Collected by Barbara Rivera, Congress Park Green Team

Waste Diversion & Reduction

The United States is the world’s most wasteful society sending 236 tons of solid waste to landfills each year. That’s an average of 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day!

• Refill your PLASTIC bottles at a Refill store! Instead of tossing or recycling shampoo, dish and laundry soap containers, bring them to a refill store to fill them with bulk body care (shampoo, conditioner, lotion) and home cleaning products (dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning sprays, etc). Check out Zero Market in east Denver (www.thezeromarket.com), Joy Fill on the Northside (www.joyfill.co), and HomeFill in central Denver (www.modernnomaddenver.com/homefill
• Try a solid shampoo bar to reduce plastic consumption. Brands like Love, Beauty & Planet, 100 Senses, EcoRoots, HiBar, The Natural Spa, and Lush are among dozens of solid shampoos to try.
• Eco-friendly toilet paper? I recently ordered a case of premium bamboo TP from “Who Gives a Crap,” and my husband and I both agree it is great TP. They make all their TP, tissues and paper towels with environmentally friendly materials and donate 50% of their profits to build toilets for those in need. That’s a big win-win for all of us!

Water Conservation

Many experts agree that access to clean water is becoming a major global threat to human survival… and yet we run our taps, sprinklers and showers as if we have clean water to throw away.

• Clean water is a precious resource. When we go camping and have to carry in clean water, we use very little to brush our teeth, clean our dishes, etc. Pretend you are camping at home!

Home Energy Efficiency

• Check your dryer vents- If you haven’t had your dryer vents cleaned in the past 5 years, they are likely clogged to the point where it takes longer to dry a load, which means wasted energy and money. Clogged vents can also be a fire hazard.
• Buy electricity generated by renewable sources (solar, wind and water) from Xcel Energy and private providers. One local provider, SunShare, is building solar gardens around our community, and as a SunShare subscriber you can enjoy the benefits of clean, locally produced solar energy without installing solar panels on your roof. More info: www.mysunshare.com

Transportation Options

Vehicle exhaust contributes to smog, which kills about 30,000 Americans every year.

• Create a cleaner environment by getting in those 10,000 fitness steps. Take a hike rather than a scenic drive, walk to local shops rather than driving to a distant shopping center. As the weather warms, look for opportunities to walk to dinner and enjoy neighborhood gardens beginning to bloom!

Remember- Every Little Bit Helps!  Together We Can Make a Huge Impact