Earth Day: 13 Things Teens Can Do to Go Green

Go Green Guide

(Excerpt from Veggie Teens: A Cookbook and Guide for Vegetarian Teenagers by Elyse May (aka Veggie Teen).

 Happy Earth Day! Remember to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…in that order! Living a “greener” lifestyle today will help save our planet today for tomorrow.

13 Things to Do to Make a Difference

1. Out to Lunch: Use a reusable lunch bag and containers instead of paper and plastic.
2. Watered Down: Don’t buy individually bottled water; refill bottles instead.
3. Class Act: Recycle and reuse school supplies, paper, binders and backpacks.
4. Wear Out: Share, trade, sell and donate used clothing and accessories.
5. Bag the Bags: Minimize the use of plastic bags. Take your own bags with you when you go shopping. If you only have a few items, skip the bag altogether.
6. Water Wise: Don’t leave the water running (I know this one is hard!). If it takes time to heat, collect the extra to water for your plants.
7. Lighten Up: Replace your old incandescent light bulbs with (CFL) compact fluorescent light bulbs. Better yet, use natural light when possible.
8. Black Out: Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use.
9. Eat Local: Buy produce and other products grown locally. Shop at farmers’ markets.
10. Back to Your Roots: Grow your own herbs, fruit and vegetables. You can’t get any more local than that!
11. Ditch the Dump: Compost organic materials like yard trimmings and food waste into rich soil.
12. Walk ‘n Roll: Walk, ride your bike, carpool and use public transportation to reduce your gas usage.
13. Close the Loop: Recycle paper, plastic and glass, and buy goods made from recycled materials whenever possible.