It’s that magical time of year again when 3,800 pages worth of unneeded phone books arrive, uninvited, on my front porch. Out with the old, in with the new…but with a twist: The old phone books are 100% recyclable.  You can just throw them right into your blue curbside bins, and Charleston County Recycling will [...]

We would like to apologize for not blogging, answering emails, tweeting, or facebooking recently, but we’ve had a very cute distration here at Go Green headquarters. Last week we welcomed Zoe Faye Norman into the world, and have been oooh-ing and aaah-ing instead of writing and posting ever since. We promise, the hiatus is over [...]

Foam packing peanuts have protected our shipped items since the seventies, but scientists are only now realizing their impact on the environment. That’s because these protectors of all things fragile are often made from polystyrene (plastic #6), a resin that does not biodegrade, is resistant to photolysis, and has become a chief component in the [...]

The College of Charleston is a not only a huge asset to the city, but a big influence on local trends and culture. That’s why I’m excited to see this video roundup of steps they’ve taken to provide a more sustainable dining experience to students. They eliminated trays that needed washing, switched to biodegradable food [...]

Yes, pop the organic champagne and fire up the fair trade jug band — the compost pile we began last fall is fruitful — literally. Our table scraps haven’t gone to Bee’s Ferry for months now, and instead their worm-riddled nutrient-rich remains are ready to be mixed back into our gardens and flowerbeds. I’ve known [...]

It’s that time of year again – new phone books are arriving on porches and driveways throughout the Lowcountry. This means updated information, but also tons of excess waste. Please remember that Charleston County Recycling accepts old phone books for reclamation, and you can throw them right into your blue curbside bin with other paper [...]

I just got an email from A Single Bag, a company trying to save the planet one reusable bag at a time. The North Charleston business is making these bags from fully recyclable (not here) polypropylene, which means they are durable and waterproof. And while I can’t vouch for the bags personally (send us some!), [...]

Guess what? Chad is turning 40 this week! OK, he’s not, if he wants his age known, he’ll tell. Chad’s birthday is an opportunity to consume wisely. I began with gifts from the boys. We visited The Sea Turtle Rescue Hospital at the Aquarium. We have proudly adopted for Daddy. We can’t wait to visit [...]

The history of toilet paper is long. From leaves to rolls, our fannies have never been more pampered. Flush, flush , flush, down goes that pristine paper. Pristine, you say? I say considering its origins, that Kimberly -Clark t.p. belongs in our jewelry boxes. The only way to stop flushing it is to stop buying [...]

*** EDIT *** I’m an idiot, these aren’t green at all (unless you dig toxic breast milk).  Live and learn. During a delightful visit to DwellSmart, I purchased my first box of dryer balls. This purchase makes sense both economically and environmentally. I won’t have to purchase another box for two years. The dryer balls [...]

I wanted to inform you all that Graham and I are still Gdiaper strong. We switched about a month ago, and I have no intention of ever relying on disposable diapers again. Gdiapers are easy to put together, put on, and put away in the toilet. The underpants and liners show no signs of stress. [...]

My little guys have celebrated their birthday parties, thus far, at our home. They’re young, and can entertain each other with no more than glow sticks in a darkened room. We love throwing these parties — they’re simple! And since we’re in control of the details, what little waste we accumulate is just from plain [...]

Are you becoming obsessed with plastic bags yet? I am. The bag phenomenon is everywhere. I mean, I’m hooked on my own canvas bag. Jen is blogging about becoming the “crazy bag lady”, and the other Jennifer started a project that gives them away. Then there’s the numbers: 100 billion each year in the U.S., [...]

After living in a very bucolic setting for 8 and half years, we made a change. Or I should say, I made a change and my sweet husband, kind of disgruntled 10 year old, and up for whatever kindergartner came along for the ride. I knew all along that I was going to struggle with [...]

Turning landfill-bound kitchen waste into rich gardening soil is a very sustainable practice, even in tiny suburban-sized doses. I love the idea of using free homemade soil to enrich the garden plot I’m using to grow some summer veggies, all while learning loads about biology, chemistry, and patience. Composting is a green activity that’s a [...]

Sometimes I get so caught up in recycling that I pay less attention than I should to the other two R’s…Reducing and Reusing. Recycling is great, but ideally we should be using less and reusing more. And while reducing the amount of stuff we use is ideal, it often feels like a punishment. Reusing is [...]

One way to address the issue of our mass consumption as a country, and the realities of what ends up in the landfill as a result is, well, ignore it. A group of 5th grade students at Charles Pinckney Elemetary School are choosing a different tact. Pinkney’s Ecology Club, lead by S.A.I.L. teacher Mike Cline, [...]

So, I’m no artist, but something about the holidays gets me in the mood to… CREATE! There is nothing better than bringing the outdoors in to help you celebrate the season. There are lots of ways to save green and go natural during the holidays. For the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Fall season: Create a simple centerpiece in seconds [...]

Ever since a Hummer began showing up in the parking lot where I work, I’ve been dying to get a shot of it next to one of the many Priuses. Well today was the day, and to make it even sweeter, a Chevy Suburban was parked on the other side forming a veritable eco-sandwich. A [...]

Yep, it looks that way. Based on our recent poll, most Go Green readers either avoid bottled water when possible, or purposely drink only from the tap. Either way, it says a lot about where we are as a community, and how education can impact trends. A few years ago, I (and possibly you) would [...]