Eco-Friendly Organizing Resources

Eco-Friendly Organizing

Links and Resources

Text Box: Why should you care? Going green is not only better for the world and the people in it, it is also better for your wallet. Any reduction in the use of the earth’s resources means less expense to you, too. Decreased costs on gasoline, heating and electricity, water and waste management, consume-ables and even food. Everyone wins! What is Green? The Green Movement focuses on the health and wellness of Earth and we humans on it. Carbon Footprint: The net impact of our day to day activities on the planet. From wikiepedia.org, a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide".[1] It is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming. Green Buildings may include energy purchases from renewable sources, reduced carbon emissions, requiring green building practices for all new construction, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. A Green Home is one that help’s conserve Earth’s Resources. Check out Methodhome.com, sevethgen.com, www.ECover.com, or www.planetinc.com. Green cleaning products are typically non-toxic (won’t hurt you), bio-degradable (won’t hurt the earth or the water supply, where many cleaning products end up), and chemical free (nothing was harmed in the making of the product). Living and Shopping Green Refillable water containers instead of plastic bottles (like Nalgene or aluminum/stainless bottles). We each have one, regularly wash them and refill and refrigerate them for next time. A full refrigerator is more efficient, holds the cold better. Move frequently used items to the door, fill the empty space with jugs (re-used, of course) of water. Re-usable shopping bags – I bought mine at Jewel for $1 a piece, no more plastic! Washable microfiber cloths instead of paper towels ( I love these, I use them for everything!) Green Home Hugger Products ProQuo.com, remove yourself from mailing lists for free Greendimes.com, cut the mail and plant a tree CatalogChoice.org, a site for decreasing your unwanted mail Help others all the time, find out how @NationalService.org Let Go of Your Clutter in an Eco Friendly Way Free Cycle, find one in your area. Green by saving money, keeping things out of landfills, and the good things moving around. Cash4Books.com 21 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle! Save lives and the environment - dispose of unused medication responsibly—click here for the Illinois Poison Control suggestions. How to Recycle Anything, Article, RealSimple, September 2008 Bottomless Closet, clothes for women returning to the work-force Got baby stuff to sell? Check this out! Chicago Recycling Coalition Furniture: National Furniture Bank Find a Charity That Will Pick Up Your Donations for Free! www.DonationTown.org Don’t Throw That in the Trash! DONATE IT! Someone else can use it! Cartridges for Kids, Inkjet and laser: http://www.cartridgesforkids.com/ Books: www.readertoreader.org Glasses (prescription or sunglasses) www.givethegiftofsight.com Cell phones: www.call2recycle.org for drop sites, often at Best Buy, Circuit City, Lowe’s, Sears, Target and other retail outlets Coats: www.Onewarmcoat.org Instruments: www.Hungryformusic.org Computers, laptops and desktops, printers and other computer accessories: www.Cristina.org Children’s shoes: www.shareyoursoles.org Don’t Throw That in the Trash! RECYCLE IT! It may contain substances harmful to you or the environment! Check this site regularly for new hazardous materials collection dates in our area: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/hazardous-waste/household-haz-waste/hhwc-schedule.html www.illinoisrecycles.com www.illinoisenergy.org www.junkremoval911.com Bulb recycling: www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling for ongoing waste collection sites Bulb Recycling: Home Depot and Ikea stores collect and recycle CFLs, Ace Hardware Stores Household Batteries: Walgreen’s and Sears Hardware Stores collect household batteries Small electronics: There are free postage paid envelopes at your local post office to recycle your “cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras, inkjet cartridges and small electronics”. Just drop them in the envelope, seal it up and pop it in the mail.

Click here for My 31 Day Green Challenge

You can make simple changes today to improve your life and our world (or at least cause less harm). Go Green On Your Own Terms, meeting the movement at your current comfort level, and then take just one or two challenging steps.

Why do I care? As a professional organizer , I help people part with their stuff, and I can make a positive impact on how and where that stuff goes. And if I am able to make an impact, I feel responsible to do so. As a parent and member of the global community, I want to take good care of what we have been given to ensure a greener future.

M. Colleen Klimczak, Certified Professional Organizer