Spring Cleaning might include tidying up your medicine cabinet and getting rid of all your outdated and unneeded prescriptions and other meds. Wait! Before you toss those pretty pills into the trash, please read this:

Got a medicine cabinet filled with unused pills and expired half-taken prescriptions? Think before you toss them! Medication can pollute our waterways, interfere with the reproductive systems of aquatic life, and circle back as unwanted residues in tap water. While some drugs can be put in household trash or flushed down the toilet, it all depends on the medication.

If there is no proper disposal label or instructions on your pill bottle, call your pharmacy for advice. They may even run a take-back program. If your prescription is safe for household trash, you’ll need to do some precautionary work first including removing the label and hiding the pills so no one will take them (children, adults, or raccoons)—accidentally or on purpose. You can do this by mixing them with a non-edible substance (kitty litter, dirt, coffee grounds) in a sealed bag. Grinding or crushing the pills isn’t advised as inhaling the resulting dust could be unsafe.

Image courtesy New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation, www.dec.ny.gov

Check for community drug take-back programs in your area. The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors take-back days throughout the U.S. On one day in 2011, they collected more than 377,086 pounds of unwanted or expired medications at 5,327 take-back sites.

Several national pharmacies also offer mail-back programs.

If what’s in your medicine cabinet is a controlled substance, it’s considered household hazardous waste and will need to be disposed of accordingly. Call your municipality or look on Earth911.com to find a hazardous waste collection site near you.

• The Associated Press: Pharmaceuticals Found In Drinking Water
• WholeLiving.com: Ask Mindy — How Should I Dispose Of Medications?
• Bookmark This Site: DontFlushDrugs.org
• New York State Dept. Of Environmental Conservation: Drugs In NY’s Waters
• FDA.gov: How To Disposed Of Unused Medicines
• US Drug Enforcment Administration: Drug Disposal–National Take-Back Initiative

Cleaning Green is pretty simple, really.  You can postpone major dirt purges by having a few rules about Taking Shoes off at the Front Door and not allowing Food outside designated eating areas. You might even ask the smokers in your life to desist in your space.

Easy tip: Take off Your Shoes! These spiffy flats can be admired from across the room — no need to tromp them all around indoors!

Think about it: if everyone’s eating meals at their desk, or while standing up walking around, or grabbing pizza while splayed out on the sofa—to say nothing of smoking a butt here and there–your place is bound to get messy. Fast.

Once you’ve made up your mind to clean, here are few guidelines:

1) Be picky. As in, be selective about your cleaning products: read labels and don’t use anything containing ingredients you can’t pronounce. You might be surprised how easy it is to use natural ingredients for great results. Ingredients like vinegar, lemon, and hot water. (As our editorial director Lexy Zissu likes to say, you may feel as though you’re mixing salad vinaigrette, but trust us, these ingredients are effective!)

To clean microwave: lemon + vinegar + glass bowl + damp cloth

2) Be careful. If you absolutely must use a strong chemical product to get rid of a horrendous stain, then be careful about it: open windows to let fresh air in, and wear protective gloves/goggles if need be. Do not let your pets or kids nearby.

Fresh air is Mother Nature's cleaning secret (Andrew Wyeth painting "Love in the Afternoon")

3) Be mindful of how much water you use when you clean. Must you use hot water, or would or lukewarm do? A few degrees can make a big difference to your energy bill. Think about what happens next to that water. If you use natural cleaning products, can you reuse the greywater to water plants or rinse off your driveway, balcony, front gate, or dog?

4) Plan ahead. Do you go through a six-pack of paper towels when you tackle a cleaning project? Are they made from recycled paper? Consider a reusable cloth rag or towel instead.

We’ve got 19 green cleaning actions on Practically Green, and we’d love to have 20. Check out Switch to a natural all-purpose cleaner and Stop dry cleaning your clothes (or never start); or Clean your microwave safely and the DIY favorite Make your own cleaners, including laundry detergent. Try one and let us know how you do! If you have an idea for green cleaning action #20, we’d love to hear from you.

Note:  This post is repurposed from Cuddledown’s blog, “The Bedding Snob.” If you’ve ever wanted to create a comfortable night’s sleep for yourself, you may already know about Cuddledown, the Maine company that offers topnotch bedding stuff — sheets, pillows, down comforters, pjs, much of it organic.

Thank you, Practically Green user Peggy Isham, for telling us about the Green Streets Initiative, which invites Boston-area groups to participate in a Car-Free Challenge on the last Friday of every month beginning March 30th! A pack of local retailers offer a variety of specials on these Fridays (we haven’t gotten beyond the free class at O2 Yoga, personally). Corporate sponsors range from the American Heart Association to Zipcar.

How about it? Is there a challenge like this where you live? Email GreenStreets for tips on how to get started in your town!

Grand Central Station sends millions of commuters in and out of New York City daily

We are going to assemble the Practically Green team for this challenge… even if our inveterate car commuters complain, we can ask them to join us for a part-way leg! (Already wondering if Working from Home counts.)

For more info on the Boston-area Walk/Ride Day Corporate Challenge, click here. Follow them @walkridedays and on Facebook.

What do people do on the subway to work?

For more info about why Taking Public Transportation to Work is so impactful, please read on.

Not near a bus route? Could you possibly Walk to Work? Bike to Work? Carpool? Imagine if we all did this once a month, as the Green Streets Initiative suggests. What if we did it once a week? Every day?

Over 50 percent of Americans have access to mass transit, but only 4.5 percent use it regularly. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that the most energy efficient households are located within close proximity to a bus or rail line. The members of these households drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles annually than people in similar households with no access to public transit.

It all depends on where you live... and work. Santa Barbara offers scenic mass transit

When you take public transportation, you reduce congestion, emissions, and energy. It’s also kind on the wallet; APTA says an individual can save $9,293 annually commuting via mass transit. A family with two commuters can save more, or downgrade to one car and have one person using mass transit to get to work or school. Every trip counts, if you’re using it once a week, several times a week, or daily. The more you do it, the bigger the eco-impact. Added benefits to letting someone else get you to and from work: there’s time to read and respond to emails.

It is significantly easier to rely on public transportation when you live and work near a station or stop. If you’re in the market for a new home or apartment, prioritize access to public transportation. Or park and ride.

Even proximity can’t eliminate some of the challenges that come with public transportation: coordination, schedules, and service. Thankfully many employers are supportive of (and get incentives for) public transportation use. Speak with your manager to find out what your company offers.

• PublicTransportation.org: Riding Public Transit Saves Individuals $9,293 Annually
• About.com: Public Transportation–Fast Track To Fewer Emissions And Energy Independence
• PracticallyGreen.com: My Love/Hate Relationship With Public Transportation
• American Public Transportation Association: Access To Bus And Rail Lines Reduces Driving

If you think race car  drivers aren’t green, think again.

Leilani Munter

Leilani Munter is one professional race-car driver who personifies champion performance at the track — and environmentalism. Known as “Carbon-Free Girl,” she’s working for tire recycling, racetrack composting, energy-efficiencies like LED lighting, and bio-fueled cars. Leilani has been thinking and acting sustainably for years – and she’s been eating that way as well. Last month at Daytona she launched an eco-education program to “educate and engage the 75 million race fans in the USA and inspire them to rethink their day to day habits for our planet. Each time my car hits the track we address a different environmental issue and have a specific call to action.” Since 2007, she’s adopted an acre of rainforest “every time I sit in a race car, since the emissions are always a question.” Leilani plans to run a “Fueled by Veggies” car later this season.

“The incongruity is part of what makes going green in this sport so impactful,” said Michael Lynch, Nascar’s director of green innovation. “There’s a bias that the sport is not green and therefore the fans aren’t green.” (NYTimes.com) We’re impressed with the organization’s sincere efforts to recycle, conserve, and even using sheep to mow the grass!

We caught up with Leilani Munter between races recently.

“I’ve always liked to go fast. The more races I win, the more people will listen. I know what you’re thinking: race-car driving is not green. I completely agree, And that is exactly what I intend to change.”

PG: Why is eating vegan so important to you?

Leilani: Everyone associates carbon footprint with fuel – cars, trains, ships, racecars, but 40% more greenhouse-gas emissions are coming from livestock raised for food.

PG: What’s you favorite Practically Green action?

Leilani: I’m a big supporter of MeatFree Mondays. I love the one-day-a-week approach. It’s really not so hard to make the change. I love cooking for people using fake meat. People come over to my house and they’re shocked! What appears to be a grilled sausage with grilled onions on top, is not!

Plunge into mouth-watering recipe database to find meatless recipes, like this Savory Roasted Orange Tofu & Asparagus from EatingWell.com

Leilani echoes NYTimes “Eats” writer Mark Bittman when he says, “My point here is to make semi-veganism work for you. Once a week, let bean burgers stand in for hamburgers, leave the meat out of your pasta sauce, make a risotto the likes of which you’ve probably never had — and you may just find yourself eating ‘better.’”

Try Mark Bittman's "Recipes for the Semi-Vegan" — this collection appeared in The New York Times on 1.29.11

PG: What tips to you give people who are interested in shifting to a more plant-based diet?

Leilani: People always ask me, What new cookbooks do I need to get? My answer is You don’t! There are so many great meat substitutes out there, just start trying them. You do not have to change everything in your house! When a recipe calls for ground beef, use vegan ground meat. When It calls for milk, try almond milk. People say, You mean I can have white-wine mushroom chicken risotto? And I say, Of course you can! Just use a chicken substitute! I have people over and cook them Tofurky tacos and they say, WOW I’m eating tacos! It looks and tastes like meat!

Find out more about Leilani at CarbonFreeGirl.com, follow her on Twitter @LeilaniMunter, and check her out on Facebook and YouTube.

Blog PotLuck! Please share your favorite meatless dishes, recipes and ingredients…. Chef Bittman raved about Savage River Farms “real fake chicken” in the NYTimes yesterday.

Bittman was fooled by this “chicken” wrap from Savage River Farms.

Part of living sustainably is knowing what’s IN things, and on Practically Green that means house-paint, crayons, milk, furniture, mascara, bed linens, toothpaste, teddy-bears, and on and on.

If you're going to hug a teddy bear all night long, best it's an irresistible & organic one like this guy from NunoOrganic... but does he have a label to tell you what he's made of?

By now we’re accustomed to squinting at tiny ingredient labels–on tubes of sunscreen, on wine bottles; on chocolate bars, coffee, jars of strawberry jam–because it turns out there can be some pretty unsavory items included in normal everyday products. Usually, those ingredients are remarkable for their many syllables and acronymic or otherwise unpronounceable chemical-sounding names: Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), Bisphenol-A (BPA), Methylparaben, you know… that sort of name.

Major players are finally beginning to make this easier for the consumer:

• Walmart has a new “Great For You” icon to “help customers instantly identify food options that are better for them” — e.g., with reduced sodium and added sugars. Watch for this in April:

Items with the “Great For You” icon must meet rigorous nutrition criteria informed by the latest nutrition science and authoritative guidance from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Institute of Medicine (IOM). Developed in consultation with food and nutrition experts from the public and private sectors, as well as leading health organizations, the icon represents a collaborative and transparent effort to develop a trusted and reliable system for consumers.

• Chevy is introducing an enlightened label for its 2012 Sonic and plans to affix to 2013 Chevrolet vehicles later this year.

This new Ecologic label from Chevrolet includes info about fuel-efficiencies, end-of-life recyclability, and responsible manufacturing... not just horsepower and cylinders!

More on both initiatives and others as they roll out.

For today, try this new action: find inspired labels on any three items and tell us what they are!

Hint, we already blogged about Levi’s customer-care tag a few months ago, Conscious Shopping: When Blue Jeans are Green.

Levi's partnered with Goodwill on this tag to keep billions of pounds of unwanted clothing out of landfills. Kudos!!

Is there a Home You and a Work You? Do you tend to recycle more at your house, or at your office? If you’d like to green up your working environment, consider this action:

Use Eco-Friendly Office Supplies

Offices don’t tread lightly on the environment. Think of a conventional, cubicle-filled setting and all of the paper, computers, phones, printers, pens, pencils, and lighting involved. Imagine the resources and electricity needed to keep it all running.

Can you find the 10 items in this office that could be more eco-friendly? (Thank you @GreenisUni for excellent photo archives!)

While there are broad changes that can be implemented in any office to reduce this impact—minimizing electricity use, purchasing only the greenest electronics, instituting a recycling program—smaller changes are important, too. Buying eco-friendlier and recycled office supplies can help.

Most of us have a sense of why virgin paper has such a heavy impact—the harvested trees, the manufacture, the bleaching and dying, and eventually the staggering amount of paper that never gets recycled at the end of its useful life—adding more waste to our already overstuffed landfills. But have you ever considered what you’re writing with? By some estimates, more than 14 billion pencils are produced every year—many made from wood from ancient forests. Add to that the billions of pens, highlighters, crayons, and markers used in offices–and never recycled. That’s a lot of resources.

Are your office lights on all night long, when nobody's there?

Ask your office manager to switch to greener supplies, including recycled content notebooks and printer paper. These are widely available. Form a green committee to advise if need be.

Add reusable plates to the office kitchen—or at least paper plates and napkins containing recycled content.

Pens and pencils made from recycled materials can be purchased. There are also pencils manufactured from FSC-certified wood. Some pens only require refills rather than entirely new pens when they run out.

Our most recent Twitter party was such a blast, with so many great comments and stupendous participation, that we want to share 2 minutes of the conversation with you. Literally, 2 minutes. Here we go with the Bonus question our moderator Elise Jones of @Mommybites posed at the tail end of the party — followed by 120 seconds of fast answers and links to more info on Practically Green.

(NOTE: For the full party transcript, which goes from 9pm EST on 2/28 and is still continuing, please find hashtag #PGLeapYear.)

10:00 P.M. EST Q7 What new efficient/healthy/sustainable routine are you ready to begin.. right now today! #PGLeapYear

10:00:01 to 10:02 P.M. EST, 2 minutes of answers:

Here’s how Practically Green can help, @LLLSummer: Walk to work regularly and Switch to a reusable water bottle

Buy organic beef regularly

Green Fitness Badge

Walk or bike to do your regular errands

Inflate your tires

Plant containers for herbs or vegetables

Plant a vegetable garden

Compost kitchen food waste

Find out what food you buy regularly that contains artificial sweeteners

Replace bottled water with filtered water (tap or jug)

Try the Frugalista badge!!

Turn thermostat up by 4 degrees in warm weather

Compost yard waste!!!

Try these “I Heart Organics” actions!

Walk or bike to do your regular errands

WHEW! That was 2 minutes!

Hope you’ll follow @practicallygrn and join us at the next Twitter bash — and please post your positive changes.

People who live in cities with stellar mass transit already know the benefits of going car-free: they’re trim, they have extra cash, they may have read a great novel during their commute — and they’ve probably got a bunch of PG points! Click here for 24 ideas on how to forego your car for transportation.

Today we focus on Walk or bike to do your regular errands: 50 points.

Live in the boonies? We know, this may not be the best action for you. On the other hand, you do lots of errands online and avoid using your car that way!

Think about how many times a week you pop out for groceries, a cup of coffee, or a trip to a local spot. If you’re hopping in your car each time, try walking or biking instead. It adds up. You’ll save money, reduce your environmental impact, plus get a little exercise and fresh air.

This spiffy shopping cart comes in orange and black, too. From Crate & Barrel

The more you choose to walk or bike, the greater the benefits to your wallet and the environment due to less fuel consumption. This extends the life of your car and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Serious incentive: a folding bike like this one from Montague

The Montague all folded up! In case you need to pop it in the trunk

You might not be able to walk or bike every time you run out of milk, but for weekly grocery runs and other activities that are easy to schedule in advance, it can work. The more you skip the car, the greater the benefits to you and the environment.

You might need a new pair of walking shoes! Nikes can be recycled; check out this post on how we did it: ow.ly/9ot1T

Detours says these bike panniers were made with the environment in mind. There's something just right about biking your groceries home in a pannier made from 100 recycled fruit juice pouches.

Check out what shops are in walking or biking distance from your home. If they have what you need, choose them over stores you have to drive to.
If they don’t, see if they’d be willing to stock what you’d like to buy. What could be simpler?

Hauling groceries and other heavy items can take a toll. Invest in a reusable shopping bag with wheels or a cart if you’re walking, or outfit your bike with the gear you need to comfortably carry what you’re purchasing.

You may need to take more than one trip. Think of the workout you’re getting!

Clean Your Microwave Safely

It’s a pain to clean the inside of a microwave. Whatever you have to do to get the zapped on gunk out of there, don’t use a conventional cleaner! When you clean with them, they leave behind residues that can get in the air you breathe but also the food you’re heating. Most chemicals in these products should not be heated to the temperatures generated by a microwave.

To clean microwave safely, Ingredient #1: LEMON

To clean microwave safely, Ingredient #2: GLASS CONTAINER (this one's from Williams-Sonoma)

It’s difficult to know exactly what a cleaner contains as cleaning product formulas are currently considered government-protected trade secrets. Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose their contents to consumers. So they don’t. Sometimes there are warning labels like “danger” “poison” “toxic” or “hazardous.” These are best not sprayed in a microwave. Generally speaking conventional cleaners contain hazardous, often petroleum-derived, chemicals including ammonia, glycol ethers, synthetic fragrances, and even the synthetic antibacterial agent triclosan—which have been linked to cancer, asthma, hormone disruption, liver and kidney damage, and more.

If you have an oven-cleaning product already, you might want to check it on GoodGuide.com

Using a natural cleaner reduces your exposure to these chemicals and keeps their residues out of our waterways. But when it comes to cleaning a microwave, it’s just as easy—and very safe—to rely on a few household staples.

Either place a half of a lemon or distilled white vinegar with water in a microwave-friendly bowl (preferably glass). Heat for five minutes. The steam generated by either mixture will loosen food residue. Wipe it away with a damp cloth. The lemon will leave behind an especially pleasant fresh natural scent.

• eHow: How To Clean Your Microwave Without Chemicals
• NaturalCleaningService.com: Vinegar And Steam– A Simple Microwave Cleaner
• PracticallyGreen.com: How To Clean A Microwave
• DrWeil.com: Are Conventional Household Cleaners Harmful?

EnergyStar does not yet rate microwaves, but smaller is most energy-efficient. This one's by Daewoo

What do most people need? On our list: Time.

And this year we have a whole extra DAY. What to do with that extra 24 hours? We decided to throw a Twitter party to chat about the possibilities.

You’re invited!

Leap Year Twitter Party

Tuesday, February 28th, 9 to 10pm EST

Use hashtag #PGLeapYear

Please join us for a Twitter party to chat about healthy & sustainable living!

Eat, Sleep, Drink Wine, and Recycle!

Moderated by Elise Jones of @HereinthisHouse & @Mommybites

With Susan Hunt Stevens & Alexandra Zissu of PracticallyGreen @huntstevens @alexandrazissu

*  *  *   Amazing Prizes!!   *  *  *

See them on @Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/practicallygrn/pgleapyear-twitter-party-prizes-to-be-won/

From @Cuddledown @TazaChocolate @ApplegateFarms @HipCycle  @TataHarper @Goodebox

Mythic @SafePaint, @LateJulyOrganic Snacks @AnforaNYC wine bar @Weleda @Holstee @FetchDog

Tweet with Special Guests!

Priscilla Woolworth @EcoWoolworth

Susanna Schultz @GreenDepotLLC

Kerri Platt @WineBottega

Megan McWilliams @GreenDivaMeg

Karen Lee @EcoEtsy

Sarah Badger @Stonyfield

Dawn Woollen @FamDinner

Tara Klein & Amy Hall @EILEENFISHER

Jennifer Schiff @Foodily

Amy Burba @PeopleTowels

Veronique Pittman & Emily Fano @GreenSchoolsAll

Kimberly Pinkson @KimberlyPinkson

Lori Alper @GroovyGreenLivi

Anneka Wisker, @MomsCAF

Lisa Gosselin @EatingWell

Jennifer Barry @Earth911

Angelica Ott @CocoEcoMagazine

@PaigeWolf of Spit That Out

Janelle Sorensen @Honest

Josh Camire @KJWines

LisaBorden @LisaBorden

Mary Rockwell @DowntownCookie

Chris Chappell @RamblersWay

Gabrielle Melchionda @Madgabsinc

Lori Bitter Publisher, Eons @loribitter

…and lots more! Check the Practically Green Facebook page for updates, follow @practicallygrn and the rest of the participants on Twitter… and please share with your tweeps!   SEE you there!

Each of Practically Green’s 428 actions comes with Recommended Products. Because once you’ve learned why a next step is so smart, healthy & efficient, you’ll want to do it! More than 1,500 products are included on the database, from BIG — a Lennox Gas Furnace to upgrade your heating system — to medium, e.g. eco-friendly office supplies — to tiny — for example a virtually weightless birthday e-card from Paperless Post.

How do these products get onto Practically Green for everyone to see, and buy? They’re submitted by all of YOU, Practically Green users!

Here’s how to submit a product on Practically Green:

1) Search the Practically Green database for the relevant action. If you want to nominate a high-mileage car, you go to:

Upgrade your vehicle’s fuel economy to 27 to 37 MPG

2) Scroll down the action page, beneath the “Why’s it green?” and “How to do it?” blurbs.

3) You arrive at “Recommended Products and Services.”

4) Look at the listed products — and if your favorite is not there, click on the “Suggest a product” button.

It looks like this: 5) Complete the form:

6) Product suggestions go directly to Rebecca Sama, Practically Green’s Product Specialist. Rebecca assesses submissions from every imaginable angle and, if your favorite is legit it goes live on the site for others to consider, rate, share, and possibly purchase. Click here for Practically Green’s Product Guidelines.

So, if you’re in the market for a new fuel-efficient vehicle — or reusable water bottle, or natural shampoo, or organic snack idea — chances are you’ll find what you need right here!

Once you read the product description on Practically Green, you might be persuaded to buy or lease a new car, who knows!

Babysitting this week? Before you pack them up for another expensive sticky day at the theme park, consider an eco-friendly art project!

Even the most recalcitrant teenager enjoys painting, and why not? Grab a piece of wood from the dumpster, paint it with no-VOC color, and presto! Your tenth grader has a fabulous new bedside table… and 10 more points on his PG score!

Get inspired on Etsy!

Why not paint a wall! Be sure to use No-VOC paint, such as Mythic.... as seen on this mural in Auburn, Washington.

Maybe you have a rock! Lin Wellford can show you how to turn it into a python, a shark, or a rabbit:

Get your rock and mark your design

Rabbit! Courtesy LinWellford.com

Artists of any age may lose themselves in the fascinating scent of certain markers and paints. Don’t! Those mysterious aromas might be/probably are unsafe chemicals — and they’re especially dangerous for smaller children and expecting moms.  Here’s more on Choosing Eco-Friendly Art Supplies: Why it’s important, and How to do it.

Fab bowls from the Clementine blog

If you’re an artist or have kids, chances are your home is overflowing with markers, crayons, pens, glue, and paint. Sadly many art supplies contain and offgas unsafe chemicals. Exposure to them can result in headaches, nausea, breathing problems, lung and kidney damage, and even cancer.

Your nose already knows this—have you ever gotten a good whiff of certain kinds of markers? These—and some paints—can contain air polluting solvents like xylene and toluene, which are neuro, reproductive, and respiratory hazards. Crayons and paints may contain unsafe pigments containing heavy metals. Glues may contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Not exactly what you bargain for when your kid draws you a rainbow!

Clementine Natural Soy Crayons. Ingredients: kosher soy wax, mineral pigments, beeswax... and "as always, no chemical dyes or additives."

Eco Paint: Powder based exploratory finger paint handmade w/ natural + organic fruit, plant/vegetable extracts from annatto seed, beets, carrots, curcumin, purple sweet potato, red cabbage & spinach, flour, cornstarch, wheat paste & earth clay.

Even the eco-friendlier art supplies on the market should be carefully researched. It’s not enough to have a label saying the product conforms to an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard. This sounds promising, but it’s not a meaningful claim. ASTM ingredient reviews can be performed by employees of the art supply manufacturer.

Use your nose as a guide—avoid anything that smells strongly of chemicals as well as anything fragranced.

Avoid modeling clays; they often have high levels of phthalates.

Natural pigments and materials like beeswax and soy wax are preferable to petroleum-derived paraffin wax. Plant dyes are preferable to synthetic pigments.

Simpler is better—choose crayons and pencils over markers. Don’t use products with warning labels.

Don’t allow young children to put art supplies in their mouths. And always wash hands after doing an art project. Don’t snack as you doodle.

When all else fails, you can decorate your own hands! These ideas are from "A Show of Hands," sold on LandOfNod.com

Any discussion about nuts often includes allergies, but this week we had the opportunity to think about their sustainability.  A Practically Green visitor wrote to info@practicallygreen.com asking about the environmental impact of nuts.

The question was simple enough: “Which nuts are most environmentally friendly—peanuts, walnuts, and almonds because they are grown in the United States?” but really got us thinking.   Likely, nuts’ sustainability isn’t something you often think about, so we decided to share our research!

While there isn’t a specific action on our database about eating organic nuts, we do have several encouraging organic food—especially fruits, vegetables, milk, and coffee. Eating organic food is important, as you well know, because it reduces the amount of pesticides and chemicals in your body, your farmers’ body, as well as in the air, land and water resources we all share.

If you can commit to buying organic vegetables regularly, you’ll earn 50 points! And since peanuts are not technically nuts, but are in the legume family, which is a class of vegetable, eating organic nuts can be counted in this action.

There are some things to consider when purchasing nuts:

Can’t find organic almonds in your local grocery store? You can buy them on nuts.com—order now and they’ll ship today!

1. Is it USDA Certified Organic? There are plenty of organic nuts on the market (see the extensive organic section on Nuts.com)

2. Where are they grown/raised? Most USA-sourced nuts are grown in California, so buying USA made likely means that your nuts have traveled less miles to get to your table, that is unless you live closer to Canada or Mexico than, say, California. It’s best to buy as close to home as possible.

Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts (Black & English), Pistachios, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Soy Nuts, and Hazelnuts can be grown in California.

Hickory nuts, butternuts, and black walnuts can be grown in New England.

Macadamia nuts are grown in Hawaii, so may not be the greenest purchase if you live in New York…Brazil nuts and cashews grow in tropical environments, so are imported from far off locals.

According to the USDA, peanut consumption makes up 67% of all nut consumption. Photo credit: http://www.peanut-institute.org.

The key is to make sure to check the label to find out where the nuts were grown as many nut varieties are frequently sourced from China, India, or Brazil.

3. How is it made? How is it packaged? How are workers treated? Consider Fair Trade, carbon offsets, solar powered plants, recycled packaging, small farm vs. industrial farm.

We reached out to James directly to ask what prompted him to submit the question and he said: “I wondered because nuts are an excellent source of protein and other good stuff for vegetarians (trying to decrease that source of environmental destruction). Then it occurred to me that my favorites–cashews–must not be great from the standpoint of all the energy it takes to transport them from the tropics. I love Practically Green because you present such an encouraging range of things one can do to help a little. Really practical. And you manage to send new information often enough to be a useful prompt but not so often that I feel inundated. Keep up the great work!”

James is spot on--peanuts are a great source of protein, and Teddie Organic is one of our favorite peanut butter brands!

Thanks, Jim, for your support and prompting us to research this topic and share it with all our blog readers!

Anja's hand knit Alpaca sweater with sage organic wool leggings. Certified organic & sustainable textiles used only. Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

H. Frederickson 100% reclaimed wool coat. Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

A Luis Valenzuela dress made from organic silk that was hand-dyed and hand-woven. Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

These glamorous eco-luxury designers mostly create sustainable items using materials that are environmentally friendly! Many use eco-printing, local production pieces, fair trade practices, recycled/reclaimed fabrics, organic cotton, natural textiles, peace silk (cruelty-free silk), and various other practices that enable their collections to be eco-friendly and sustainable. Buying sustainable clothing allows you to earn 10 points on your Practically Green account. What do we mean by sustainable clothing? For us, it means clothing that is made from organic cotton or other natural materials.

The Battalion features a white poly faux fur top with organic black bamboo leggings on the bottom. Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

Bamboo By United Bamboo's organic black wool sweater with organic white cotton romper (certified organic linens, hemp, and cotton). Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

Study NY's sweater top with 100% wool tweed pant. Wool can be a sustainable choice, but always check how it was grown & produced by reading the label. Courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen

Wearing what you already own, participating in clothing swaps, and shopping vintage when you want something new-to-you is as green as it gets. Inevitably the desire will strike for something truly new. Choosing organic cotton or other natural materials can drastically reduce the impact of what you buy.

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, conventional cotton farming uses about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides. The pesticides used on cotton happen to be among the world’s worst: five of the nine most commonly used have been identified as possible human carcinogens. Others are known to damage the nervous system and are suspected of disrupting the body’s hormonal system. One widely quoted statistic is that it takes one-third of a pound of chemical pesticides to produce one conventional cotton t-shirt.

Manufacturing synthetic fabrics, including polyester, is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of crude oil and pollutes the air, which can cause or aggravate respiratory issues.

Beyond fabrics, other eco-concerns pepper the manufacturing chain: processing and washing are water-intensive; chemicals used to bleach and dye clothing harm our waterways; formaldehyde is used on permanent press fabrics; packaging and transportation take a toll.

Certified organic cotton is a solid alternative to conventional cotton and synthetic fabrics. For patterned or colored items, look into what kind of dyes are being used. Wool and hemp are also good choices, especially if they were sustainably raised/grown and produced. Always read the fine print.

To all those who didn’t know that you could be chic and green at the same time: these pictures are your proof! Why not strut your stuff in a stylish and sustainable way that  makes a difference for the planet.

Pictures and information were primarily taken from Melissa Breyer’s article on Treehugger.com with photos courtesy of Amanda Silvana Coen.

Switch to organic cotton sheets

Who wants to zzzzzz on sheets and pillowcases made of cotton that was sprayed with chemicals?

No thank you!

We caught up with our friend Sarah Wissler of Cuddledown in Portland, Maine. It’s our personal go-to for top-quality and frankly lovely bedding and sleepwear. Here’s what she told us. You’ll notice she is a bit biased re: Cuddledown, which is understandable….  If you have another favorite to recommend, please post here or submit it right on the action page!

Organic Embroidered Dragonfly Bedding: LOVE. One of the Recommended Products on this PG action!

Nothing says romance like a new set of luxurious sheets – and with eco-friendly bedding, you can show the environment a little love, too. Why eco-friendly bedding? For starters, it is free of harmful substances and safe for your entire family. Cuddledown offers a wide selection of bedding, comforters, pillows, and sleepwear that are Oeko-Tex® certified. These products have met the requirements of the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 global testing and accreditation program, meaning that they have been thoroughly tested and guaranteed to be free of all harmful substances, including toxins and irritants.

Cuddledown also offers bedding and sleepwear that are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Not only are these fabrics free of harmful chemicals, the results of their production pose no threat to the environment or the communities in which they were produced. GOTS is a standard used around the world to guarantee that the organic products you bring into your home are healthy and safe for you and the environment – and that these products are manufactured in fair and just working conditions.

At Cuddledown, you can also find Oeko-Tex® certified, made in Maine comforters, pillows, and featherbeds. All comforters are currently on sale – why not save energy by turning the heat down and curling up in a comforter instead!

If you’re in the market for new sheets, choosing organic cotton ones can drastically reduce the impact of what you buy.

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, conventional cotton farming uses about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides. The pesticides used on cotton happen to be among the world’s worst: five of the nine most commonly used have been identified as possible human carcinogens. Others are known to damage the nervous system and are suspected of disrupting the body’s hormonal system. These chemicals aren’t permitted for use on organic cotton.

Sumptuous spicy sheets from Gaiam. Low eco-impact dyes, 300-thread count, 100% organic cotton.

Beyond sprays, there are other eco-concerns involved with the manufacture of sheets: processing and washing are water-intensive; the chemicals used to bleach and dye cotton can harm our waterways, and some colorants contain heavy metals; formaldehyde is used to create permanent press fabric; packaging and transportation take a toll. Many of these concerns are minimized or avoided with organic cotton sheets.

We want to sleep on this exact bed! These over-achieving, ultra-soft, 100 percent certified organic sheets have got you covered--literally--with approval from GOTS, EcoCert, and FLO-Cert.

Most stores that sell sheets offer one or two organic options. Read the find print. The word natural doesn’t mean organic, nor is it regulated.

Just because sheets were made from organic cotton doesn’t automatically mean they’re also low-impact dyed. Choose undyed sheets or, if you want white, colored, or patterned versions, look into how the fabric was bleached or dyed.

Two solid certifications to look for are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Oeko-Tex.

Don’t forget about your blankets, pillows, and mattress. There are organic versions of these, too.

• Treehugger.com: Organic Cotton–For Clothing, Baby, Bedding And More
• Bookmark This Site: Global Organic Textile Standard
• Bookmark This Site: The Sustainable Cotton Project
• NRDC: Responsible Sourcing For The Textile Industry
• AlexandraZissu.com: Q&A — Sheets And Towels

P.S. As long as you’re on the Cuddledown site, you might consider this sale item: Calida Organic Cotton Tank top, perfect for lounging around on Valentine’s Day — or any day!    

Switch to Organic Chocolate

Go ahead, twist our romantic arms!! Let’s all get this absolutely essential action checked off and move one step closer to the coveted Date Night badge!

Taza's Valentine winner: Yes, please! "Roses & chocolate are classic Valentine’s gifts. In Mi Corazon, the two become one... enchanting flavors of pure organic rose oil & fragrant Costa Rican vanilla bean offer an exotic..." When visiting Boston, don't miss this factory tour!

Chocolate! What’s not to love? Well, as it turns out, conventional chocolate production is hard on the rain forest and harder on workers (some of them children).

Conventional cocoa plantations, like most farms, use large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers. They harm the environment and can remain in chocolate. Organically farmed cocoa isn’t permitted to use these synthetic chemicals.

Order enough for everyone! Organic, fair-trade, dark chocolate hearts wrapped in red foil. Order @naturalcandystore.com

There are a few cacao-specific things to consider as well before your unwrap a bar and devour it. It, like coffee, is a shade tree. To increase production, large plantations cut down the rain forest canopy in an effort to grow trees in direct sunlight. Beyond damaging the forest, this increases the need for chemicals. Many organic chocolates come from shade grown cacao grown on small farms. Some of these farms are also fair trade.

Lake Champlain Chocolates has Organic chocolate bars in bold flavors like Dark Spicy Aztec and Milk Sea Salt & Almonds; organic truffles made from exotic ingredients like ginger, lemon, wild honey, figs... this box of 15 truffles will perform Cupid's job for you!

USDA certified organic chocolate is widely available at supermarkets as well as natural food shops. Taste a bunch to see what you like (tough work but someone has to do it!).

Need Now! From Endangered Species Chocolate: Tart-sweet dried cherries covered in thick blanket of premium dark chocolate. 10% of net profits from your purchase support conservation efforts.

@TheoChocolate has fair-trade, organic Valentines Day chocolate bundles... irresistible!

A benefit of organic chocolate is that it won’t contain artificial colors or flavors. Go dark enough and it can almost be considered health food.

If you want a fair trade chocolate, look for the label.

With one week ’til Valentine’s Day, we’re launching the Date Night Sprint! Go for it! Sprinkle a bit of Sustainability into your V-Day plans, and this Date Night badge will pop up on your Practically Green dashboard:

Step 1: Make a reservation to Eat at a local, sustainable restaurant and/or a Dine Green certified restaurant

Dining out sustainably with your honey hits all 4 categories of impact: Energy, Health, Water, and Stuff. Plus, the DELICIOUS category!

Do a little research to find a restaurant that serves your kind of edibles–organic vegetables that haven’t been heavily sprayed with synthetic pesticides, meat from animals that weren’t raised on factory farms or administered hormones or antibiotics, and maybe some ecologically produced wine to wash it all down with.

Food isn’t the only thing that can give a restaurant a big old eco footprint. According to the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), the restaurant industry consumes a third of all U.S. energy used by the retail sector and the average food service facility uses 300,000 gallons of water per year. Couple this with the fact that Americans are said to eat 30 percent of their meals away from home, spending more than 40 percent of their food dollars at restaurants. Support restaurants taking steps to reduce their ecological footprint.

We can't stop smiling when you take us out to a fine restaurant that specializes in fresh seasonal cuisine! (Hint: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley)

In Chicago? You are in luck! The DineGreen directory recommends the Bleeding Heart Bakery.... build a cake for your Valentine

For the past 20 years, the GRA has been working to create a more environmentally sustainable restaurant industry. They reward existing restaurants with points in seven environmental categories: water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable furnishings and building materials, sustainable food, energy, disposables, and chemical-pollution reduction. The GRA also provides restaurants with guidance, information, and solutions for becoming greener and more efficient.

Some of the cool requirements that must be fulfilled in order to become a Green Certified restaurant include: a full-scale recycling program, zero polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), and a total of 100 accumulated points.

Consult the Green Restaurant Association’s Dine Green restaurant directory to find Green Certified restaurants near you.

Note to Valentine: We'd say 'Yes, please!' to a dinner at dell-anima in NYC! Psst: If we say the words "DINE GREEN" to our server or bartender we'll receive a complimentary glass of Lambrusco!

Additional Resources:

• Local Harvest Restaurant Search
• EatWellGuide.org: Travel Map
• Planet Green: How To Find Restaurants That Use Organic And Local Food
• Bookmark This Site: OrganicKitchen.com
• Slow Food NYC
• PracticallyGreen.com: Special Dinner Out? Consult The Green Restaurant Association’s DineGreen Directory Of Eco-Healthy Chefs

Eating local when gardens are abundant is one thing, but what about eating local in Boise, Idaho in January? That’s exactly what two friends named Randi and Janet challenged themselves to do.

Janet: “I had a few goals going into this challenge, including a transition to healthier local food habits and reducing my recycling by focusing more on “pre-cycling.”

Randi: "I was in a sustainable frame of mind... I wanted to do something significant. Healthy for me, my family--and less impactful on the planet."

Practically Green: How did you ever decide to do this?

Randi: Janet and I had lunch in early December. We got the idea to develop a personal challenge for 2012 and support each other. I’d just completed a class at Northwest Earth Institute called “People, Place, and Planet,” so I was in a sustainable frame of mind… I wanted to do something to appreciate where food comes from, something that would be healthy for me, my family, and the environment. I was questioning excessive packaging and what really was available from local sources. I wanted to now begin to answer those questions, and better understand what was available organically, locally, especially this time of the year.

Janet: It’s one thing to eat local in Boise during the gardening season – and Randi and I both have vegetable gardens. But in the dead of winter? We decided to try it at an intense level for the month of January.

Randi and Janet did their homework in December. They interviewed local experts and researched local food offerings. They aligned their primary focus around foods/products locally grown and produced in Idaho, and they also included Oregon and Washington.

IdahoPreferred.com has this keyed map of local food sources; there's likely to be a similar resource for your region

PG: Any a-Ha moments?

Randi: One tip, set aside time on Sunday afternoon and cook for the week. Potatoes, legumes, hearty soups and stews.

Janet: Before the January challenge, I didn’t really enjoy cooking or planning meals.  When we initially discussed the challenge in December, my hands were sweating at the thought of doing this challenge. I knew I needed to develop healthier habits around food, but prioritizing the time and making it happen seemed like a big undertaking. But to my surprise, there are many local options to choose from in Idaho. The transition was much easier than I anticipated and I actually do enjoy planning meals and cooking now. I also find I’m not wasting food (at the end of the week) by adopting easy strategies and investing this time. These are habits I’m carrying forward past January.

Randi: I was amazed at how wonderful this was from a community perspective. Everyone at our local farmer’s markets was so helpful, supportive and interested in what Janet and I were doing.  Not only was it eye-opening and fun to discover the variety of delicious local food sources, it was enriching to meet the people behind them all.  These connections and relationships will be ongoing. The other thing “that’s next” for me is to learn how to can, freeze, and preserve all the bounty from my husband’s organic garden this summer and fall… so we can enjoy during the winter months next year.

Janet: My family drinks a lot of milk. I calculated: we consume an average of 140 or 150 gallons a year. I recycle the plastic jugs, but one of my goals in doing this challenge is to also reduce the amount I’m recycling and focus on “pre-cycling,” i.e., eliminate the demand on resources before I use them. I’ve transitioned to now local milk bottle exchange and I have completely eliminated the need to recycle the plastic. It was so easy to make the transition and it’s another outcome I’ll continue moving forward too.

Mid-month they began craving organic strawberries; Janet started texting Randi, “I miss lettuce!”

It helps to have an enlightened food-services team at work: "HP Cafeteria board in Boise with some of our local farms & produce listed available in the cafeteria daily. The board is located just inside the entrance of the Cafeteria. It’s a great reference for considering options to everyone’s daily diet."

What’s next for these two? They’re thinking about a blog and we’re urging a cookbook. Enjoy their recipes below. We’ve included local sources for you Boise residents, and to inspire others to seek out Winter Farmers Markets and CSAs in their areas. (Community Supported Agriculture programs are hopping–even in winter in New England! See FarmFreshRI’s excellent directory, and You Go Wishing Stone Farm!).

Local find: Zursun Idaho Heirloom Beans

Note: Janet writes a blog as a result of her expedition to Antarctica last year. Go there for details on this January Local Expedition!

Get inspired! See all of Practically Green’s Locavore actions:

• Buy local produce seasonally
• Plant a vegetable garden
• Plant containers for herbs or vegetables
• Shop at a farmers’market
• Shop local businesses regularly
• Sign up for CSA (community supported agriculture)
• Use a sustainable caterer

Order Idaho White Cheddar from Ballard Cheese in Gooding, Idaho

Janet sourced tasty flour tortillas from Casa Valdez in Caldwell, Idaho

A few recipes/menu options from Janet and Randi:

– All-Idaho Breakfast or Lunch Burrito

• Local farm eggs, scrambled in CloverLeaf butter
• ½ Idaho potato, cubed, with diced Idaho onion (to taste)  and sautéed in CloverLeaf butter til tender
• Applewood-smoked bacon, diced and sautéed from Porterhouse Market (optional)
• Shredded cheese from Ballard Farms
• Flour tortillas from Casa Valdez

Note:  You can also add or substitute in your favorite legumes as well.

Place ingredients in center of slightly warmed flour tortilla and fold to make burrito.  Further warm in low-heat oven (wrapped in foil) or in microwave (not wrapped in foil).

Ingredient sources: Local eggs: fairly plentiful here; I bought mine at Stonehenge Produce. CloverLeaf butter: Buhl, ID. Potato: same as eggs; Idaho potatoes are in every major grocery store here. Applewood smoked bacon: purchased in Eagle, ID at Porterhouse Market. Cheese: Ballard Farms, Gooding, ID. Casa Valdez tortillas: Caldwell, ID. Legumes: Boise Co-op and Stonehenge Produce

– Quick Flavorful Favorites…

Local Butternut squash (cooked, 1-inch slices). Squash purchased from Capital City Farmer’s Market (Boise) in November. Preparation Note: Peel, cut in half length-wise and bake for 40 minutes on 300 (or until tender).  Slice in 1-inch pieces. Enjoy immediately or store in the refrigerator to reheat for healthy snacks during the week.

Large bowl of local Fuji apples for easy family access. Fortress Brand from Fruitland, ID. Purchased from Stonehenge Produce (Boise)

Toasted local potato bread, Zacca Red Pepper Hummus (spread) and top with Purple Sage Herb Farm fresh basil. Hummus and Basil: both local and purchased at the Boise Co-op.

Potatoes aren't the only tasty item on Idaho's menu in January!

All Idaho Breakfast – French Toast

• Potato Bread from Café de Paris (local bakery)
• Local farm eggs
• Local red potatoes
• Idaho Huckleberry Syrup
• Cloverleaf Butter and Milk
• Lavender pepper
• Applewood smoked bacon (optional)
• Apple slices

Mmmm... bet Dorothy's wild Huckleberry Syrup is delish

Ingredient sources: Local farm eggs: Stonehenge Produce, Boise, ID. CloverLeaf butter and milk: Buhl, ID (available through Stonehenge Produce in Boise). Lavender Pepper: Starlight Brand from Star, ID. Purchased at Porterhouse Market Eagle, ID. Potato: same as eggs; Idaho potatoes are in every major grocery store here. Applewood smoked bacon: purchased in Eagle, ID at Porterhouse Market. Apples: purchased at Stonehenge Produce, Fortress Brand from Fruitland, ID. Huckleberry Syrup: Homemade by Dorothy brand, Boise, ID purchased at the Boise Co-op.

Superbowl Sunday promises to be a spectacular event this year. Practically Green offers 20 ideas worth a total of 360 points to make your Tailgate Party greener and more fun!

Giants vs. Patriots: Superbowl XLVI (nfl.com)

While the real action is on the field, think of the following as your very own game; the more actions you take, the more points you earn. Enlist your friends to do the same and get a friendly competition going. If we all take some of the actions below, we’re in for a great season where we’re all winners. Go Team Green!

We admit it! Obsessed with SustyParty’s compostable plates and bowls. Order in your team’s colors & toss into the compost without even scraping the food off!

Go Waste Free

Pack your own reusable plates, water bottles, glassware, and utensils: 20 points!

BYO cloth napkins or PeopleTowels: 20 points!

Or use recycled paper napkins and you’ll still get 10 points.

Drink And Eat Sustainably

Fill your (reusable) bowl with organic or at least more natural chips and snacks, snag 10 points.

Drink wisely – celebrate touchdowns with organic and/or local beer (10 points), hydrate with filtered tap water in a reusable bottle (10 points), and stay awake and warm with organic coffee (20 points). You winos want to look for eco-friendly wine (20 points). Jack your score by 10 more points when you recycle the corks — and add a big 50 when you recycle the bottles!

Whew! Is it half time yet? If you’ve done ALL of those actions, you’ve got 180 POINTS already!

More:

Fire up your grill with eco-friendlier briquettes (10 points) and cook up some sustainably raised meat (another whopping 50 points!) and/or organic veggies (50 more!). Who knew eating guacamole could be SO extra-green?

Southwestern Layered Bean Dip: one of a zillion drooly ideas on EatingWell's special Superbowl recipe collection

If you’re a sausage fan, definitely throw some of Applegate Farms’ organic hot dogs (10 points) on the grill. Do you have a solar-powered grill/oven? Our friends Corey and Lynn of Celebrate Green swear by them — they’ve got another 20 points each!

Applegate Farms cheezy bacon organic hotdog: Yes, please!

Clean Consciously

Before you chow down, clean your hands with a natural hand sanitizer or hand soap and score another 10 points.

When the game is over, recycle everything in sight. We already mentioned bottles; beer cans count for another 20 points!

Wipe up spills and degrease the grill with a natural all-purpose cleaner for 10 points, not to mention reduced air pollution.

That’s a total of 360 points! Sounds like a nice round number to us. How’d you do? If you’ve got more ways to Green up Superbowl Sunday, please post them or drop us a line. (Hmmm, maybe Practically Green should give points for suggesting new actions?)

Not everyone can win a fancy Superbowl ring, but we can ALL be Practically Green!

Avoid food packaging and cling wrap containing PVC.

We’ve been obsessed with tasty healthy food all week: lobster rolls, salmon, and sushi; takeout craves you can just as well make at home; hormone-free burgers and chili; and even roasted potato dominos. YUM yum yum. Now let’s get serious: what about the stuff that TOUCHES your food when you store it, transport it, or reheat it? Today’s action rewards you for choosing anything but PVC to wrap and reheat your food!

If you know of cooler storage-bowl covers, please let us know asap. For now our favorite is this set from Hunter Gatherer. Only possible drawbacks: 1) they're not organic cotton; 2) they're flown from the UK. But still. We love them.

Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray... not just for babies! Grown-up pesto will freeze gorgeously in these BPA-free trays.

Cling wrap is an easy solution for leftovers and a common packaging material. But not all plastic wraps are alike: some are polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which environmental groups like Greenpeace refer to as “poison” plastic. From manufacture to disposal it’s highly toxic—for humans and for the earth. Traces of the chemicals used to make it pliable can migrate into food, especially things that are fatty or warm (never microwave plastic, especially PVC!). Exposure to PVC has been linked to dizziness, headaches, asthma, liver damage, brain/nervous system damage, and increased cancer risk. People who work in or live near PVC factories have it the worst.

Here's another cool idea: Laurie David's PVC-free shower cap solution, featured in The Family Dinner. Rinse caps after using to cover food and dry them on the window sill!

PVC is particularly difficult to dispose of as it is made with heavy metals like lead and cadmium; less than 1 percent of it is recycled.

Use empty glass containers & bottles to store food--or splurge on this set from Williams Sonoma!

Ask your grocery store what kind of wrap they use, especially for meats and cheeses. If it’s PVC, encourage them to change to safer plastic #4. Get your neighbors to speak up; there’s nothing like positive pressure for green and healthy changes!

Great Deal: Pyrex storage containers. These bowls are a great alternative to plastic wrap or plastic containers for food storage. They are safe for use in oven, microwave (take the plastic tops off!), refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher.

To minimize exposure, shop for minimally packaged food and things that come in glass; PVC is also found in plastic trays, candy bar wrappers, and bottles.

At home, store food in glass, stainless steel, or lead-free ceramic containers instead of plastic. If you’re going to use plastic wrap, check to see what yours is made of (“3″ or “V” denotes PVC). But truly, a safe plate over a safe bowl tucked in the fridge does the trick.

• Practically Green: Smart Shopping and Conscious Living with Alexandra Zissu
• Green Living Tips: PVC and the environment
• Healthy Child Healthy World: Shopper’s Guide to Plastics & Food: Cling Wrap
• BeSafeNet: PVC The Poison Plastic
• President’s Cancer Panel: Eat Organic, Avoid Plastics
• Rodale.com: Plastic-Free February
• Greenpeace: The Poison Plastic
• PG Picks! Eco-friendly packaging, Laugh Green, efficient factory, green date ideas, nature and architecture, and cool green products
• U.S. Weighs Cancer Risk of Styrene and Formaldehyde

GLAD says that they do not use any PVC in their products. They also say their products are BPA-free.