The hottest trend - recycling

Few months back, I've come across an article from a lady's magazine that highlights the trend towards eco friendliness. It shares about some fashion label that includes organic materials in the making of clothes as well as some designers that creates their own line of eco-friendly fashion. Then there is also the Singapore design competition that has a category for designing recycling bins and an article that focused on the health benefits of going on organic diet. Whether it is a ride with fashion statement or health reasons, I am grateful for the media and commercial industry for spreading the notion of going green to people. In the past, cashiers will react with a funny look whenever I bring my own shopping bag or reject the carrier they offer to place my groceries in. Nowadays, it is no longer weird to be environmental friendly as cashiers and shopkeepers appreciate you bringing your own bag and there are more and more shoppers doing so. (and oh... I love the "I am not a plastic bag" bag but didn't manage tobuy it.)

My husband and I have been some sort of environmentalist for the past 5 yrs. Although, we find it rather impractical and expensive to go for organic food or fashion, we have developed our own way of saving the environment. Other than, recycling bottles, papers, refusing extra plastic carriers, we have been on our toes in energy and water conservation. It is really saving the environment and savings for our pocket.
Here are our few cents worth on going green:

1) Switch off the power suppy switch and do not let electrical appliance on standby mode. This actually cut down on electricity usage and help us to save on electrical fees.

2) Try not to wash a single plate or cup. Accumulate till you have more so that you can wash it together to reduce water wastage.

3) Bring own shopping bag when you are going to NTUC supermarket. They will refund you with 10cents if your purchase is more than $10. Isn't it great that you get to save some money when you are helping to save the environment.

4) Recycle the water use for washing food in a pail so that the water can be reuse for washing the floor or toilet later.

5) We try not to use too much of disposable bag, utensils etc. We will usually refuse to take these utensils when we packet food from outside. We also choose to store our food in reusable containers rather than the disposable one time usage kind.

Going green can be developed into a lifestyle that need not bear economical consequences on us. Although, the fashion and trend of recycling and going organic may be a passing cloud but I sincerely hope that the culture and habit of saving and conserving our environment that was brought to us during this period will go on and on.