The flash cards that we created for recycling had several cards that focused on ensuring everything we could recycle was not contaminated with food or other waste.  The flash cards are posted on the kitchen counter in a clip, so hopefully the entire family will use them regularly, and this will be really helpful.  

I can see that I need to spend additional time educating myself on some of these conservation topics, because I want to be able to share what I am learning with others!  I made flash cards (using index cards) about recycling for my family and have them posted in various locations in the kitchen and dining room.  Some of them identify the various things we can include in our recycling, with reminders that containers must be free of food scraps, etc.     

The number of plastic straws I pick up when I go to the lake or park to pick up trash is surprising.  I started picking up trash daily for an eco-challenge my organization participated in earlier this year, and it's become a habit.  At the time, I was astounded at the number of plastic straws I was picking up each day!  I'd read literature about plastic straws and their dangers to animal life, of course, but picking them up day after day has made it far more relevant to me.