Go Green in 2012: 5 Things You Can Do at Home to Help the Environment
Why not make it your New Year's Resolution to go green? BIDMC Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Amy Lipman has these tips to get you started.
1. Make It Easy
People tend to throw things in the closest barrel, so
set up your recycling containers in places you and your family can easily get to.
2. Don't Flush Old or Unused Drugs
If your medications are past their expiration date, or you didn't take all of a prescription, you should
discard the extra pills. Flushing them down the drain can contaminate groundwater, rivers, ponds and streams. The
DEA sponsors
Drug Take Back Days twice per year.
The next one is on April 28, 2012.
The FDA and
Massachusetts DEP also provide specific instructions on how best to dispose of medication without damaging the environment. Remember that
most pill bottles are recyclable, but be sure to cross out any personal information on the bottle labels to make it unreadable.
3. Give Technology A Second Chance
You may have moved on to a newer, faster computer, but that doesn't mean your old laptop is obsolete. Even
broken computers can be recycled for their parts. Organizations like
Computers With Causes take old computers, fix them up and donate them to military veterans, students, and non-profits in need. If it is broken, call your town or city hall for instructions on how to recycle it.
4. Shop Smart
Reduce waste by not bringing it into your home in the first place. Stores like the Harvest Co-Op allow you to bring your own containers to purchase items in bulk - everything from rice to fresh peanut butter to dishwashing soap. You can reduce waste by
using the same containers or reusable bags.
5. Think Twice Before You Toss It Out
Look closely at what you're about to throw away. Can it be recycled, donated or reused? Chances are it can. Give yourself that extra few seconds to think about it before just dropping it in the trash bin.
Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
Posted January 2012