by G.E. Robbins

Created on: April 23, 2008

Earth Day makes you think about why we have to have an Earth day. OK we all know green is the way to go, but how many of us really know how to turn green? A few simple tips and guidelines can help you on your way to become green. Lets take bottled water for example. Bottled usually bought in a case of 12-24 bottles for about $4.00 which may sound cheap, but remember you are paying for water. Tap water today in North America is one of the safest waters in the world. By eliminating bottled water and using a reusable container you can save a ton of bottles headed for the landfill. Your old TV, computers, cell phones have become a hazard to the land fill situation. Instead of throwing them out, donate them. Many places such as Goodwill or Salvation Army will fix your old TV or computer where they can be sold to someone else who could make good use of them. Your old cell phones, can be sent back to your supplier where they refurbish and resell them at discounted rates or use them as replacement phones. Did you know that many materials such as plastic cups, cutlery and Styrofoam containers can be made from vegetable products? And the price difference is just pennies? Ask your local grocery store if they carry such products and if they don't or won't tell them you will shop at a place that will stock them, chances are they will be receptive to the idea as the pressure is one for the large corporations to become green.

We know use reusable grocery bags, which cost us just a dollar a piece, these bags not only help eliminate the waste of plastic bags, but they hold substantially more groceries then then standard bags the grocery stores use now. Reuse your old glass jars for kids crafts, piggy banks or even an assortment of drinking glasses or you can use them to store leftovers or for preserving. You can even cut down on needless waste of chemical cleaners in your home. Many stores are now offering green alternatives for cleaning, these products are all vegetable based and are safe for the environment and do an excellent job of cleaning.

There are many ways we can be green but it all starts with us.

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