Earth Saving Tips from Earth Share
Summer 1997
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(But Don't Pollute the Water!)
One of the most serious hazards that pollutes lakes, rivers and
oceans is the careless disposal of plastic debris: plastic bags,
six-pack rings, fishing line and food wrappings. Many people don't
realize how hazardous this trash can be. Here are five steps that
you can take to keep plastics out of the water:
On your boat, stow plastic trash and old fishing gear for proper
disposal on land. Secure trash bags to a fixture on the boat (so
that they are not accidentally washed overboard), and make sure
all trash finds its way there. Dispose of trash at the dock.
Use reusable items such as washable dinnerware to minimize the
amount of plastic waste that you generate.
Dispose of old fishing line properly. Lost line can be lethal
to fish, sea turtles, birds and other marine animals.
Clean up after picnics and beach outings. Dispose of all waste
in trash recepticles to prevent debris, especially plastics, from
blowing into the water from the beach.
Break or cut the loops of plastic six-pack rings before disposing
of them to ensure that if the ring blows into the water, it will
not entangle an animal.
Here Comes the Sun
Repetition is the key to understanding - which is why we are reminding
you to protect yourself from excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays
(UV) of the sun. Exposure to UV radiation has increased over the years
due to the depletion of the ozone layer, a naturally-occurring gas that
filters the sun's UV radiation. For some people, overexposure to UV
rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune systems.
To protect against sun-related damage, follow these rules:
Wear those shades. Sunglasses that provide 99-100% of UVA and
UVB protection greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts
and other eye damage. Be sure to check the label when buying sunglasses
to make sure they have proper UV protection.
Lather on the sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of at least 15. Apply it liberally to all exposed areas
of your body, particularly your ears, face, back and neck. Reapply
every 2 hours when working, playing, or exercising outdoors; even
waterproof sunscreen can come off when you towel off sweat or
water.
Listen to the weather reports. The UV Index, developed by the
National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency,
provides a forecast of the expected risk of overexposure to the
sun and indicates the degree of caution that you should take when
working, playing or exercising outdoors. Weather predictions in
print and broadcast media announce the UV Index daily.
Stay clear of the midday sun as much as possible. The sun's UV
rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you're spending
the day at the beach, take refuge under a beach umbrella during
those hours when the sun's rays are most intense.
Dress Up. Wear light, long-sleeved shirts and ankle-length pants
if you're going to be out in the sun for long periods of time
and you'd rather not wear sunscreen. A wide brimmed hat will shade
your face, neck, ears and eyes.
Loving Lawn Care
If you think you must use heavy amounts of pesticides to grow
a beautiful lawn, think again. A bright green, weed-free lawn
can be yours by following these simple steps:
Mow your lawn only as needed. If the grass has gotten too tall,
don't mow it down all at one time. Mow gradually, cutting no more
than an inch off with the first mowing. Allow the lawn to recover
for a day or two, then trim another inch. Continue cutting an
inch at a time until you reach the desired height.
Water wisely. Don't water on a timer. Some grasses need more water
than others, so figure out what kind of grass you have before
you decide to water it frequently. When you do water, soak the
grass through to the roots, not just the top of the blades.
Use slow-release, organic fertilizers. Most lawn and garden centers
now offer several organic fertilizers along with the more standard
varieties.
Respect the Great Outdoors
Each summer, scores of families, friends and nature lovers embark
on the quintessential, all-American vacation: camping. But as
harmless as it sounds, camping can still have a noticeable environmental
impact if it is done carelessly. When you set out to enjoy the
great outdoors, keep these guidelines in mind:
 Stay on the right paths. Get good, established
trail maps from the visitor center before you embark on your trip.
Minimize your impact on your campsite.
Select a site that has already been used, to eliminate further expansion
of the camp. And leave the campsite in as natural a state as possible.
Follow the Golden Rule for camping
and hiking. "Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints."
Wash yourself, your dishes and your
clothes at least 100 feet away from rivers, streams, lakes or ponds.
When using any soap to wash yourself or your dishes, use it well away
from natural water sources and pour it into highly absorbent ground.
That goes for tooth brushing, too.
|
Don't Forget!
During your camping trip, first check to make sure fires are permitted.
Then, if you must build a fire, keep it small. Use only dead wood
you find already on the ground and at the end of the evening,
make sure your ashes are cool. Seek a park ranger's advice if
you have any concerns or problems with building your fire.
|
Everything Old is New Again
As the old adage goes, one person's junk is another's treasure.
You can turn your junk into a valuable commodity by "recycling"
it in innovative and useful ways:
Share appliances with your neighbors. How often do you really
use that steam carpet cleaner, shop vac, leaf or snow blower,
circular saw or sewing machine? Chances are, many of your household
appliances lie dormant until that time once or twice a year you
pull them out for some special project. Why not start an appliance
sharing program with some of your neighbors? You'll save money,
stretch scarce storage space and promote good will.
Hold a yard sale. You'll find plenty of relics that need a good
home (yours not being one of them). Invite neighbors to bring
along their vintage items, make it a community event and get ready
to barter the day away! Give proceeds to your favorite charity
or buy tree saplings to plant in your yard.
Donate to your local non-profit thrift shop. Someone, somewhere
will always find use for what you no longer need or want. Many
local governments have created partnerships with Good Will, the
Salvation Army, Purple Heart and other charities that encourage
community residents to bag their donated goods and leave them
for easy pick-up.
[Back to Tips Index]
|
Earth Share, a federation of America's leading non-profit environmental and conservation charities,
promotes environmental education and charitable giving in employee workplace campaigns.
For more tips or to find out how your workplace can help the earth, visit the "Get Involved" section of our website, or call (800) 875-3863.
|
|