It is estimated that between Thanksgiving and the New Year an extra million tons of waste are generated nationwide each week. In fact, 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each year–enough to tie a bow around the Earth!

As part of our ongoing efforts to “be green”, the City of Bryan has assembled a variety tips at on how to reduce, reuse and recycle this holiday season. This webpage is your one-stop site for all the simple steps you will need to “be green in Bryan” from now until the New Year. Please visit the links and PDF documents to the right for more information on:

• How to save money and energy when lighting your home or holiday tree.
• Suggestions for “green” gifts
• How to locally recycle common holiday items
• Tips on how to have a waste-free holiday
• Information on recycling your live Christmas tree after the holidays
• How to recycle gently used toys with the Bryan Police Department’s Blue Christmas project

To help support your green efforts, the City of Bryan is giving away 50 FREE reusable shopping bags! All bags are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be picked up at the City’s Drive-In Recycling Center (located at 2200 Briarcrest Drive).

For PDFs and more info visit:

 http://www.bryantx.gov/begreeninbryan/holidays.asp 

Ducky and Pembleton have some great ways for you to reduce your waste and consumption that is

Stylish for all seasons.

Info copied/pasted from http://www.wirefly.org/why-recycle/environment.php 

Upward of one hundred million cell phones are replaced each year. Some of those end up in landfills because their owners aren’t aware that electronics contain metals and other materials that can be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly.

Cell phone circuitry and displays can contain toxic compounds like arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, and lead. The plastic shells of the cell phones have also been treated with brominated flame retardants. (For detailed info on the environmental impact of these toxins and it’s effects on Humans, please visit the website.)

Please watch Eco trip! It’s a really great show!!

Progress I have made so far:

1. I have not forgotten to bring my reusable bags with me to the store.

2. I’m trying  not to buy or take extra junk when shopping or getting food to go and reusing my plastic utensils.

3. Switching to greener companies for cleaning supplies and other product, such as Seventh Generation toilet paper and dish soap.

4. Learning more about the effects we as humans have on the environment. A cool show Tim and I have been watching on Netflix’s “Instant Play” is called “Eco Trip” from the Sundance Channel.  I definitely recommend that you check it out! It’s very informative, while being entertaining. http://www.sundancechannel.com/ecotrip/ Since watching this, I am definitely looking into buying organic clothing. We consume more cotton, than we wear! Don’t believe me, watch Eco trip!

I’m really interested in who is checking out my blog. Please feel free to leave comments, give suggestions, ask questions or whatever…  Take care! Laura

The following info was copied and pasted with little editing by me, from:

http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/environment.html

Climate change: Livestock is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport….Livestock are also responsible for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems.

Water: Increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feedcrops for livestock. It is probably the largest sectoral source of water pollution, contributing to eutrophication, “dead” zones in coastal areas, degradation of coral reefs, human health problems, emergence of antibiotic resistance and many others. The major sources of pollution are from animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feedcrops, and sediments from eroded pastures.

Land degradation: Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation, especially in Latin America where the greatest amount of deforestation is occurring – 70 percent of previous forested land in the Amazon is occupied by pastures, and feedcrops cover a large part of the remainder.

Biodiversity: Livestock reduces biodiversity, since it is the major driver of deforestation, as well as one of the leading drivers of land degradation, pollution, climate change, overfishing, sedimentation of coastal areas and facilitation of invasions by alien species.

*Note: The term “livestock” refers to all farmed animals, including pigs, birds raised for meat, egg-laying hens, and dairy cows.

I understand that eliminating meat from your diet may not be something  you are interested in doing or considering, but I think reducing meat consumption is important. Plus, you will be healthier for it, especially red meat. I leave you with these words:

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances of survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” – Albert Einstein

You can ask my mom, my dad, my brothers, even Crystal-My BFF, I LOVED MEAT! Give me a steak or give me some chicken and I was happy. But eating meat is going through the middle man to get your energy. It takes a lot of grass, grain (and hormones) to get a cow ready for slaughter and because people love their meat, there are more and more cows/chickens/sheep/pigs being bred and fed to then feed us. This is not good for the environment. Animal waste can AND DOES contaminate water sources and ruin soil due to factory farms that are breading to many animals for consumption. Not only that but over grazing can be detrimental to an environment. Did you know that Big Bend National Park was once a grassland, but is now a dessert because of over grazing? That is scary! I challenge you to go with out meat just once a week. Last Easter I gave up meat and honestly, I don’t miss it and I feel better for it. Get your energy straight from the source and not through the middle man.  PEACE, LOVE and VEGETABLES.

*I’m trying to do Tip Tuesday every week and Fact Friday, but it’s hard… I’m trying my best… I think I might add a page with vegetarian recipes that I use often… Would you be interested???

I’m very excited!

(As some of you know-Ducky, Pembleton and Thor are not camera shy as seen in one of my youtube videos.)

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Hi Everyone!

I think this tip is a really good one. This month Tim (my husband) and I have had several guest over and while cleaning, you would not believe how much junk we have. Little free samples we never used, plastic utensil (while we wash and reuse, they pile up quickly!) as well as other things that we simply didn’t need in the first place and now is just trash taking up space either in my house or a land fill!

Another helpful tip, is find out if your local farmers market accepts reusable items. Our farmer accepts: egg cartoons, twist ties, rubber bands and plastic bags. I could not believe how many twist ties and rubber bands I had laying around the house! Definitely check it out! – Laura