My Green Cranford Solutions

Solutions

CFL Cleanup

IF YOU BREAK A BULB...
1) Open a window before cleaning up, and turn off any forced-air heating or air conditioning.

2) Instead of sweeping or vacuuming, which can spread the mercury around, scoop up the glass fragments and powder. Use sticky tape to pick up remaining glass fragments or powder. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or wet wipes.

3) Dispose of the broken bulb through your local household hazardous waste program or recycling program. If that service is unavailable in your area, place all clean-up materials in a trash container outside the building.

4) Wash your hands after cleaning up.

5) If vacuuming is needed after wards, when all visible materials have been removed, vacuum the area and dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag. For the next few times you vacuum, turn off any forced-air heating or air conditioning and open a window before doing so.

Eat Local

The way we eat has an enormous impact on the health of the planet. By choosing to eat lower on the food chain, and focusing on local and organic produce, we can curb global warming and air pollution, avoid toxic pesticides, support local farmers and enjoy fresh, tasty food.

Find out what's fresh and ripe where you live, right now. Learn More

Home & Garden

Change a Light - CFLs

Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity is a major contributor to poor air quality and CO2 emissions which contribute to global warming.

Incandescent bulbs waste 95% of the electricity that they consume as heat.

The Solution

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs) will reduce energy use and save you money.

A CFL bulb uses up to 75% less energy than old-fashioned bulbs and could save you up to $30 over the life of the bulb.

More Facts
Buy On line
Recycling your old CFL light bulbs

Shopping

Shop Local

Driving long distances to buy products that can be purchased locally uses gas which cost you money and releases greenhouse gases into the environment.
The average American foodstuff travels an estimated 1,500 miles before being consumed. (Source: www.sustainabletable.org)

The Solution

Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.
Shop at local stores and buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Visit www.cranford.com for a directory of local business.
Visit Jersey Fresh to find local farms.

Reduce-Recycle-Reuse

Plastic Bags

Americans throw away almost 100 billion plastic bags every year.

Only 1 to 3 percent are ever recycled.

Birds and marine mammals often mistake them for food and thousands die each year after swallowing or choking on discarded plastic bags.

Plastic bags are not biodegradable.

Producing plastic bags requires millions of gallons of petroleum that could be used for transportation or heating.

The Solution

Use reusable shopping bags. You can buy them at your supermarket and other retailers. Keep a few in your car for those unplanned stops at the store.

Most supermarkets accept plastic bags for recycling. If your store does not, demand it.

If you are buying a single item, use the magic words - "I don't need a bag." Do you really need a bag for a bottle of milk that has a handle?

Audio: Hear NRDC's Kate Sinding Talking "Paper or Plastic" with WNYC's Brian Lehrer.

Transportation

Anti-idling

Most voluntary idling is pure waste. It wastes gasoline, and therefore money, impairs the operating efficiency of our cars, and emits additional greenhouse gases. Idling in front of our schools is harmful to our children and sets a bad example.

The Solution

If it looks like you will be idling for longer than 10 seconds, turn off the engine and restart when you are ready to drive.
Forget the drive-through window. Parking and walking into your bank or fast food restaurant will be good for the environment and the added exercise will be good for you.

Learn more about this issue!