How many years in a row has your new year's resolution been
to lose weight? Why not try something different this year?
We have compiled a list of environmental resolutions that
will make you feel better about yourself and your place in
the environment!
1) Limit Your Plastic Bag Usage
 "Plastic
bags are the latest front in the battle against waste.
Admired for their flexibility and durability but reviled
for seeming to be everywhere, the bags accumulate in
cupboards, in landfills and along roadsides," reported
Recycling Today recently.
Plastic bags are not accepted in recycling collection
programs because they wreak havoc on the sorting machines.
Increasingly, grocery stores and other retailers are
accepting used bags where they will be sent off and turned
into products like plastic decking or flip-flops. But you
can also buy durable, reusable bags and bring them with
you on shopping trips.
While a handful of communities are taking a stand against
plastic bags by either taxing them, or banning them
altogether, most places in the world are using plastic
bags at a rate of 497,809,487,070 per year. A lot of these
bags end up becoming litter that will never biodegrade,
and most will end up in landfills.
To Vincent Cobb of Chicago, it's unworkable to ban bags
and recycling has its limitations. He is promoting
reusable bags and sells them through
reusablebags.com, a company he founded about two years
ago. The idea is to buy several durable reusable bags that
you bring with you on shopping trips, eliminating your
contribution to the plastic bag environmental dilemma.
2) Adopt-A-Highway
Adopt-a-Highway provides an opportunity for you or your
family, business or civic group to clean up litter and
listen for Virginia roads to breathe a collective sigh of
relief. Every year, more than 6,000 Adopt-a-Highway groups
collect about 300,000 bags of trash from 14,000 miles, or
one-fourth, of Virginia's roads.
Volunteer Obligations
AAH Volunteers agree to pick up litter four times a year
for two years. In return, VDOT provides trash bags, vests,
important safety information, and highway signs
recognizing you or your group. If you are interested in
more information on adopting a highway, please click here!
Other Opportunities
If you notice an increase in litter on a particular
stretch of roadway, please feel free to notify us by
calling 1-800 PRIDEVA (1-800-774-3382), e-mail
adoptahighway@VirginiaDOT.org or find the
Adopt-a-Highway coordinator in your area. Also, if the
road qualifies for Adopt-a-Highway, we can list it on our
Web site as a road “most in need of adoption”. If it does
not qualify for Adopt-a-Highway, we will forward this
information to local VDOT Asset Management.
VDOT also works with other state agencies and
organizations to prevent and control litter. Please visit
these other organizations for educational and additional
volunteer opportunities in your region.
Information provided by Virginia Department of
Transportation.
3) Start A Recycling Program at Work or School
 People
often assume that CVWMA coordinates recycling program for
schools and businesses in addition to overseeing its
regional residential recycling programs. However, our
programs do not extend to schools or businesses. We know
how important it is to have recycling available outside of
the home so we have put together some information to help
you get a recycling program started anywhere.
Click Here For More Information
4) Look For Products Made Out of Recycled Content
Close the recycling loop and purchase the products made
out of recycled materials. This year, check to see if the
office paper, envelopes and stationary you buy has
recycled content. Paper towels, toilet paper and napkins
are other items on the recycled content market.
Also do your shopping with companies that are working to
keep the environment clean. Here are some of our
favorites:
5) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Finally, the best new year's resolution for the
environment is to just plain old make a commitment to
reduce, reuse and recycle more this year.
Reduce It: If your habits resemble those of
average Americans, you generate about 4 pounds of solid
trash per day. This adds up to big trouble for the
environment. Here is a great website that has tips on
how to
reduce around the house.
Reuse It: Great tips on how to
reuse items.
Recycle It: Start recycling in our
curbside recycling program. Or find out about our
other recycling programs including drop-off,
electronics, household hazardous waste, cell phone,
battery, propane tank, tires, appliances and yard waste.
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