Long before Pemco brought us the “Compulsive Recycler” I have pulled plastic bottles out of trash bins; picked up aluminum cans on the street and salvaged stuff from the trash if I knew it could be recycled.

This behavior isn’t exactly a compulsion but more than once my husband has asked, “Why do you bring other people’s garbage home?” I always smile and say, “Because I can recycle it!”

Like most people I’ll probably never live in a “built green” home or drive a hybrid; but I do know that the little things add up. That every time I reduce, reuse or recycle I’m making a difference. My carbon foot print is smaller and I’m keeping stuff out of the waste stream.

EZ Ways to Live Green in Seattle will be a series of posts about doing little things that make a difference. You’ll find ideas, information and tips on simple actions you can take to live green.

Mary

P.S. If you’re wondering what kind of difference recycling makes check out these stats* from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Americans produced 4.3 lbs of municipal solid waste per person per day in 2009

Recycling and composting reduced this number to 2.9lb per person per day, a 30% drop

(Municipal solid waste includes product packaging, grass clippings, food scraps, newspapers, bottles, furniture, clothing, appliances, paint and batteries.)

What makes up those 2.9lbs of solid waste? More than half (56%) is organic material.

Paper and paperboard 28%
Yard waste and food scraps 28%.
Plastics 12%
Metals 9%
Wood is 7%
Glass is 5%.
Rubber, leather and textiles 8%.
Miscellaneous 4%.

*These numbers are based on the EPA’s most current data.