Healthy Homes of Rochester

Going green is a way of life for many of us now. With that in mind, we do all sorts of things to recycle and use organic items instead of harsh chemicals and much more.
Has anyone ever considered using a rain barrel to collect rain water to reuse?
I have purchased a great rain barrel that I placed at the back of my house, behind the garage. This is just another idea to help save our planet and save money at the same time. The rain water can be reused anytime to water the lawn, or water outdoor and indoor plants. The rain water can be used to wash off decks and patios, also patio furniture. The rain water can be used to even wash your dog. Whatever you can imagine a use for, go for it. I think it is a great idea to have one of these items. And just think, it is reducing your water bill without even trying.

The rain barrel is made out of a lightweight poly. It holds 55 gallons of rainwater. It has a hose connection and two spigots. Very handy item.

You can order one below if you would like to use the same type of rain barrel that I use.

That is just another great product recommendation by the Fixie Chick
Thank you.

Recycling is great, but precycling is even better! Pre-thinking our purchases is a great way to get one-step-ahead on the road to reducing our impact on the environment.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) estimates that in 1996, New Yorkers disposed of more than 17.7 million tons of solid waste? And the DEC warns that it is becoming more expensive to dispose of our wastes. Recycling helps, but it is only part of the solution. Consider the amount of energy that is used to transport the materials, melt them down and then re-manufacture items.

The idea behind precycling is trying to avoid the amount of material that winds up in landfills and the recycling bin to begin with.

Some of the common steps we are all taking, like re-using cloth grocery bags instead of paper or plastic, has certainly had an impact. For every bag that’s used just twice, the number of bags used per year is cut in half. That amounts to half the trash right?

Same goes for packaging and reusing other products. Choosing consciousness over convenience is always the way to go when it comes to our environment.

My favorite precycling practices include:

Using cloth napkins instead of paper ones and using microfiber cleaning towels instead of paper ones. BONUS: I never run out!

Purchasing items like hand soap in bulk and using refillable soap containers.

Buying concentrated laundry detergent in bulk (and using less then recommended).

When I need to make a new purchase, I look for “long-life” items like batteries and light bulbs.

What about you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips on precycling. Give me a call on Property Source Radio, 585-222-6397 Saturday from 9-10am.

Thanks for reading,

-The Fixie Chick

FACT: Recycling just one ton of aluminum cans saves the energy equivalent of 36 barrels of oil or 1,655 gallons of gasoline.

TIP: Reduce, reuse, recycle! Recycling offers opportunities for everyone to help reduce climate change, save energy, and conserve natural resources. We can recycle much more than than what goes in the blue box. Consider purchasing items that have been gently used. And before you throw that jar in the box, think about an alternate use for it. Sauce & baby food jars make great reusable containers.

Thanks for reading A Greener Life!
-The Fixie Chick
Here is a nice choice for a low cost outdoor composter – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!