Green Life Tips

Category: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Reusable juice containers cut waste, save cash

If you have kids, consider sending them to school with their juice in a reusable container, instead of juice that comes in non-recyclable containers.

Think of the hundreds of juice boxes and plastic bottles that won't need to be discarded over the course of a school year. You'll also pay less per ounce of juice when you don't have to factor in the cost of all that extra packaging.

Category: Around the house

Boiling vinegar unclogs drains

Got a clogged drain? Instead of using caustic chemicals, pour in some boiling white vinegar to remove the blockage.

Category: Environment

How organic is your organic milk?

Organic dairy products are not created equal, according to a report from The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based research institute that touts "ecological principles and economic wisdom underlying sustainable and organic agriculture."

To see how your favorite products and brands stack up, check out the institute's dairy survey, which rates milk, butter and other items available from small farms to large-scale retailers like Costco and Kroger.

Category: Environment

Use pump sprays over aerosol

Choose pump spray bottles instead of aerosol cans whenever possible. The cans are not easily recyclable. Instead, buy products that are packaged in plastic or glass bottles, which can be readily recycled.

Category: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Keep reusable mugs, water bottles, utensils at work

Green up your workday routine by keeping a reusable coffee mug or teacup and a reusable water bottle at your desk, instead of turning to styrofoam cups.

To cut down on unecessary plastic use, keep reusable eating utensils nearby. If you don't want to break up a set you have at home, you can inexpensively scout some at a garage sale or resale shop instead of buying new ones.

Category: Baby

Make the best choices for feeding your baby

Shopping for baby-feeding supplies can be a daunting task. With so many choices on the market, it's often hard to distinguish which ones are best.

Which is healthier: Liquid or powdered formula? Should you choose plastic bottles or glass? For answers to these questions and more, check out the Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula.

The guide is offered by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan watchdog organization.

Category: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Recycle old VHS tapes

If you've joined the 21st century and have switched over from VHS to DVD, chances are you've got some old video cassettes laying around. Instead of throwing them into a landfill, consider selling them on Craigslist.org craigslist.org or eBay or giving them away on Freecycle.org or donating them to your local library.

Another option is to send them to Greendisk, a firm that accepts all manner of old electronic machinery and their media, including VHS, audio cassette tapes, old CDs, etc. For about $7, including shipping, Greendisk will give you a box and label for packages of recyclables under 20 pounds. For instructions, visit greendisk.com.

Category: Environment

Dine on locally harvested fare

Cooking locally harvested foods at home is probably one of the most green things you can do for your diet, but for the times when you want to venture into a restaurant look no further than the Green Restaurant Association's web site for suggestions.

The association has a multi-tiered certification process for restaurants. Eateries are certified according their performance in categories that include energy and water efficiency, recycling and composting, use of sustainable food and pollution prevention.

To see their listings, visit dinegreen.com.

Category: Around the house

Switch to a low-flow showerhead

Cut down on water use by switching to a low-flow showerhead. Look for showerheads that use no more than 2.2 gallons per minute. You can cut your water use by up to 50 percent -- as well as the energy used to heat all that extra water.

Category: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Some toothpaste tubes are recyclable

Aluminum toothpaste tubes are recyclable. Just toss them in with your metal recyclables. You cannot, however, recycle the plastic ones.