Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Simple ways to reduce the amount you use, reuse what you have, and recycle what you don't need.  Every little bit helps to make our world a cleanier, healthier place. Re-fill 'er up! Instead of buying individual bottles of water, why not refill the ones you have?  Save a half dozen or so empty water bottles (and their caps) to refill and reuse.  If you don't like the taste of tap water, buy bottled water in gallon-size jugs to refill your smaller bottles.  There's a lot less plastic in a gallon jug than in a gallon's worth of smaller water bottles.  The same goes for juice and soda bottles, too. Remember to Recycle! If it's paper, plastic or metal, chances are good that it can be recycled.  Don't throw cardboard, plastic bottles, soda cans, baby food containers or other recyclables in with the regular trash... give them a quick rinse and throw them in your recycle bin.  Cocoplum recycling pickup is on Thursdays.  If you need a recycling bin for metal/plastic (the blue bin) or paper (the yellow bin), you can order them online from the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority or call (866) NEW-BINS.  For more information on what can and cannot be recycled, check out the PBC SWA's residential recycling guidelines. Stomp! Due to contamination concerns, the PBC SWA asks that some items not be recycled, such as cereal boxes, tin cans and other food-related waste.  But, that doesn't mean they should go straight to the trash can.  Before you throw it away, give it a quick stomp to make it as compact as you can so it will take up less space in the landfill.  Do the same for items you can recycle (milk and OJ cartons, corrugated cardboard boxes and empty juice boxes).  Kids especially love helping with this one.. who wouldn't like to crush things? Grow prettier flowers The average single family home in Palm Beach County generates 1,700 pounds per year of yard waste, which amounts to over 40% of the total household generation of solid waste.  That's a lot!  Do your part to reduce this by starting your own backyard composting bin.  (Be sure, of course, to place it somewhere that won't be an eyesore to your neighbors!)  For simple instructions on how to get started and more information on what can / can not be composed, visit the PBC SWA's backyard composting information website.  The composted dirt you create is a great way to make your plants and flowers grow, and it doesn't cost a dime! When the ink runs dry Remember that empty ink cartridges (from printers and fax machine) should never go in the trash, they can all be recycled.  All the major office supply stores offer convenient recycling programs, some even give you a postage-paid envelope to send back your old cartridge.  Check out: Staples Ink Drop Program or Office Depot's Ink Refill Station.  You can also donate your empty ink cartridge to an organization like Recycle for Breast Cancer, who will send you a postage paid label so you can mail your cartridge right to them.

	Donate! Clothes, toys, household items, time, money.... you can donate them all, as much or as little as you can spare can make a difference to someone else.  Why not pass along what you're not using? Clothes, Toys & Household Items (in progress) Old eyeglasses (in progress) Old cell phones (in progress) Time (in progress) Money You don't have to donate much to make a difference.  Ever see a bell-ringer outside your favorite discount store?  Those "pledge $1 to X organization" papers at the grocery store or gas station?  Someone on a street corner who could use a little help?  Though your handful of change or $1 bill might not seem like much... imagine the cumulative effort if everyone that passed by made a small donation?  Next time you're able to, drop a few coins in someone's bucket or add that $1 to your grocery bill.  Though you likely won't notice the difference in your wallet, it could make a big difference to someone else. Talent (in progress)