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Eat less fast foodEating fast food produces hundreds of tons of solid waste per year. Think of all the wrappings and bags you get from a single order from a fast food restaurant. Additionally, the production of beef for fast food companies is one of the leading reasons for deforestation in the Amazon. Deforested rainforest land is only viable for cattle production for a couple of years. Cattle ranchers have to continually clear more forest to feed their herds. In 1993 and 1994 over 200 million pounds of beef was shipped to the U.S. from Central America. In addition to the environmental concerns about eating fast food, think of your health. In a time when Americans are more overweight than ever, reducing your intake of fast food can be good for you. These foods are often high in fat and sodium. More information on the link between deforestation and fast food |
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Stop junk mailEveryone hates getting junk mail. If you are like some of us, you get at least 15 unwanted articles of mail a week, maybe more. You can stop receiving so much unwanted mail. Simply send a postcard with a short note to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. For more information on ways to reduce your junk mail, click on this adobe acrobat reader file produced by the Department of Natural Resources, Solid Waste Division of King County, Washington To stop pre-approved credit card offers check this site out. |
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Avoid using antibacterial soaps and cleanersWe have all been told to finish our regimen of antibiotics whenever a doctor prescribes them for our illnesses. The misuse or overuse of antibiotics has created resistant strains of bacteria that cause human disease. Some scientists believe that the use of antibacterial soaps and cleaning products can have the same effect. So, the more we use these products, the more of a chance that we are creating stronger, more resistant strains of bacteria that are harmful to humans. Americans have become fearful of all and any bacteria present in their homes and lives. Learn to live with the bacteria in your home by carefully handling meat products and avoiding bacteria-promoting habits. By doing these things, you can reduce your dependency on antibacterial products. We suggest that these products should not be used outside of a hospital unless in the home of a person with an immune system deficiency. Hear what scientists of the American Society for Microbiology have to say. Fairview Health Services opinion and suggestions
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Eat more vegetarian mealsRaising animals for human consumption not only produces a lot of waste, but utilizes resources that could easily feed more humans than the meat raised on it feeds. It takes an average of 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef! 12 pounds of grain are used to make one hamburger! This grain could bake 8 loaves of bread and make 24 plates of spaghetti. Reducing your intake of meat products by just a few meals a month will have an impact on the environment. We have listed some of our favorite quick and easy vegetarian recipes for you to try. Diet for a New America by John Robbins (book) Population, Resources and the Environment by Paul and Anne Ehrlich (book) Water use by the cattle industry More on water use by cattle industry
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Ride your bike or carpool to work at least once a weekEveryone knows that cars produce harmful gases, greenhouse gases and consume natural resources such as oil products. In most urban areas, motor vehicles are the contributors of toxins in the air. The average American contributes 1,859 pounds of air pollution to the atmosphere each year. So do something healthy for you and the environment - ride a bike! Riding your bike to work at least once a week will give your body a healthy workout as well as reducing the production of smog and save you gas money. Additionally - you won't have to worry about traffic slow-downs. For those days you don't ride a bike, carpool with some coworkers or friends or take public transportation. Corvallis Transit Routes information |
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Take shorter showers and less bathsAn average family of four uses 350 gallons of water each day. Reducing your shower time to eight minutes or less can save you gallons of water. Installing a low-flow water aerator can also saves gallons of water in your showers. Avoid taking baths. A bath takes 30-50 gallons of water while a shower only takes 15-25. It is important to conserve water all the time - not just in times of drought. It takes a lot of energy and chlorine to treat wastewater to make it suitable for use again. It also takes a lot of energy to heat that water. The less water we use, the less we have to treat and heat. Remember to turn the water off while shaving, brushing your teeth and in between rinsing dishes. Leaving the water running while doing these things can waste 10-20 gallons of water. Fixing leaky faucets will help to conserve water too. Sources: Clark Public Utilities Commission, Clean Ocean Action |
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Buy recycled productsBuying recycled products not only conserves natural resources, but reduces our energy consumption and the amount of waste we produce. Buying recycled isn't limited to office products and paper, but buying large items such as furniture, household items and clothing also helps and saves you money! Check out our Buy Recycled page to find out where to buy recycled products in Corvallis as well as on the internet. |
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Use reusable cloth bags at the storeBringing your own reusable cloth bag to the store is a great idea. These bags are not expensive, and reduce the amount of waste we produce as well as conserving resources. Another bonus - the handles don't break when you buy heavy items - no spills! |
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Buy products in bulk - avoid products with excessive packagingItems with excess packaging needlessly add to the amount of solid waste we all produce. Simply buying products in bulk, when available, reduces that amount and helps to keep the environment clean. Buying in bulk is usually cheaper too! Check out First Alternative for bulk products |
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Reduce your electricity usageIn 1997, each American consumed 12,133 kilowatt hours of electricity compared to the 1,381 kilowatt hours consumed by each person in the rest of the world (Energy Information Administration). We desperately need to reduce the amount of electricity our nation utilizes. You can do this several ways. One easy way to reduce your energy use is to turn down the heat in winter. Turning down the heat just a few degrees will not only lighten your bill, but lessen the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. If you are cold, try putting on a sweater instead of turning up the heat. Weatherproofing your home will also decrease your electricity usage and costs. Ask your local hardware store about the subject. This holds true in the summer with air conditioning. Raise the temperature at which you set your air conditioner by just a few degrees. Acclimating to the temperature of your environment is easy to do and will reduce your energy costs. However, entering and leaving an air conditioned environment makes the out of doors seem even warmer. Try avoiding air conditioning as much as possible. Replace at least one of the incandescent light bulbs in your house with a compact fluorescent light bulb. 90% of the electricity used by an incandescent light bulb escapes as heat. Pacific Power is offering two free compact fluorescent light bulbs to all of its customers. Simply fill out the form on the website: www.twofreebulbs.com. They also offer other energy-saving products on this web site. |