Green Tips from NAPO New England Organizers
Source:  www.napo-newengland.com

"Reuse" is my favorite component of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle trilogy because new uses for old things are always cropping up!  Here's my latest:  When play-doh is dried out and done, the empty containers are perfect for storing small amounts of paint so it is easily accessible for touch-ups. The lids fit tightly, and the small size makes it more realistic to keep the paint near where it might be used...unlike that bulky paint can that you probably aren't interested in storing in your kitchen cabinets.
Source:  Leslie Huikko - Nicely Done Organizing

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Save the environment by shopping for all your errands (not just groceries) with sturdy reusable bags made out of natural fibers or 100% recyclable material, available in many shapes, sizes and features (e.g., insulated). When you shop with your own bags, many stores give you cash back. The following 4 steps helps you get started:
1  Create a set of at least 5 bags and bundle them together. See example at www.TheToteBuddy.com.
2  Consider owning 2 sets of bags so you can rotate them between your car and your mudroom as you use them.
3  Designate a specific, visible place to store each set inside your car and in your mudroom, so they are always available when you need to run an errand.
4  Keep a collapsible bag in your handbag and/or briefcase, so that it is available and handy when you decide to make an impulse purchase on the go.
Source:  Doris Hasbun, Professional Organizer

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Want to go more green but aren't sure how to go about it? This website, www.greenyour.com, is your guide to green living. It has five main categories: Home, Office, Body, Lifestyle, and Transportation for you to choose from and then under each of these categories, it is broken down into specifics. It is a great website to help you decide how you can alter various areas in your life to go green.
Source:  Dawn Link, CPO® - Resolutions

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The basic principle of green living, "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" is again the golden foundation for green organizing. Let's look at them one by one:
•   Reduce: This is about letting go of items that you do not use or love. In addition, it includes thinking twice when you are considering letting an item into your home or office. Reducing our belongings only to what we utilize in our daily lives not only creates space for the things that we really do use and love, but also gives us the gift of time and peace of mind.

◦ Consider this statistics which is also known as Pareto Principle as you reduce: We use 20% of our belongings 80% of the time (in other words 80% of our belongings are only used 20% of the time). That gives a different perspective when making decisions as to what to keep and what to let go, doesn't it?

•   Reuse: I love this one as it talks to our creative side. In my personal life as well as when I organize with my clients, I make sure to have a game of this principle as we search for a reusable item for a specific purpose. Often times, surprising finds surface. A couple of examples from my own home are: Using plastic salad containers for my daughter's crayons and lego pieces and reusing an old console table as an activity table in the playroom.

•   Recycle: When we reduce what comes into our homes or offices and reuse what we already have, the amount we recycle decreases dramatically, which is a wonderful gift to give Mother Earth. For the rest of the recyclable items, putting a system in place based on your town's unique rules makes recycling an easy task.

My final tip is to make Green Organizing a part of your family living. This not only teaches our kids grow as responsible, appreciative adults, but also gives families precious time to enjoy each other. Furthermore, green organizing is one of the best things you can do for your family budget. Especially with reducing what comes into your life and reusing what you already have (and eliminating a new purchase), you will be surprised to see how much positive impact you will have on your finances.
Source:  Sibel Babacan, Ph.D., CPCC, Dr.Bee Organizing Solutions 

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