Clean Up Westford, One Hour at a Time

Now that the snow has finally melted, have you noticed something?  I have… all the trash along our streets!

Carmen Chiungos, long-time Westford resident, also noticed.  And she wasn’t going to take it lying down.  She created the Westford Litter League Green Team.  Each Saturday morning a different area of town is cleaned up by volunteers.  Who are these volunteers you ask?  They are me, you, and anyone else in Westford who doesn’t like seeing the trash.

I went the first week at Forge Pond. We picked up about 6 bags of trash. 

Every Saturday from 8am to 9am, just bring a trash bag and some hand protection.  

Come join us:

April 30 - The American Legion on Dunstable Rd

May 7 - Power Rd and Vine Brook Rd

May 14 - Bridge St. and Graniteville Rd

May 28 - Rt. 27 and Vose Hill Rd

If you can't make it, clean up around your own street. 

15 Ways to Save Green While Going Green

Since Earth Day this year, I have been trying to figure out what my next green step will be.  I decided that I need to concentrate more on my family's health - eating more organic foods and less chemicals in our personal products to start.   Most of this will cost more money.  So, first I am taking another look at how going green can save me some green.

Below are changes you can make with no impact on your budget.  Well, not exactly no impact – some of these ideas will save you money, time or both!  Even though they do not have an initial cost, they are a change from your normal routine.  Pick a few at a time.  When you have mastered those, pick a couple more.

A note about the Average Annual Savings:  I tend to be on the conservative side with this.  

1. Pay Bills Electronically - minimally this saves you the stamp.  If you set up automatic payments, it will save you the time of paying the bill each month.  I found a few more I could switch.  Average Annual Savings: 12 * 0.44 = $5.28 per bill
2. Switch to Simple Cleaners - next time you need some all-purpose cleaner, refill the spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water and use that.  This will cost you about 30 cents per bottle instead of about $3-4  for the average all purpose cleaner.   Try some of these homemade cleaners for more savings.  Average Annual Savings: $7.40 
3. Stop Buying Anti-Bacterial or Disinfecting cleaners - fill a spray bottle with vinegar and place a spray top on a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.  Spray one then the other on anything you wish to sanitize – counters, kitchen table, lunch bags, water bottles….  Do not use vinegar on granite counters.  Cost of 32 oz of vinegar =   40 cents, $1 for the hydrogen peroxide for a grand total of $1.40.  Average Annual Savings: $7.40
4. Plan Your Meals for the Week - Make a menu for the week and your grocery list BEFORE you go shopping – will curb those impulse buys and help not waste food by buying only what you need.  Americans throw away a lot of food - that's money in the trash.  Estimates were all over the place, but let's assume a conservative $10 per week.  Average Annual Savings: $520
5. Eat less Meat - Meat is expensive.  Learn a few meatless meals and cut your grocery budget and your fat intake!  If you can't go completely meat free for a meal, reduce the meat and bulk up with more veggies or beans.  Let's say you reduce your meat by 2 lbs a week at roughly $4 per pound and replace it with beans at $3.  Average Annual Savings: $250
6. Buy Dried Beans - Want to save even more, buy dry beans and cook them yourself.    Dry beans cost about 1/3 the price of canned.  This could increase your savings in#5 by:  Average Annual Savings: $104
7. Use Your Reusable Bags – they will save you 5 cents at Target (Make sure you ask, they tend to forget), Whole Foods, and you will be entered in a giveaway at Trader Joe’s.  Average Annual Savings: $1
8. Turn Your Hot Water Heater Down to 120 - You may need to play with how low you can set your hot water heater.  How much you save depends on the temperature and the method of heating.  My Average Annual Savings: $50
9. Turn You hot Water Heater to VACATION when you are away - If you are going away for more than 3 days, turn your hot water heater to VACATION mode or way down.  Again, the savings will vary widely based on your hot water heater and how often you go away.  My Average Annual Savings: $20
10. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water - Most of the energy used to wash your clothes goes into heating the water.  Take a look at this website to figure out how much you could save.  My Average Annual Savings: $70
11. Use Both Sides of the Paper for Printing - I rarely buy paper for my printer.  When I do, I use both sides.  I mostly use the backs of my children's school papers for my printer.  Better yet, print less!  Need to keep an online receipt - save the page electronically.  Average Annual Savings: $15
12. Reduce Your Paper Towel Use - Try using reusable microfiber clothes or old towels or T-shirts instead.  They won't take up much more room in your washing machine so you won't be spending more on washing them.  Let's say the average household uses 1 roll of paper towels per week.  If we cut that in half, Average Annual Savings: $24
13. Use Cloth Napkins - This is one of the first things I did to go green.  I couldn't believe how easy it was.  I had some cloth napkins from a wedding present so I pulled them out.  I have not bought paper napkins in 4 years.   Average Annual Savings: $20
14. Buy Spices in Bulk at Whole Foods - I have mentioned this one several times.  I still can't get over how inexpensive they are.  Obviously if you are making a special trip to Bedford or Andover for this, then the gas will negate any savings, but if you are in the area.... The spices cost pennies compared to $3-4 in a jar. Average Annual Savings: $20
15. Consolidate Your Errands - If you are a mom, you probably already do this.  You need to be efficient with your time so it makes sense.  I use my "To Do" lists to organize where and when I need to run errands.  I can then look at my list and plan my route accordingly to reduce the driving and the possibility I might forget something.  If you saved 10 miles of driving per week, 20 mpg for your mini-van, at $3 per gallon (I'm being optimistic!), Average Annual Savings: $78

How do you save money and the planet?


Update 12/29/11 - I submitted this post to Frugally Sustainable's

The Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways Wednesday Blog Hop.  Check out this site!

And 30 Days to Save Some Green

Spring Cleaning: The Office/Paper Clutter

I am loving this Spring Cleaning Series!  It is motivating me to clean out.  The fact that I need to take an AFTER picture is working sort of like when your in-laws are visiting – you can’t just throw things into a corner!

This one was tough.  No matter how I have tried to reduce our junk mail and other paper, we still have so much in our office space.  Here are the before pictures:

Filing Cabinet Before

Desk Before

I found I needed 5 areas for the paper:

1. Shred – For anything with sensitive data (name, address, account info,etc) on it that we no longer need
2. Paper for Printer – Anything that was only printed on one side, and not a candidate for shredding, went into my printer so I can print on the other side.
3. Scan – I have been scanning things like important receipts, the kids’ physicals, dog’s rabies certificate, etc so I have a backup.
4. Stays – Gets re-filed.
5. Recycle - Any paper that doesn't fit any of the above categories.

As I went through all the paper, I sorted them into the piles.  I also tried to make a note of what I could eliminate in the future.  I found a few bills that I hadn’t made electronic and spent a little more time opting out of a few more mailings.

Next came the stuff in the desk:

• CD’s – we had so many CDs for drivers, installation disks and random software for printers or computers that were long gone.  They all went into a pile to be recycled at Best Buy.
• Old Cables – I got under the computer table and went through all the cords.  There were a few we didn't need.  Anyone need a serial printer cable?  Think they stopped using those quite a while ago.  All of these random cables, no longer needed, will also be getting recycled at Best Buy.
• Pens, Markers, Highlighter – all were tested.  Those that were out of ink, got put in the Upcycle It! bin.  Note to self – we are ALL set with any sort of pen, highlighter or marker we could ever want.
• Envelopes – You know the envelopes you get for paying your bills (the ones you still get in paper form that is) or various junk mail you can’t get rid of, I keep these.  I then use them sending things to school – permission slips, lunch ticket money, Box Tops….  I must use a couple a week for various things.  I straightened out a draw so there was room for these.

Long ago, I “converted” my trash basket in the office to a recycle bin.  Converted, meaning I just said “OK you are now a recycle bin!”  99% of what I need to get rid of in there is paper.

I finished up by backing up all of my computer files.  

Voila!

This is by no means the only paper clutter in the house.  But obviously it’s the one I have neglected the longest – old utility statements from 2006 and manuals from things I don’t remember owning?!  

How do you deal with paper?

More Ways to Reduce Your Junk Mail (and Stress) | Greene Westford

With a little extra effort, you can get your mailbox back -- and be more environmentally conscious.

Did you do your best to take back your mailbox by following all the tips in 5 Ways to Reduce Your Junk Mail (And Stress Level)?

Still have too much junk mail? Here are a few more ways to reduce your stress -- and be more environmentally conscious.....

Read more at Westford Patch

Spring Cleaning: Closets

So, I’m preeeeeeetty sure we are done with the snow.  Time to switch out the winter clothes and put the snow gear away!  What to do with all the clothing and shoes?

I started with my daughter’s closet.  Here is the before shot.

Closet Before

Set Up 5 Zones 

• Give – for things that do not fit her but are in good wearable condition to give away
• Recycle – for items that are too stained or ripped to wear
• Store– for items that are too warm now, but that she will fit into next winter
• Keep – those items that I want to stay in her closet
• Misplaced – for those items that made their way to her closet, but shouldn't be here

The Method

1. As always, I started by opening the windows to let the fresh air in.  
2. Start emptying the shelves and hanging items.  I took this one area at a time.  
3. Look at each and every item and select the appropriate zone.  
4. As you do this, make notes on what you may or may not need in the future.  My daughter has WAY too many black leggings and hardly any “good” pants. . I also make notes on what I will need next year - snow pants, thermals, sports gear, etc.  Sometimes you get a good deal at a yard sale.  Of course it’s only a good deal if you really need it. 
5. Bag up the things you will GIVE and decide where to give the clothing.  These went to the Blanchard Middle School's: The Big Give with Lowell Wish this past weekend.
6. With some of the RECYCLE items, I made new cleaning cloths and a few napkins out of the tie dye T-shirts.  The rest were bagged up and will be dropped off at the Public Clothing Boxes next time I am out.
7. Those that are in STORE, KEEP, and MISPLACED all went back too.

So her closet was put back together and this is the after.

Closet After

Now that there is room, the next step is to pull out the new season items and go through those.  Does everyone have sandals, shorts, bathing suits?  They try everything on and I make my shopping lists from this.  It’s nice to do it now, since the Westford Friends and newcomers Clothing Sale and Town Wide Yard sales are coming up on April 30.

I still need to repeat this with the other closets in my house, but it's a great start!

Look for my next Spring Cleaning on Mondays.  Coming up:  The Office/Paper

Did you clean a closet?  What did you do with the clothing your family can't use?

Where to Recycle Clothes And Shoes

SPRING!  I love feeling the warm sun, hearing birds sing and seeing the flowers bloom.  I also love cleaning out the closets!  Putting away the boots, snow pants, heavy jackets and sweaters!  And cleaning out what I know won't fit next year.  But where do you take the stuff?  Whether you are willing to take them to a specific location or want the convenience of putting them out on your door step, I have an option for you.


Good Condition 

The Lowell Wish Project

The Lowell Wish Project is a local organization that helps those in need in the Merrimack Valley area.  Donations go directly to the individuals who request them through their social workers or other agencies.  For this reason, the items donated need to be in good condition.  They have needs for clothing for babies through very large adults. Normally Lowell Wish only needs casual clothing, however with Easter coming, they will accept dresses and suit through April 23.  Lowell Wish accepts many other items including blankets, sheets, mattresses, furniture, and baby gear.  See their website for full details.

 

Where:  Saturday April 9, Blanchard Middle School  OR

Drop off at 1 A Foundry St. Lowell  Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat. 9am - 2pm, 

Westford Friends and Newcomers Spring Clothing Sale

The WFN is accepting CHILDREN'S (baby thru teen) clothing for their Spring Clothing Sale.  The sale will be part of the Roudenbush Town Wide Yard Sale on the Abbot School Lawn On April 30.

 

Where: Locations around Westford - 45 Pleasant St., 13 Depot St. , 47 Providence Rd. , 15 Villanova Dr.

Big Brother Big Sister

Big Brother Big Sister works to provide children with one-to-one friendships with adult mentors.  Your donations are sold to thrift stores.  The money supports their many programs. BBBS accepts many items including stuffed animals, toys, small appliances and more.

 

Where:  Your house.  BBBS will pick up donations.  See website to arrange a pickup.

Priceless Prom (Prom and Bridesmaid Dresses)

Priceless Prom helps girls find dresses for the Prom.  They accept Prom and Bridesmaid dresses  within the 3 year fashion range.

 

Where: Bella Beads in Andover

Suitability  (Women's Professional Clothing)

Suitability is committed to helping women become self sufficient and economically independent. They provide interview clothing, free of charge, for women applying for positions at any level.  Clothing must be ready to wear.

 

Where: 536 Pawtucket Blvd, Lowell;  By appointment.  Call 978-934-8898.

Not So Good Condition 

Re-purpose Clothing into:

• Cleaning Cloths - Cut up old T-Shirts or other appropriate material to use in place of a paper towel.  They work so much better.

• Reusable Napkins - I made my children tie dye T-Shirts years ago. When they outgrew them, I just couldn't get rid of them.  So I cut them up and made napkins.  Now, when I wipe my mouth, I smile.

Public Clothing Drop Boxes
Once you are set on napkins and rags, you can drop unwearable clothing at the Public Clothing Drops around town.  I had a hard time confirming this, but it is my understanding that the company who owns these bins sorts the clothes.  The wearable ones are sold to thrift stores.  Unwearable items are sold in bulk to companies that shred them for other uses.

Where:  Old Nab Preschool, Abbot School

Flip Flops 

Old Navy has teamed up with TerraCycle to upcycle old flip flops into playgrounds.
  

Where: Collection bins at Old Navy through May 21st.

Running Shoes  

Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program takes any brand old, worn out athletic shoes and recycles them into playground surfaces.  

Where: Nike Outlet at the Wrentham Outlet
Converse Community Store North Andover

Have You Started Cleaning Out?  Do You Try to Donate or Repurpose what you can?

Spring Cleaning: Bathrooms

I hate cleaning the bathroom!  Scrubbing toilets and showers are not my idea of fun.  This Spring Cleaning focuses a little more on clutter clean out ( potentially dangerous items too) and trying to change one thing greener.


So here goes - the Before Shots.

BEFORE: Under the sink

BEFORE: MEDICINE CABINET

THE METHOD

1. Open the windows to get some fresh air in there.  Indoor air quality can be much worse than outdoor.
2. Empty all cabinets and drawers and clean all surfaces.  I won't go into details here, you know what to do.  Try using at least one, if not all green cleaners.

As you empty, collect the following into groups:

• Old/expired prescriptions:  You can dispose of them properly at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 30 10am – 2pm at the Cameron Senior Center 
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications:   The options for disposal were not impressive, but here is what I found.  Smart Rx advises: DO NOT FLUSH, DO NOT POUR DOWN THE DRAIN.  These methods can cause the medications to enter the water supply or endanger aquatic life as it may make it’s way to rivers, streams or oceans. Do this:

• Pour medication into a seal-able plastic bag.  If medication is a solid (pill or capsule) add water to dissolve it
• Add  kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or anything that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat)
• Seal the plastic bag and put in the trash

• Old Makeup:  containers can be recycled at any Origins.
• Clean all hairbrushes and combs: Remove the hair, then soak brushes in mixture of warm water and baking soda, rinse, allow to dry
• Clean Makeup Brushes: 

• Fill sink with warm water and a few drops of tea tree oil (tea tree oil can be found at most grocery stores, Trader Joe's and GNC.  It is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal)
• Put a few drops of castile soap on the brush (mild shampoo can also be used)
• Gently rub the bristles between your fingers
• Rinse in the sink
• Rinse with clean water, pat dry, lay flat to dry

• Toothbrushes:  If it's been a while, replace them.  Remember to upcycle the old ones and any empty plastic toothpaste tubes with Upcycle It!  Please place toothbrushes in a separate bag.

The Results

AFTER: Under the sink

AFTER: Medicine Cabinet

I found way too many expired OTC medications.
 
Most of what I had under the sink, did not need to be here.


Note to self - clean makeup brushes more often!  


Personal Care Products

As you are doing all this, note how many different personal care products you use – this includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, deodorant, moisturizer, hair products, tooth paste, etc.  How many did you count?  I counted 17 for me.  I'm sure I'm missing some.

I just want to give you some food for thought.  Here are some disturbing facts about personal care products:

1.  There are no real regulations for personal care products.  Companies are NOT required to test for safety before they hit the shelves. 
2. All ingredients do NOT need to be disclosed.
3.  Three common ingredients used in many personal care products have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and hormone disruption to name just a few.  These are parabens, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Did you find these in your products?
4. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and is really good at absorbing stuff.

So think about changing just one item.  I am continually working on this.  During this bathroom clean out, I got rid of the nail polish remover and most of the old polish.  

To find better alternatives, check out Skin Deep.   This website provides ratings for over 65,000 products.  

How did it go?  Did you make one thing greener?