Shopping green

There are so many things that people can do to help save the environment. Here are some very simple steps that will help when going shopping.

Bring your own bags, preferably cloth or string. Stores tend to be very easy-going about using plastic bags, which are often made of petroleum products and may take hundreds of years to decompose.

Choose paper over plastic, for if you were to ever use a store bag, paper is easier to recycle than plastic.

Think of the packaging. Larger items generally tend to use less packaging than smaller ones - a two liter bottle of Cola costs not only consumes less packaging than a six-pack of individual bottle, but it also costs less.

Visit the local farmers' market. Local produce is fresher, and it does not require large amounts of gas to ship it. You may even find specialty products that don't appear on your local grocery shelf.

Join a co-op, for all the same reasons.

Go shopping with a friend. This can cut down on the use of gas to and from the market.

Look for green "Environmentally Friendly" tags on the items you buy.

Visit thrift shops. There are great bargains, the quality is usually high, and you can get reduced rates by bringing in your own used clothes that you no longer want or need.

Make a shopping list to avoid buying things that seem appealing but you will likely never use. It should be a crime to throw out food that spoiled because you never got to eat it.

Recycle - even at the restaurant. Coffee Cups, cans, tins, Styrofoam plates; everything! There is bound to be a recycling bin, and if there is not, take a small (paper) bag, and drop it off later at a local recycling facility or drop it in your own recycling bin at home.

Compost - making a compost bin for all your food waste cuts down on what goes to the landfill, and it can be used for your garden! Anything from teabags to banana peels to paper kitchen towels can be put in there - as long as it will degrade.

Take it easy. If you feel overwhelmed just make one or two changes to start with. And as those become habits, introduce something new to your shopping routine.