The THREE "R"'s

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE:
Really makes you stop and think!
Each year Americans alone throw away 18 billion disposable diapers. In perspective, this is enough to extend from the earth to the moon and back 7 times.

In 2 weeks, Americans throw enough glass bottles out to fill the New York Trade Center’s twin towers. Americans go through on average 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour.

58% of U.S. newspapers are recycled. 500,000 trees could be saved from being cut down if every family in the United States recycled their newspaper. Producing products made from recycled paper causes 74% less air pollution, 35% less water pollution, and creates 5 times the number of jobs than producing virgin paper from trees. It also saves old-growth trees, forest ecosystems, native habitat and biodiversity.

Americans normally use about 70 gallons of water each day. Dishwashers use about 11 gallons of water. Hand washed dishes use up approximately 16 gallons. Taking a bath, half full of water, uses around 20 gallons of water. However, an average length shower only uses about 13 gallons.

The typical disposable plastic fork or spoon is made from petroleum and estimates are that it can take somewhere between 10 and 100 years to decompose. And of course when it is decomposing it's releasing toxic substances into the soil and groundwater.

Traditional garbage bags are made from plastic and can take 10 to 50+ years to decompose in a typical landfill.

Celebrate EARTH DAY... Find out if you are really doing your part: Are you living Green Quiz?