Monthly Tips - July 2008

Valuable tips that benefit the environment
and help you save money

Reinvent the Shopping Bag - Carry your own bags when shopping. An estimated 500 billion - 1 trillion bags are consumed worldwide annually. Plastic bags are made from non-renewable petroleum products. Over time plastic bags photo-degrade, breaking down into smaller toxic petro-polymers that can contaminate soils, waterways and enter into the food chain. Many species of wildlife die as a result of plastic bags because they become entangled in the bag or mistake it for food and digest it. By switching to reusable bags you will avoid 312 plastic bags!

Share - Didn't your mother always tell you to share? If you only use items like your tent, ladder, or video player once in a while, consider lending it to others. Or team up with a friend or family member to buy rarely used items. Try setting up a book/magazine exchange in your workplace. Sharing decreases the energy and pollution from mining, manufacturing, packaging, and transporting new goods. It also saves everyone a lot of money.

Practice Gas Station Etiquette - Handle the pump with care and avoid topping off. Spilled fuel evaporates and causes air pollution. Also, try to buy gas during cooler times in the day or during evening hours when there is less evaporation.

Make your eyes as big as your stomach - The average family of four wastes $600 of food a year. In addition to the unsavoury price tag, wasting food also contributes to pesticide pollution, fossil fuel use, deforestation, and water use.

Check out www.liveneutral.org  for more great tips.