Recycle grass clippings as you mow lawn
It seems ridiculous to bag grass clippings and put them out for trash pickup. Grass clippings are nutrient dense and perfect to help feed and keep a lawn lush and healthy. The old-fashioned way to reuse these clippings was to compost them into mulch. This method took a lot of effort to build a compost, wait for it to decompose and then spread it over the lawn. But new lawnmower technologies feature something called a “recycler cutting deck.” As you mow, it automatically re-cuts the clippings into smaller pieces, which are immediately
spread across the lawn. Look for this feature the next time you’re investing in a new lawnmower.
PAPERBOARD CAUTIONS
Paperboard cartons that hold beverages like milk, juices and even shelf-stable soups are made from layers of mixed materials, called aseptic containers, that used to be hard to recycle. Today, many curbside recycling programs accept them as the efficiency and ability to recycle them has grown. But items like takeout containers and ice cream cartons — which feel like aseptic containers — are not recyclable. While they look and feel the same, they are not considered shelf stable, and they are made from entirely different, nonrecyclable materials.
WORKHORSE TREES
It’s common knowledge that planting a tree is an eco-friendly action that can help absorb CO2 emissions and release oxygen into the atmosphere. But not all trees are the same, and some absorb more pollution than others due to their genetic makeup, size and shape. For the most bang for the buck, look for trees like black walnut, white pine, scarlet oak, red pine, Ponderosa pine and chestnut trees. They are easy-to-find species, easy to grow and will ultimately be a workhorse tree in your backyard.
NO NEED TO RINSE
When your bottle of dishwashing soap, shampoo or laundry detergent is empty (but there’s soapy residue on the inside), just screw on the plastic cap and throw it into the recycling bin. While it’s often a good thing to give recyclables a rinse to get them clean, leftover soap is actually desired by recyclers. The soap helps to get other non-soapy recyclables clean.
BUMPER CROPS
If your backyard garden has a bumper crop of fruits and vegetables this season, don’t let them go to waste. The nonprofit Ample Harvest can help you connect with a local food bank or pantry that will gladly take your perishable harvest. The key thing is to donate high-quality produce that is good enough that you would eat it. Even the smallest donations are welcome, since fresh produce is scarce. Learn more at ampleharvest.org, and be sure to tag #ample harvest on Instagram when you donate.
LUMBER HAZARDS
Many people use something called “treated wood” when constructing things like backyard decks. It’s a preferred choice for many contractors because treated wood — on which toxic chemicals like arsenic are used — is long-lasting and resists decay. But it’s also very toxic. Most communities consider treated wood scraps and even sawdust as a household hazardous waste and refuse to accept it in regular trash pickups. If you have scrap treated wood, never burn it; that releases the toxins through emissions and ash. Instead of chemically treated wood, look for natural alternatives like cedar or recycled plastic composite decking.
TOXIC WATER
Here’s another reason to avoid artificial sweeteners and diet drinks: They can pollute our waterways. A study that appeared in the journal Environmental Science and Technology showed that after consumption, the human body flushes artificial sweetener down the toilet and into the water supply. And here is where this chemical sweetener can have a drastic impact on the biodiversity of the planet: Water with fake sugar impacts a plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis. This impacts its ability to produce food and release oxygen. And small aquatic species are affected by this toxic water, which flows up the food chain to the fish and larger species that consume them. The best bet: Avoid fake sugars and stick with ingredients you can pronounce.