eHow.com Video: Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Ways to Reduce Waste Sent to Landfills

Compost, recycle and purchase recycled content to prevent additional waste from being sent to landfills

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and these are ways to reduce waste sent to landfills. Did you know that in 2012 Americans disposed a total of 4.6 pounds per person per day. It's interesting to look at this chart from the EPA to see what we can do to reduce waste sent to landfills. 

Paper and paper board can be reused and recycled. I always make sure to print on both sides of the printer paper if possible. I also save the paper and use a blank side to make a scrap paper notepad. Plastics can also be reused and recycled. I try to reuse plastics as much as possible. I also BYOB, bring my own bag, when I go shopping. If you forget your bag, opt for paper, it's easier to recycle.

For both paper and plastic, whenever possible reuse first then recycle. I also encourage you to purchase post-consumer recycled content whenever possible. By choosing post-consumer recycled you support and create a bigger demand for recycling and the infrastructure for more environmentally responsible living. Fewer products are made from virgin materials and therefore reduce the waste sent to landfills.

Glass and metals like this are the easiest materials to recycle, so no excuses. Yard trimmings and food waste can be composted.

Food waste that goes to landfills doesn't decompose but instead it produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas. Instead, compost the food waste and make it into something useful. Many urban areas offer community compost programs.

Rubber, leather and textiles can be recycled through textile recycling programs, or if they're still usable, take them to your local Goodwill.

I hope we can all work together to reduce waste sent to landfills by reducing, reusing, recycling and composting as much as possible.

by Anjie Cho

eHow.com Video: Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese home decorations bring meaning and symbolism to a space. Coins, zodiac animals and lucky bamboo offer wealth, harmony, growth and more. Add oranges for positive energy. 

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and today I'm sharing with you the meanings behind using Chinese decorations in your home.

First are the ten Chinese coins of the Ching Dynasty. These are reproductions of coins from the Ching Dynasty representing the ten emperors from that time period. The coins represent abundance of wealth and power. It's beneficial to put these in an area that's easily seen from the entry. It can bring you wealth and money from an upright and legitimate source.

Another Chinese home decoration is the 12 zodiac animals. This is a representation of all 12 animals together on a cord. Each year is represented by a different animal and they are all included here, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal represents an archetype. This decoration combines all 12 of the zodiac animals to represent harmony. This decoration is beneficial to put in the center of a home to represent harmony with all the members of the family.

The third Chinese home decoration is lucky bamboo. Bamboo is abundant in Asia and grows very quickly. It represents upright and honest growth as well as flexibility and adaptability. The bamboo plant does not flower or fruit. Its life span is long but simple. It's also hollow which represents an empty heart of humbleness. Coincidentally in Western culture, it's a symbol for the green sustainability movement.

In Feng Shui lucky bamboo is best when it's straight and not curly or twisted which can represent the opposite of upright and positive growth. Lucky bamboo represents a wood element of kindness, flexibility and healing growth.

Plants also add life energy to a space. Lucky bamboo is great because they can thrive in a variety of lighting conditions and in water or in soil and it's very easy to find. If the green starts to fade into yellow, it probably needs a little bit more light. Just so you know the lucky bamboo you will often find is technically not bamboo but symbolically the plant works the same way.

Finally, the last Chinese home decoration I will talk about is a bowl of oranges. In feng shui, oranges and orange peels contribute positive, fresh and brightening energy our inner and outer environments. Oranges are very auspicious and lucky in Chinese culture. You can always find oranges as decorations at any Chinese festivity. The oranges transform the home with vibrant, life-giving positive energy.

An easy way to incorporate oranges as a home decoration is to get a lovely Asian style bowl like this one, a green, black or white bowl complements the color of oranges very well. In Feng Shui a bowl of fresh oranges adds happiness and brightness to any room.

I'm Anjie Cho, Feng Shui designer with Anjie Cho Architect and founder of Holistic Spaces and today I shared with you the meanings and applications for Chinese home decorations.

by Anjie Cho

Get a happy home with Feng shui

featured last week on Examiner.com

Feng shui is not just about moving furniture around; it’s really a philosophy that looks at how to design a healthy and positive environment that supports and nurtures you. According to Anjie Cho “Today, I will share with you three simple ways to use feng shui to create a healthy, happy and holistic home."

Add Houseplants

When we talk about creating a holistic home, an important factor to consider is the indoor air quality. Houseplants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and remove harmful chemicals from the air. They also add natural beauty to your home, bringing some nature inside. From the feng shui perspective, green houseplants add the wood element. The wood element brings life, joy, and flexibility into the home. Plants create a softer and more vibrant energy in a home and are healing visually and physically.

Reduce EMFs

In this modern world, we are inundated by dangerous electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radiation emitted by electronic devices such as Wi-Fi, mobile phones, computers and even the electrical wiring found in your home. EMFs produce stress on the body and cause health problems such as fatigue, headaches, and even nausea.

Orange Essential Oil

Unfortunately, many conventional cleaning products are made up of toxic chemicals. Not only do we breathe in the toxins, the chemicals get absorbed directly into our bloodstream through our skin. One of the easiest ways to make your home more sustainable and healthy is to switch to non-toxic cleaners.

Here is a recipe to make your own feng shui, non-toxic, all purpose cleaner:
You need white vinegar, water and your orange essential oil. In feng shui, oranges and orange peels represent vibrant life, affirming happy energy. On a practical level orange oil disinfects, enhances your mood, and it just smells so good and clean. To make the non- toxic all-purpose cleaner, take one part vinegar to three parts water and add 18 drops of orange essential oil in an empty spray bottle. Then shake it up! This all-purpose solution is great for wiping down counters, windows, glass, bathroom surfaces, floors, etc. As a feng shui plus, the orange scent carries with it vibrant life energy to clear space, and in turn rejuvenates you and your home.

There you have it, a happy home in just 3 easy steps! 

by Anjie Cho