Leisure World News

Leisure World News • Community • April 2022 A7 By Marguerite Huspen, LW Outreach Specialist Friday, April 22, 2022, is Earth Day and the Covid-19 pandemic has affected many things in our daily lives including recycling and waste management. It has also disrupted the U.S. recycling industry. Waste and Recycling industries were impacted due to social distancing, staffing shortages, illness, and service disruptions. The pandemic created more waste and more plastic trash with long-term effects. Since the Coronavirus continues to disrupt waste and recycling services around the United States, what can we do to offset this? Consider this, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of trash per day, so how can we make changes that are eco-friendly, have a more positive effect on our environment, and reduce our ecological footprint? 1. Use a Reusable Bottle or Cup for Beverages When on the Go Make a habit of using that reusable bottle or cup. It will reduce your chance of purchasing a one-time, more expensive beverage on the go and will eliminate a disposable container that may or may not be recyclable at this time. 2. Use a Multi-use Grocery Bag Every year we throw away close to 100 billion plastic bags which can take around 1000 years to break down, if at all! Most of us have reusable cloth, canvas, or even heavy-duty plastic tote bags at home. Remember to take them with you when you shop. One way to remember to reuse them once they are emptied, is store them inside your vehicle or trunk so you have them for your next trip. When you use cloth or canvas bags, they can be laundered keeping them clean and safe. Many grocery stores still take clean disposable plastic bags for recycling, be sure to bag them up and return them. We have our own team here in Leisure World who recycle grocery bags by crocheting them into sleeping mats for the homeless! Thank you to the PLARN project for putting those bags to good use! 3. Avoid Single-use Food, Drink Containers and Utensils If possible, when ordering take-out skip the disposable utensils and napkins. Keep an extra set of silverware at work or even in your vehicle that can be washed and reused. Skip the plastic straws, instead use a metal straw or a heavy-duty reuse straw. Anything we can do to cut back and reduce our use of these items can add up and reduce landfill amounts to help our environment. 4. Make Wise Purchases We can choose to make purchases that come with less packaging. Are those tomatoes you are purchasing in a cardboard container and then covered in plastic wrap? We can make a better choice! Choose to buy unpackaged items when at the market and shop in bulk, bringing your own container. Consider frequenting your local Farmers Market and bringing your own reusable bags and containers to fill. 5. Shop Local Farmers Markets and Buy in Bulk to Reduce Packaging Shopping at local farmers’ markets is a win for everyone! Food is produced and processed locally which saves on shipping and storage, things are fresher, have more nutritional value and you are supporting local farmers. Most farmers and sellers welcome back used berry baskets, egg cartons or containers saving waste. 6. Reuse, Repurpose, Resell, Repurchase and Upcycle Consider buying used before buying new, it will cost less, help reduce waste, and save energy. Second-hand shops carry clothing, shoes, household items, and more. Habitat for Humanity has repurposed construction materials and furniture. Many online websites like Craigslist, Letgo, eBay, Freecycle, and Neighborborrow are examples of online sites for selling, purchasing and sharing. Consider a buying and selling exchange at a local Flea Market or donate gently used items for a worthy cause to local charities and organizations. Some artists use old or discarded items to create wonderful new works of art. Check out https://scrapexchange.org/five-inspiring- abstract-reuse-artists/ for ideas. Remember saving items from the dump helps with overflowing landfills. 7. Reduce Your Use of Paper: Mail, Receipts, Magazines, Junk Mail and Printing We can opt out of mailings and unwanted offers by registering at the Direct Marketing Association’s consumer website DMAchoice.org or call 1-888-567- 8688 and choose what you want or do not want delivered. There is a $2 processing fee, but your registration lasts for 10 years. Numerous companies now allow you to opt out of marketing mailings at www.ecocycle.org/ junkmail. Think twice before printing and if you do need to print use both sides of the paper and print in black and white when possible. Consider a digital subscription to magazines and newspapers and help save the forest. 8.Reduce Emissions to Save on Fuel and Energy Consider driving less, especially with current gas prices! We can all make an effort to use less fuel in our cars, our homes and more. Look at carpooling and using public transportation to and from work or when running errands. Walk or ride a bike if the weather permits, if not, make a list of the places you need to frequent taking the shortest route when driving or create a circle route, so you do not backtrack and waste fuel. Buy in bulk or buy multiple items at one time to save on daily trips to the market or store. Increase your thermostat during the summer to conserve energy. Make use of insulating and shading areas of your home. The Department of Energy estimates about 1 percent savings for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours and recommends changing thermostats 7 to 10 degrees from their normal settings for 8 hours per day to achieve an annual savings of up to 10%. A programable thermostat can help you regulate this. When it gets hot outside close your blinds, use shade awnings, fans and raise the temperature. You can save 10% a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees higher for 8 hours each day. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an Indoor temperature of 78 degrees when you are at home. But if 78 degrees is not doable for you, even a small change in the temperature can save you big bucks and save energy! 9. Repair or Regift Items Think twice before throwing something out. Can it be repaired or refurbished, can you regift something instead of returning it? There’s a dark side to the record number of returns flooding warehouses, especially after the holidays. “Due to all those returns, there’s now nearly 6 billion pounds of landfill waste generated a year and 16 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions as well,” said Tobin Moore, CEO of returns solution provider Optoro. This equals the waste produced by 3.3 million Americans in a year.” Many Amazon return items end up in the trash, more so than items purchased in store, so think twice when ordering online and taking advantage of that “Easy Return Policy.” 10. Recycle When and Where Possible Most cities in Arizona have limited recycling options at this time but you can check online for local companies that may take scrap metal, plastic bottles, bulk items or used construction and electronic items. If your area is still doing limited recycling, please sort your items carefully and follow recycling guidelines so whole loads of recycling will not be contaminated and refused due to poor sorting practices or ignoring recycling guidelines. These are just a few of the changes we can make as individuals to help save energy, reduce waste, and save our Earth. As you discover more, share with your neighbors, family, and friends. We can all do our part, however large or small, to make Everyday Earth Day! Every Day Should be Earth Day! visiting Dorothy’s son. While watching “Yellowstone” on television that evening, Don simply turned to Dorothy and asked if she would be his wife. “It just felt right!” shares Don. “I said yes!” exclaims Dorothy. “We both strongly believe in marriage and commitment, so it was a no- brainer!” The next day, the newly engaged couple purchased rings. They thought about getting married in the fall but opted instead to get married less than two weeks later on February 9. “Why wait?” says Dorothy with a smile. “When you know, you know!” A Community Affair When friends and neighbors learned about Don and Dorothy’s engagement, they jumped right in to help plan the big day. “We really have an incredible community here with so many amazing people!” says Dorothy. “Our friends at Leisure World helped us have a beautiful wedding!” Family members and friends gathered on February 9 in the Rec. 1 Clubroom to celebrate Don and Dorothy’s love. They were married by their pastor from their church, Victory Lutheran Church. “The wedding was beautiful!” recalls Dorothy. “There was such a powerful anointing in the room. I felt the presence of God! It was so powerful. We have been given so much grace.” “I agree,” says Don. “It was beautiful!” Singles: Be Open! So, what’s Don and Dorothy’s advice to singles? “Be open and fear not,” says Dorothy sincerely. “There could be someone waiting for you right around the corner!” “You have to be willing to take the chance!” adds Don. This summer, the duo plan to take an extended trip down the East Coast. But for now, Don and Dorothy are simply enjoying their new roles as Mr. and Mrs. and making every day count! Congratulations, Don and Dorothy Higgins! Here’s to friendship and wedded bliss! Don and Dorothy Higgins: Finding Friendship and Love! continued from A1. Just married! continued from A1.