Summer is here, and many of us are thinking about the environment and how we can make it a better place for the next generations. If you want to combine your urge to clean and the desire to take care of the environment, here are a few different ways that recycling can help you do just that.
Start At Home
One of the easiest ways to help make the world around a better place is to follow the old mantra of “reduce, recycle and reuse.” Take a look around your house. Are there any old clothes, furniture or games that don’t quite fit your lifestyle anymore? If that’s the case, recycling via donation may be a great way to try and reduce the clutter in your home. One of the best places to do just that is through Goodwill Industries. There is even a local branch in Marietta at 1303 Colegate Drive, just northwest of Academy Drive. They’re open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What’s in Your Garage?
When it comes to recycling, your home isn’t the only place that can help save the planet. Take a look at your garage. Is there an old clunker there that isn’t worth your elbow grease anymore? Why not start a conversation with one of the local junkyards and auto recycling centers to see if they are willing to take it off your hands? Not only will you clear out some space in your garage, but places like Bill’s Auto Salvage at 25 Pierce Street can sell parts of your clunker to other car aficionados to help them build their own dream machine. It truly can be a good situation for everyone.
If you have a good deal of metal, either from home renovations or even just aluminum cans, places like Ward’s Recycling can be a great place to visit. It’s located just north of Burkhart Lane off of the Ohio River Scenic Byway at 27430 Ohio 7, Marietta, OH. Stop by or contact them to get their prices on the various pieces of scrap metal that you have lying around your home. You’ll be glad you did.
Another great metal scrap and recycling center to visit if you have material is Guernsey Scrap Recycling. Located near Ward’s Recycling, just a little bit south of Coffman Lane, this facility is able to help with a lot of projects you might have. According to their website, their services include scrap processing, heavy hauling, demolition and debris removal, and roll -off containers to name a few.
Keeping Things Clean
Of course, once your house and garage are decluttered, you might want to give everything a good cleaning. Before you reach for your normal cleaner, however, consider the amount of harsh chemicals and irritants that are in that spray bottle. Do you really want to spray that stuff into your home, and the environment? If not, there are quite a few natural cleaning alternatives that are not only easy to make and effective, but a lot easier on you and the environment. In fact, here’s one of my favorite all-purpose cleaners. Everything you need you can find at the local grocery store, or in your cabinets at home. And it works!
All-Purpose Lemon Cleaner
Needed:
Spray Bottle
1 part Lemon Juice
4 parts Hydrogen Peroxide
12 parts Water
Simply combine all the ingredients into the spray bottle, label it, and use just like you would any all-purpose cleaner. The lemon juice acts as a mild abrasive, leaving behind a nice lemon scent while the hydrogen peroxide provides the disinfectant action that you previously got using harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia. Plus, each batch costs less than a dollar to make!
What are some of your ideas to make the world a better and greener place? I would love to hear them. Share in the comments below!