Blog Action Day: Topher's Green List

I have decided to throw together a "green list", and break it down into two parts. Part one is a few suggestions I have for readers about what they can do to help protect the environment. Part two is a couple of suggestions for cities (For example, the City of Worcester, MA) and towns across the country.

Draft an 18-wheeler:
While leaving the car at home, and riding your bike to work would cut down on pollution and save energy, some people (like me) aren't able to bike 35 miles to work. What's an alternative to this? Draft an 18-wheeler. Yes, seriously. Here's how to do it: Once on the highway, pull behind a big rig going the speed limit, and pull within two car lengths or so. Then, let off the gas. You'll be caught in the truck's slipstream, being pulled down highway, without using nearly as much energy as you normally would with your foot fully on the gas pedal!

Properly Dispose Of Hazardous Waste:
Nearly every household has some kind of hazardous waste: old paint cans, used motor oil, unused pesticides and weed killers. If you dump these things down the drain, you'll end up polluting the water supply. They should be disposed of in a site specially designed for hazardous or toxic wastes. Some cities and counties have monthly or annual pickups. Other areas have special drop-off sites. Call your city or county government to find out the proper way to dispose of such trash in your area. Try organizing a hazardous-waste-collection day in your neighborhood or at your school, encouraging others to dispose of materials properly.

Hold on to Balloons:
Helium balloons--they kind that float up into the sky--are lots of fun (I know my daughter nearly loses her mind every time she gets one), but if you let them fly away, they may harm fish and animals. Helium balloons eventually fall back to earth and can be blown by strong winds miles away into the ocean. Some sea animals mistake the balloons for jellyfish. When an animal tries to eat a balloon, it can kill the animal. So if you have a helium balloon, hold on tight. If you know of others planning to use them for a celebration, warn them about the dangers of letting the balloons fly away.

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Ban Non-Biodegradable trash:
Banning unnecessary non-biodegradable junk, including Styrofoam cartons and plastic bags—something the city should be considering. We don't need this stuff, it just ends up in landfills, and there are plenty of affordable, biodegradable alternatives.

Ban Two-Stroke Motors:
Banning two-stroke engines, including lawn mowers and gas-powered leaf blowers, isn't such a bad idea. Cities all over the country have banned these filthy motors, which burn oil as well as gas. They've even discovered a revolutionary low-tech alternative to the annoying, dirty leaf blowers. It's called a "rake."

Pay-as-you-drive pricing:
This is a system under which insurance rates and registration fees are based directly on your car's annual mileage. The more you drive, the more you pay—a major incentive to combine trips, eliminate unnecessary trips, and generally drive less.