Many people unfortunately still have the perception that saving the planet is something separate than doing something to help ourselves. When you do something to help the environment, you are also helping all of us who live on it since without a healthy planet, we would not survive.

So, even if you can’t wrap your head around that concept yet, there are ways you can “go green” and give back while being kind to the environment at the same time. Giving away stuff that you no longer need to charity is a perfect way to keep more trash out of landfills and do some good for people who are in need.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Clothing
  Unfortunately, your favorite clothes don’t last forever, but the good thing is that there are tons of people in the world who would greatly appreciate your hand-me-downs. Donate your old clothing and help keep fellow human beings warm. You also help the planet by not adding to the trash and reusing items.
• Books and magazines
  Your local library will absolutely love you if you cart over all those old books and magazines that you no longer need.  Depending on the topics, your schools or churches might be able to use them as well. Getting rid of all those can usually free up a lot of space in your house or garage too!
• Computers, Phones, Furniture, etc.
  Even if you have stuff that needs some “fixin’”, there are charities that accept old, beaten down stuff that they can fix up and give to people who can’t afford items that they need in their home.

Giving to charity is a great feeling, and not only do you help other people and save the environment from unnecessary trash, you set a great example for your children. You can even make it a fun family affair and get your kids involved and teach them the value in helping others and protecting the planet.

For many of us, the fact that we live far from landfills is a blessing, but it also often means that it’s easy for us to forget the massive problem that exists with the heaping piles of waste that plague our environment. When you and your family decide to make it a priority to recycle, you are making a commitment that does a great service to our Earth and all life that inhabits it.

There are so many products that we all use on a daily basis that are not environmentally friendly in the slightest. When you see a pop can lying in a ditch, that can is there forever until someone decides to pick it up and recycle it into something reusable. Otherwise it will end up in the humongous piles of waste in landfills and sit there indefinitely because it is not biodegradable.

Recycling is one of the the most important parts of our attempt to clean up the mess we’ve made. It will work if we all work together and participate.

How to start recycling as a family:

The amount of recycling products available to buy is growing and could really make a big impact if we all helped out by recycling all materials that can be.

Your family can start simply by having separate bins for your recyclable items and either putting them out at the right time weekly when your city’s sanitation department is scheduled for pick up in your area and/or bring items to your local recycling service.

Typically, cardboard is to be bundled together and the same with newspaper. Also, bottles and cans are to be separated and put together. Breaking down all the cardboard boxes you use (even product packaging) will also help a great deal. Typically those are the general rules, but consult your local sanitation dept. for literature on specifics for your area.

To make it an easier job on everyone and get the family involved, why not give each members a job to do and you can all meet in the living room on that night once the chores are finished and share a snack together. maybe make it movie night that starts after the recycling is done?

Really, there’s no reason that we all can’t help to recycle and reuse in order to help improve the environment and attempt to clean up the mess we made.