Doin’ it Rite

Three years ago, I wanted to dispose of a medication that I took only once. I went to my local Rite Aid pharmacy and asked if they could take it back for proper disposal. The answer was no. Last week, I noticed a sign for the Rite Aid Take Away Environmental Return System. For $3.99, you can buy a Sharps Compliance envelope, place your expired/unused/unwanted medications inside, then mail it for incineration.

The program is available in all stores except in the state of Maine, where another program is in place.

Free Coffee

If you’re a regular Starbucks customer, you can bring your reusable travel mug this Earth Day, 22 April and they’ll fill it with coffee or tea for free. It’s their way of saying “thank you” for doing your part in reducing your environmental footprint.

If you don’t have a reusable mug, you can purchase one for 20% off all day Friday.

The company is aiming to have 100% of their cups be recyclable and for 25% of beverages made in stores be served in reusable cups, by the year 2015.

Get fit at the Greenasium

Since getting fit and losing weight is on a lot of people’s list of New Year’s resolutions, you might as well do so in a healthful, eco-friendly location. Fortunately for residents of Encinitas, California, a new fitness studio has opened its doors: the Greenasium, which offers everything from personal training, cardio workouts, yoga, and circuit classes.

So how green is it? First of all, it sets itself apart from other gyms by not having air conditioning; the sea breezes make the place pretty cool and comfortable. The wooden floor is made from bamboo and rubber mats were created out of recycled tires. Another bonus is the stationary bikes, which generate electricity for the place.

The Greenasium also has a no-plastic policy, so unlike other gyms that provide people with plastic cups in case they forget their own drinking bottles, you can have a drink of water from the gym’s ceramic mugs. Keep in mind that they also don’t sell energy drinks and bottled water.

Green renovations with Green Demolitions

With the holidays coming up, most of us are looking for ways to decorate our homes.

If you are looking to do more than decorate and thinking of embarking on your own home improvement projects before the holidays are upon us, check out Green Demolitions. According to their website:

“Green Demolitions sells luxury commercial surplus and donated kitchens, appliances, bathroom fixtures, home decor, etc. from houses being demolished and renovated in Greenwich and New Canaan, CT, Scarsdale and Bedford, NY, and beyond.”

They have stores in Norwalk, CT, Riverdale, NJ, and Honesdale, PA.

Bathroom and kitchen renovations cost so much, especially more so when you want to remain eco-friendly. I’d like to get green materials, but recycling and reusing materials are ways to stay green anyway. I’ll visit their Norwalk store soon to check out their inventory.