eHow.com Video: Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Compost, recycle and purchase recycled content to prevent additional waste from being sent to landfills

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and these are ways to reduce waste sent to landfills. Did you know that in 2012 Americans disposed a total of 4.6 pounds per person per day. It's interesting to look at this chart from the EPA to see what we can do to reduce waste sent to landfills. 

Paper and paper board can be reused and recycled. I always make sure to print on both sides of the printer paper if possible. I also save the paper and use a blank side to make a scrap paper notepad. Plastics can also be reused and recycled. I try to reuse plastics as much as possible. I also BYOB, bring my own bag, when I go shopping. If you forget your bag, opt for paper, it's easier to recycle.

For both paper and plastic, whenever possible reuse first then recycle. I also encourage you to purchase post-consumer recycled content whenever possible. By choosing post-consumer recycled you support and create a bigger demand for recycling and the infrastructure for more environmentally responsible living. Fewer products are made from virgin materials and therefore reduce the waste sent to landfills.

Glass and metals like this are the easiest materials to recycle, so no excuses. Yard trimmings and food waste can be composted.

Food waste that goes to landfills doesn't decompose but instead it produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas. Instead, compost the food waste and make it into something useful. Many urban areas offer community compost programs.

Rubber, leather and textiles can be recycled through textile recycling programs, or if they're still usable, take them to your local Goodwill.

I hope we can all work together to reduce waste sent to landfills by reducing, reusing, recycling and composting as much as possible.

by Anjie Cho

eHow.com Video: How to Get VOCs Out of Clothing

How to Get VOCs Out of Clothing

How to Get VOCs Out of Clothing

VOCs,  Volatile Organic Compounds, are toxic and harmful to humans. Learn how to remove these VOCs from your clothing

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Video Transcript:

 

I'm Anjie Cho and this is how to get VOCs out of clothing.

Did you know that conventional clothing off gases VOCs? VOCs stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. Toxins are released into the air by VOCs from synthetic materials found in buildings, in traditional paint, furniture and even clothing. VOCs are found in even what you might consider natural fabric like cotton. Many fabrics are treated with VOCs during the washing, dyeing and printing processes. VOCs can cause health problems such as headaches, dizziness as well as skin and respiratory problems.

Clothing is especially problematic because of the direct skin contacts, and we can easily absorb toxins directly through our skin. So, how do you get the VOCs out of your clothing? First, air the clothing out outdoors, in sunlight if possible.

The most effective way to reduce VOCs is to allow the clothing to off gas in a well-ventilated place in sunlight. This allows the VOCs to dissipate and leave the fabric. If you don't have outdoor space, set a fan up or make sure you have a breezy room. Setup some indoor green plants which will help to absorb the off gas and chemicals.

Second, after you've aired out the clothing, be sure to soak and wash them thoroughly with a non-toxic eco-friendly laundry detergent with an additional cup of baking soda added. I suggest soaking the clothing overnight, then wash and air dry the clothing. Again, make sure you use eco-friendly non-toxic laundry detergent, so you don't add back in more toxins. Repeat these two steps as required, but for most of us one round should be enough.

Although VOCs can be harmful to our health, we can use natural methods to remove the VOCs from our clothing.

by Anjie Cho

Green Cleaning with Marcela Barraza

This week I am happy to present an interview with my friend Marcela Barraza. As a mother she became concerned about the health and well being of her family and thus became passionate about non-toxic and green cleaning practices. Lucky for us she's sharing some of our knowledge with us today!

You can also find tips on her blog Tu Casa. Check it out! She's even featured Holistic Spaces feng shui tips alongside her green cleaning tips.

AC: Tell us why it's so important to clean your home with non-toxic cleaners and why you made the change.

MB: It's important to take care of the air we breathe in our homes.  Studies show that indoor air might be 3 to 5 times higher in pollutants than outdoor air, leading to health issues such as asthma and headaches, just to name a couple.  If you think about it, when we "clean" our homes with toxic products all that fume stays in for days and you breath that; you have your baby crawl on the floors that are covered with toxins!  

It really takes a few simple steps to live better in you own home.

What would you said are the top three toxic items in the home that most people aren't aware of?

What are some simple tips to incorporate green cleaning practices in your home?

  • Switch paper towels for microfiber cloths

  • Take advantage of vinegar and baking soda

  • Use concentrated organic, non-toxic cleansers that you can mix at home by just adding water. You'll save money and the planet because you're using much less plastic that will eventually end up in landfills.

by Anjie Cho

Marcela Barraza owns MB Green Cleaning and has been in the cleaning business since 2004.  Her background in Hotel Administration and working for an airline for over 9 years created a strong foundation in customer service.  She's passionate about working with people, helping them to live in a healthy home.  She believes we can live better in our own homes!