Do Your Part, How to Be and Live Green in Charlotte, NC

Do Your Part this holiday season to help the planet and keep a little green in your wallet!

First, if you are upgrading your family’s computer, camera, mp3 player, gaming device, or television this season - you’re in luck. We found a site that actually sends you a gift card for your old electronics.

Check this out: Go to Econewonline.com. There are three stores which provide the gift cards. We selected Office Depot. Once there, pick the item you want to trade in. A Canon PowerShot G7 for example would get you $140 gift card. We’ve made a link for you in our text version. Your electronics will be reconditioned or recycled. You’ll even get a pre-paid shipping label to mail them.

If you want a tax deduction for an older model computer give it to Goodwill. They are partnering with Dell to recycle some and train future computer workers on others. Old computers account for 220 tons of trash in our landfills each year so make sure you do the right thing with yours!

Lots of us will be buying plenty of children’s toys this season. Make smart choices about what to do with some of the old ones. Donating them to a local charity, a children’s hospital, or a school are good options. You can also team up with family and neighbors for a yard sale to make a little money.

This season, we’ve got an easy solution for those extra packing peanuts left over from a gift someone sends to you. Obviously, you can save them for the presents you’ll be shipping but if you don’t plan on using them again, you can bring them to a Parcel Post locations. You'll find a link to their website in our text version of the story.

And lastly when the holiday's over don’t forget to keep salvageable pieces of this season’s wrapping paper and all those gift bags. Storing them away now will come in handy when you are putting together packages next year.

This holiday season give the gift of reducing, reusing, and recycling by doing your part!