scrapping it completely. Stop sending out printed invoices and correspondence and try to keep everything to email. If you store hard copies, move them all online (with backups, of course) and go entirely electronic. You’ll cut your costs, assist the environment, and make your business more efficient in one fell swoop.

2: Switch to Laptops

Almost all of us will use a laptop at home, often exclusively, so why are so many businesses still using cumbersome desktops? It’s a good question to ask yourself, especially considering that laptops use around 80 percent less energy than the alternative. Of course, we’re not suggesting that you replace them all instantly, but the next time you need an upgrade, buy wisely to improve your energy efficiency and reduce your monthly overheads.

3: Turn to the Professionals

There are also some more drastic measures that you might want to consider, especially if you have a business that generates significant air pollution. In these instances, we suggest turning to the experts for answers. Companies like ERG are probably your best bet, and should be able to help you make your venture more environmentally-friendly in no time. Such a move might seem altruistic and not particularly financially-savvy, but the truth is it could be a real selling point if you’re working with consumers who have strong ethics and shop with care.

Make a difference today: follow these three straightforward steps to get started.

The post How to Make Your Business Energy Efficient and Emission Friendly in Three Simple Steps appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

While planning a wedding can be both exhilarating and stressful for a bride and groom, it can seem even harder when you are planning a green wedding.

As more and more people are focusing on green products and lifestyles, many couples are working hard to make sure they have a positive impact on the environment.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can have a green wedding without having to sacrifice your comfort, quality or budget.

#1 The location

The first important way to go green for your wedding is to consider what kind of venue you‘ll be having your ceremony and reception in.

If you are so inclined, you can have a great, natural wedding outdoors. This can help you cut down on the need for extra lighting or air conditioning. You can still have the comfort that you require outside.

If you‘d rather have it indoors, you can still go green by having the ceremony and the reception in the same location. This will help you to reduce fuel emissions and other related energy costs.

#2 The invitations and other stationary

Another great way to have a green wedding is to make sure you are using eco-friendly paper and paperless communication.

For invitations, you should definitely go with recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Some paper can even be planted as they‘re embedded with seeds.

For save-the-date and other wedding communications, you can send the information digitally so that you don‘t have to waste any more paper.

#3 The catering

One of the most delicious ways you can make sure your special day is as green as can be is by making sure your wedding catering uses healthy, farm-sourced food.

More and more, farm-to-table movements are springing up all over the world, which means you can get your wedding catering done in an eco-friendly way. Because the food is grown locally, you can cut down on fuel emissions as well as require less refrigeration.

That is true for anywhere from a classy, catered wedding in Melbourne to a relaxed beach wedding in Miami, so you can have endless choices for great, healthy, earth-friendly wedding catering services.

#4 Your registry

When you are deciding on your wedding registry, you have a lot of choices to make sure your wedding can be as green as possible.

You can fill up your registry with items that you know or believe to be eco-friendly. There are many ways to check up on the most green options for your gifts, such as wooden bowls, glass pitchers, and many, many more products.

By working on a green wedding registry, you can be sure that you‘re contributing to a greener world through making smart, earth-friendly choices.

An alternative, and for some even better, option is to skip the registry completely and request that your guests donate to a charity of your (or their) choosing.

This can be a very effective way for you to help not only make your wedding day more green, but also to help other organizations in need.

#5 The flowers

You may not have thought about it, but the flowers you use may make your wedding more or less green. This is because many flowers that are sold in markets and supermarkets are actually not organic.

They use chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides, that can not only harm plants and insects, but also damage the soil and farm workers.

Just as your catering can be farm-to-table, so can your flowers be direct from the organic source. When choosing your flowers, make sure they‘re in-season and local so that you can be sure your flowers will be the best quality and at their freshest.

Another way to improve your green wedding is to use potted flowers or plants instead. That way, you can take those plants home after the dinner and plant them in your garden.

#6 The wedding dress

Lastly, you can make your green wedding even greener by focusing on the wedding dress.

No—you don‘t need to wear a dress made of leaves. Instead, you can wear your mother‘s wedding gown, either as-is  or adjusted according to your tastes.

If you don‘t have any access to a family wedding gown, it’s possible to go shopping for one. There are many different consignment boutiques and vintage clothing stores that can help you find a pre-worn gown.

If that doesn’t suit your tastes, you can still buy or have a dress made from organic cotton, hemp or silk.

The best green wedding tips

These are only some of the many ways that you can go about making sure your wedding is as green as it can possibly be.

With a greener wedding, you’ll be much happier and more at peace with the eco choices you have made, and well on your way to a happy, satisfying marriage.

Bio:

Since 2005, Jason and his team have provided exception and unique wedding catering experiences. On the day when every last detail needs to be truly beautiful and brimming with finesse, you can rely on G’day Chef to provide exquisite food and exceptional service.

The post 6 Green Wedding Catering Tips for Your Perfect Day appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Have you ever thought about the amount of paper you waste on writing? You throw it in the trash without regret. The majority of people underestimate the importance of recycling. There is a chance to change.

How is the purchase able to help people waste less paper? Giving credits to online services, which provide their activity in an online format, people reduce the use of this resource. This is not the only advantage they are able to offer. If you wish to save forests plant a tree and order a thesis. You can not only help our planet but receive high marks also.

Why should you use writing services if you are eco-friendly?

Whether these sites are environmentally friendly? These terms are not linked together at first sight. However, if a person deeps into the issue, he figures out that they have more in common than you believe.

• They don’t use paper, and this is one of the principal advantages. The significant part of forests is cut down consistently. If you make no efforts to save them, our planet has no chances to survive.
• The next advantage is time-saving. If you wish to join the movement against Earth pollution but have no time, essay writing services give you a chance. You can work together. When you fight for the future of our planet they give you a course work written without paper usage.
• You can be not only a model citizen but a diligent student. When you order a thesis, you get the guarantee of positive feedback. The majority of students claim that their academic performance has risen. To use less paper, you can even send the work to a professor via email.

Writing services can not only ensure the high mark that a student will get but a future of our planet. They also do their best to reduce the consumption of paper and cutting of the forest also.

Who writes the paper?

As a smart customer, you will wonder who carries out your task. These are professional writers who constantly improve their skills to make students happier. When you place an order, you get a chance to obtain the work which is done by a professor. This is a guarantee of the rightfully written statement.

These people regularly deep their knowledge to give customers work which is full of useful and proven information. You have no need to worry that you get an outdated one. When a person refers the work to writers from papersowl.com, he has no chances to fail the thesis.

What is your choice?

When you decide to buy a thesis, you reduce the consumption of paper in the world. Any decision you made influences the Earth. Whether you do a task independently or get help. If you wish to observe the nature’s miracle of recovery, the right choice is obvious.

However, this is not the last advantage of these services. You also get the work of high quality which gives everyone the chance to receive positive feedback. Everyone will be impressed by your approach to the subject. Moreover, you get all of these benefits for a reasonable price!

The post Using Online Writing – Green Way to Save Paper appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

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Are you tired of wasting time in the office? You should be because by wasting time on jobs that are unimportant you are losing time in other areas that you should be focusing on. For instance, you should probably be looking at ways to gain the upper hand with your business marketing. Unfortunately, you’re stuck handling the invoices and making sure that everyone is being paid the right amount. That’s an issue and one that you need to rectify. There are a few possibilities to consider here. You could hire a service to complete this job for you, and that’s one of the first possibilities we’re going to explore today.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a great way to pass jobs that you’d normally be responsible for onto something else. The best part about outsourcing is that you’ll be hiring a service rather than another member of staff. As such, it’s super easy to keep your costs under control and tight. You just need to make sure that you are using the right outsourcing service. There are plenty of outsourcers on the market providing a shoddy service for business owners and still making a fortune in profits. Using a poor outsourcing service is one of the easiest ways to damage your business reputation. Always check the outsourcing service you are using, ensuring it’s offering fantastic value for money and a brilliant level of quality.

Software Solutions

You might also want to explore different software solutions. How much of your day is spent wasted sifting through the junk and rubbish in your mailbox? We would imagine quite a lot, and it might be time to consider correcting that situation with an online po box alternative. Using a service like this, mail will be scanned directly and sent straight to your email. But that’s not the best part. You’ll never come across junk mail because it will be removed before you get sent the mail. Think about all the time you’ll save when you don’t have to sift through the mail to find what you actually have to read.

Delegation

You may not realize this but delegation is actually a rather tricky skill for entrepreneurs to master. Through delegation, you need to trust someone to complete a job to the same level of quality that you would otherwise complete yourself. You can see why that might be problematic for some business owners who hate the idea of losing control of a single part of their company. But it’s an action that must be taken because otherwise, you will start to spend more and more time on areas of your company that simply do not matter.

Automation

Last but not least, you can explore automating parts of your business model such as company invoices. You can outsource this job to an accountant, but you can also invest in software that will complete the job for you completely free of charge. You’ll be able to get the invoices sorted each month or week without anyone spending a moment on the issue.

As you can see then, there are various ways to cut the busy work out of your business schedule and you certainly should.

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Green offices are all the rage, yet many businesses do little more than pay lip service to the idea of reducing their carbon footprint. Smaller businesses consider such exercises a waste of time. What they fail to realize, however, is that going green does more than help the environment – it also saves money.

Reducing Paper Consumption

Ask yourself: what’s the cost of paper? It may only cost a few dollars to buy a box of inexpensive printer paper, but when you stack up all the boxes you use per year, the cost soon adds up. And it’s not just the financial cost, either. It takes one tree to make two boxes of printer paper. Much of the paper we use comes from sustainable forests, but making paper from wood pulp, packaging and transporting it, all comes at a huge cost to the environment.

Do you really need to print out documents? Probably not. In this day and age, technology makes it incredibly easy to bypass traditional methods of sending documents. Rather than printing off a report and posting it to a client, convert it to a PDF file and email or share it online. This will save you money on paper, printer consumables, and electricity.

Reducing Energy Consumption

At home, we are conscious of our energy bills because the money comes out of pocket, but at work, we don’t think about leaving lights on or turning up the air-con to max on a hot day. You can’t run a business without power, but there are ways to cut your energy consumption to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Create a “Green Office” strategy and encourage employers to contribute. Simple things like switching lights off when you leave the room, and not leaving electrical equipment on standby when not in use, all make a huge difference. Swap incandescent light bulbs with LED ones. You can also save money and help the environment by switching to a green energy supplier.

Encourage employees to work from home as much as possible. Thanks to technology, nobody needs to work in the office anymore. We can collaborate via Skype, Google Hangouts, and Dropbox, sharing documents, working on shared files, and swapping notes. Allowing employees to work from home one or more days a week will boost morale, make it easier for working parents to manage their home-life balance, save you money, and help the environment by cutting transport emissions.

If working from home isn’t possible, implement a car-share scheme or encourage employees to cycle to work (if practical).

Encourage Recycling and Other Tips

Ask employees to recycle paper where possible and re-use boxes and packaging. Get rid of the water cooler and fit a water filtration system to your mains water supply. Instead of providing plastic cups, suggest employees bring in their own reusable water bottles or supply some branded bottles instead.

Lastly, encourage your staff to bring plants to work. Green plants in an office filter out toxins in the atmosphere and improve productivity. They also look great!

The post Simple Ways to Create a Greener Office and Save Money appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

To adopt a greener lifestyle is to make a deliberate effort to conserve and protect the earth’s natural resources, while you live your life the way you want it but without disrupting the ecosystem or natural cycle of existence. It means ensuring sustainability and protecting the biodiversity of our world. It doesn’t cost anything; and no, it doesn’t mean giving up the good things of life either.

Actually, to choose a more eco-friendly life means to opt for a cleaner, healthier and more invigorating living that also saves energy and money. It will help you reduce waste around you and allow the earth’s resources to regenerate for everyone’s benefits.  Here’s how:

Save energy, every chance you got

From oil to natural gas to electrical power, energy is becoming harder to generate and more costly. Also, the energy the human population uses gives off as much as 21.3 billion tonnes of carbon every year, which accounts for 90% of all greenhouse gasses.

You can help reduce this toxification of the environment or carbon emission by at least 50% by saving energy every opportunity you have. This includes turning down your thermostat a little in the winter and then high in the summer.

In addition to protecting the environment, comfortably regulating your thermostats will also let you save on energy bills. For effectiveness, install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your cooling or heating system.

Also, try replacing regular light bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent bulbs, which produces 75% less heat and can last up to 10 times longer.

If your TV, computer, monitor and other electronic gadgets in the home are not in use, turn it off.  And make sure to do so too before bed. On average, idle machines take up 11% of the household’s energy use. But don’t just turn them off when idle, unplug from the wall socket to avoid power wastage. Note that electronic devices can still draw power when turned off but still plugged in to the power supply.

Also, as much as you can, use cold water or warm water for bath or your laundry, instead of hot water.

Reuse and recycle home items

Whenever you go shopping, make a preference for products that can be reused and recycled. If you have an old item (furniture, cloth, electronic device) in your home or that you no longer fancy, see if you can rebuild or recycle it to your new taste or simply donate or sell it (in a garage sale) to someone that might need it.

Get rid of it anyway environmentally convenient. But what you shouldn’t do is to let it pile up with other unused or discarded things in and around your home into a landfill.

Eat more organic foods

Food is central to our existence and is one of the most important ways you can adopt a greener lifestyle. By choosing to eat more organic or plant-based protein meals, and less meat, you’ll help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Besides, when you think about it, most of our meals come from thousands of miles away and have travelled around the world before reaching our table. Most of it is unhealthy to start it.

Also, avoid refined sugars. You already know that health-wise, it is bad for your waistline; but the processing is tough on the environment as well. Fruits and natural sweeteners are a greener, more natural option.

Green your personal care and leisure

A greener personal care and leisure products are simpler, more natural, more effective and more enjoyable. Go for sink baths to conserve water, use organic products and go for haircuts that are easy to manage. Also, don’t forget that eating healthy will give you a smoother and more natural looking skin and body.

If you want to indulge in some leisurely activity as a form of relaxation (we all do and need it), go for clean, healthy options. For example, feel like taking a cigarette? Go for the clean, odorless, and fine-tasting option of vaporizer instead such as the highly recommended magnetic induction and flavored Loto Lux.

Also, stop using plastic bottles. Avoid the waste, environmental degradation and hazard by rather refilling your own glass or steel water bottle.

Use less paper

Reduce your use of paper whenever you can. Send an email, rather than a letter. Catch up on the latest news and gossip on the electronic media, rather than on newspapers and magazines. Pay your bills online, use cotton napkins and towels, use recycled paper, and so save trees, as well as landfill space and trash.

Ditch your car keys; try hiking

Help reduce the large amount of carbon emission from daily city commute by cutting down on the number of times you drive. Occasionally, take a walk (if the distance is not so long), take a bus, ride a bicycle, and hop into a train for long distance journeys. You’ll be helping to sustain the environment, as well as save costs on gas.

Deciding to get more environmentally conscious or ‘greenvigorated’ with your lifestyle will fundamentally save you money and help you enjoy more natural living. It’s quite easy and noble, but it isn’t always sexy or so much fun for most people – at least at the initial time. But you can start by following these simple, assured steps.

The post Greenvigorated: Choosing a More Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Nowadays there are plenty of people who are concerned about the size of their carbon footprint. There are many ways that everyone can do their part in reducing how much waste we are leaving behind. Even pet owners can get in on the act. Here are 10 ways that people with pets can be eco-friendly.

Recycle Pet Food Cans

If your pet eats wet food out of a can, recycle the cans after you have fed them instead of throwing them away. By recycling, those cans can then be used for some other purpose instead of just taking up space in a landfill.

Donate to Shelters

Instead of throwing out old pet beds or food dishes, donate to a shelter if they are still in good condition. I am sure a shelter near you will benefit greatly from items that you are replacing. Call up the shelter to find out what they may need before just bringing the stuff over.

Adopt Your Pet

If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, adopt them instead of buying from a pet store or breeder. Adopting a pet will leave space available at the shelter for other animals that also need a home.

Buy Products that are Eco-Friendly

When you purchase products for your pet, make sure to read the labels to check that the products, and the company making them, are eco-friendly. If they don’t use biodegradable materials in the packaging, don’t forget to recycle (and think twice before buying it).

Make Your Own Pet Treats

You can help the planet by not buying as many pet treats from the store. Use less waste and packaging by making your own pet treats. It’s easy and there are plenty of recipes online for healthy snacks.

Use Natural Treatments

When possible use natural treatments for your pet. CBD oil, particularly the type extracted from hemp, can be used for pets who suffer from various ailments such as digestive issues, diabetes, arthritis, and many others. You can go to this website to read more.

Use Real Plates

When you feed your pet, try and use pet dishes, or cheap reusable plates or bowls instead of paper or plastic. You can easily designate a specific plate or bowl that everyone in the house knows is for your pet so nothing gets mixed up.

Eco-Friendly Toys

Try your best to only purchase toys for your pet that come from an eco-friendly company. If the toys are eco-friendly as well it’s even better. There are plant-based toys out there that you can purchase.

Make Your Own Cleaners

Everyone knows that pets can create a lot of messes. You can do your part by limiting the chemicals used in your home by making your own cleaners. They often work better than the ones you find in the store that are full of chemicals.

Compost Pet Poop

Not many realize that your pet’s poop can be hazardous, especially to our water sources. However, it can be used as a compost ingredient. You can find tutorials online that show you how to properly use it for your compost.

The post 10 Ways That People Who Have Pets Can Be Eco-Friendly appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

In this day and age, people relocate for many different reasons. Sometimes they move their families for new jobs, opportunities, or for better social and economic reasons. Whatever the reasons, moving can cause a huge burden on the environment as moving supplies and transportation can leave a huge carbon footprint on the earth. Fortunately, there are several popular trends and methods that are being employed to make moving and storage as green as possible. Here are some top trends and strategies for making your move as green and eco-friendly.

Donate and recycle items you no longer need.

Before moving, it is a great idea to go through the items you no longer need and are not planning to move to your new home and recycle or donate them to the Goodwill or other charitable organizations. These organizations usually provide tax incentives for donations, which can alleviate some of the costs associated with moving. Any used batteries or other electronics can usually be recycled at appliances or home office stores, such as Staples. These items should never be thrown into the trash, as they are very harmful to the environment.

Use green methods to pack and store.

One of the easiest and most eco-friendly way to pack your belongings in to use items that you already have such as suitcases, hampers, bags and baskets. You can also tape nightstand and dresser drawers shut and move them in your furniture, as long as you can easily move and transport them. This also eliminates the time and effort of unpacking.

Storage bins are also a great way to pack and move your belongings since storage bins can be readily placed under the bed or on a shelf. They are also weatherproof, so you won’t have to worry about your personal items being exposed to the elements.

If you must use boxes to pack and store your things, try picking up used boxes from grocery stores or other places such as warehouses or other retail stores. Family, friends or even sites like craigslist are great resources to find used boxes. Once you are finished moving, make sure to pass them along to others to use, or recycle them. You can also use paper and magazines that you no longer need to wrap fragile items such as dishes, pictures and other valuables.

Another important consideration is to try to minimize you’re the number of trips you make for transporting your items. Try packing as much as you can safely load into your car or moving truck so that you are not making unnecessary trips. Fewer trips mean lower carbon emissions from your vehicles.

Recycle or store any moving supplies.

If you have a basement, attic or adequate storage space, you can save your boxes for your next move or you can donate, recycle or pass them on to someone else who needs them. Unused storage bins can be stacked on top of each other or used around your home to store items. Lastly, any packing peanuts, bubble wrap or newspaper that was used to pack your fragile items should be recycled appropriately, as there are several benefits to recycling paper items.

Although moving can cause a burden on the environment, these are just some methods many people use to make their move as eco-friendly as possible. By minimizing your belongings and using reusable and recycled packing and moving supplies, you can successfully relocate to your new home and have a smaller impact on the environment. Promoting sustainability and practicing eco-friendly methods, will preserve and protect the environment for future generations to come.

Bio: Scott writes for MoveBuddies.com. His goal is to spread the word about proper and sustainable moving habits for everyone who wants to make a new home.

The post Trends You Need to Know on Green Moving and Storage appeared first on Ways2GoGreen Blog.

Using recycled items for art projects is a great way to teach your child how they can be kind to the earth and make something beautiful at the same time! Since they use common materials that you probably already have around the house, they also save money on craft supplies. These fun and creative projects are a perfect way to show your child how they can make a difference by recycling.

Tin Can Luminaries

For this project, you will need at least one tin can, a permanent marker, a hammer and a nail. Let your child choose a simple design such as a star, a flower or the first letter of her name. With the marker, use dots to outline the design on the tin can. Then hold the nail over a dot while your child carefully taps with the hammer to make a hole in the tin can. If your child is not used to working with a hammer, have her hold the nail while you guide her hand with the hammer. Continue making a hole for each dot until your design is complete. Place a small candle in your can and see your design glow!

Egg Carton Wreath

First cut out the middle of a stiff paper plate leaving just the rim. This will be your garland frame. Using a cardboard egg carton, cut out each individual egg cup. Then trim the top edges of each cup into petal shapes. You can make your flower petals pointy, rounded, fringed or a variety of each. Using tempera paint, your child can paint each flower in whatever colors or designs she chooses. Once the flowers are completely dry, glue them to your frame. Hang up your wreath with ribbon or twine. Your egg carton wreath is sure to brighten any door in your home.

Magazine Beads

Using old magazine paper, cut out long, thin triangle shapes. The small end of the triangle should be about one centimeter wide. With a glue stick, spread glue over the entire length of one paper triangle. Place a drinking straw along the small end of the triangle and roll the paper up until all of the paper is wrapped around the straw. Use scissors to trim the drinking straw so that you can only see the magazine bead. Take the remaining part of the straw and begin rolling your next bead. Let the beads dry, and then string them on thin ribbon or twine to make a unique necklace or bracelet!

Milk Carton Bird Feeder

For this project you will need a clean, dry milk jug, scissors, string or twine and a straight stick from your backyard. Use your scissors to cut a rectangle on each of the two opposite flat sides of the milk carton. Next use the tip of your scissors to poke a hole about an inch under each rectangle. Guide your stick through these holes and then trim it so that it extends from the milk carton a few inches on each side. This will be a perfect perch for the birds to sit on. Next, poke a small hole on each side near the top of the carton. Thread your string or twine through these holes. Now have your child decorate the feeder with markers, stickers or paint. Pour birdseed in the bottom of your new feeder, hang in a tree and watch the birds flock to their new favorite spot.

Newspaper Garland

First, using acrylic paint diluted with a small amount of water, paint your sheets of newspaper. Paint both sides in whatever colors you like. You want to cover almost all of the paper, but be careful not to saturate the paper or it will rip. Once your newspaper is completely dry, cut out simple shapes such as hearts or circles. Take an embroidery needle and thread it with thin twine or string. Pierce the first shape with the needle and weave in and out once. Continue with each shape until your garland is complete. Hang your garland and enjoy!

Cereal Box City

Collect a variety of food boxes from items such as cereal, macaroni and cheese, crackers or butter. Make sure to use a variety of shapes and sizes. Carefully deconstruct the boxes, reconstruct them inside out and seal with tape. If you do not want to deconstruct the boxes, you can also wrap them in plain paper like a present. Talk with your child about the different kinds of buildings that make up a city such as houses, stores, churches, community centers, libraries and companies. Using markers, paint or crayons, your child can color each box so that he has a city of his own. If you have a large shipping box, deconstruct it and lay it flat. Now design your city by placing your buildings around the cardboard and drawing roads, trees, flowers. Drive your toy cars around or have your dolls or figurines move into Recycle City!

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