Re-Use to Save the Earth and Your Finances

In today's disposable society the art of reusing things for future use has gotten lost in the shuffle. These days people are likely to discard an item that is old or degraded in favor of a shiny new replacement. For example, many people get a new computer every few years as technology improves and dispose of their old model. Some people go as far as to buy a new car every few years.

Our consumer driven world is filled with materialists who think nothing of using then discarding merchandise. Fortunately the government, media and even celebrities are helping raise awareness for the importance of helping the environment. One way to do that is by reusing things that can be given new life rather than tossing them away. By learning the recycling skills of our ancestors we can help save landfill room and conserve valuable resources.

One place to start is the secondhand store or thrift shop. Both Goodwill and The Salvation Army take donated clothing and resell it with profits going to their charity. It's as easy as dropping off bags of clothes, or sometimes the organization can come pick your items up. Some of these charity stores also take items like books, electronics, toys and furniture. What is trash to you might be a fabulous find for someone else. If you want to earn a few dollars consider selling gently worn items or things you no longer want on Ebay or at consignment shops. Even a neighborhood yard sale is an effective and time-tested way to get rid of junk and make a little money.

Plastic bags from grocery shopping are a big cause of waste. Don't throw your plastic bags in the trash, as they stay in our landfills for many years before being broken down. This adds both waste and contamination to our environment through the landfill system. There are many different ways to reuse these bags. Line your small wastebaskets with them, use them to pick up pet waste or even to store various items. At least try to reuse bags until they get worn out or tear.

Perishables like leftover food and plants we no longer want (because perhaps they have died) cannot be donated or sold. Instead, consider making a compost heap out of items like this. Compost is the perfect organic fertilizer to use for your garden. For that matter, growing a vegetable garden is a great way to cut expenses, feed your family and buy less from the supermarket thus conserving food resources. One thing about compost is that meat should be buried or fed (without bones) to your dog rather than being thrown in the heap as decomposition creates harmful bacteria.

As you can see there are various ways, some easy and some difficult, to help our environment. By taking small steps and encouraging others to do the same you can help make a big environmental difference. While new habits take a month or two to stick, in no time these green changes will come naturally.

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