GET UP OFF YOU R'S

We enjoyed writing our top ten list about cars last week. So much so that we thought we would keep the theme going and do a top ten list of ‘Tips for the Home’ or as we were calling it last week “Get up off your R’s”. We seem to be struggling here at home to keep up with things like efficient insulation in new houses, waste disposal, saving energy and recycling etc. One of the problems could be the fact that there is so much information around about environmental issues that people can get a bit confused about the correct things to do. It could force some people to just switch off and ignore the advice of the council or environmental groups. Anyway, even if you are a complete novice in the world of recycling or a budding expert, here is our list of the top ten, to make life that little bit simpler.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR THE HOME

Recycle. Recycling saves money and natural resources. Take everything you can down to the recycling centres. New materials must be mined, drilled, processed and manufactured, causing pollution.

Refill. By reusing plastic products such as containers and utensils, we conserve landfill space and reduce the need for new products being manufactured.

Revise. Revise your daily activities to become less wasteful. Turn down the thermostat on the boiler, use less water when washing the car or yourself, and switch off lights that aren’t being used. Simply switching the television off instead of leaving it on standby will save valuable energy too.

Reduce the amount of pollution in the home. As we at Clean and Green have been suggesting over the last few weeks. If you can use environmentally safe products when cleaning the house the world will also be cleaner outside the house. The same goes for the garden as well.

Resist plastic items such as plastic straws, lighters, cups, nappies, razors and pens. All disposables generate toxins and are not generally recycled; they just fill up the landfill sites.

Refuse to buy items that are not biodegradable, not recyclable, on re-useable or contain dangerous substances. This action will tell manufacturers that we are not prepared to put up with their cost cutting, excess packaging and marketing techniques.

React by writing to manufacturers and retailers. Urge them to supply recyclable products without unnecessary packaging. As a consumer and a voter you have the power to implement change!
Replace items in your home with more efficient ones from the normal light bulb with the energy saving ones to the car that burns a lot of oil.

Remind family, friends, employers and others of their responsibility to the environment. Inform anyone you see littering or otherwise harming the environment, intentionally or not about pollution issues (don’t get thumped doing it though!)

Research these issues by getting involved in environmental groups in your area. They can provide you with information, alternative products and ideas if you need to take action with a project. No doubt you can get a free dustbin liner to clear some litter off the beaches in the holidays too!

When it comes to recycling and shopping with our environmentally heads on, we can only do so much. We live in a wasteful world (and a beautiful one too). If it just means each of us doing a little bit extra such as fixing a dripping tap, picking up a bit of litter from the street or taking the bottles to the bottle bank, it will make a difference and set a good example to others. Start today…May the R’s be with you!

Environmental.