Five, Common, GreenLiving Misconceptions

Don't be Fooled By Some Eco-Friendly Myths

Trying to live a green life?  It is often easy to find green and eco-friendly advice online and on social media apps and websites.  But is all the green advice correct?

Below are five common greenliving tips that can become misconceptions or are simply incorrect:

1) Pet adoption helps the local animal population: The reality is that pet adoption is a GREAT way to help the local animal population if the new pet owner has time to care for a four-legged friend.  Oftentimes, people adopt new pets without realizing how much time and energy it takes to care for an animal (especially a puppy and/ or a kitten that requires training).  Unwanted or older animals are sometimes returned to shelters or, even worse, abandoned outdoors.  Only adopt a pet if absolutely sure the pet will be cared for for years to come.

2) Plastic water bottles are a great option if the bottles are recycled afterwards:  Plastic water bottles are recyclable, which is a great way to reduce waste.  However, plastic water bottles are not the best option to drink water.  Reusable, durable, water bottles are the best as they can be re-filled and washed numerous times.

Three, Easy, Steps for Green Back to School Prep

Heading Back to School?  Remember The Following Eco-Friendly Tips:

Wow, summer really flew by!  It will soon be September.  For some students, it may be sad to admit that summer is ending and, soon, it will be time to begin heading back to the classroom.  

When preparing for the new school year, it is easy to practice some green and eco-friendly tips found in this blog.  Back to school shopping can be fun, but remember the three "Rs": a commitment to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Instead of wasting resources, and money, on new school supplies, take time this year to follow these three tips:

Reduce: Remember, green materials and supplies are out there!  This year, try to buy some school supplies made out of recyclable products.  Common supplies like pencils and pens, even notebooks, can have a recyclable counterpart.  To find these products, look out for a label that indicates the supplies are made from recycled materials. This is a great way to support recycling and greenliving.

Five Steps to Packing a Green Lunch

Sustainable Ways to Prepare for the 2017 - 2018 School Year

It is almost time to head back to school for the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.  This year, try to pack lunch in a  sustainable way to produce less waste and protect the environment.  

Five steps to packing a green lunch include:

1) Forgo brown bags: The classic brown bag may seem like a school lunch staple, but this year, instead try a durable, reusable lunch bag.  Purchasing a reusable lunch bag will not only save money, but also will reduce waste, as brown bags cannot be recycled or typically reused.  

2) Remove plastic bags: Plastic sandwich bags are often used to pack lunch.  However, plastic bags cannot be recycled and, once thrown away, take years to decompose.  This year, try to use reusable plastic containers to pack sandwiches, snacks, and more.  Plastic containers can be washed after each use and reused again.

Five Garbage Samples Found in Parks (And How Long They Take to Decompose)

Litter Can Lead to Severe Repercussions 

As discussed in a previous GreenLiving blog post, littering is an opponent of a green lifestyle.  Litter can harm or injure plants and animals and destroy animal habitats.  But how long does litter last when improperly disposed at the beach or in the local park?  

Below are five examples of common pieces litter found outdoors and the amount of time it takes these items to fully decompose:

1) Aluminum cans: Aluminum cans take up to 200 years to fully decompose when left outside.  Cans, and other aluminum products, are often recyclable materials and can be re-purposed and reused.  

2) Batteries: Batteries take up to 100 years to decompose if improperly disposed.  Though some batteries cannot be recycled, others can- remember to always do research to learn how to best dispose of batteries.

Five, Simple, Ways To Reuse Plastic Bags

This Resource Can Be Used for Many Different Projects

Grocery shopping?  Going on a lunch break?  Packing for a vacation?  It may be a habit to reach for and/ or use a plastic bag.

Unfortunately, if thrown away or disposed of improperly, plastic bags can easily become tangles in plants, trees, and other forms of vegetation, waterways, and animal habitats.  Typically, sturdy, re-usable bags are the best for the environment.

Instead of simply throwing away plastic bags after a shopping trip, which can cause lasting and severely damaging effects on the environment, below are five ways to re-use plastic bags in everyday life.  Even though plastic bags cannot be traditionally recycled, these are great methods to reuse a resource and promote a green life:

1. Suitcase or box buffer: For those packing boxes or storing items in closets or storage bins, always use and layer plastic bags to act as a buffer for delicate items.
2. Plant protector: Cover outdoor potted plants during the evening or storms with old grocery store bags to protect from rain, wind, and other elements.