1.) Be Water-wise  

Did you know that while water covers about 71% of the earth’s surface only 0.5% of it is drinkable? Every year as the human population goes up, water scarcity becomes an increasing problem that more than 2.4 billion people face. So, what do we do—what can we do? We can be water-wise. 

We can teach and encourage our little ones to reduce water usage by using the following tips:  

• Turn water off while brushing your teeth 
• Take shorter showers 
• Install water-saving shower heads 
• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load  
• Regularly check your pipes and faucets to ensure no leakage  
• Put a bottle of water in your toilet tank  
• Collect rainwater to water your garden and lawn 

 2.) Unplug Electronics  

Did you know that even when your electronics are powered down, keeping them plugged into outlets still uses electricity? Unplugging electronics when not in use reduces carbon emissions and can help you save money. 

3.) Grow a Garden  

Growing an organic garden reduces the amount of chemicals in your food, diminishes the need for plastic packaging, and lessons fossil fuels required for food transportation.  

Here are some tips to grow a sustainable garden: 

• Replace some of your flowers with vegetable or fruit bearing plants  
• Build or buy a small indoor garden to grow herbs  
• Buy fresh herbs from your local food store and store them in a glass of water so they can continue to grow 
• Join or start a local community garden 

4.) Use a Compost  

While some may be aware of our community compost, we understand that some may not know what composting is.  

Composting is using a mixture of ingredients to fertilize and improve soil. Although there are various types of composting, the most common one, and the type we practice, is vermicomposting. This method of composting consists of using various species of worms mixed with decomposing food leftovers and other organic fibers. Some of the many benefits of composting include healthier soil and plant growth, water conservation, and a it's another method of combatting climate change. 

All this to say, we’d love you to get involved with our local community compost!  

Our compost bin is located on the left side of our store at 956 Asbury Ave., Ocean City 08226. You can donate up to 5 liters per week of organic waste and natural fibers—just remember to shred it before dumping it in our bin! We just ask that you do not put non-biodegradable substances in the bin such as plastic, tin cans, glass, and other hazardous materials. We also ask you avoid putting meat and dairy products into the compost bin as those materials don’t compost well and can attract animals. For more information on how to use our community compost, click here.

5.) Learn Your Local Recycling Rules  

Here in Ocean City, New Jersey, we are extremely conscious of protecting life on and off the island. 

For some basic laws and regulations for recycling, visitors and residents of the island should know that accepted single-stream recyclables include:  

1. Recyclable bottles and cans 
2. Glass containers (any color) 
3. Aluminum and metal containers (no scrap metal) 
4. Paper products such as cardboard, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, paper books
5. Plastic #1-7 

Note: Make sure that all food containers are washed before putting them in the recycling bin. 

Placing the wrong items in the recycling stream can cause ENTIRE truckloads to be rejected. Please be mindful of the following items that are not acceptable: 

1. Glass in the form of lightbulbs, mirrors, drinking glasses and dishes  
2. Plastic bags (can alternatively be recycled at many convenience and grocery stores) 
3. Caps from cans, bottles, and jugs 
4. Food contaminated containers 
5. Styrofoam 
6. Wood 
7. Batteries 
8. Plastic from oil, paint, chemical or fertilizer bottles 
9. Scrap metal
10. Other hazardous waste 

If you have any questions about recycling in Ocean City, click here.

Thanks for reading along with us and we hope that these tips move you forward on your journey to becoming more sustainable at home. 

For their future.