The Green Parent

Ever wonder what happens to that milk jug after you toss it in the recycling bin? (Or have your kids asked for details and left you fumbling for an answer?) Here’s a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes to turn your old plastic bottles into something new. A Closer Look: Before plastics [...]

Currently, about 25% of the garbage in the U.S. is recycled, but experts estimate that 65% of our garbage could be recycled. Recycling options vary by city or county, but most areas collect office paper, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, aluminum, plastics, glass (colored or clear), steel, yard trimmings, tires, batteries, and building materials. Use this chart [...]

Got a pile of catalogs clogging up your mailbox? According to the website Catalog Choice, more than 19 billion catalogs were mailed to American consumers in 2005 and most of these were unsolicited. If you read the fine print on the back of those catalogs, you will notice that the company “conveniently” includes a phone [...]

Magazines seem to pile up quicker than dirty laundry in my house, even though we purposely limit the number of subscriptions we carry in order to reduce waste. Fortunately, there are a number of things we can do with our monthly magazine supply to keep them out of the trash bin and even give them [...]

As a parent with young children, I have found that it is almost as hard to keep up with technology as it is to keep up with a two year old. Old model computers, televisions, and cell phones are replaced faster than you can say VCR. But where do all those gadgets go when they [...]

Oddly enough, one of the most common green parenting questions that I am asked is centered on those pesky toilet paper and paper towel tubes that accumulate so quickly in the family recycle bin. Sure, you could do a craft with them (there are several craft ideas list below) but that idea may lose its [...]

Cleaning house? Consider donating things you no longer want or need to someone who does. Donating old stuff is not only great for folks in need, it is also great for the environment, as it reduces waste and the consumption of new resources. Get your kids involved by filling them in on where the old [...]

What’s your Trash Can I.Q? Do you know how long it takes each of these items to break down in the waste stream? Take this quiz to test your knowledge and find out why recycling is so important! Test Your Trash Can I.Q. Paper 2 to 5 months 1 to 2 years 5 to 10 [...]

Have you ever met a kid who didn’t love jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves? I certainly haven’t! So with a beautiful fall weekend almost within reach, it’s time to rev up you rakes and get ready for some weekend fun. And after your kids get finished smashing the leaves to smithereens, be [...]

The office water cooler is an excellent place for gossip, but not so great for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Water coolers use 4 billion kilowatts of energy each year, producing annual pollution roughly equivalent to the emissions of over 700,000 cars. In addition, the agency estimates that Americans spend $300 million [...]

Here’s a high-tech way to clean up your neighborhood. Next weekend (Oct 13th-14th), Google is hosting an International Cleanup Weekend in an effort to spread the word about taking care of the planet. They are hoping to inspire folks to make an impact by thinking globally and acting locally. monsters movie review Log on to [...]

As a Green Parent, I try to minimize my impact on the environment each day, especially at the store. I take the time to buy organic and locally grown foods as well as all-natural personal care products whenever possible. I check ingredient labels and “vote with my wallet” to support companies with an environmental backbone. [...]

Recycling is a great way to keep stuff out of the landfill and reduce the need for new materials. And if you are lucky enough to live in a community that heavily supports (or even mandates) recycling, the task may be as simple as remembering which stuff to put in the recycle bin. But for [...]

death race 2 movie rating Want to save money and the planet while reducing the clutter in your home? Try this old money saving trick the next time you are at the store…if you see an item you want, leave it at the store and promise yourself that if you really, really need it, you [...]

Recycling is a great idea, but when you’re pressed for time, it may seem just so much easier to toss things in the trash. Let’s face it, when you’re trying to clean up the dinner dishes, help your kids with their homework, and put up a load of laundry, it can be a real drag [...]