Tips on 'going green' and living a 'green' lifestyle

This week I am traveling to neighboring counties and within Bourbon County to present programs as part of our Extension annual lesson series. The program I've developed this year is on the broad topic of "going green."

"Green" from an environmental and consumer standpoint can mean many different things. In the past -- even 50 to 100 years ago -- "living green" was called "living simply." Clothes were hung out to dry, gardens provided organic food, and homes were cooled by opening windows. "Green" living came out of necessity. Many people now see wisdom in that way of living. In the 21st century living "green" has become a buzzword for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Being "green" means doing small things every day to make a difference in our world. From choosing products with less or no packaging, purchasing energy efficient equipment and appliances for our homes, or recycling, it is important to do things to protect the environment.

Waste, and how we dispose of it, affects our global environment -- air, water, land, animals, plants, and man-made things. If we want a healthy environment for our families and our earth, smart waste management is a skill we need to learn. Here is a quick review of the 5 Rs of managing waste or living in an environmentally friendly way -- three of these have been around for years, two are newer ones.

Reduce. Reducing means producing less waste so that less trash and garbage goes into landfills. It can also stand for reducing energy use by selecting more energy efficient equipment and appliances. When shopping, take your own cloth or mesh bags, so you don't take either paper or plastic! This action reduces the amount of bags you might throw into the trash, and saves resources needed to manufacture all those plastic and paper bags. How to remember your bags? Always keep them in the car or right by the door.

Reuse. Reusing means getting the most out of things in their original form before you toss or recycle them. You can reuse things yourself -- or pass them along to someone who can reuse them when you can't. Reusing is pretty simple once you get into the habit, like writing a shopping list on an opened envelope or the back of office paper rather than on a brand new sheet.

Recycle. Recycling is the R that seems to have caught on the best. However, recycling is not as easy as one would like -- or even available in some locations. Recycling, like using cans to make new cans, is better than throwing them into the landfill, but it still takes energy to collect, crush, and remake them. So, recycle after you have reused things as much as possible.

Reject. Rejecting is one of the newer Rs. Some people also call it pre-cycling. In terms of smart waste management, this is the simple act of rejecting excessive or unnecessary packaging. When shopping, it means saying "no thanks" to a bag for small purchases that you can easily carry in your hands. You can also reject --choose to not buy -- foods, beverages, or other products in fancy, multi-layer packaging that you will just have to throw into the trash as soon as you open them. It might also mean opting for a re-usable water bottle which you can refill yourself, rather than purchasing large quantities of bottled water.

Respond/React/Reward. This R goes by several different names, but they all come down to one thing: letting manufacturers and businesses know what you think about their waste management practices. You can contact them with a letter, an email, or by calling the toll free number listed on the package to voice concerns about excessive packaging. Locally, you could ask to speak to a manager to let them know that you have noticed and appreciate when they are doing something positive for the earth.

As a part of my program I have developed a list of local recycling options. Included are names, addresses, and phone numbers of businesses and organizations which accept a variety of household products, either for direct recycling, or for fund-raising. If you'd like a copy of the list, call the Extension office at (620) 223-3720 or email me at aludlum@ksu.edu. Copies of the list are also available on the publications rack outside the Extension office door on first floor of the courthouse.

Editor's Note: Ann Ludlum is a K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720 or aludlum@ksu.edu.