Guidelines

The Savemors use some simple guidelines to reduce waste:

• To reduce waste, make less garbage.
• Buy only what you need. Rent, borrow, or share items that aren't used much.
• Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out.
• Buy non-toxic or the least toxic products available.
• Buy products that use little or no packaging. Buy individually wrapped packages only when there is no alternative
• Buy reusable products, such as re-chargeable batteries that don't have to be recycled after one use
• Buy products made from recycled materials.
• Buy one general housecleaner rather than a variety of products for different purposes.
• Use all of the product containing toxic ingredients so there is no hazardous waste left.
• When you can't use something, find someone who can. Give extra paints to theatre or civic groups, and offer extra house cleaning or gardening supplies to neighbors.
• Take used motor oil, brake and transmission fluids, and antifreeze to the local gas station for recycling. Take old tires to the gas station or to the local auto wrecker.

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Solar panels

The Savemor home has solar panels to generate electricity. The panels help heat water and power the home appliances. Solar energy is a great source of clean, non-polluting energy.

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Clothesline

When the weather is clear, the Savemors hang clothes on the line to dry. It saves energy and makes the clothes smell great.

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Tire Swing

Sue and Seymour rigged a tire swing from the tree for the kids, keeping one more tire from becoming waste and providing a great time for anybody who uses it.

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Attic Insulation

Every house in Recycle City has an insulated attic to reduce the need for energy and to conserve heat in the winter. The Recycle City Power Co. gives home owners a rebate for insulating their houses.

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Appliances

The Savemors keep all home appliances, like the refrigerator, in good working order. They follow the manufacturer's suggestions for proper operation and maintenance.

When old appliances need to be replaced, Sue and Seymour always check the energy efficiency on the new appliance. They also buy appliances that offer a longer life span and a good warranty or repair policy. The longer the appliances last, the more the Savemors save.

When an old appliance has to go, they call local recyclers who pick it up and use it for scrap.

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Reusable items

The Savemors hold a garage sale twice a year to sell things that they no longer want or need, but that can still be used. That way, they not only help the environment, they make money, too!

In addition, they know that many everyday items—such as bags, plastic containers, and coffee cans—can be used more than once. As part of a project for Miss Redux at school, Sheila and Sidney came up with ideas for how some things can be reused at home:

• Paper and plastic bags and twist ties can be saved. Bags can be used to clean up around the house or taken to the store on the next shopping trip. Brown paper bags are great for wrapping packages to be shipped. Twist ties can be used to secure wires on appliances or a computer.
• Paper and envelopes can be reused to write notes or make lists before being recycled. Gift boxes can be used again as well as larger pieces of wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons and bows.
• Packaging, colored paper, egg cartons, and other items can be used for arts and crafts projects for school, at day care, or senior citizen centers.
• Newspaper, packaging "peanuts," and bubble wrap can be reused to ship packages.
• Glass and plastic jars, milk jugs, coffee cans, dairy and other kinds of containers can be washed and used to store leftovers, buttons, nails, or thumbtacks. Empty coffee cans can be turned into flower pots.
• Used wood can be made into birdhouses, mailboxes, compost bins, or other woodworking projects.

BUT motor oil cans or pesticide containers CANNOT be reused because they contain harmful residues. They must be discarded following the manufacturers' instructions on the label.

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Recycling bins

The Savemors keep recycling bins in the kitchen so no one accidentally forgets and throws something into the trash that could be recycled. They recycle glass, paper, and aluminum and other metal cans.

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Compost bin

Sidney and Sheila built a compost bin in the yard after hearing about how to do it in school. They use the bin to recycle grass and yard trimmings, and also add coffee grounds, egg shells, and vegetable trimmings from the kitchen. As the waste degrades and turns into compost, they use it to help their garden grow.

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Grasscycling

Whenever the Savemors cut the grass, they leave the grass clippings on the lawn instead of raking them up and putting them in bags. It's called grasscycling. It's good for the lawn because the grass breaks down and all the nutrients from the clippings go right back into the soil.

Because the lawn is receiving these nutrients, it doesn't need chemical fertilizers or even as much water. So, the Savemors save money, time, and energy—and keep all those bags of grass clippings out of the Recycle City landfill!

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Homemade cleansers

Although sometimes they can't find a safe substitute for a toxic cleanser, the Savemors have found a number of ways to use safer alternatives. (When they can't find a safe substitute, they use as little of the toxic substance as possible to do the job.) Some alternatives they use are:

• Natural biodegradable cleaners from health stores, or 4 tsp. of baking soda in warm water instead of general-purpose cleaners
• Vinegar and salt instead of heavy-duty cleaners for surfaces
• One-half cup of white vinegar followed by one handful of baking soda instead of drain cleaners
• Biodegradable cleaners instead of harsh oven cleaners (For fresh spills, wet and sprinkle baking soda and scrub with soft nylon scrubber)
• Vinegar and water to clean walls, floors, and glass instead of special cleaners
• One teaspoon of olive oil mixed with juice of one lemon and one teaspoon of water instead of furniture polish
• Opening the windows or setting out an open box of baking soda instead of using air fresheners. Or, simmering cloves and cinnamon in boiling water.

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Bicycles

While they sometimes need to use their car, the Savemor family tries as much as possible to use bicycles to get from place to place. Bikes don't pollute or use non-renewable fuel sources—and they're good exercise.

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Fireplace

This fireplace was made from old bricks that the family recovered from a building that was torn down.

The Savemors burn logs made from pressed wood. Pressed wood, made from recycled wood scraps and sawdust, burns cleaner that most other wood-based fuels. (Open fireplaces can add pollution to the air indoors. An enclosed wood stove that burns sawdust pellets can heat a home and cut down on the amount of pollution in the air.)

The Savemors listen to Recycle City air pollution control reports on the radio and stop using the fireplace when air quality warnings are issued, such as on cold nights when the temperature keeps smoke from rising and holds it close to the ground.

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Entertainment room

Of course, when the Savemors are done recycling at the end of the day, there are always reruns to watch on TV.

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