Think green: Recycle, reuse, reduce

Putting paper and glass in your recycling bin is a routine task for you, but you want to do more for the environment. Why not follow the 3R's? REUSE everyday items by finding a new purpose for them, RECYCLE your renovation project's leftovers for future construction projects, and REDUCE your consumption of natural resources as well as the garbage that you produce. Doing all this is easy - simply look around you and use your imagination. Here are some green tips that you can add to your daily routine.
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Think green, think smart!
Collect rainwater to use around the yard
Recycling made easy
Reuse empty containers
Turn surplus wood into a beautiful plant hanger
Composting is chic

Think green, think smart!

Children will be captivated with this ball-throwing game made with remnants of wood left over from the construction of your deck. The base is made from a 1" × 6" board painted pink. Use hinges to mount pieces of wood cut from another 1" × 6" board and paint them different colours, using black paint for the numbers. You can increase or decrease the number of targets, change the colours, use different sizes, etc. See what you have on hand and be creative!

Collect rainwater to use around the yard

Whether you use it to water your plants, wash the car, or fill the bird bath, rainwater is naturally handy all around the yard - a good reason, therefore, to collect and use it. A rain barrel connected directly to the downspout is a great and simple way to take advantage of storm waters! Several ready-to-assemble models are available in store. A rain barrel is a must if you are looking to be more environmentally responsible and limit your consumption of tap water.

If you want to help the environment even more and further reduce your water consumption, consider installing an automatic irrigation system, which will allow you to use the precise quantity of water that you need to maintain your lawn.

Recycling made easy

Paper, plastic, glass, metal: to separate recyclables more easily, nothing beats your own home recycling facility. First build the frame, a bit like you would a bookshelf but with the shelves tilting down towards the front. The boxes are held back by a strip of wood - you can use a piece of moulding, a quarter-round, or a wooden rod - attached to the front edge of each shelf. You are now ready to paint the shelving unit. Then all that's left to do is to identify each box with a large label showing which type of material goes where, and install the boxes in the unit. A neat idea that should make your life simpler and help you adopt more environmentally responsible practices.
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