I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I remember when the town I lived in instituted Recycling. My parents begrudgingly bought the required green bin that we were to place our recyclables in and dragged it to the curb and back along with the garbage can each week. We talked about recycling in school occasionally, but I never knew why we were doing it. I was ok with participating, but I did not go out of my way to do it, or knew why one might be motivated to do so. I have little recollection of the waste situation at my University in the City of Chicago, or in Maryland.

Recycling returns to my recollection starting when I moved to New York City 6 summers ago. The city requires us inhabitants to not only recycle, but bag our recyclables in a clear storage bag, and follow the strict recycling rules at the risk of receiving a Recycling violation which carry fines of $25 (first Notice), $50 (second Notice), $100 (third Notice), and $500 (four or more Notices within a six-month period). Recycling here is serious business. Landlords have to follow lots of rules and regulations, and display decals to enable the residents to achieve the high level of recycling expectations put upon us.

At first this took some getting used to for me. The primary pain about recycling was living in a small apartment with only one garbage can, that was for garbage. I looked into a double-wide can to accommodate my garbage AND recyclables, but it was too expensive and took up too much space. I finally decided to reuse a plastic bag from my grocery shopping. I hung it on a knob in the kitchen, and filled it with my recyclables until it was full, and then transferred it to the recycling can that my landlord provided downstairs. After years of doing this, I was relieved to move into a building with a Refuse Closet in the hallway, next door to my apartment door.

In the Refuse Closet is a shoot for the garbage, shelves for the mixed paper and a receptacle for bottles and cans. Throughout the day I gather my recyclables on a corner of my kitchen counter, and then a few times a day, the kids and I venture out to deliver the goods to the closet. Since recycling has become so convenient for me, I think I recycle more…especially in the mixed paper category.

Another benefit of the Refuse Closet set up, is finding items in there from my 4 other neighbors that I pluck out to reuse. This primarily manifests through magazines and boxes. If there is a stack of magazines, I usually pick them up, page through and then return them to the closet. If I can’t find a box I need in our floor’s closet, I visit the superintendent downstairs and choose one that fits the size I need.

Recently I caught a neighbor from another floor waiting for the elevator on my floor, with a coupon in her hand that I had banished to the Refuse Closet for recycling. In addition to reusing boxes to send packages, I have also reused paper from my neighbors when making a paper mache turkey and a political sign and badges for a rally.

Going Green is gradually burrowing into my soul. Recycling was my first step to gradually going green. Once I had that down, I was ready for the next step, and everyday I make a little more progress. I’m bracing myself for the morning I wake up looking like Kermit the Frog, but unlike him, I would sing: “It’s EASY being green.”

Like what you read? Go check out Kristy blog, Glass Posse!

And don’t forget, you still have a few days left to register for our Waste-Free Lunch Kit contest. Enter here:

Here’s what Green Parent Kristy Glass has to say about recycling in New York City, An Inconvenient Truth, and why her kids think she’s Wonder Woman.

TGP: Why did you decide to start “gradually going green?”

KG: The Green Movement has been fast approaching, by my estimation ever since Al Gore came out with An Inconvenient Truth. (I still haven’t seen this film, but it’s on my Gradually Going Green list of things to do). As the media attention, politicians, celebrities, talk shows etc. started putting a lot of focus on this movement, I started feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of the problem and the wide array of action one could take to be green. Instead of hyperventilating, I decided to Gradually Go Green, instead of Cold Turkey Go Green or move into a tent with my solar-powered flashlight.

TGP: As a parent, what do you think is the biggest challenge to going green?

KG: Diapers, Diapers, Diapers! I was not on the Green Bandwagon when my children were in diapers, but lately when I have considered adding to my family, I have thought long and hard about the carbon footprint a baby makes. Besides diapers there are so many plastic toys, that will NEVER decompose (or at least not in the baby’s lifetime), plastic packaging on every baby item that one buys at the store, plastic bottle liners, wipes made out of paper (read TREES), and the list goes on and on. And among my friends, the best Mom therapy is a nice long trip to Target, which adds about 20 plastic bags to the pile, if you forgot your reusable bags.

TGP: What “green” achievement are you most proud of?

KG: It has taken me about 1 year to switch to using my own reusable bags while shopping. At first I kept forgetting to pack them, but now it’s a bona fide habit. On the rare occasion that I forget to bring them, I feel so bad, I start apologizing to Mother Earth and promising I won’t throw them away, I’ll reuse them! I promise! I also keep a stash of mini-bags in my purse and I pull them out anywhere I shop for non-grocery items. Retailers have even stopped being so weird about seeing me use my own bags. My kids even remind me: “Mom, your SAVE THE WORLD bag!” I think they might have me confused with Wonder Woman.

Check back tomorrow to read Kristy’s “Gradually Going Green” approach to recycling.

And don’t forget…you still have a few more days to enter to win a Waste-Free lunch kit fro ECOBAGS. Enter now:

Why do you strive to be a Green Parent? The Green Parent asked and you answered….

“I’m a green parent because I was raised by green parents. I was raised to be aware of how I spend the planet’s finite resources. Now that I’m a parent, I want to leave my children a clean planet. I want Max to be a responsible steward of Earth’s resources.”

Marti, San Diego CA, mom to 3 yr old Max

“I want my son to see “being green” as a part of a normal, everyday lifestyle so it becomes second nature, like brushing our teeth or cleaning up after dinner. One just does those things automatically. Let’s add purchasing natural, local, healthy foods and reusing and recycling what we can to that list.”

Julia, Holyoke, MA, mom to 5 yr old Connor

“We are citizens of the world, not just to our country. We have a duty to take care of the place where we reside.”

Sandra, Atlanta, GA mom to Amber, 7

“To set an example, to create a “norm” for my son that he will use as a basis for his own life in the future. But also to avoid guilt. I think environmental awareness is reaching a tipping point, so much so that parents are having to become accountable to their children. It’s almost like facing your children if you are a smoker. At school, my son is learning about environmental responsibility and what he can do at home. He and his classmates are coming home and asking why we are throwing that plastic bottle away and why we don’t have a compost pile or a garden.”

Raina, Menomonie, Wisconsin, mom to 5 yr old Cole

“It’s important to me to be a green parent because I recognize the opportunity hidden in the crisis that our planet faces. I believe we at a unique moment in time where the most creative and brilliant people are turning their energy toward solutions. It’s a renaissance of ideas that will help us towards regenerating the earth. I want my children to be part of that.”

Olivia, San Francisco, CA, mom to Jacqueline and Sophia (aged 7 and 13).

“The most important reason was selfish– I wanted our kid and her kid(s) to have a planet worth living on.”

Timothy, Seattle, WA, dad to 16 year old Katie

“As a parent I think of my job as helping my kids be resilient, exploratory, passionate, and compassionate. Both my husband and I have long standing commitments to green stemming back to our days as children and time spent in the woods and now as working adults in environmental careers. Being a green parent means exposing ones children to the joys of the environment and the responsibilities to maintaining it.”

Ellen, mom to 3 boys aged 17, 15, and 11, Wayland, MA

“I strive to be a green parent because is incredibly important that the generations that will be most impacted by climate change understand that aspects of our planet are changing and why. It is even more important for them to feel empowered to make small thoughtful adjustments in their own lives, which collectively help the planet.”

Liza, mom to 3 girls aged 3, 7 and 10, Needham, MA

“As an herbalist and mother, I have seen first hand the damage that harmful chemicals can inflict on our children. While I do feel it is responsible to care for the environment, my main driving force is the health of my children, and I have found that “green” living is the healthiest way to raise children. Of course, the benefit for the environment is an added bonus!”

Jessie, mom to 3, in Spring Hill TN

So, why do you strive to be a Green Parent?

Mornings in my house revolve around a frenzy of food. Between preparing breakfast for my girls (they are on a cinnamon toast kick) to packing their lunches (PB&J, carrots, and applesauce), and taking a stab at defrosting what we will have for dinner, it seems almost surreal to me that outside my home, throughout my town, my country, and certainly throughout the world, there are mothers who will not be able to feed their children today.

It is heartbreaking and it is humbling.

Lest you think that hunger is a social issue and not an environmental issue, remember, many environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, and genetically engineering livestock and crops are the direct result of our desire to feed people in need.

And it’s pointless to beg people to recycle or install a CFL lightbulb when their only thoughts are on feeding their children.

So parent to parent…let’s go green this year by making sure that other parents have the food they need for themselves and their children. Here’s how:

• Go Local: Contact your local food bank, soup kitchen, or church to find out what you can do to help. Donate non-perishable items, distribute flyers, organize pantry shelves, or volunteer to serve.

• Get Clicking: It’s easy to become jaded and think that the money you donate will simply get lost in an administrative slush pile. But there are charities out there that are really making a difference by getting food and funds into the hands of the people who need them. Here are a few worth checking out:

Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels organizations provide hot meals (either at local community centers or by delivery) to elderly, homebound, and disabled folks in need throughout the country. Check out their website to donate or find a program near you.

Target Hunger: Target Hunger aims to alleviate hunger in inner-city neighborhoods. They distribute about 3 million pounds of food each month to families in need in addition to offering courses in nutrition, self-esteem, English-As-A-Second Language, adult literacy, math and job search workshops.

Heifer International: Give a man a fish and he’ll have food for today. Teach him to fish and he’ll have food for life. That’s the idea behind the programs at Heifer, International. This organization provides farm animals to the world’s hungry so that they can have something to eat today, as well as hope for the future. Heifer’s recipients also become future donors, as they pledge to donate their animal’s offspring to another family in need.

• Get Your Kids Involved: After all, we teach our children from an early age that it’s important to share. What better way to walk the walk than to show them how sharing benefits kids in their community and in their world.

Photo of child eating corn courtesy of Radharadhya d
Photo of child and goat courtesy of Heifer International

Why Go Green?

The standard solvent used in 85% of the dry cleaners in the U.S. is is perchloroethylene (or Perc), a central nervous system depressant known to cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It has been linked to reproductive problems, including miscarriage and male infertility and it hasbeen listed as a hazardous air pollutant and a probable human carcinogen under the federal standards. Perc is also rough on the planet, contributing to both air and water pollution.

How To Green Your Dry Cleaning

1. Skip It: It goes without saying (but I’m going to say it anyhow), the most eco-friendly thing you can do is to avoid clothes that require dry cleaning.

2. Get Wet: If you do have clothes that need to be dry cleaned, look for a “wet cleaner” that uses computer-controlled washers and dryers in combination with water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergents to clean delicate fabrics such as wool, silk, linen or rayon. Wet cleaning does not contribute to air or water pollution and it’s safe for the people cleaning your clothes. (Here’s a directory of wet cleaners.)

3. Give It Some Gas: Dry cleaning that uses liquid carbon dioxide is another green alternative. This technology uses CO2 that is captured from existing industrial and agricultural emissions (so it doesn’t contribute to global warming) . Several years ago, Consumer Reports compared eco-friendly dry cleaning methods and gave the edge to liquid CO2 for producing the best results in tests for shrinkage, discoloration, and preservation of texture. However, this method is “less green” than wet-cleaning as it does use detergents that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

4. Green Earth: GreenEarth dry cleaning utilizes a silicone-based solvent, siloxane, to clean clothes in a process similar to traditional cleaning. It is often billed as “green” because the chemicals it uses are less toxic than Perc. However, there is still concern about the safety of siloxane for both human and environmental health. Siloxane is highly flammable, it is manufactured using chlorine, and its use may release dioxin emissions. And the verdict is still out on whether or not siloxane is a carcinogen.

Isn’t there are greener way for kids to help raise money for their school without trashing the planet? Here are some great ideas for greening your child’s next school fundraiser:

Sell Green Stuff: A number of upcoming organizations, such as Greenraising (www.greenraising.com) and Lets Go Green (www.letsgogreen.biz) now offer eco-friendly fundraising opportunities. Both offer a range of products to choose from such as SIGG water bottles, eco-friendly cleaning products, and recycled office supplies that can support and protect the eco-friendly cause while also raising some much needed green for your child’s school. Another great green option is to sell reusable grocery bags through companies such as Chico Bag (www.chicobag.com) or ReuseThisBag.com (www.reusethisbag.com). Imprint your school or club’s logo on these eco-friendly bags to show-off your school spirit.

Host A Green Event: You can raise a pot of cash for your school with a green, waste-free event such as a spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast. Hold the event in your school’s cafeteria or your local fire hall and hit up local businesses to donate food, reusable napkins, and compostable dishes.

Pledge To Be Green: Kids can raise money and get a little exercise with a green fundraiser such as a walk-a-thon or obstacle course. Pledgers can donate cash for every lap walked or obstacle achieved. The only resource your kids will use is their own boundless energy!

Photo credit: André Menegatti

The 2008 Green Parent Awards

April 12-13 Seattle, WA Seattle Green Festival
Green Parenting Presentation: Sat. April 12th, 11:00am, Room 4

April 21 Charlottesville, VA Whole Foods Market
Green Parenting Presentation and Eco-Craft For Kids: 4pm

April 26 Washington D.C Whole Foods Market
Georgetown Store: Green Parenting Presentation and Eco-Craft: 9-11am
P-Street Store: Green Parenting Presentation and EcoCraft: 12pm-2pm

May 10 Luray, VA

Festival of Spring

May 17-18 Chicago, IL Chicago Green Festival

May 30-Jun 1 Ithaca, NY Ithaca College Alumni Weekend
Green Parenting Presentation: Sat, May 31st, 10:30am School of Business
Eco-Crafts For Kids, Sat May 31st, 11:00-2:00pm, Picnic on the Quad

Nov 8-9 Washington, D.C. D.C. Green Festival

Nov 14-16 San Francisco, CA SF Green Festival

1. Leave The Flying To Santa

: Traveling by airplane releases significantly more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere (and therefore causes more global warming) than traveling by car or by train.

2. Tune Up Your Sleigh: If your holiday travel includes a road trip, make sure your car is in tip-top condition so that you can maximize gas mileage, curb air pollution, and save a few bucks at the pump. Get an oil change, check your car’s fluid levels, belts, and spark plugs, and make sure your tires are properly inflated. Click here and here for more info about driving green.

3. Lighten Your Load: Go easy on yourself and the environment by pairing down your holiday luggage. Whether you travel by car, train, or plane, the more baggage you have, the more pollution will be emitted to get it to your location.

4. Offset It: Offset your holiday carbon emissions with companies such as GreenTags or Green-e that invest in projects to absorb or prevent the release of carbon dioxide. (Green Parent Tip: Carbon offsets also make a great gift! Click here for more eco-friendly gift ideas.)

I am therefore torn by Wal-Mart’s latest push to “go green.” On the one hand, I am thrilled to find organic cotton clothing available to the masses. Organic produce and dairy products have never been easier to find. And Wal-Mart’s plan to expand the market for CFL light bulbs has single-

handedly caused a market explosion that could very well lead to a “CFL in every socket.” Yet, it remains unclear whether or not these new offerings are really green or just “green-washed”.

I mention all of this today in response to Wal-Mart’s latest environmental move. They have recently partnered with a non-profit called the Carbon Disclosure Project in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of their stores and their supply chain. The retailer will participate in a pilot project to report all of the energy used in the manufacturing, distribution, procurement and supply of seven commonly-used household items, namely, DVDs, toothpaste, soap, milk, beer, vacuum cleaners and soda.

This seems like good news to me…a large company like Wal-Mart could potentially account for real reductions in energy use and overall greenhouse gas emissions. Yet I remain wary. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk.

The essence of going green is to use less…less electricity, less water, and less stuff. And guess what, the good news is that using less actually saves you money. Conserve energy and you’ll have a lower electric bill and need less fuel at the pump. Reduce waste and you’ll spend less at the store and have lower trash removal fees. And fix your leaky faucets and you’ll not only conserve water, you’ll also slash the cost of your annual water bill. Now, who couldn’t use a little more green?

2. A Clean Bill of Health

We rely on the environment for more than aesthetics and commodities. It is literally the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Air pollution, global warming, acid rain, and water pollution deteriorate the environment as well as your health. Protecting the environment means protecting these resources and ensuring that your family has access to clean water, healthy foods, and fresh air.

3. It’s For The Birds

Contrary to popular belief, we are not the only species on the planet. Every bird, mammal, fish, and tree depends upon the environment for its survival. And even if you are not an avid bird-watcher, the survival of one species is inextricably linked to the survival of the others. You may not notice when one plant or bird species becomes extinct, but as the number of species on the planet becomes threatened, the pressure on the environment builds up, affecting the survival of humans.

4. So I Can Look My Kids In The Eye

There is an old Native American adage that says, “We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children.” One of my obligations as a parent is to ensure that my children have the same access to nature that I enjoy. When I am old and gray and bouncing my grandkids on your lap, I’ll be glad that are growing up in a clean, healthy environment.

5. Raising ‘Em Right

No matter how hard I try to teach my children to do the right thing, they will inevitably learn from what I do rather than what I say. If I show my children that I care about the environment by making environmentally-friendly choices, they will (hopefully) follow my lead. Raising children who understand their connection to the environment is one of the most eco-friendly impacts you can make.

6. Give The Economy A Boost

You do not have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting the economy. Eco-friendly choices drive a free-market economy. Industries such as farming, fishing, and tourism, rely on the health of the environment. Innovative technologies and products that protect the environment create new high-paying jobs. Using the marketplace for eco-friendly products is a win-win solution for consumers and businesses. So by going green, I am helping to foster a strong economy.