Read 'n' Seed 4: Third quarter of Trash Talk

In the third section of Trash Talk, the concentration is on how to reduce our use of paper and lumber by-products, thus reducing the need to cut down forests to satisfy the need. We all know trees produce oxygen for us to breathe, but did you also know they help clean the soil and air? A nine year study by the University of Delaware even produced results that said patients with a view of trees from their room went home earlier than those without a view of trees. Those are the natural and health benefits, but it doesn't stop there. One 50 year-old tree has an annual worth of $164,250 in energy savings. This includes oxygen production, pollution control, water protection, and erosion protection. Needless to say if you can do any of the following things I talk about, you will be making a huge contribution.

I previously mentioned briefly some uses you can have for salvaged lumber, such as building projects and in the garden. Some more specific examples would be to build a playground for your children, make bird houses as a fun project for your kids or in a classroom, build compost bins, or use for landscaping around the house and garden. Companies that produce paper can be responsible too. The Dutch paper needs are satisfied by 75% recycled paper, which in turn creates 75% less air pollution, 35% less water pollution, and uses 60% less water than creating paper from scratch. For every ton of paper saved, it saves 380 gallons of petroleum. Besides environmentally responsible, it can also be financially helpful. By saving paper only printed on one side and reusing it they can save thousands on paper needs a year. From a tourism standpoint forested areas can also be an attraction, for example the world famous Black Forest of Germany or the large Redwoods in California. Mail (envelopes, junk mail, newspapers) is a very large user of paper. Reusing envelopes can be easy and includes re-mailing the envelope, using it to store seeds, buttons, coupons, or other small knick-knacks, and you can also cut the sides and reuse both parts as scratch paper. Junk mail claims 62 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water per year. Not only does that sound like an incredible waste, it's even worse once you know that only 50% of junk mail is even ever opened. You can do your part here by calling, writing, or sending change of address notices to companies that are being wasteful and sending you unwanted letters or promotions. Newspapers can be layered between the ground and mulch to help protect against weeds. They can also be shredded up and used in animal cages, as well as for packing valuables. For all you ladies out there the
following tip sounds very helpful. If you have tall boots that sometimes get creases in them from tipping to the sides in the closet, you can simply wrap some magazines in rubber bands and stuff them inside to prevent those ugly creases! In one of my earlier posts we discussed what to do with plastic bags from your grocery store, but what about paper bags? One very interesting tip I found was that you can put peaches, pears, plums, and nectarines in paper bags to help them ripen! You could also find some fun projects for kids, using them as puppets or just decorating them to hang up somewhere, be creative! HERE is a site to give you some project ideas. Cardboard, although many people simply choose to recycle (which is fine!) can also serve secondary purposes such as being put down two layers thick to keep down weeds. Keeping on with the fun kid activities you can have them draw or paint on a piece of cardboard and then turn it into a fun puzzle!

These are just a few things to think about as you evaluate your use of paper in your life. I know I definitely will be paying more attention to the mail I receive and telling companies I don't need to get an advertisement once a week that I just throw out. Keep practicing all of the tips that I have posted so far and help spread the word! The more knowledge we spread the more effective our sustainable campaigns will become!




(Both photos used courtesy of Caleb Taplin Photography)