Going Green

Reduce

1. Reduce my purchase of plastic water bottles by drinking tap water from a reusable water bottle.
2. Get my morning coffee in a refillable coffee mug.
3. Avoid the purchase or use of any Styrofoam item because today’s Styrofoam will still be here 500 years from now.
4. Sign up to lessen junk mail coming to my home at newdream.org/junkmail/index.php .

Reuse

1. Use both sides of every piece of paper.
2. Take my lunch to work or school in reusable containers, not plastic bags.
3. Reuse a pet!  Adopt from the New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare when in the market for a pet.
4. Use the Sunday comics, the newspaper or reusable bags for gift wrapping.
5. Donate used books to and buy used books from the New Fairfield Friends of the Library.
6. Give away stuff that others can use; get free stuff that you can use at freecycle.org/group/United% 20States/Connecticut/Danbury 

Recycle

1. Use only rechargeable batteries and recycle them when they wear out at the New Fairfield Drop Off Center.
2. Use natural pine or cedar or recycled newspaper litter for my cat’s litter box.
3. Recycle used motor oil, auto batteries, leaves, brush, all types of electronics, and antifreeze at the New Fairfield Drop Off Center.  

Rethink

1. Energy Use
   1. Insulate my water heater and set the temperature to 120 degrees or less.
   2. Work at home and eliminate my commute at least one day a month.
   3. Caulk cracks in my home, weather strip the doors and windows in my home or increase my home’s insulation.
2. Conservation of Natural Resources
   1. Plant a tree or contribute to tree planting in the Amazon at Reforest the Tropics.
   2. Become a member of the New Fairfield Land Trust.
   3. Sign up with the Selectmen’s office (312-5600) to Adopt-A-Road in New Fairfield.
3. Pollution Prevention
   1. Take my household hazardous waste, including used CFLs, to either the May or September household hazardous waste collection sponsored by the Town, at no charge!  See dates, times and locations at the HRRA website at http://hrra.org/current_interest.php.
   2. Replace hazardous household cleaning products with hazard-free or organic products.  See how at the CT DEP’s  Household Alternatives for Reducing Toxic Products in Your Home. 
   3. Buy white toilet tissue, paper towels and other paper products.
   4. Properly maintain my septic system and have it cleaned as recommended by the New Fairfield Health Department based on usage and family size.
   5. Adopt a storm drain near my home, monitor its functioning, and call the Town or State for maintenance when the storm drain is clogged or not operating properly.