Green Power Switch News
Vol. 6, No. 1 Spring 2006
Earth Day turns 36
Earth Day and the Environmental Protection Agency were born in 1970 – a time when rivers caught fire and cities were hidden under dense clouds of smoke. We’ve made remarkable progress since then in protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment. Your commitment to renewable energy through your Green Power Switch purchase helps us continue this progress.
There are many more ways we can help our natural environment, including practicing the three R’s: reduce how much you use, reuse what you can, and recycle the rest. Finally, dispose of what’s left in the most environmentally friendly way. Follow the tips below and also see the Consumer’s Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/catbook.
- Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
- Buy and use only what you need.
- Buy products with less packaging.
- Buy products that use fewer toxic chemicals.
- Repair items as much as possible.
- Use durable coffee mugs.
- Use cloth napkins or towels.
- Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
- Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
- Reuse boxes.
- Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
- Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. For information on handling household solid waste, call 800-424-9346, or go to www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/citizens.htm.
- Donate surplus items to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
- Recycle plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, aluminum cans, and paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.). If your community doesn’t collect at the curb, take recyclables to a collection center.
- Recycle electronics such as computers, TVs, and cellphones in a safe manner. You can find information at www.epa.gov/eCycling.
- Recycle used motor oil. See the EPA brochure for consumers who change their own oil: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/recycle/ recy-oil.pdf (PDF, 750 kb).
- Compost food scraps, dead plants, and grass and other yard clippings.
- Close the loop by buying products made from recycled materials and products that use recycled packaging. That’s what makes recycling economically possible. Learn more at epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/buyrec.htm.
Mark Your Calendar
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22!
Nashville – Centennial Park
Earth Day Festival 2006
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Knoxville – World’s Fair Park
10:00 am -10:00 pm
Murfreesboro, TN – Civic Plaza
Earth Day Celebration
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Greenlife Grocery – 2nd Annual Grocery Bag Project, throughout April (in cooperation with Hamilton DOE and Chattanooga EPB)
- April 21 – Earth Day event at UT Knoxville
- Check your local listings for other community Earth Day events.