We hear about them all the time, but that's because the three R's—reduce, reuse, recycle—really can help you live greener. Here are a few ways to trade the trash can for eco-friendly solutions.
Every day we use paper—to communicate, to create, to clean. Paper use has a direct connection with climate change because paper comes from trees, and most paper in the United States today comes directly from wood, rather than recycled sources. Every tree that goes into paper is one less tree capturing carbon and providing habitat for wildlife.
Reduce Unwanted Catalogs: The National Wildlife Federation, Ecology Center, and the Natural Resources Defense Council launched a free online service called Catalog Choice that helps consumers take control of mailbox clutter, simplify their lives, and protect the environment from unnecessary waste.
Wood is the largest percentage of the residential new construction debris—approximately 42 percent, according the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.
This seems particularly wasteful when wood is such a versatile material. Unlike plastic, which once formed is quite inflexible in how it may be reused, wood has incredible potential for re-use. It can be sanded, stripped, cut and re-built to make furniture, toys, and items for your Certified Wildlife Habitat® site. It has never-ending potential with the use of paints, varnishes, and caulks.
Tips for salvaging wood:
The National Wildlife® Photo Contest celebrates the power of photography to advance conservation and connect people with wildlife and the outdoors.
Enter TodayPresident and CEO Collin O’Mara reveals in a TEDx Talk why it is essential to connect our children and future generations with wildlife and the outdoors—and how doing so is good for our health, economy, and environment.
Watch NowDitch the disposables and make the switch to sustainable products.
Shop NowMore than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.