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Compost organic waste (food scraps) with a garden composter or a worm composter (if you live in an apartment). Decomposing organic waste generates Methane via anaerobic decomposition in a landfill. If you use a composter/worm composter, it produces CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) as a waste product. Methane (CH4) is 21 times more damaging than CO2 to the environment. You get really great organic fertilizer out of the deal as well.

Here are some easy and effective tips that will reduce your carbon footprint and help reverse the negative impacts of modern living.

1. Compost organic waste (food scraps) with a garden composter or a worm composter (if you live in an apartment). Decomposing organic waste generates Methane via anaerobic decomposition in a landfill. If you use a composter/worm composter, it produces CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) as a waste product. Methane (CH4) is 21 times more damaging than CO2 to the environment. You get really great organic fertilizer out of the deal as well.
2. Use manual garden tools or if you have a gardener, hire someone who uses only non-polluting tools, such as push-movers (instead of gasoline-powered ones), rakes, instead of gas-powered leaf-blowers. Gardening the old-fashioned way is a great physical workout, generates no carbon emissions or toxic air pollutants and is a lot quieter. If you live in Lotusland (Vancouver BC), check out “The Silent Gardener”.
3. Planting trees in your garden: If If you’re planning on planting trees: Deciduous trees (the ones that lose their leaves in winter) on the south side of the house. Deciduous trees provide cooling shade in the summer and in the winter allow sun to shine through the bare branches. They also suck up carbon dioxide and store it as long as the tree is living.
4. Grasscycle Garden Waste: After mowing the lawn instead of bagging and landfilling your clippings, “grasscycle” them or leave them on the lawn. Decomposing grass will return nutrients to the soil.
5. Better yet, replace lawns with natural (native) ground covers, shrubs and trees. The benefits: No mowing, no pesticides, herbicides or manufactured fertilizers (all made from fossil-fuels), of which the majority goes down storm drains, and a lot less water usage.
6. Buy products that are recyclable.
7. Buy products with recyclable packaging.
8. Buy products that are reusable.
9. Buy products with a minimum amount of packaging.
10. Buy quality products that are built to last. Two much of what we consume nowadays is 'Disposable'. In North America, each and every person throws away close to 4 pounds of waste per day.
11. Buy as little plastic as possible. Plastic is largely made from fossil-fuels. It will either never decompose, or it will and it breaks down into toxic compounds.
12. Recycle as much as you can manage.
13. Plant trees and encourage others to plant trees.

Small efforts add up when everyone pitches in.

Posted by JackBoyle on January 16, 2009 08:19:58
Filed in : Waste (Solid) & Recycling, Green Living/Sustainable Living, Energy, Climate Change & Your Carbon Footprint