Dear Eartha, headlines about the declining Colorado River, and extreme weather being a ‘new normal’ makes me wonder what difference it actually makes to change our lifestyles. Aren’t we all just doomed anyway? Believe me, it’s easy to feel helpless and unmoored when contemplating a future with less water and a growing number of billion-dollar weather […]
Dear Eartha, I love skiing and get outside almost every day during the winter. With that much shredding, I am noticing a lot of wear and tear on my skis and gear. I know it’s not great for the environment to replace equipment every year, and not only that, it can get expensive. How can I […]
Dear Eartha, I’m ready to take my holiday decorations down and don’t want to sacrifice a ski day in the process. What options do I have to easily recycle some of these items? New Year’s resolutions are coming in hotter than our warming climate, so now is the perfect time to add a last-minute resolution […]
Dear Eartha, As a parent, I am worried about the impact climate change will have on my kids’ futures. How can I encourage my kids to be environmental stewards without totally overwhelming them? Although it can be scary to consider what a warming world might look like, we should nevertheless educate and prepare our kids […]
Dear Eartha, I am so confused by cartons. Egg cartons, ice cream cartons, juice boxes. What exactly is a carton? I feel your pain. My grandma calls cardboard boxes cartons, most juice boxes can be recycled as cartons, and foam egg cartons (yes, they unfortunately still exist) are 100% trash. When we talk about cartons in […]
Dear Eartha, Recently I noticed that some grocery stores offer aluminum water bottles in addition to plastic water bottles. Both are recyclable, does it really matter which one I buy? Despite many of us owning (and occasionally forgetting to bring) reusable bottles, consumption of bottled water is on the rise. In 2020, Americans consumed 15 billion gallons — […]
Dear Eartha, The leaves are turning and the days are getting shorter. I know the colder weather is coming, so how can I make sure my energy bills don’t skyrocket this winter? Fall is in the air! Pumpkin spice everything is back on menus and football is on the TV. I, too, find myself spending […]
Dear Eartha, I recently heard that there are tax credits for electric cars — is that true? Yep — it’s true! In fact, tax credits for electric cars have been offered by the federal government for over a decade. And during that time, the credit stayed the same — until this year. With the signing […]
Dear Eartha, I have some old paint and fertilizer in my garage. I think they’re recyclable in Summit County, but I don’t know where. Can you help? Both items you mention are considered household hazardous waste, leftover household products that can catch fire, react, explode or are considered corrosive or toxic. The waste also includes things […]
Dear Eartha, I heard that 30% to 40% percent of food in the United States is wasted. That’s a lot! What can I do to contribute less to the waste and make more sustainable choices at the supermarket? The sad truth is that you’re absolutely right. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic […]
Dear Eartha, even with all the rain, my neighbor’s sprinklers are running every day. It drives me crazy. Is there anything I can do? It’s downright discouraging to see sprinklers running in the rain, especially since we’re still in a drought. Yep, despite the deluge. Just last week, federal officials gave Western states more time to negotiate water […]
