15 Easy Ways to Go Green in 2015

2015With the arrival of a New Year, so follows the rush to develop a list of meaningful – yet doable – New Year’s resolutions. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful weighs in with our list of 15 Easy Ways to Go Green in 2015. Don’t just make a statement in the New Year… make a difference.

  1. Recycle… Properly: The third “R” in the Three “R’s” of environmentalism is RECYCLE. If you don’t currently recycle on a regular basis, please start. And if you do recycle, make sure you’re doing it properly. At the top of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s 2015 To Do List is to develop a list of the proper ways to recycle key items that we can’t wait to share with you, but in the meantime, the Recycle Now! Guide on our website proves a terrific resource for what to recycle and where to recycle them.
  2. Commit to “Less is More” Attitude: The first “R” in the three “R’s” is REDUCE!  Make a concerted effort in 2015 to buy and use only what you need – particularly when it comes to items that are known to pollute our waterways through run-off such as paint, insecticides, household chemicals, etc…
  3. Start Composting: By composting items like dead leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, waste from fruit and veggies, and other organic materials, you will creating your own nutrient-rich fertilizer and saving these items from taking up space in your local landfill.
  4. Start Your Own Garden or Take Part in a Community Garden: Whether you grow fruits and vegetables in a raised garden in your backyard or your own herbs in containers on your apartment balcony, these are great ways to support sustainability. If you don’t have the space to spare and prefer a social spin on gardening, a community garden might be the ideal answer for you.
  5. Shop From Farmers Markets: If you simply weren’t blessed with a green thumb, there are still a number of ways that you can support sustainability AND your local farmers at the same time. A number of Gwinnett County’s cities – such as Dacula, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville and Suwanee – host Farmers Markets, and – in between – it’s not unusual to find a pop-up produce stand stocked by a local farmer. These all serve as terrific resources for fresh fruits and vegetables, and sometimes even specialty items like honey, jams, soaps, fresh baked goods, cheeses, eggs, hormone-free meats and more.
  6. Dine at Local Farm-to-Table Restaurants : The following are great local restaurants and markets that support their local farmers: Taqueria Del Mar and Ten Bistro in Peachtree Corners, Bleu House Market in Norcross, Graft in Grayson, and Local Republic and The Georgia Pine in Lawrenceville. Know of any others? Don’t be shy – send them to us at gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org.
  7. Re-think Bath Time: Did you know that those long leisurely soaks in a hot tub typically require nearly 2 times as much water as a shower; and every two minutes you can shave off your shower time could save as much as 10 gallons of water*? Consider ways you can start taking quick – yet effective – showers in 2015.
  8. Donate Gently Used Clothes and Household Items: The second “R” in the Three “R’s” is Reuse. For what we consider to be the ultimate example of reuse, take a peek inside your dresser drawers and closets for items you no longer wear and in your basement, cabinets and garage for household items you no longer use. Donate those items to your local thrift store, Goodwill or Salvation Army – not just for the tax write-off, but for the opportunity to help those in need and further support sustainability.
  9. Power Down: Commit to using less electricity in 2015. When you leave a room, make it a habit to turn off all of the lights. And when you power down your computer at the end of the day, don’t just put it in sleep mode – power it all of the way off.
  10. Consolidate Errand Runs: Start planning your week in advance in hopes of combining all of your errands into one trip to save on gas and emissions.
  11. Encourage Green Practices at Work: These green practices outlined above aren’t simply limited to home. You can institute them at work, too! To help get you started, be sure to read Recycling at Work and consider Adopting A Road.
  12. Make Sure Your School is a Green School: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is proud to work with schools within the Gwinnett County Public Schools system to foster a new generation of environmental stewards and encourage green practices within the schools. Ask if your school is part of the Green & Healthy Schools Program.
  13. Volunteer Your Time to an Eco-Focused Non-Profit: If the future of our environment and the beauty of our community is of major concern to you, you will no doubt find volunteering for an eco-focused non-profit to be extremely rewarding. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful relies on the support of hundreds of volunteers each year to take part in cleanup campaigns and recycling events all across the county. To stay up-to-date on upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit our website at www.gwinnettcb.org regularly and be sure to “like us” on Facebook!
  14. Donate to an Eco-Focused Non-Profit: We realize that not everyone has the TIME to volunteer for an eco-focused non-profit. If that’s the case for you, there’s still a really important and impactful way for you to help. Make a tax-deductible donation to Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful in order to support our programs throughout the community.  Donate Button for GCB
  15. Attend Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s 35th Birthday and Annual Awards Dinner: We cordially invite you to attend our 35th Birthday and Annual Awards Dinner on January 23, 2015. It will be hosted at The Gwinnett Center in Duluth from 6 to 11 p.m. – complete with ECoS Community Hero Awards, live entertainment from Herman Pennamon & Friends, a wonderful dinner catered by Proof in the Pudding, and more. Reserve your seat TODAY!

For even more “green” tips and trends, please visit www.gwinnettcb.org.

Source: 50WaystoHelp.com *

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