Preventing carpet waste. Every year, 4 billion pounds of carpet are discarded in the United States, of which only about 1% is recycled. Carpet also poses waste management problems because it consumes enormous amounts of landfill space due to its bulk  - 2% of solid waste by volume, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the incineration of discarded carpet, especially products with polyvinyl chloride ( PVC) backing,  can release toxic chemicals, including dioxin, into the air.  link
Carpet recovery in the USA - link

March 2013: Recycle old VHS tapes and help the disabled. The Alternative Community Training (ACT) organization in Missouri offers a great opening. ACT helps disabled individuals find employment through special programs and services. This is one place where you can recycle video tapes knowing that they will help a worthy cause. ACT works with recycling companies that employ its clients to process donations. The organization recycles donated video tapes and resells them to the public. The revenue helps to give their disabled workers a sense of pride. ACT takes video tapes at almost any length ranging from five to one hundred twenty minutes - more on ACT  

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TEN SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE PLANET: Laurie David, who produced Al Gore's documentary about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," says saving the planet isn't about everyone doing everything. "It's about everyone doing something."   More

Ten things you didn't know you could recycle, from Green America   

One Small Step - Each year, it is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.  That comes out to over one million per minute!  It is also estimated that one plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.   

In the USA 56 billion aluminum cans were recycled in 2010 - more

Greening your daily routine "do something tips" from World Environment Day -  link

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A look back at 10:10's achievements as 2010 closes - link

September 1 2009 Launch of 10:10. In Britain today begins a new initiative to really make a difference. While waiting on governments and world leaders to make policy, Franny Armstrong, director of the 2009 eco-documentary "The Age of Stupid" began a grassroots movement (working with the Guardian newspaper in Britain) asking individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint by 10% by the end of 2010. Hence 10:10. Considered bold but achievable, this would display the urgency felt by the overwhelming majority in the country to take action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Guardian 10:10 page  
(Sept. 21 - Armstrong declares 10:10 Campaign to go global.)  .
June 2010 update: Since launching in September last year, over 70,000 individuals have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, as well as major companies such as Royal Mail. Shortly after the election, the coalition government committed central government to a 10% emissions cut.  link    Oct. 14 2010: Mayors of four capital cities, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Paris and Zagreb, pledge 10% cuts in next year. link  
How to reduce your carbon emissions by 10%
Progress so far - October 10 2009

Learn about PHANTOM LOADS / GHOST POWER. (See Conservation page) Eliminating ghost power could close 18 conventional power stations in the USA. With more than 1.5 billion people online around the world, scientists estimate that the energy footprint of the net is growing by more than 10% each year -so, don't leave your computer on 24/7 - shut down overnight or when at school/work.

You have to buy Gas - until that electric car comes along. Which brand to choose - which to avoid. Exxon is considered the most unethical choice, but with Shell's recent abdication of alternative energy, they come a close second. Now Chevron/Texaco has come under scrutiny because of its Ecuadorian $27 bn lawsuit -  (See CBS: 60 Minutes - May 3, 2009) and BP has since moved away from clean energy options and is currently under severe criticism over its Gulf Oil spill (see Offshore Drilling page). More at bottom of page.

AVOID BOTTLED WATER: The average American consumed 26 gallons of bottled water (2006). 40% of that is bottled tap water. It takes 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water. Only 20% of that plastic is recycled. This is waste. link  According to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) , FDA rules allow bottlers to call their product "spring water" even though it may be brought to the surface using a pumped well, and it may be treated with chemicals. From the Pacific Institute comes this fact: Producing the bottles for American consumption (2006) required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation. link  National Geographic estimates that 17 million gallons of crude oil is used on an annual basis to produce plastic bottles and that only 1 in 6 plastic bottles makes it to the recycling bin!  

ECO-DRIVE: Besides making driving less stressful (and probably safer) it could easily reduce your gas consumption by 25% or more -  eco-driving

LIFESTYLE - CUT BACK ON MEAT CONSUMPTION: How much stress does our meat-eating put on our ecological systems? The UN calculates livestock emissions result in 18% of total global greenhouse gases, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together. link  If you check out the page on Methane, you'll realize why more people are cutting back on their consumption of meat.  Eating 1 lb. of meat results in emitting the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving an SUV 40 miles.  link 

EAT LOCALLY GROWN FOODS: Buying foods that are produced close to your home cuts down on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during transportation. To find where to purchase locally grown food in your area check out -  localharvest

VOICE YOUR OPINION:  Don't be afraid to contact your local, state, and national leaders and voice your opinion: To contact your elected officials about environmental issues being considered by Congress. start here  Also, you can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.  For tips check out sierraclub

AIR DRY YOUR LAUNDRY: Save energy by turning off the dryer and letting your clothes air dry on a rack or laundry line. Estimates of energy used vary, but one source suggests about $85 each year for an average household in energy costs - approx. 1,000 kwh. 
See Drying For Freedom 

USE CANVAS TOTE BAGS: Across the world some 500 billion plastic bags are used, and only a tiny fraction of them are recycled. In the USA 12 million barrels of oil are used nationally to produce 30 billion plastic bags annually. Environment California reports plastic bags, and other plastic refuse that end up in the ocean, kill up to one million sea creatures every year, such as birds, whales, seals, sea turtles, and others. And the number of marine mammals that die each year because of eating or being entangled in plastic is estimated at 100,000 in the North Pacific Ocean alone. We all need to use canvass tote bags, or simply refuse plastic for the occasional purchase in the drug store or bookshop. Ireland imposed a tax on plastic and use dropped 90% overnight. more on plastic

Socially responsible rankings for gas stations:  BP has been downgraded to a D.
As of mid-June 2010 new rankings have been applied where no company qualifies for an A rating.  Check other companies here.  BP's history in the US includes more than 700 safety and environmental violations over the last 5 years, compared to fewer than 10 for other big oil companies.  Sunoco is still highest ranked at B+  

An up-to-date report from the Sierra Club also ranks Sunoco high and reports on other companies giving BP a "dishonorable mention" based on the Deepwater Horizon leak. Finally you can read "Which is the most ethical oil company?"  here