How Can I Make a Difference?

Ok, everyone has heard the phrase "going green", but why should you? And what can you do?

In a word: recycle. If you don't have an automatic recycling pick-up by your town, then you can call your Department of Public Works to find out where your local recycling center is located. Why recycle? Here are a few little fun-facts:

1. Bottled water. Take a guess at how many bottled waters were sold in America in 2007. 30 BILLION. Yeah... Americans spent $16 Billion on water in plastic bottles. On average, it takes 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to decompose in a landfill. So, I think I've made the case for recycling here.

2. Think glass is better in a landfill than plastic? Not so. Technically, glass does NOT decompose. Some glass can be made to decompose by adding chemicals to it. Lava glass formed millions of years ago is still here - still glass. Soooo... RECYCLE IT!

3. What about aluminum? In some conditions, it won't decompose (like if it's tossed overboard into the ocean). BUT, a single recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity for you to watch approximately three hours of television.

In the effort to stem climate change, every little bit helps. No single person can stop global warming, but all of us doing our small part will make the difference.


(Fun-facts 1 and 3 adapted from an article in Vibe magazine's Hollywood issue, Feb 2008)