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- Reduce your paper consumption by replacing paper napkins with cloth napkins, and paper towels with a set of specified cloth towels that can be washed and reused. Leave messages for family members or roommates on a reusable message board rather than on paper notes.
- Instead of using new wrapping paper on gifts, use old maps, the Sunday comics, reusable gift bags, new cloth dish towels, decorated paper bags, colorful pieces of fabric, or a reusable shopping bag. You'll find many inexpensive reusable shopping bags here at Twelve Rivers that would serve as a gift within a gift!
- While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own. Twelve Rivers has many beautiful options from which to choose. Remember, select bags you love. You’ll be more likely to use them often.
- Whenever possible, take a non-disposable lunch. Use a reusable carrier such as a cloth bag or lunchbox rather than paper bag, reusable food containers, a thermos for drinks, and silverware and a cloth napkin to wash and reuse.
- Switch from disposable to reusable products, such as food and beverage containers, cups and plates for get-togethers, cloth diapers, cloth cleaning towels, and fabric shopping bags.
- Donate toys your children have outgrown to local churches, day cares, and pediatricians’ offices.
- Use both sides of each piece of paper -- for note taking or printing documents from your computer.
- Pick up books from a used book store or your local library. Not only can you find magazines, CDs, books-on-tape, and videos available for checking out, but often libraries will have these used items for sale.
- Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery recharger (some battery rechargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).
- Instead of styrofoam packing peanuts, use paper from your paper shredder as packing material.
- Call your city or township offices for local recycling guidelines and find out what local companies recycle those products not handled by your city pickup.
- Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage.
- In general, try to buy products made from recycled material as often as possible to support the recycled product market. When purchasing paper products, look for paper that has been recycled using a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste.
- If possible, consider biking, taking public transit, or carpooling to work to reduce the amount of fuel expended.
- Fix water leaks promptly. Check your water meter when no one is using water in the house. If it's moving there's a leak, which might be a running toilet or a dripping faucet.
- Reduce standby power (the energy used while an appliance is switched off or not performing) at home and at work. The easiest way is to unplug appliances that are not being used consistently.
- Whenever possible, keep lights off during the day. Encourage family members to get in the habit of turning off lights when they leave a room.
- Avoid wasting water. Turn off the water faucet while brushing your teeth. Try to keep showers to under 5 minutes. Switch to low flow or dual flush toilets. Keep a water pitcher near your sink or bathtub and collect unused water running from the tap (waiting for cooler or warmer water) for watering houseplants.
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