by Snow Vandemore

Created on: September 26, 2008   Last Updated: September 27, 2008

In the United States alone, Americans throw away approximately 195 million tons of trash each year. Although some of the discarded items, such as glass, newspaper and plastic products are recycled, nearly 80% ultimately ends up in the landfill. Sadly, of that amount, another 80% could have been recycled.

Besides being an eyesore and using up valuable land space, landfills can produce alarming levels of leachate (the liquid that is produced from precipitation seeping through the waste) and methane gas, both of which are generally toxic to the environment. On the economic side, landfills contain a wealth of wasted energy savings.

According to the Aluminum Association and U.S. Department of Commerce, 99.3 billion tons of aluminum cans were produced in 2003. Of that amount, only 44%, or 653,000 tons was recycled. This amounted to approximately 120 trillion btus of energy saved in processing and transportation, which is equivalent to 21 million barrels of crude oil.

Whether you want to lessen your carbon foot print, save money, or simply make our planet a safer and more beautiful place to live, here are some simple things you and your family can start doing today to not only contribute to our environment's overall well-being, but add to your pocketbook as well.

1. Spread ashes from fireplace and charcoal grills around acid-loving trees and shrubs. There are plenty of garden products on the market that promise to increase your soil's pH level to accommodate acid-loving landscape trees and shrubs. These fertilizers can be expensive. If you burn wood or use a charcoal grill on a regular basis, save the ash and it can be used as a natural addition to your landscape that won't cost you a dime. Spruce, pine, azaleas, rhododendrons, holly, juniper, heather, creeping phlox and lily of the valley are just a few of the trees, shrubs and plants that will benefit from a light sprinkling of wood or charcoal ash around the base.

2. Use empty egg cartons for sorting and storing beads, jewelry, small screws and nails, hold wet craft paint, buttons, sewing notions. These are just a few suggestions. Use your imagination and I'm sure you will come up with many more uses for these empty containers.

3. Water plants and rinse hair with saved rain water. Place a clean, empty five-gallon bucket under your eaves where rain water generally flows. Once it is full, you can use this naturally soft water to hydrate your house or garden plants. A rain water rinse for your hair will soften and

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