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Recent politicians have been urging citizens to be aware of how their actions are hurting the environment and that simple things that they do can help reverse the problem. Global warming is abig problem in the environment and the rate of erosion in some coastal communities is alarming. Also, with the global warming it is destroyingmuch of Antarctica’s glaciers creating an increased water volume in the ocean that is now covering land at an alarming rate. This article will give you several ways on helping the environment such as recycling and/or reusing your carryout food containers and paper bags, replacing your light bulbs, using other typesof transportation and cutting back your meat consumption.

Step One: Recycle & Reuse
A majority of Americans do not recycle on a weekly basis. One reason is that itcosts additional money. Theaverage cost to having a recycling service pick up your items is just $20 fortwelve months. In some statesareas, incentives are offered to communities that recycle. One such community is in Terrace Park, Ohio. This tiny town chose to pay for recycling for the entire population of 2,000 residents. Today more than 90% of the residents recycle,an increase from just 30%. When homeowners recycle all of their plastic, glass and paper items it will significantly cut back your household trash amount which will then reduce the size of trash landfills. Another great way to reuse items is to use your own bags to gowhen shopping. Typically, when a shopper goes to the grocery market, they use four plastic sacks. If youtake your own bag, it saves those 4 bags from gettingtossed away. Several stores have created beautiful reusable bags at a low cost to encourage this. In Europe all sacks provided by the store will carry a charge. This is quite effective in getting people to use their own bags.

Step Two: Replace your Light Bulbs
A simple energy saving solution that will help the environment in the long run is to change outall of your light bulbs in yourhome. The more energy efficient ones are more costly, but the savings over time and benefits outweigh the upfront expense.

Step Three: Alternative Modes of Transportation
If each person would choose 1 day a week to not drive their car, the air quality would greatly improve and as a result it will help the ozone layers. Either carpool with a coworker, ride your bicycle to school or walk to the store that isclose by instead. Also, sell your gas guzzling SUV and buy a smaller vehicle as well.

Step Four: Reduce Meat Consumption
New studies are showing the cost and energy used to provide meat to people is a costly one that is also affecting the environment. It was discovered that ifcitizens cut out 2-3 hamburgers a week it would be equivalent to removing all of the SUV’s from the roads in air quality and toxic gases in the environment. Not only does it help the environment, but eating a vegetarian meal now and then will improve] your health {too.

Filed under: Fun Stuff on June 9th, 2009