So, I’m not going to do this for just a month. I want to be as green as I can for as long as I can. As I write this, I realize it comes down to how selfish or unselfish I want to be. Also, there wasn’t a specific day that I started being green, I have added (or changed) behaviors as I’ve gone along. I plan on pushing myself farther and farther.

For example, I’ve always recycled most stuff (the low hanging fruit like newspaper, cans, etc.) but awhile ago started to go deeper. A few months ago, Cassandra Moore, who works on the City of Cleveland’s recycling program came to my house to meet with a group of friends and neighbors who get together to share ideas on how to live more green (to the chagrin of some, the group’s nickname is "Gang Green"). More about them in the future.

What I recycle now that I didn’t before:

• Styrofoam—The City of Cleveland does not take Styrofoam but, after a few phone calls, I found out that Heinen’s does. I’m assuming their intent is to take their own stuff back and not the whole city’s, but until I find another place I’m taking it there. Call it 'guerilla recycling'. I didn’t even go in, I gave the bag to the guy out front who helps you with your groceries. Tossing Styrofoam in the landfill has particular negatives that other stuff doesn’t.
• Batteries—Recycling sources here or here
• An old bookcase—sent out an email to my list, somebody grabbed it
• Food scraps—started composting (well, for now maybe throwing them in a pile in the back yard with leaves and seeing what happens might be a more accurate description)

Still a problem: aerosol cans. Cleveland doesn’t take them, although I know some cities do.

The county has a great website where you can find out where to take stuff that your city may not.

Talked my employer into recycling paper. They drop off the bins and then come and get them as needed. Here's who we use.

Clearly recycling has benefits, but we won’t fix things until we consume a lot less and make smarter choices about what we consume and what it’s packaged in.

I’ve started to look at what I buy that can be bought in glass packaging instead of plastic and I’ve found a few things online specifically niacin and fish oil. We buy milk in glass bottles from Anne Marie’s stand at the West Side Market.

Are glass bottles better green-wise than plastic? Look at this article.

There’s this notion out there that if something gets recycled or if you use, say, paper towels that are made of recycled materials it’s “all ok” or has a neutral effect.

I’ve tried to find something out on the web to show that this isn’t quite right but haven’t found anything yet...I’ll keep looking but here’s my take. There is some amount of energy cost to produce say a paper cup. If you recycle that cup, there is another energy cost. Yes, it doesn’t end up in a landfill, but certainly there is more energy spent than not using that cup at all.

I know there are studies out there that show that you must use a ceramic mug 1,000 times before it “breaks even” energy cost wise with using 1,000 paper cups. Their conclusion:

“The lesson of this life-cycle energy analysis is that the choice between reusable and disposable cups doesn't matter much in its overall environmental impact. One should use one's best judgement.”

I’m not a science guy, but that doesn’t seem right to me. First, I already have my ceramic cup and there’s plenty of cups in people’s cupboards and at yard sales, etc. to reuse. The energy cost has already been spent. Second, not sure what this study assumes about disposing of 1,000 paper cups and that impact.

If someone thinks I don’t have it right, let me know.

Other miscellaneous stuff I’ve done to be green; stopped getting the Plain Dealer everyday (just Sunday), stopped picking up the Free Times/Scene, bought a handkerchief instead of using Kleenex, signed up a few places to stop getting junk mail (we’ll see if it works), using environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, no paper towels (bought a slew of washcloths), hanging up clothes to dry, which requires me to keep on top of clothes washing (Green Tip from Experience #1: Do not hang your clothes to dry by your pile of Zoo-Poo).

Finally, I take my mug with me everywhere I go.

Next up: eating local and trying to travel to Sweden green (although I think traveling might be inherently un-green).