Recycling Electronics

In the process of moving out of my childhood home and preparing for my new married life, Ive slowly moved towards decluttering my mothers things as well.

We've had these electronics laying around the house for quite some time. They either don't work or they're too outdated. The two laptops were handed down to me (used) in my first year of college and have been in my closet ever since. I havent needed them nor do I plan on using them. I guess I just never got rid of them because of guilt. But now in my attempt of zero waste living and research I've found out that there are companies (Best Buy) that are willing recycle these outdated or non-functioning products. BINGO! This is great! Instead of throwing them in the trash and making our landfills bigger, we can now recycle them so that those materials can be reused. There is more space in my closet now, and also in my mind ;)

DE-CLUTTER: 'Donate' Movies

I can't remember the last time I watched any of these films. So why wouldn't I donate them to a place where someone else can enjoy them? Yes of course there is a slight feeling of guilt where the thought of me wanting to see one of these films may come, however I can always enjoy them rented. Letting go of them will clear up my living space and give back to the environment. Donating is good for the environment because what is donated is not produced all over again; donating means less production. Less production means less energy and fuel used to get it to where it needs to go. For instance, if I wanted to see a movie, I could rent it. That same movie can be rented over a hundred times. Renting them will create a decrease on their demand because there will be no need for their production. The key is to reduce what can be reused. Why buy books when I can order them from my local library? I could borrow it and then return it for someone else to use. It not only saves on the earths valuable resources it took to make that book, but it also saves on energy, and lots of extra money in my pocket. The key is to donate what can be reused. Next step: Donate books! What is your take on an idea like this?

SAY NO TO JUNK MAIL!

So ever since reading and following the http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/ I have become a bit more aware of my carbon footprint and have decided to take on some change towards zero waste myself. I decided I would start by de-cluttering my home, beginning with my bedroom(closets) first. Once I started this, it was hard for me to stop. The joy that came to me from giving AND seeing the extra space called for MORE de-cluttering. After my bedroom closets, I made to my way into my hallway closet by the bathroom. I couldn't believe the things I had found in there! Things that I either hadn't seen in years, didn't know existed, or hadn't needed in a very long time. With that said, "zero waste" has become more a part of my thinking and I can't seem to get it out of my head. The way our Earth is currently being pollunted and trashed is extremely shameful and there must be something we can do about it. I've decided to take some initiative and began bringing my own bags (tote bags) to the grocery store along with my "mesh bags" for produce. With these I can ensure I won't being using the plastic bags in the store therefore decreasing its demand and not to mention less trash in our landfills. My next step is bringing my own jars, once I get a hold of them somewhere in the area. With my own jars I'll be able to request for meat over the counter and reuse the jar for the next time. Its something I haven't started yet, but I look forward to the experience.

With this new "zero waste" mind, I can't help but notice "Junk Mail"!!! I mean it feels like every store/company in the nation had our address and just thought they should keep on sending us their "Junk Mail" just in case we missed the last ones we've recieved only two days before! So to that I said bye bye to "bed bath and beyond mail"! I went online and unsubscribed our address to their direct mail today! I've also started this"say no to junk mail" process by visiting dmachoice.org. At this website you can get rid of all kinds of "Junk Mail" including credit card offers. So long, farewell, it's time to say goodbye. Goodbyeee! ;)