Friday, December 23, 2011

Why is my garbage can overflowing?

Ask Ida

---

Dear Ida B. Green,

We often fill up our 95-gallon garbage can but our neighbor rarely fills one half our size. Are they dumping their garbage in some canyon?

Signed,

Size Matters

Dear Size,

I see overstuffed garbage cans the same way I see the contestants on The Biggest Loser: over-consuming and unhealthy. Here are three steps to joining your neighbors' svelte garbage can lineup.

No. 1: Walk a few more steps each day to recycle items you've been sending to the landfill. Chances are you can put at least one-third of what's filling your garbage can into your recycling bin. Remember—corrugated cardboard goes to Ohio Gulch or your community's cardboard bin.

No. 2: Walk store aisles longer to find items with the least packaging. We're a country of endless choices. By finding the one flashlight that isn't sealed in blister pack or buying items in bulk, you can cut back your waste by not bringing as much of it home.

No. 3: Restrain your intake of single-use or limited-use purchases. Paper plates, napkins, towels, plastic utensils and cups, and single-use mop heads should all be replaced with reusable alternatives. Single-use plastic bottles, bags and meal dishes should be recycled and/or eliminated from your diet by sticking to reusables.

It's better for your pocketbook. It's better for your health. It's better for the earth.

Keep it Green,

Ida

—Elizabeth Jeffrey

acheter cialis
buy cialis
comprar cialis