Celebrate Earth Day

Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson searched for many years to find a way to focus public attention on the environment. In 1969, he came up with Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and has become an annual national event focusing on learning about conservationism and what we can do to reduce pollution.

At A Cleaner World, we take our commitment to the environment seriously. For over 20 years, A Cleaner World has asked customers to return their no longer needed hangers to us. In exchange, we would purchase trees to be planted throughout our community. We also recycle our dry cleaning solution and poly bags.

There are lots of ways we all can help reduce rubbish -- especially in our homes. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Plastic Grocery Bags

• Place them in the bottom of plant pots and hanging baskets - they act as great drainage systems
• Scrunch them up to surround items you are shipping as an alternative to bubble wrap
• Use them as doggie dodo bags

Paper

• After children's drawings have been displayed for a while, use them to wrap gifts
• Use old envelopes for scribbling down shopping lists, to-do lists, and notes
• Give old magazines to doctor and dentist offices

Household Waste

• Aluminum trays from pies and cakes make great drip saucers to put under potted plants
• The following waste items can be modified and used for planting seedlings: egg cartons, plastic bottles, cherry tomato containers, plastic ice cream containers
• Lawn clippings can be used to cover weeds to keep them from growing in the garden throughout the winter

Other Items

• Reuse washed zip lock bags for sandwiches and snacks rather than using plastic wrap
• Old or broken household goods such as toasters and microwaves can be used by others for parts. Sell them cheaply at a garage sale.
• Day cares and schools often need boxes, plastic bags, old buttons, used wrapping paper, greeting cards, ribbon, and so on for art resources.
• Old furniture, clothes, kitchen items, and bedding are always needed by organizations like The Salvation Army.

General Tips for Recycling

• Buy a smaller trash container for the kitchen. This makes you remember to recycle.
• Make sure bottles and cans are clean before putting them in the recycle bin.
• Reorganize the kitchen so it has an efficient recycling area with good sized bins to help with sorting. This will encourage everyone to contribute and share in the work.
• Put a 'no junk mail' sticker on your mailbox.
• Get your children involved. If we educate them early, they will grow up and appreciate waste reduction and will continue these habits later in life.