Consider giving up three disposables: fast-food wrappers, Dixie cups and plastic grocery bags.

1. Fast food wrappers

It saddens me to see the long lines at the drive-through of the Chick-fil-A near my home. Of all the fast food out there, Chick-fil-A is one that tends to be more tasty, so they’re always crazy busy.

However, Chick-fil-A goes through a ton of packaging for all those side items, not to mention their Styrofoam cups. Nothing on their menu is organic. Nothing on their website speaks of an environmentally conscious company. There’s so much they could do. Chick-fil-A could offer a discount to customers who come inside rather than idling in the drive-through. They could replace current food packaging with items more easily recycled locally. And it would sure be lovely if they used organic chicken!

Now that I’ve finished picking on that chicken joint, I’d like to challenge you to limit your fast-food intake. Your health and the environment will thank you. Try to pack your lunch with reusable containers instead of plastic baggies.

2. Dixie bathroom cups

It doesn’t matter if you’re using paper or plastic, disposable bathroom cups can easily be replaced. My favorite bathroom vessel is a clear glass espresso cup. You may also use a small juice glass. If you don’t own one, visit an antique shop. I always see tons of retro juice glasses when I stroll around antique malls. Not only will you save dough and landfill space, but you won’t have to empty your bathroom trash as often.

3. Plastic grocery bags

While you may not think of yourself as purchasing plastic bags at the grocery store, you are. Many grocers are now offering a discount if you take your own bags to the store. While it may be tempting to purchase the $1 bags offered at many shops, you’ll be happier if you invest in a sturdy cotton bags that can be thrown in the washing machine. Bags with long handles are my favorite since you can put them over your shoulder. Also, don’t forget produce bagsfor your veggies and fruit.

(Image via flickr/SMercury98)

Sure, paper towels can be handy for things like cleaning up kitty vomit or patting the grease off the top of bacon, but do you really have to use them for every little mess?

I cut down on my paper towel usage by following a few easy routines:

• Dry your hands with a clean towel that you reserve for that purpose: a hand towel in the kitchen. You may wish to buy some different ones for this purpose so they can be identified as hand towels for the kitchen, not for cleaning.

• Clean messes with a dish towel. Replace it daily (or more often if needed) to reduce the spread of germs.

• If you’re cleaning something particularly gross, go ahead and use a paper towel if that makes you feel better. Or just use a cloth towel once.

If you follow those tips, you may be able to cut your paper towel usage down to just one roll or less a month. Lots of folks don’t use any paper towels at all.

Imagine the money and trees you’ll save.

(Image via Etsy)

Here are some tips to help you revise your spending habits to be more green:

• Choose organic or Fair Trade whenever possible, and be aware that words like “natural” may mean nothing. Always read ingredients.

• If you don’t make your own green cleaning products, choose companies that produce only green cleaners. These are people like Ecover and Seventh Generation.

• Look at packaging. Many companies are finding ways to reduce packaging. If you think one of your favorite products needs a packaging overall, tell the manufacturer. They are listening more than you think.

• Look for the Leaping Bunny symbol when choosing cleaners and cosmetics. Animal testing isn’t required or necessary.

• Buy from local farmers and artisans. If you don’t, these people can’t make a living. The small farming way of life may be making a comeback, but they still very much need your help.

For more guidance on buying green, I highly recommend Big Green Purse. I reviewed it last year. Also, read more on the history of Earth Day.

Have a green Earth Day! And every day.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Earth Day has come under attack by greenies who say you shouldn’t just think about the earth one day a year, but I don’t think that’s the idea. Earth Day started in 1970, and its principal founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson, had this to say about the very first Earth Day:

“Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.”

The seeds of Earth Day were planted back in 1962 when Nelson persuaded President Kennedy to go on a conservation tour, which began in 1963. The conservation tour didn’t have a dramatic effect, but it put the wheels in motion for the first Earth Day, seven years later.

So, sure Earth Day may seem like an old, unnecessary idea to some, but we need to remember how it represents a time when environmental issues came to the forefront of national attention for the first time.

I’m not really sure what happened to cool the fire between 1970 and now, but we obviously haven’t done enough to protect the environment. Will your children look back and smirk at the idea of this Earth Day that accomplished nothing? What might another 38 years of nearly no change bring about? We don’t really need to find out.

Make some new green goals this Earth Day and celebrate them throughout the year.