There are many ways in which we can help save the earth. Become an active member in your community to put an end to the destruction of the only planet we can call home, the earth. Here are some ways that you can help:

• RECYCLE!!!
         The first step is to find programs near you and making others aware.
         Some things that can be recycled include:
              toner cartridges
              aluminum cans
              newspapers
              2 liter plastic soda bottles
              milk jugs
              steel containers
              organic material/cuttings
              glass
              telephone books
• Junk Mail
         Americans receive enough junk mail in one day to produce enough energy to heat a quarter of a million homes! You actually can help put a stop junk mail, write to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 11 West 42nd St., PO Box 3861, New York, NY 10163-3861. Junk mail can be reduced by up to 75%. You can recycle the rest of the junk mail you receive.
• Low-Flow Faucet Aerator
         This is device which you can install with your water faucets at home. By attaching one of these, water flow can be reduced by 50%. Even if only 10,000 households installed low-flow aerators, 33 million gallons of water would be saved yearly.
• Kitchen Habits
         Instead of using foil or paper bags, use reusable containers for storing food. In place of paper towels, use rags to wipe up spills, and use biodegradable wax paper and bags.
• Hot Water Heater
         The hot water heater is about 20% of all the energy used in your home. There are some things that you can do to save energy and save money. Turn your water heater down to 130 degrees. You can also insulate your heater with a pre-fab 'blanket', whcih can save you 7-8% of your energy usage.
• Paints
         Because oil based paint is toxic, use latex paint. Dispose of paint as hazardous waste or let it evaporate outside for one year. Have extra paint? Instead of getting rid of it, you can donate it to someone who may need it.
• Tires
         Inflate your tires well to preserve the life of your tires and save gas. Every 2 weeks, Americans wear out nearly 50 million pounds of rubber off their tires. This is enough rubber to manufacture 3 and a quarter million new tires. To help prevent this, you can inflate your tires well. This preserves the life of the tires and saves gas, which ultimately saves money.
• Home Appliances
         To allow your refridgerator to run more efficiently, clean the condenser coils annually. Raising the temperature in your refrigerator by 10 degrees, you can save 25% of your energy. Clean or replace filters each month for air conditioners.
• Batteries
         Batteries contain heavy metals which are a main source of contamination in dump sites. They break apart and are released into the soil or into the air. To help you can use rechargeable batteries and recycle alkaline batteries. Mercury and cadmium can be reused.
• Shopping Bags
         Plastic bags are not biodegradable and do not decompose fully. Paper bags are reusable and biodegradable. Paper bags are recyclable too. If the product you are buying is small, dont take any bag. You can bring a cloth bag when you shop as well.
• Animal Products
         Do not buy products that are from endangered animals. To help you can substitute your purchase or boycott products from endangered animals.
• Toilets
         In your home, 40% of pure water is flushed down the toilet. You can creat a low-flush toilet by using small plastic bottles, filled with water or stones to displace the amount of water in toilets. This can save 1-2 gallons per flush. If we had 100,000 families doing this, could save up to 580 million gallons per year!
• Showers
         A four person family that showers each day for 5-minutes, in one week they would use 700 gallons of water. This is enough water for a person to live off of for three years. To reduce the amount of usage, you can buy either an aerated or a nonaerated shower head to cut your water output by 50%. You can save at least 14,000 gallons of water a year.
• Use Fluorescent Light
         By using electricity we contribute to global problems by making power plants and industrial businesses generate more emissions that are polluting the earth. Using a fluorescent light bulb, is much more efficient. They last longer. By installing a single fluorescent light bulb in 100 million households in America, "you would save the energy equivalent of all of the energy that is generated by a nuclear power plant running full time, over the course of one year."
• Balloons
         Never release helium ballons into the air. They can be the cause of the death for sea turtles and whales. They can suffocate or starve to death. Metallic balloons can cause power outages when they get caught in power lines.
• Diapers
         Use cloth diapers for your child. 18 billion disposable diapers are trashed a year. Diapers take up 1% of America's landfills and they take 500 years to decompose. Cotton diapers can be reused 100 times and decompose in 1 to 6 months.

Here are some more helpful hints:

• Along with recycling, buy products that are recycled. By purchasing these products, you are helping to conserve natural resources, and to protect the environment.
• Do not dump oil, grease, antifreeze, pesticides, fertilizers, paints, cleaners, and other toxic household products down the storm drain. They go straight into rivers, lakes, and maybe even the ocean. By putting these toxic chemicals down the drain, marine life may be in danger.
• Use CFC free products. ChloroFluoroCarbons destroy the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful UV rays.
• Carpool or walk to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in the air.
• Instead of throwing away items such as furniture, appliances and clothing, look for a place to donate them.
• Keep used paper in a stack and use the flip side for scrap work.
• Try to buy items that are less toxic to the environment when produced. For example, use vinegar and water as a replacement to glass cleaner.

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