The iconic image of the longhaired hippy, brandishing peace signs and protesting deforestation, no longer represents the modern day environmentalists. Today’s activist represents a cross-section of America, if not the whole world. The green movement is growing stronger each day and the followers are becoming more proactive than yesterday’s activist. 

 

It’s a sad but unfortunate truth that the centuries of degradation to our planet have left it fragile and weak. This generation, and many to follow, will spend their lives dealing with the long term affects of our abuse, but also searching for answers to the big question: How do we save the planet?

 

The good news is that each and every individual can play a proactive role. The individual’s actions won’t have the same impact as large corporations and factories, but their contribution is every bit as relevant and vital to success.   It’s also cheaper, which is always a determining factor in today’s economy, for the individual to implement changes that will impact the planet’s future.

 

 The first and most important step is probably a simple change in how you think about things. For far too long we’ve lived with the misguided notion that more is better, when in fact more is simply wasteful. For instance, the average American throws away approximately 67 pounds of clothing per year. Multiply that by the 301 million people in America and you have a lot of landfills that are senselessly filled with clothing. 

 

Every city and state has local and national charities that will gladly take your used clothing. Many of the national organizations will even take the clothing that isn’t fit to be worn. They sell it by the pound to a third party who in turn turns it into rags, which are bagged and sold. Perhaps you’ve seen them in the automotive section of a local store. They come in very handy for cleaning, waxing, polishing, etc. 

 

Clothing is just one of hundreds of household items you can recycle. Paper, plastic and aluminum can all be sent to various recycling centers, but you can donate almost anything to a charity, women’s shelter or thrift shop. With just a few minutes research you can find the organization you like and many will schedule a pick up from your home. It really couldn’t be easier, you don’t have to leave the house, and in most cases the donation is tax deductable. 

 

In the coming weeks we’ll explore these ideas and more in greater detail. I’ll provide links and suggestions to help you recycle your unwanted goods but also to help your money go farther, and most importantly to help you start doing your part in saving our planet.