by

Dave Hardin

Public Information Officer

Catawba County continues to be one of the state’s leaders in recycling. Data for the fiscal year that ended on July 1, 2008 was recently released and it shows Catawba County ranked third in recycling, per person, among all 100 North Carolina counties.

Third place is great, but it also means we could be doing better. You may find something in the information I’m about to present that could help us improve our ranking. Thanks to Glennie Daniels of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Catawba Center for the information.

The main reason for recycling is to take better care of our environment. Scientific research has shown that each one of us has an impact on the environment that is connected to our activities. One measure of that impact is called our “carbon footprint”. This is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced directly or indirectly by human activity. The erosion of protective layers of the atmosphere has been linked directly to the amount of CO2 in the air.

According to www.timeforchange.org, each of the following activities adds 1.5 kilograms of CO2 to the atmosphere: driving a car three and half miles, 32 hours of computer use, the disposal of five plastic bags or two plastic bottles and, believe it or not, production of one-third of a cheeseburger.

We can all have a positive impact on our environment through day to day activities and in every room of our homes. First, remember the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle, meaning recycle what you can and also buy recycled products, buy reused products, and consume less “stuff’. Here are some ideas you can use around the house:

In the kitchen: use your good plates and utensils instead of paper plates and cups and plastic utensils; choose “green” cleaners made from products that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and use renewable resources (not petroleum); recycle everything you can; use reusable water bottles and cups; compost kitchen scraps; eat at home; and buy local foods or grow your own.

In the living room: set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer; use a fan to keep cooler at higher room temperatures during the summer and blankets to keep warm in winter and consider this for the bedroom as well; and change light bulbs.

In the bathroom: take showers instead of baths; turn water off when you brush your teeth; buy recycled products; use those green cleaners I mentioned earlier; and use exhaust fans wisely.

In the laundry or utility room: wash in cold water and wash full loads; use refillable detergent containers; dry several loads back to back; hang clothes to dry; and keep south-facing blinds closed during the summer.

In your yard: use slow release fertilizers; use pesticides sparingly; compost yard waste; use a rain barrel; don’t litter; and clean up after your pets.

Finally, in your car: plan trips ahead to make several stops in one trip; stay at home; carpool; keep tires inflated properly; walk; take a bus; and keep a trash bag in your car.