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Green living is not only about people. It is also about plants, animals, and the places they live. Green living means thinking about climate change and energy use, as well as about biological diversity and the well-being of
those who draw their livelihoods from nature.
We know this takes effort. Here is a useful list of simple steps you can take to begin thinking greener, acting greener, and living greener.
1. Be Informed
The first step toward being a responsible green citizen is knowing the issues and taking time to think about them.
2. Travel Sustainably
Next time you go on vacation or need to take a business trip, consider ways you can cut down on carbon emissions. Take the train, offset your emissions online, or carpool when possible.
3. Be a Green Consumer
It is becoming easier and easier to know what effects the things you buy have on the environment. Shop at farmer's markets and read product tags for environmental information.
4. Eat Green
Environmentally friendly eating habits are easy and healthy. Look for foods that are local and organic, and when possible, shop at farmer's markets or local grocery stores to cut down on "food miles."
5. Explore Biodiversity
The diversity of nature is everywhere. So why not roll up your sleeves and see what’s been living right outside your door? Learning about the natural world right around you helps you and your family understand the importance of protecting the environment.
6. Enhance Your Local Biodiversity
Contributing to diversity in your own neighborhood can go a long way toward feeling good every day. Plant native species in your garden. A farmer's market is a great place to pick up native plants.
7. Minimize Your Carbon Footprint
By reducing the energy and fossil fuels you use, you are saving the environment from further damage. Turn off lights, unplug appliances when not in use, ride your bike!
8. Offset Your Carbon
After you have done everything you can to minimize your carbon footprint, you can think about how to offset what residual impacts remains. Many carbon-offsetting websites make this step easier than ever with just a few simple clicks.
9. Influence Your Friends, Family, and Community
A green You is a great role model for your friends, family, and colleagues.
10. Support Your Community
Get involved in group efforts to make your own neighborhood, local school, library or community center more sustainable. Join a beach clean up or recycling day. Working with a team can keep you motivated and help you find new ways to keep being green.
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Eight Steps to Starting an Office Recycling Program: Help California Reduce Waste by Recycling at Work!
*Designate an Office "Recycling Coordinator": Select someone in the office to oversee your recycling program. Your recycling coordinator will be responsible for arranging collection of recyclables, encouraging employees to recycle and overall monitoring of the recycling program.
*Arrange for Collection:
There are several options to consider for collection. You may contact your waste hauler to arrange collection, designate an employee to deliver your recyclables to the nearest recycling center or consider allowing your janitorial staff to keep the CRV in exchange for collecting the recyclables - a win/win scenario!
* Get Recycling Bins:
Buy new bins for multiple locations in your office, or transform some existing trash cans into recycling bins - now that's recycling! For more information on acquiring recycling bins, click here for a sample list of recycling bin vendors or call 1-800-RECYCLE.
* Identify CRV Recyclable Beverage Containers: Educate your employees on the various beverage containers in the CRV (California Refund Value) program. From water bottles to iced tea, sports drinks and soda containers, let your employees know what they can recycle.
* Location, Location, Location:
To generate maximum participation, be sure to place recycling bins at each workstation or office, as well as in central areas such as lunchrooms, lounges and office machine rooms.
* Make it Easy - Label the Bins:
Clearly label every recycling bin to indicate EXACTLY what items go in the bin, e.g., "Aluminum Cans." Most aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers can be recycled and redeemed for cash at any certified recycling center.
* Kick-Off the Recycling Program:
Announce your new office recycling program through an event or a series of internal emails leading up to the kick-off.
* Keep Up the Enthusiasm:
Create employee recycling incentive programs to keep the momentum going. Here are some simple ideas to keep your employees engaged in recycling: Reward yourselves for recycling. Use funds from redeemed beverage containers to fund a quarterly office party or "coffee break."
*Celebrate success:
Recognize employees who reduce the company's waste - "Recycler of the Month." Let your customers know - distribute new waste reduction and recycling tips to spread the recycling message.
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