Can anyone be totally green? Probably not. Living off the grid is an option, but we’re not thinking we want to do that. There are books by people who chose that lifestyle that might be interesting, though.
I guess publicity about Earth Day made me think about how we do our part. All of it together does not seem like much, until I think how it would be if everyone did small things and how it would add up.
We recycle and have for a long time. When we first moved to our current location, we did not have trash pickup. We have it now, but we pass because we have our routine. Glass, metal, newspapers, steel, cooper, old cars, we know where to take it all. About three or four times a year, we head to the landfill or dump.
There is also an electronics recycle place in Topeka called Extreme Recycling. Their main page states so far in 2010 they have diverted 2,388,330 pounds from area landfills, all electronics. This is an important find for us because with the changes in television, we will have sets to recycle in the near future, not to mention a couple dvd players that quit working, old cell phones, even a lap top that the experts say can’t be fixed. It is always good for me if I believe someone gets some good out of my cast offs. Extreme Recycling also has an EBay store. I like that. Maybe my old computer will show up there. At least the battery would have value to someone who owned one like it. That would be fine by me.
We do other things such as hang out clothes to dry, partially heat with wood and grow garden. I admit we are able to do these types of things because we live out. But, like I said, little things add up.