Save the Planet: Three Easy Ways to Conserve Paper
With the recent surge in Global warming awareness, many people are searching for ways to contribute to the health of Mother Earth. Many of us are committed to recycling. I believe it is time to “step it up a notch”, and make a commitment to reducing and reusing. Some of our most convenient paper products, for example, are completely unnecessary, and could easily be replaced with a reusable “green” option. Here are three simple ways to reduce the amount of paper goods you are using.
Cloth napkins aren’t just for company anymore.
We all remember the cloth napkins that were only used on holidays, right? Who says table linens are only for company? Cloth napkins are a great way to not only decrease your paper consumption, but dress up your dinner table as well! You’ll save money, and as long as you can wash a load of laundry, you’ll also never be caught without a napkin! A recent trip to the thrift store revealed a lovely basket of cloth napkins that I couldn’t wait to dig into. I found eight napkins, all of which coincidentally matched my dÃ?©cor, for twenty-five cents a piece! For two dollars, I have enough napkins for my family, and three guests! I have had great luck finding napkins at bargain prices in various discount department stores and even yard sales! For a fun, colorful twist, try bandanas! The size is perfect, and you can’t beat the color selection! Have fun searching for your napkin stash, or better yet, make your own! Check out http://www.thegreenguide.org/article/diy/cloth for sewing directions. Take this opportunity to clean out your linen closet and turn old sheets into something for your table. Now that’s recycling!
Skip the paper towelsâÂ?¦they’re called kitchen towels for a reason!
I have discovered that my family of five can go through an entire roll of paper towels in three days. At $1.79 a roll, that works out to approximately $4.18 per week. That’s roughly $17.00 per month for something that is unnecessary! Paper towels are not as absorbent as standard kitchen towels, they are not reusable, and while they are disposable, isn’t that what we’re trying to get away from? I vote we all cash in our $17.00, head to the nearest discount department store, and invest that small fortune in a fabulous stash of kitchen towels. I have had great success with the large bundles of industrial type towels that can be found for around $10.00 per bunch. Take an extra five bucks, and plop it down for a ten pack of kitchen “rags” and save the rest for tax. Voila! You’re set! My best advice is to purchase them all in white, so they can all be thrown in the wash together, and bleached if necessary. Aside from the benefits to our pocketbook, consider how your towel shopping spree is improving our planet! Take a moment to consider the yards of paper you’re conserving each week as you’re folding your kitchen towel stash.
Make yourself a Bag Lady�or Man!
Now, assuming we’re all being Earth-conscious citizens, I’m sure we’ve all been asking for Paper bags at the grocery store. Surely none of us are continuing to use plastic bagsâÂ?¦right? Eliminate the confusion over grocery bags by bringing your own reusable bags to the check stand. Many grocers are selling reusable bags for as low as $.99. Pick one up every time you go to the grocery store this month. Your stash will grow in no time. Some grocery stores are even implementing a charge for every plastic or paper bag used to pack your groceries in. I applaud this recent trend, and challenge you to replace your paper (or God-forbid, plastic!) bags with reusable bags. Who knows, you might set a trend in your local market! Have fun with your bag collection. Consider visiting thrift stores or flea markets and stocking up on goofy tote bags. Visit http://www.enviro-tote.com/cloth-grocery-bags.html for a fabulous selection of bags in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Contribute to a reduction in plastic consumption while you’re at it, and order some reusable produce bags. Take pride in filling up those bags as the “Eco-friendly Bag Person”. Perhaps you might even buy yourself a little treat. After all, without the paper towels and napkins, you’ve got plenty of extra space in those bags of yours.
