What else can I do as an individual to be more environmentally friendly? What kinds of things do you do?

I dunno'... pet poop goes well with potatoes, recycle....LOL.
I know we signed up for an "on-peak" and "off peak" electrical usage type program the power company has here. They charge you more for "on-peak" use, but less during "off-peak" use. They say it saves energy/resources at the power plant, and so we do all our heavy electrical use type stuff then... washing machine, etc. So supposedly we are helping the environment, plus have an incentive to save money at the same time. They show you on the bill what you save each month which is cool, and it can add up.
Kim also uses those canvas shopping bags at times if running to the store, instead of paper or plastic...
We already are anal about recycling because the city has a great program for it, even green stuff like lawn clippings, pruning, etc. they make into mulch. We have the bulbs too...
I'm not sure what else I can do, I hardly drive as it is either, ha ha. A hermit.... ;-)
Take care, and great post!

can you have a compost pile you could put your bird waste in that along with the paper it will a break down also a nice worm bed would be nice to eat up all your food waste and you can have them under your kitchen sink and no they do not smell at all and you will have a wonderful batch of soil for your house hold plants

I would recommend, if possible, to not bring things to the dump at all. Waste items that are put into landfills can end up at the bottom/middle/etc. of a large pile that can take a LONG time to break down. Just because something will break down relatively quickly.. doesn't mean it will do so in a landfill! Composting is always a good idea, for sure.

Thanks John and rainne!!
I have a couple of those canvas bags as well - still trying to get used to taking them into the store with me - old timers is just starting to set in.. lol
We do have a rather large garden area that I could use for the droppings and such but I'll admit to worrying about the ink in the paper and what long term effect it may have on the soil and the food that we grow in it (we go thru alot of newspaper - big bird + huge cage = lots of liner).

Thanks to you as well Cara - I am pretty anal about the "garbage" that goes into the landfill.
Have you seen the commercial that shows a plastic bag of garbage being placed into a bigger plastic bag for garbage? Where does it end??

Great post, Morgan! It makes me crazy here in Las Vegas - they are NOT into recycling at all. I shudder to think how many beer bottles go into our landfills every day! We recycle what we can from home, but they have only just started curb-side recycling, and only take certain kinds of plastic.... I can attest to the fact that you do far more recycling than most people, sis! But you have room on your property for a large composting bin, and you can put so many things in there, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc etc etc. I think that's the way to go for you at this point.

You can't do this where you live (in the boonies) but you'd be proud of me today - I rode my bike to the grocery store!

I was going to say compost also, but someone else already has :-)
I am a Newbie, but somewhere in the last few days here I did learn about a place called FreeCycle. It is a program (no points or money) but it is apparently a national nonprofit program that helps keep things out of landfills. You can go on line, sign up and things that you need to dispose of that are still usable like... i dunno, an old set of sheets u no longer use, or an old out dated tv...you go on line and list the items, and folks also list things they are in need of. There are many, many local chapters/network. I just signed up last night, so I'm not that familiar with it yet but I just though I would mention it.

Thanks sis
I actually should compost more than I do - the coffee grounds etc...

Merry - thanks for the info. I'll have to go check the FreeCycle place out - sounds interesting.

good things to know here!! thanks for the info:-)

Hey, Morgan - I don't know if you're a parent or not, but for those who are and are environmentally conscious, there's a great site called www.Zwaggle.com. You can sign up and share your used items (think strollers, toys, clothes, books, etc.) with other families. The exchanges take place using "zoints," or points, but no money - except for shipping where applicable. It has been easy to use and I love knowing that our things are getting a second life serving another child.

Thanks Lauren. I am a parent but my "baby" is 26 yrs old.... He outgrew his stroller a long time ago. :-)
My favorite thing to do with unused but use-able stuff is take it to a thrift store that is run by the local animal shelter. All proceeds go to the shelter for food, care, etc. I also take old blankets, towels, etc. to the shelter itself where they give the blankets to the animals to give them something cozy to lay on - the towels come in handy for the washing/drying of food bowls and such....

I live in the New Mexico desert and I have a compost heap, I use newspapers and brown paper bags to keep weeds down, just lay them on the ground and cover them with dirt and water real good. Weeds will not come up through them! And I'm sure the bird poop will help any plants you do want to keep!

Thanks Chaz and Ginger! It's nice to know that there are so many other environmentally conscious people out there!! And what great ideas from everyone!! Thanks again

There are many ways to be environmentally freindly. My wife Shannon and I compost , we water our garden and plants from rainbarrels, and we use natural household products because we need to quit pouring all those chemicals down the drain into the waterways. I'm not sure about bird poop as compost, you definately do not want to use dog poop or anything like that because of what they eat. We actually have our own business where we educate the public about the hazards of toxins in our homes. I would be happy to share some things if you'd like to know more.

I would love to know more - PLEASE do share!!!!

Give up driving. I did. I have riding my bike for 12 years now. I occasionally rent a car if I go on a very long trip or want to carry something that won't fit in my backpack. I think the impact on the environment is negligible, since I am the only one I know who has given up driving. LOL! However, the exercise has saved me the expense of belonging to a gym or diet center.

I'll admit it would be really hard to give up my vehicle....living in the boonies and all... I rarely leave the house anyway so when I do, I usually come back with a load.
The exercise would be great tho, you're right.

I so wish I could ride my bicycle to work! Unfortunately, the only way to get the 10 miles to my job in on the freeway. I thought about getting a Vespa but I'd be too afraid to ride the little thing on the commute.

I do ride my bicycle to Walgreen's the blockbuster and gym, which are within a couple miles of my house. Unless its over 95 degrees here. Then FORGET IT.

Yeah, I'm a little particular about the temps. I'd rather be cold than hot.