Here’s a green business idea for ya.  If you have say, plastics, textiles, building materials, etc that you normally take to the landfill as part of your business you’re going to definitely want to check out RecycleMatch.com.

Or, if you’re in need of say organic vegetable scraps for your farm compost heap, Recycle Match can hook you up with a business that is selling these scraps on their site; veggie scraps they’d normally pay to take to the landfill!

A landfill is no place for useful items!

At Recycle Match businesses (or anyone that has or needs a large quantity of materials really) can post or buy said materials on their website For Free.  The end result is that these materials end up with a second life instead of languishing in the landfill.  No new materials need to be manufactured either because these unused/unneeded ones can do the job.  And, businesses are both making more money for their waste and recyclables while other businesses are able to make better products for less because of these auctioned materials; not to mention the savings in dumping fees!

Its really a win win, and because posting is free there’s no risk.  If you don’t make your ‘match’, you owe Recycle Match nothing.  Its only when there’s a successful deal that they charge a fee.

Avoid the dump and help people reuse instead of buy new by using this great new auction site created to help businesses become more efficient and more green!

Part of having a kid in public school is, and has been at least since I was a kid, participating in fundraisers.  Its usually a total pain in the butt.  Hell, the last one I. had I just sent $30 to the school instead of doing the actual fundraiser because the products just weren’t anything I could really ask my friends and family to buy.  Plus, the amount I’d have to buy/sell for the school to actually get $30 from our fundraising efforts was quite a bit!

Luckily, I. brought home a notice about a fundraiser I was actually happy to participate in and even sell to my family and friends; The Fedco Seed School program!

Fedco Seeds is a company based in Maine that sells both their own seed and seeds that are assuredly GMO free from other companies.  They are a very nice, local company and they’ve sold seeds gardeners really believe in and have done so for some time.

The Seed School program is a special fundraiser for schools, as well as non profits like brownie and girl scout troops.  The children simply get orders for seeds in the winter (the school picks a certain package of some of Fedco’s best sellers) and a % of the sale goes to the school.  The seeds are then delivered to the buyers in the spring.

A fundraiser like the Seed School program gives kids the opportunity to sell something that is green, made in the USA, and provides everyone participating the opportunity to grow their school as well as their gardens!  Its really a win for everyone and I’m definitely one parent that’s really glad I can  participate in a school fundraiser I can actually believe in.

Its the middle of November.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner….and Christmas and Hanukkah (AKA The Gift Giving Season) is just around the corner.

This year, feel good about the gifts you buy for others and celebrate with a conscience this year.

What do I mean by that?  I mean think about what you’re buying.

Is it from far away, trucked miles and miles just to get to you?

Who made it – sweatshop labor is alive and well and used by some of the most popular companies in the world?

Is there another alternative that is local, made in a more environmentally friendly way, created by a company that offers good working conditions, or even maybe benefits a charity?

Think about it.

How you spend your dollar matters – and we spend a LOT of extra dollars during the Holidays.  So, in the next few weeks I”ll offer up some helpful hints for celebrating this Holiday Season with a Conscience so you can give amazing and unique gifts you and everyone on your list will actually feel good about.

A common school lunch including corn dog, french fries and chocolate milk!!

There are lots of great things about school – the food, however, is not one of them…..and I don’t understand why that is.

We all know that a balanced diet is required to have our bodies and brains perform at their peak.  This is widely accepted and supported by lots and lots of data.  But, that’s not what’s kept in mind when feeding children (or hospital patients for that matter…).

Public schools provide school meals that they claim are balanced and nutritious, often however, the food our kids are eating is made of less than nutritious ingredients.

High fructose corn syrup, Artificial flavors and colors, Preservatives – all these harmful ingredients about in the food that the government run schools are feeding children.  Yet, people wonder why kids are so heavy and can’t concentrate.

I understand that the school lunch and breakfast programs are catering to the masses – and that they do the best they can with that they have, but, I honestly think that it has to be better.

Children can’t function on crappy food.  Good, home style meals, made from real honest to goodness food.  That’s what will help kids do their best during their school day.

Some ways to get this idea going in your local school or district include -

Helping secure funds and supplies to start a school garden that kids can plant and then eat from.  Try to focus on things you can plant in the spring (before school ends for the year) and then harvest in the fall (when the next year begins).  Some ideas include pumpkins and other squashes, corn, and cabbage.  The kids then can give this food to the school kitchen, make their own meals (if possible) or even donate their veggies they’ve grown to a local soup kitchen.

Talking to your school and local farms to try to arrange field trips, organize special “from the farm” meals, and if you’re lucky try to arrange a partnership where the school gets their veggies for the meals from local farms.

Organize apple picking or berry picking field trips – things that get kids in the dirt so they see where real food comes from and learn why its important to eat it.

Many different companies that make personal care products like to tout that they use “Natural” and “Organic” ingredients.  Unfortunately – many of these products aren’t all that “Natural” when you read the list of ingredients.

Many people have been frustrated by this reality over the years.  The products can masquerade as quite natural, especially in labeling and packaging, as well as where they’re sold.  But, when you read whats actually in them, there are all kinds of problem ingredients.

This isn’t the case for organic food.  It now has to be certified by the USDA to use the word “Organic” on its packaging.  Not so for personal care products like deodorant, shampoo, soap, makeup, etc.  They can use the word organic in whatever way they want….in other words, there’s no  ”legal” (for lack of a better word) definition of the word as there is with food and therefore, when its seen on personal care products it is not a guarantee that it is truly “Organic” as you might think it would be.

This results in consumers, unwittingly, purchasing products that aren’t in line with what they really are looking for; all natural, organic ingredients free of pesticides and toxic chemicals.  Also, because of the market they’re targeting, they often charge a pretty penny for these “natural” and “organic” products – all the while people are still rubbing the same funky chemicals into their bodies and washing them down the drains.

Finally, the government is starting to take notice and has begun looking into regulations for personal care products.  I’m not always for government involvement/intervention – but you can’t trust corporations either!

Until then though – read the list of ingredients in all the things you buy.  Make sure its really what you want.  You can check ingredients online – I often use SkinDeep.  Better yet, make what you can yourself; there are some simple recipes here as well as online.

You can help further accountability along by writing to your congresspersons and even The President about this issue and demanding change as a constituent.

We all deserve to be able to purchase what we want.  Advertising, in a perfect world, should be an informational tool – not an attempt at manipulation. W e as consumers are the only ones who can change that – and we have to do it, like everything else, one step at a time.

We all know recycling is important, Right?

Trying to spend your money on recycled products whenever possible is just as important.

Its not always evident which products use “post consumer recycled content” or not; some advertise, others don’t.  So when you’re getting ready to make a purchase like paper for your printer, or a magazine for example, try to check the percentage of post consumer recycled content used to make this new item.

The more you put your money behind goods that use recycled materials to make their products, the more demand there will be for recycled materials; which will help keep more and more trash out of the landfill and thereby, create more and more goods out of recycled materials…for consumers, like you, to buy!

If you’re looking for a really easy way to be more earth friendly all while saving yourself money then make the switch to cloth where you’re currently using paper or other single use products.

Reusable products like cloth napkins, rags, handkerchiefs, baby wipes and more can help you cut waaaaay down on the amount of paper products you buy thereby saving you money.

Yes, you’ll likely have an extra laundry load to do, but, especially if you line dry your cloth items, laundering them is less harmful than cutting down the trees and all the bleaching etc that goes on to make today’s single use paper products.

As far as bags.  If you’re not carrying canvas bags at least to the grocery store yet, then you need to get on board!  These need washed far less and have a great effect on the amount of those horrid plastic bags used.  Plus, most places give you at least $.5 back fro each reusable bag you bring.

Making the switch to cloth isn’t a big deal.  You may shell out a bit of money for some cloth napkins.  But, all you really need is two – three sets.  One maybe two for family (which you can even color code so  it makes reusing them for several meals easy) depending on how many you have in the house, and one for guests.   That’s it!  Or, better yet, make your own napkins with this awesome tutorial I found!

As far as rags.  Raid your t-shirt drawer and cut up the most worn for rags.  Or, ask your local thrift store for their stained clothes they can’t sell.  You’ll quickly find you have more rag material than you need.

The switch from tissues to handkerchiefs can be a bit interesting.  But, they’re softer on the nose and  more attractive.  Just have a few for each person so if a cold strikes people aren’t mixing hankies.

Reusable cloth menstrual pads are a great idea too.  You can use the Keeper or Diva Cup too, made out of natural rubber – my reusable Aunt Flo catcher of choice – but cloth pads would definitely be more comfortable, better than all that bleached cotton on your delicate bits, and they’re always there.  So you never have to run out to the store at a moments notice.

While our family hasn’t done this last one yet, I have heard of many doing it with much success.  Cloth toilet paper.  Or better yet, wiping with a peri bottle (how its done in many other countries….hence the bide) .  Many people from other cultures think that spreading everything all over with paper is just nasty, and they use water to feel fresh down there.  Cut up old sheets make for great cloth TP though too if you feel better that way.  Then, just place in a separate covered receptacle and wash as needed.

With these tips, you’ll have no trouble moving away from single use paper products and on to reusable cloth where ever possible.  You’ll quickly find that not having to buy all those paper products is saving you time, money, and space in your trash!

Do you have plastic bags at home taking up space?  While we use canvas bags most of the time, sometimes, we do forget them.  I use quite a few to line the smaller trash cans we have around the house.  But, sometimes, there are extra  What to do?

Well, you can recycle them various stores, or, you can make something out of them!

Use yours, or get them from friends and family, and make a floor mat out of your used plastic bags!

If you have a loom, you can make a really amazing rug with these online instructions.  Even if you don’t though, you can make a really cool plastic bag rug by following these other directions; all you need are your plastic bags and some cardboard and you’re all set!

Making a floor mat by reusing your plastic bags is a great project for kids; its fun, easy, and teaches kids about reusing items that otherwise pose quite a big problem for the earth.  Adults will find they enjoy the process too though; making something useful in the end isn’t bad either!

You’ll find the fact that this cool mat is a conversation starter as well!  Which gives you the opportunity to help even more plastic bags stay out of the land fill by sharing the easy process and helping someone else make one of these unique and very cool plastic bag rugs.

Do you have a favorite coffee mug?  I do.  Mine is white inside and from time to time it can get to looking a little, well…..less white!

When I used to want to try and whiten something up, I might reach for bleach – or some super power (aka toxic) dish soap….not anymore.  What’s the eco friendly way to remove coffee and tea stains?

Baking Soda.

Yep!

Plain, old use it in your baking, Baking Soda.  Any brand will do the job, and boy does it do a great one!

All you have to do is make a paste of baking soda and water.  Then, use this paste to scrub your coffee mug, tea pot, or  even your coffee maker.  The stains will seem like they get absorbed right into the baking soda.

If you have a particularly persistent coffee or tea stain, you can let the baking soda mixture sit on the item for 15-20 minutes.  Then, scrub again, and rinse thoroughly.

You’ll be amazed at how easily the baking soda works.  And, better yet, the way your favorite mug or beloved brew pot will look when you’re done will really surprise you.  The baking soda is so gentle, yet, it leaves such a shiny clean behind; you’ll never use anything else to remove coffee and tea stains again!

While recycling has become second nature for some, many people still either don’t or can’t recycle even the basics like aluminum cans or glass bottles.

Excuses for not recycling abound – “I don’t know where to take my recyclables”.  ”I don’t know what my town/city recycles”.  ”Its too much trouble to recycle”.  ”Recycling doesn’t really help the planet”….these are just a few of the ones I’ve heard most frequently.

Recycling is easy though.  Mr. T. and I have recycled for years and we’ve done it all ourselves (no services were/are available in the little towns we’ve lived in).  With a little information and a few tips and tricks, recycling everything you possibly can will become second nature for you!

First – The Information!

I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to add another chore to my already gigantic list of things I have to do in a day – I’m going to need some convincing on exactly why I need to think this new task is important.

Recycling whatever materials in your home/office/daily lives that you can is important for a wide variety of reasons; the most basic of which is that we are not living with an infinite supply of natural  resources.  The more we can reuse resources instead of having to tap into the finite supply, the better off we’ll be as a society and as a planet.

Reusing items can take many forms, one of which is the act of recycling.  When you put that little bit of extra effort out that it takes to recycle your cans, bottles, paper, etc., those items are all reused to make something new; instead of having to drill, blast, dig, etc. for more “ingredients” to make a product out of “new” mateirals.

But that extra effort is too much you think……I already have so much else on my plate.  When I start to feel like that I ask myself “What is the earth’s burden?”  As much as I may be a busy working mom of 3 blah blah blah, the earth is mother to billions – providing for us all.  The least we can do is take care of our trash like good boys and girls!

Now, that may sound cheesy or lame to some – but it’s the truth.

You expending a bit of extra thought power and energy to recycle can be just one small way you can help make things easier, more earth friendly and ultimately cheaper to produce….so you can purchase something else made of recycled materials to keep that circle going.  And, so this beautiful planet will be around for your great, great, great, great, great, great, grandkids…and their grandkids, and theirs too……….and on, and on, and on!

Now, Find Out What, Where, When and How Your Community Recycles

Some people don’t recycle simply because they don’t know what to recycle, how to recycle it, where to take it, or even when it gets picked up.  This information is easily accessible at the website Earth911.

All you have to do is enter the material you want to recycle, and then enter your address, zip code or, city and state.  The info will come right up.

Its also best to call the facility listed there for more info in case they have any special rules about what you need to do that aren’t listed on the earth911 site.  For example, at our recycling facility (also our town transfer station – or fancy speak for where the trash waits to be taken to the area dump.) they  need you to thoroughly rinse everything because its handled a lot there and having clean recyclables helps keep down bugs and rodents too.  In some localities rinsing isn’t required, in others you have to rinse and get rid of the labels.

Following these rules is important too because it helps the facility get the most money for the items as possible – which is important and so beneficial for your community.  Here it has helped our town in a myriad of different ways especially during this difficult economic crunch.

Last, But Not Least, Some Tips and Trick

Over the years, we’ve realized having a good system in place for recyclables makes it so much easier to recycle as much as possible in just a few minutes every 2 weeks or so.

In some locations (where my inlaws live for example; in the suburbs of a major city) recycling is mandatory and bins are provided by the town’s solid waste contractor and picked up at a pre-determined time each week.  If this is what your community does, you’ve got it made!

Remember though, you could still be able to find private entities that recycle items independently for one reason or another; sometimes as a way to raise funds for a non-profit. And this goes for all recyclers; don’t assume that what your town offers is all you can recycle.  Earth911 or a quick “Google search” should be able to show you these facilities, if not, ask the folks at your dump or often your town offices will know this info.

If you don’t have a town that provides curbside pick up recycling – they often have recycling facilities at the dump or transfer station itself.  This is how we’ve always recycled; taking the stuff ourselves to the dump (we’ve always hauled our own trash too) to be recycled.

To make it easy we’ve slowly bought or found containers for each type of item we can recycle.  We have a huge bin (Mr T’s old tool bin he kept in the back of his first truck) we throw all the paperboard, paper and junk mail into, garbage cans for glass, returnables (our state has a refund), plastics and aluminum.

Then, we just found out we can recycle more types of plastics than before via the next town over’s facility, so we’ll need to get a few more containers so we can separate them as they’ll have to go to a different location than the rest of the stuff.

Having separate containers makes it easy to dump the bins and go – no separating or sorting.  You can also make it easier and cleaner to fit everything in your car by using bins that fit nicely into your trunk and back seat.

Overall, when you look at it, theres really no reason not to recycle.  Even if you live in a city or town with no facilities, try the next town over, or the one after that.  Put some energy into figuring our how you can make less trash and reuse more.  You’ll save your town (and possibly yourself money – and you’ll save you planet even more than that!