Eco-Organizing your Paper! Part 2

April 28, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

Of the 42 percent of the world’s industrial wood harvest going to paper. Industrialized nations, with 20 percent of the world’s population, consume 87 percent of the world’s printing and writing papers. Global production in the pulp, paper and publishing sector is expected to increase by 77% from 1995 to 2020.

By going green with your paper you can make a difference.  Here are easy peasy tips:

If you are buying paper, remember to look for  post-consumer recycled content, which avoids cutting down any new trees, and “closes the recycling loop.”

A recent study estimates that Americans could prevent the logging of over 16 million trees annually if everyone switched from paper bills to Internet banking.  Most institutions provide E statements for 401 K and credit cards can provide paperless statements.

Buy recycled filing products. Most stores offer recycled products with non recycle materials.  The more demand that is created for recycled products will help bring prices down.

All FreedomFiler label kits are currently manufactured in the USA and are printed without using any plastic components.  The packaging is streamlined to remove all extraneous printed materials to use as little paper as possible.  The company is also green in many ways. Find out more at https://freedomfiler.com/AffiliateClickThrough.cfm?cid=9749

Think before you print!!

Print on both sides.

Keep a box to place paper with one used side at your desk. Flip and use the other side for scratch paper.

Eco-Organizing your Paper!

April 25, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

DID YOU KNOW THAT: The average executive wastes 150 hours each year looking for documents; typical hourly employee almost doubles that.
1 in 20 documents is lost and gone forever;  Paper usage has increased 14% over the past few years.
Employees typically spend 5-15% of their time reading information but 50% of their time looking for pertinent data.

Ways to get your paper organized:

  • A great organizing software is About One where you can store and organize health records & education & create electronic newsletters.  Save 10% with this code: HEALINGORG

http://aboutone.com/

  • Use Evernote to save your ideas, things you see, and things you like. Then find them all on any computer or device you use. For free. www.evernote.com/
  • A nifty product to help you stay organized without using paper is a portable whiteboard with different templates that allows you to create lists, etc.

cocoaliving.com/products/slate

  • Instead of having to keep those bulky manuals, you can locate even hard to find ones here: www.manualsonline.com/

Breathe Easier

April 21, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

The pollution of the environment outside is a growing concern, but so too is the air we breathe inside our homes. On average we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, and statistics from the EPA state that indoor air pollution is often 6-12times worse than outside.  After decluttering for spring cleaning, consider going green with your cleaners.

Method cleaners are available at most stores and you can also make your own.  Be sure to read labels as some products are greenwashing and not as green as they can be. Here are some on line resources.

http://www.greennest.com/

http://www.ourgreenhouse.com/

http://www.akeena.net/

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

http://www.mrsmeyers.com/

http://www.methodhome.com/

http://www.simplegreen.com/

http://www.eco-me.com/

Easy Way to Improve Health & Be Green

April 18, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

A lot of times people think going green means buying a Prius or constructing a green home. While those are great and if you can do it, more power to you, but there are also small things you can do that makes a difference.

Those cans of Pam, or Olive Oil, are NOT RECYCLABLE.  Instead of using those you can purchase a spritzer so all you are using is pure oil (instead of chemicals) and you can monitor what you are using.  You can label the bottles and help keep all your yummy cooking oils organized.

Pampered Chef sells one as does  Misto.


The Other 2 New R’s

April 14, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

  • Recycling and composting rates recovered 32.1 percent of MSW or 79 million tons. But this figure, you will recall, does not include hazardous, industrial, and construction waste. 32.1 percent is higher than before but still way too low.
  • Approximately 8,550 curbside recycling programs existed in 2005 throughout the United States, a lower figure than the 8,875 programs that existed in 2003
The other 2 R’s of Eco-Organizing:

•Repurpose. Find creative ways to use what you have.  Wine box can house ornaments (instead of buying a plastic container made specifically for ornaments!) ; a cake stand can be used to hold all your “get out the door quickly” essentials; a tissue box can hold plastic bags, etc.
•Recycle: Recycling isn’t mandatory in Raleigh or in NC.  Do your part, but encourage the legislature to pass laws.  There is a program that offers incentives to people who recycle in form of gift cards. I sent in asking them to add Raleigh to the list.   https://www.recyclebank.com/

Know your recycling guidelines!  Consider setting up an organized recycling center in your home or business to make it as easy as possible to recycle.

Are you able to make a difference today? Remember every little bit counts!


3 of the New 5 R’s

April 11, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

Most of the environmental damage is done in the manufacturing stage, so the less consumerism, the better.  According to the EPA, Americans produced 254.1 million tons of household trash in 2007.  In 2008, landfills reported a 30% decline in waste levels.  Keep in mind the five R’s when you are getting organized.  Make every day Earth Day!

Here are three of the five:

Reduce: Think before you buy. Think again. Do you really need that item? The less stuff you have, the less you have to organize. Have or give experiences (Trips, tickets, special events, cooking lessons, etc.)
Reuse: It’s fantastic if you recycle your boxes, but even better if they can be reused: take them to a local moving company; to Sam’s; find out if a business or non profit is moving.
Repair. Don’t just throw it out.  If you can’t repair post on www.freecyle.org Someone out there will want your stuff and be able to repair!
What difference can you make today?

Eco-Organizing: Another Excuse to Hold onto Trash?

April 7, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

Someone asked me if being green in organizing was simply another excuse to hold onto trash and keep clutter.  ABSOLUTELY NOT!

There was an article in the N & O last year about an artist who makes art from stuff people want to throw away.  Some people might see it still as junk, but this man has chosen to make something artistic out of it. I am not a big fan of modern art, so I can see how people wouldn’t appreciate what he has created.  Alas, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

So many times when I see organizing or cleaning shows on TV I see all of this good stuff just being chucked into a container to be dumped at a landfill later.  Eco-organizing is about recycling what you can according to your local laws; reusing items that are in good condition; donating items, such as clothes, that can be used by someone else.  There are many alternatives out there (freecyle/Craigs List, etc.) for you to give to someone else instead of simply pitching.  There are also many everyday items you can repurpose to help you get organized.

Every little bit makes a difference.

What can you do today to make the world a little more green?

What exactly is an Eco-Organizer???

April 4, 2011 by Julie Seibert  
Filed under Blog

When I started my professional organizing business, I was trying to find my niche when someone suggested bringing what was very personal to me into my professional life. I found this Green Code of Ethics from another professional organizer that I have adopted.  I don’t force people to be green, but rather try to educate them in ways that they can make a difference.

http://www.srfboy.com/greensurfers/greenbuilding/greenorganizing.htm

As a Green Organizer, I will promote:

* Using recycled and/or biodegradable products where possible and feasible
* Re-using products rather than buying new products
* Limiting the amount of unwanted items going to landfills by donating, free-cycling, selling and recycling as much as possible
* Purchasing organizing products from companies that adhere to environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices

As an eco-organizer I will personally strive to:

* Limit the nature and volume of the products I consume and discard
* Purchase from Green product and service vendors.
* Teaching Green practices to my children.
* Set up effective and efficient recycling centers in my home.
* Find creative ways to store potentially useful items or give them away for future re-use instead of throwing them away.
* Purchase earth-friendly, second-hand, or locally-produced products where feasible.
* Follow Green disposal practices such as:
o Using recycling centers
o Finding individuals or organizations who need unusual items I need to get rid of
o Safely and legally disposing of toxic items.
* Share my knowledge of green organizing with others.
* Encourage vendors to offer more earth-friendly products.