HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT THIS SPRING

RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE.

In Seattle, it’s illegal to put electronics in the garbage,
The UNU (United Nations University) Just released a report saying that value of raw materials in all e-waste in 2016 was roughly $64.7 billion, more than the GDP of most countries, yet only 4% of e-waste is actually recycled.
When you do your Spring cleaning this year, be sure to take advantage of Washington’s e-waste recycling program, where most items can be disposed of for free. www.ecycleWA.org

REDUCE ENERGY USE AT HOME.

Check your TV settings for an “auto- brightness” or eco mode.
Try washing your clothes on cold and see if they come out clean enough for you.
Before going out of town, unplug any electronics that might have a “standby” mode so they start up faster, such as tv’s, smart-speakers, and game consoles.
Use small appliances instead of your oven and stove. Your microwave, instant pot, toaster oven, and electric kettle will use a fraction of the electricity that your oven and stove will use.
If you haven’t switched to LED bulbs yet, now is a great time! But only if you RECYCLE your old CFLs (the spiral bulbs). CFL’s contain mercury and it’s very important to keep them out of the garbage. Any Bartell Drugs will take them.

REDUCE JUNK MAIL.

100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail. Re-turn junk mail by writing “Refused. Return to Sender”. Opt- out of pre-screened credit offers permanently or for 5 years online at optoutprescreen.com. Decide what other mail you do not want to receive by going to DMAchoice.org.

DONATE YOUR OLD CLOTHES.

Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Value Village will happily accept any fabric with holes, tears, or stains, thank to the Threadcycle program. Don’t throw them away when you can recycle them!