The use of scrap metal instead of virgin materials to make new steel results in a 97 percent reduction in mining wastes, 90 percent savings in virgin materials use, 86 percent reduction in air pollution, 76 percent reduction in water pollution, 74 percent savings in energy, and 40 percent reduction in water use.

Some time in between the sashimi and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out a permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one.

Recycling a ton of paper saves 17 trees, two barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 1,260 miles), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for six months), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space and 60 pounds of air pollution.

Recycling glass instead of making it from silica sand reduces mining waste by 70 percent, water use by 50 percent and air pollution by 20 percent.

If every U.S. household replaced just one roll of 1,000-sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissues with 100 percent recycled ones, it could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space and 155 million gallons of water.

Stop junk mail  from coming to your mailbox.   To have your name removed from mailing lists write to Direct Marketing Service / 11 West 42nd Street / PO Box 3861 / NY NY 10163.   Or go online to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service website.

During an average year, an American uses approximately 2,200 napkins - around six each day.  If everyone in the US used one less napkin a day, more than a billion pounds of napkins could be saved from landfills each year.

Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water.  If everyone in the country saved just one gallon of water from their daily shower, over the course of the year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day.

Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn’t mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed.  Determined to stir? Break off a piece of pasta from the cupboard! You can nibble after using it, compost, or throw away with less guilt.

One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. For example: It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed.  Interested in yummy vegetarian options? Boca makes excellent vegetarian grillers like Italian Sausage, burgers, and breakfast sausage links. Another favorite is Morning Star’s mock chick’n nuggets, hot dogs, sausage patties & burgers like tomato-basil and spicy black bean. These options are so delicious and convincing, you wouldn’t believe there’s no meat!

Share magazines and newspapers with friends or donate your already read ones to hospitals, doctors offices, or community places. Here in Hawaii: The library accepts used magazines in good condition. Ask you local school, after school program, preschool or daycare if they need magazines for art projects. They often appreciate the donation.

Use unbleached coffee filters - bleached paper products create dioxin, a deadly toxic which is dumped into waterways. Some coffee makers have reusable filter baskets and there are cloth filters that can be washed and reused again and again.