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Sacramento – As old
New Year’s resolutions are being
recycled from last year, begin a new one
you won’t mind recycling every year.
While working towards reducing your
waistline in 2004, resolve to reduce
your waste size by committing to recycle
at least one out of every three water
bottles you use. Such a simple step can
go a long way in helping slim down the 3
million water bottles going to
California’s landfills every day.
This is just one of the many easy
commitments Californians can make to
help reduce unnecessary waste and “be
green” in 2004. The new online “Green
Gift Guide” (www.greengiftguide.com)
includes several useful tips on how to
“be green” in 2004. By committing to
even a few of these resolutions,
Californians can help the environment
have a happy new year.
1. Look for Recycling Opportunities:
Look for the nearest recycling bin, or
hold onto your beverage containers until
you find a recycling center or get home
to your curbside bin. Simply remembering
to recycle at least one out of every
three water bottles will help reduce the
amount of water bottles that end up in
California’s landfills by almost one
million a day – every container you
recycle makes a difference. Call your
city or county recycling program or
visit
www.bottlesandcans.com to learn
more.
2. Ask for Recycling: Does it ever seem
like there aren’t enough recycling bins
in California? You’re right…and you can
help change that. If your gas station or
convenience store doesn’t have a
recycling bin, ask for one. If you ask
for recycling opportunities, you’ll get
them (it’s easier than you think). At
the office? Start an office-wide
recycling campaign, or put a bin next to
your trashcan for beverage containers
and paper. The CRV money collected from
most beverage containers can help your
company reduce costs. Call 1-800-RECYCLE
or visit
www.bottlesandcans.com to learn
more.
3. Remember the Other Important “R’s” –
Reduce and Reuse: Help to lessen the
amount of waste by buying items that use
little or no packaging, or “buying in
bulk” which reduces unnecessary and
excessive packaging. Also, find ways to
use items over and over again, such as
refilling a water bottle.
4. Buy Products Made From Recycled
Materials: Resolve to “buy green” by
purchasing at least one recycled-content
product on a regular basis, such as
paper towels or computer paper. Look for
the recycling symbol (or “made from
post-consumer material”) on a wide range
of products. There is a growing array of
new products made from recycled beverage
containers including backyard planter
boxes and fleece clothing.
5. Make Your Home a
Toxic-Free Environment: Keep your home
healthy by reducing unnecessary toxic
chemicals. Paints, solvents and other
chemicals should be disposed of safely,
not flushed down the toilet or poured
down the drain. Did you know baking soda
and vinegar substitute as great
all-purpose cleaners? Other non-toxic
household cleaners can be found at many
stores. Cut down on pesticides and
fertilizers in your garden and you’ll
limit what gets washed into rivers, bays
and the ocean.
6. Get Out of the Car One Day a Week:
Resolve to spare the air. Carpool, use
public transportation or bicycle. Using
alternative transportation a day or two
a week is manageable, and getting out
from behind the wheel can be relaxing.
Plus, riding a bike fulfills the annual
resolution to exercise more.
7. Start a Compost Pile to Feed Your
Garden: Convert those yard clippings and
vegetable peelings and even coffee
grounds into nature’s fertilizer for
your garden. Home composters can be
found at most home and garden centers.
Many counties now offer discounted rates
for home composters and many more
counties take yard clipping “donations”
for municipal compost piles that provide
soil for local parks. Call your city or
county for more information or visit
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/HomeCompost/
to learn about composting at home.
8. Enjoy the Great Outdoors: Visit a
local, state or national park. Take some
time to appreciate California’s
world-class natural areas. Get to know
some of the parks in your area and
beyond. Ask about volunteer
opportunities or special nature programs
geared toward kids.
9. Go Local – Volunteer in Your
Community: Resolve to improve your
hometown environment. Sign up for the
local clean-up day, tree-planting effort
or community garden. Take your kids to a
neighborhood creek restoration effort to
show them what an ecosystem is all
about. Volunteer at a local park. Adopt
your own space and turn it green.
10. Conserve Energy: Cut your monthly
energy bills 30 percent by replacing old
equipment in your home with
state-of-the-art Energy Star products.
Get going on those energy-efficient home
improvements you’ve been putting off all
year. Turn off lights when you leave a
room and keep the thermostat at 70
degrees. For more tips on conserving
energy, visit
www.fypower.com.
For more information about the “Green
Gift Guide”, please visit
www.bottlesandcans.com or call
1-800-RECYCLE.
In addition to promoting the state's
beverage container recycling program,
the California Department of
Conservation administers programs to
safeguard agricultural and open-space
land; regulates oil, gas and geothermal
wells in the state; studies and maps
earthquakes, landslides and mineral
resources; and ensures the reclamation
of land used for mining.
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