Green tips from readers
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Check out the Terracycle website. This company makes products using Capri Sun and other non-recyclable containers, chip bags, etc. http://www.terracycle.net/
Mary Jo Ray, Columbus, MS

Happy Earth Day! You can reduce your paper load, reduce your investments' expenses, and help the environment! You can choose to receive much of the required paperwork and correspondence electronically. And you can choose which you prefer electronically and which you prefer mailed: • Prospectuses • Annual Reports and Semi-annual Reports • Quarterly Statements • Transaction Confirmations Receiving electronic correspondence is not an all or nothing process. You choose which you prefer which method. (We have clients who prefer statements in the paper form, and their prospectuses and annual reports electronically.) Many shareholders have requested the new paperless options, and we believe they make sense for both cost and environmental reasons. And if you ever needed a paper copy, you can request one. The potential savings are more than just paper. In 2007 a major fund company mailed 41 million annual reports, and 62 million prospectuses, as required by law. The annual postage costs for mailing annual reports, semi-annual reports and prospectuses are $16.9 million! Eliminate some paperwork from your desk, save some money for your investments, and help the environment.
Financial Concepts, Columbus, MS

refill your plastic water bottles. or better yet dont use plastic water bottles at all and use cups instead
Dura Collins, Miss

Have your kids carpool to school and you carpool to work.
Latrice Harris, Starkville, MS

Happy Earth Day!
Greenie, Columbus

Recycle your cans. Chances are your church has a recycling program. If they don't it looks like the sponsors of this page do...
WM Brady, West Point

Hug a tree!
A reader, MS

Instead of paper or plastic use reusable shopping bags. They can hold a lot more items and are very sturdy. (and easier on your hands as well) You can find the canvas type at most craft stores.
J, Columbus,MS

As a follow up to my tip on collecting rain water, I noticed that Lowes now carries rain barrels with hose spigots preinstalled.
Peter Imes, Columbus, MS

Automotive waste oil is both a wonderful resource and a hazardous material. In order for it to be a resource, it has to be recycled, refined, and put to good use as a fuel or as a lubricant. Having your oil changed at a quality lube center assures that the oil is properly recycled. However, if you choose to do it yourself, please take your used oil (engine or transmission) and filters to a quality lube center who will make certain that your oil is recycled. If you dump it on the ground, you are endangering the environment and wasting resources.
Express Oil Change & Service Center, Golden Triangle

don't mow your grass real short. if you let it grow a little longer, it will block out the weeds and you won't have to use weedkillers.
eddie, columbus

My grandmother used to tell me that if you poured boiling water on a food stain soon after the stain was made, that it would come right out. No cleaners or anything.
Lisa Holland, Mississippi

Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. And, men, fill your sink a little with water instead of leaving the water running while you shave. It's not that hard!
Stephanie, Columbus, MS

Decomposition rates for common materials:

Glass bottle: 1 million years
Monofilament fishing line: 600 years
Plastic beverage bottles: 450 years
Disposable diapers: 450 years
Aluminum can: 80-200 years
Boot sole: 50-80 years
Styrofoam cup: 50 years
Tin can: 50 years
Leather: 50 years
Nylon fabric: 30-40 years
Plastic film canister: 20-30 years
Plastic bag: 10-20 years (???)
Cigarette filter: 1-5 years
Wool sock: 1-5 years
Plywood: 1-3 years
Waxed milk carton: 3 months
Apple core: 2 months
Newspaper: 6 weeks
Orange or banana peel : 2-5 weeks
Paper towel: 2-4 weeks

The above information was taken from the Pocket Guide to Marine Debris from Ocean Conservancy. It's sources were the U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL and “Garbage In, Garbage Out,” Audubon magazine, Sept/Oct 1998.
The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus, MS

Go to the farmer's market and buy local. There are plenty of people making honey and growning an assortment of veggies. By buying locally, you save on transportation and you get to know who is actually growing your food.
farmer, Macon

Check out books at our great local library instead of buying books, reading them and then putting them on your shelf for eternity.
Bob, Columbus, MS

Re-use your water bottle. ...in fact, try to reuse everything at least once.
cindy walker, columbus

Get up and walk!
Jonas, Columbus

Remember to rinse your containers before depositing to be recycled. Food residue is our enemy in recycling!
Karen Stanley, Columbus, MS

Compost! Make a wire cage and throw leaves, coffee grounds, tea bags and leftover fruit and veggies in to make rich soil. Click here to see how.
Newton, Columbus

buy a water filter for your faucet, and quit buying bottled water in plastic containers. you will save money and preserve your health. drinking from plastic containers can be hazardous, according to some studies.
catfishbeer, columbus

Install those spiral light bulbs instead of regular light bulbs.
Walter Mitchell, West Point

Use your gutters and a plastic barrel to store rain water. Use this water instead of water from your hose to water your flowers and garden. This reduces run-off and saves on your water bill.
Peter Imes, Columbus, MS