Green Scene: Green Resolutions

In just a few hours it will be 2009 and we know you’ve been making your list of resolutions. Here are some green ways you can turn over a new leaf in the new year.

Buy locally. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The more money that goes into the local economy, the stronger our city will be financially. Also, buying food that has been grown within 150 miles of Philadelphia saves a heck of a lot of carbon spent transporting food across the country or the globe to our dinner plates. Stay tuned to Phillyist for information about joining a Community Supported Agriculture group.

Recycle EVERYTHING. Sure, you recycle your newspaper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and probably even your #1 and #2 plastics through the City of Philadelphia. And we are proud of you for that. But what about the rest? What about all those pesky #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 plastics? You probably throw them away. Well, you’ve got to check out Recycling Services Inc. in Pottstown. RSI takes everything, and we mean everything. We know that it’s a bit of a hike out to Pottstown, but nowhere closer to Philadelphia recycles as much. There’s an $8 gate fee to enter RSI, but if you and your neighbors store up recyclables for a few months, the trip will be worth the amount of detritus you save from the landfill.

Ride your bike to work. As we’ve written about in the past, the new tax incentive starts in just a few short hours. If you haven’t convinced your boss to fill out the paperwork yet, make that one of your top priorities for the new year. It will save you both money.

Plant a garden or a just a pot. The new year means new seed catalogs. If you are an avid gardener, you already know the joy of thumbing through the new catalog and picturing all the luscious green things you can grow. Even if you have a black thumb or are completely surrounded by concrete, you can still grow some things in pots and containers. Nothing beats the taste or fun of picking a tomato and some fresh basil and popping them right into your mouth. You’ll save a lot by planting your own veggies and herbs, including cash and carbon. Phillyist will be posting gardening tips throughout the new year so check Green Scene each Wednesday.

And finally, mark your new 2009 calendars for the upcoming Go Green Expo at the Convention Center. It runs from March 13-15 and will certainly have all the latest in everything green.

Image credit: Flickr user lisabatty.