Green Holidays

Make a New Year’s Resolution to Go Green

01/05/2016 by DeniseB

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? To eat more broccoli, exercise everyday, have more patience with the kids?

While there are many options when making New Year’s Resolutions, most are of a more personal nature. Things such as loose 25 pounds, eat healthier, spend more time with the children, learn how to speak Chinese. The majority of New Year’s Resolutions I hear from year to year are more personal in nature and have nothing to do with improving the world we live in.

Don’t get me wrong, I really respect those people who utilize the fresh new year as a way to revitalize their effort to improve themselves. I gave up New Year’s Resolutions quite a while ago.

However, this year I’m jumping back into the resolution spirit of renewal by making it a point to up my Green Initiatives. Ever since I took a trip over to Europe in January of last year, the waste that goes on in this beautiful country of ours has been weighing heavy on my mind. When you witness a society that is continually aware of the limited resources our earth has to provide and the consistent effort to reduce, reuse and recycle, you start to realize how spoiled and uncaring us Americans can seem.

Now, I don’t mean to cloak all Americans under this blanket of excess and waste. There are many who have been preaching Green initiatives and leading by example, hoping that it will permeate throughout the scattered communities throughout the United States.

While the United State’s recycling efforts have improved over that last five decades, we are well behind our European counterparts. With countries like Sweden who boast a 99% recycling rate, and Switzerland, whose rate is at 52%, nearly double that of the US, it is clear to see that there is plenty of room for improvement.

Why not make a resolution that will have an impact on your community, our country and our world? Practice and preach Green Initiatives and help Going Green to go viral in the US.

Some people might be intimidated by the phrase “Going Green” because most people assume that in order to go green you have spend a lot of time and money in order to make a change. However, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems, sometimes it is the simplest things that make all the difference. So what can do you in order to start your green lifestyle? Follow these easy and cost effective tips to get started!

10 Ways to Go Green America:

Change your light bulbs. Replace just one regular light bulb with a fluorescent bulb. If you don’t like the color, use these bulbs in closets where it won’t bother you as much. Fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer!
Turn your computer off. Although your computer may be in sleep mode, it is still using up energy. By turning your computer off at night you can save 40 watts each day.
Keep your freezer full. It takes a lot more energy to keep an empty space cool than it does to keep a crowded space cool.
Skip the sink. If you have a dishwasher try to avoid rinsing your dishes before loading them and always make sure the dishwasher is full before running.
Wash laundry in cold water. According to Energy Star, 90% of energy consumed by a washing machine is used by heating the water. By washing your laundry in cold water you are saving energy while getting clean clothes!
Utilize your cruise control. When driving to work start using your cruise control. You could get 15% better mileage and as gas prices continue to change almost daily this could save you money and help the environment at the same time!
Pay bills online. Not only is this becoming relatively easier, you will also contribute to saving millions of trees each year!
Clean out your trunk. Extra added weight within your vehicle could also add to more money on gas.
Recycle old cell phones. If old cell phones are not recycled they end up in landfills, but the phones and their batteries are still producing toxic chemicals into the environment.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Make every effort possible to have zero waste by rethinking everything that you throw away. If there is a way to use less, reuse or recycle, than just DO IT!

Recycle America

If you need more help on “Going Green” contact the experts of Delaware at Waste Masters Solutions. Share on our Facebook page some of the ways your family has planned to Go Green in 2016. Waste Masters Solutions is a commercial waste solution and recycling company serving all of Delaware and making it its mission to make our community aware of the importance of reducing, recycling, reusing as much as possible.

Go Green for the Holidays – It’s a Gift That Will Keep on Giving

12/15/2015 by DeniseB

Did you know that household waste increases to over 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day? That’s just a mind boggling statistic! Increased food waste, holiday cards, wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, shopping bags … think about it … how much of that goes directly into a landfill?

This holiday season, do something really thoughtful; take the time to rethink how you celebrate and figure out ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. It’s gift for all of us! There are a variety of ways to make your holidays more eco-friendly.

Top 10 Ways to Stay Green During the Holidays:

Send eCards or Recycled Cards: Think of all the waste that goes into sending out Holiday Cards that often go unnoticed. Using eCards to offer holiday wishes is optimal because not only is there no paper involved, there is no delivery vehicle involved. If you absolutely have to send out a physical card, use recycled ones.
Reduce Food Waste: Think of all the food waste that occurs this time of year. Try to plan for the right amount of food. If you find that you over estimated, do your best to find a food bank or kitchen that might be able to use or freeze it before it spoils.
Bring Your Own Shopping Bags: We’ve all seen that shopper walking through the mall awkwardly trying to juggle a bunch of packages and bags from freshly bought spoils. DON’T BE THAT SHOPPER! Using and reusing cloth bags can reduce the thousands of bags that end up in landfills. If you do use paper or plastic bags, recycle them.
Give Creatively: The Holidays seem to bring out the best and the worst in us … does Grandma really need that ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ that is going to be thrown in a drawer and grudging donned next Christmas? Trust me, the GIFT OF TIME will be much more appreciated. Give thoughtful gifts that require less waste and are more meaningful. How about giving a gift of an experience or an event to remember; game tickets for the recipients favorite sport team or a show, passes to a state or national park, gift certificates for dinner or a massage. Better yet, make your own coupons for personal services, such as free babysitting, helping aging Aunt Edna with some spring chores or a home-cooked meal. The possibilities are endless and can spread goodwill and good cheer throughout the year!
Use Eco-friendly Wrapping Alternatives: Use old posters, maps, newspapers, reusable gift bags to present your gifts this holiday season. Cookie tins, flower pots and baskets are a creative and green way to place a present in a present.
Use LED Holiday Lights: Use up to 80% less energy by switching to LED lights that last 10 times longer. Also, be sure to turn lights off during the day.
Stop Junk Mail: This time of year, the amount of catalogs and charitable donation solicitations can be just ridiculous. I sometimes feel like all my charitable donations go directly into re-solicitations of donations. If you’d like to stop the endless cycle, Check Out this article by eco-cycle that will help your put the kibosh on junk mail.
Use Rechargeable Batteries: About 40% of battery sales occur during the holiday season. Help out the environment by buying rechargeable batteries and making sure to safely recycle any old batteries.
Recycle Electronics and Cell Phones: This is the time of year when new electronics and cell phones are snatched off the shelf and presented in pretty packages and bags under the tree. PLEASE make sure to safely recycle or find a good home for your old electronics.
Throw a Green Holiday Party: Going Green for the holidays should be carried over to any parties or gatherings that you have. Provide clearly labeled recycling containers for cans, bottles and other recyclables. Of course, a Green Party can be held year ‘round, check out our blog, ‘Throw a Green Party this Labor Day’ and make it your New Year’s Resolution to continue your Green Initiatives into the new year.

The gift of lowering your carbon footprint is something that the whole world can enjoy. It not only benefits the environment it can have the chance to go viral. The more people that set a GREEN Example, the better chance our society has to succeed in educating those around us how a little thought and creativity can change a mindset that has been long in the making.

Share on our Facebook page some of the ways you get into the Green of the Season by reducing, reusing and recycling.