According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States generated 249.8 million tons of trash in 2008. Organic materials—including yard and food waste, wood scraps and paper products—made up more than two-thirds of this trash.

All of this could have gone in a compost pile.

Composting, an at-home method of nutrient recycling that takes nutrients left in organic waste and gives them back to plant and animal life, is an easy way to make a difference in the amount of garbage that our nation produces. Here, we’ll dispel the myths about composting and give you the tools to start your own pile.

Composting is not gross! If you do it right, there should be no smell and no attraction of vermin. Keep dairy, meat and fat products out, and there will be no odor. Vegetable scraps, paper products, vacuum lint, fireplace ashes, and even hair and fur can all go in the pile without problem.

You don’t need a big pile, though. Plenty of companies offer small, designer-styled composting cans that will fit right in to the green kitchen. If you are still worried about odor, these cans include a charcoal filter that will take care of any potential smell. If you don’t have a yard, you can still compost! Even if your home “garden” only consists of a few windowsill flower boxes, your flowers can still benefit from the nutrient concentrate that is compost—just transfer it from your kitchen pail. Or, if you have no plants that could use your organic waste, see if your city has a compost removal company that will come and get your compost for free.

If you do have room in your backyard, consider getting a container that will aerate the pile will storing it. Check out the rolling compost bin that can be rolled to your yard waste, filled up, and rolled to your plants to unload. The rolling action will add air to the pile and speed up the composting process dramatically. While creating a heap is possible, it will require time to mix it and could be violated by pests, making it less likely to produce good results. If you don’t want to have a container in your yard, consider digging a shallow pit for your compost—the warm temperature will increase the speed of compost production.

Besides reducing your waste and maybe even the cost of your waste removal, there is nothing better for your soil than compost. It can loosen clay soil and help sandy soil retain water, suppress plant diseases and pests, and increase yield.

If limiting your family’s waste production sounds like something you would be interested in, check out the EPA’s website for more information.

These days, being fashion-aware doesn’t simply mean wearing a cool dress. It also means knowing of what that dress is made of and how it affects the environment. It is a challenge for many, but luckily, there are tons of hip and happening fashion lines that incorporate eco manufacturing trends into their trendy designs. Wearing the following 5 fashion lines will ensure that you are in style both as a fashionista and as a responsible human being.

Sworn Virgins: Instead of making their soft, knit party dresses out of cotton, which is treated with killer pesticides and chemicals during harvesting, Alex Amini and Roshanne Aghevil decided to make their line out of bamboo, a sustainable resource. By blending spandex and bamboo, they get a great cotton replacement fabric that keeps the Earth in mind.

Beau Soleil: Few fashion designers keep fair trade and labor, organic, raw materials and sustainability in mind when they design haute couture. New York-native Anne Salvatore Epstein does, though don’t assume that that translates to boring, plain clothing. Elegant draping and studs combine to create truly imaginative and special clothing that would make any eco-activist smile.

Ecoskin: Another clothing line that utilizes bamboo as a fiber used in the fabric, Ecoskin also uses toxin-free tencel, a fiber extracted from wood pulp. Ecoskin’s dresses are perfect for day or night.

Linda Loudermilk: This former costume design student at Oxford knows her stuff, both ecologically and stylistically. One of the originators of earth-friendly clothing, Loudermilk makes luxury items that won’t harm the earth. Check out her upscale, tailored suits and long dresses made with incredible attention to detail.

Of course, the mantra of the green movement is reduce, reuse and recycle, but I am sure that Mother Earth won’t mind if you buy a few new things from these designers.

Staying green on vacation doesn’t mean spotting a single fern in the hotel foyer or that the facilities are a long walk a way and lit by flashlights. Here are five of the best eco-resorts in the United States that are luxurious to their guests and to the planet.

1. The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel

“Gaia” means “Mother Earth” in Greek, so it’s fitting that this hotel was the world’s first building to be certified gold in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The United States Green Building Council awards LEED certification to buildings after judging them in six categories, including Gaia’s expertise: sustainability. In the 130 rooms, the tiles and carpets are made of recycled materials, and all the wood comes from managed forests. The lush, green lawns never feel fertilizer’s negative impact. Located in the heart of coastal California’s wine country, Gaia’s spa specializes in vinotherapy, a relaxing treatment made from local grape extracts. Rooms start at $89 a night.

2. Inn By the Sea

Inn By the Sea, a luxury beach destination, overlooks Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. They invested in a multi-million dollar renovation in 2008, updating the 57 guest rooms and building a new bar, a glass-enclosed restaurant with ocean views, and a full-service spa–all environmentally conscious endeavors. The staff cleans each room with non-toxic solutions, the fitness room has recycled rubber floors, and solar panels heat the pool. The Sea Glass restaurant tries to only serve indigenous fare from the surrounding farms and sea, and the menu reflects their attempts, offering Maine-foraged mushroom tarts and steamed, wild Maine mussels.  Double rooms start at $189 a night.

3.  Oil Rig Platform Resort and Spa

Ingenious architects refurbished and transformed one of the 4,000 oilrigs in the Gulf of Mexico into a luxury eco-resort and spa. Using all renewable power sources, they took an iconic source of dirty energy and created an eco-haven. A giant, vertical wind turbine and solar panels power the resort. The luxury spa offers all the usual services and takes advantage of being surrounded by water and offers boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving adventures.  Other unique aspects include a glass lobby floor to see the ocean below, and every room’s windows boast endless views of the Gulf. In the central core of the former rig, a gigantic tube filled with water can be seen from every single room, and acts as a ballast for the entire rig. Entertainment shows, like Cirque du Soleil’s “O,” are scheduled to perform in the central core at this one-of-a-kind eco-resort.

4.  The Lodge at Sun Ranch

The Lodge is not your ordinary dude ranch. Hidden in Cameron, Montana—the River Valley—genuine cowboys man this 26,000-acre expanse of property and tend to more than 1,500 head of cattle. The lodge has six rooms and two private cabins, all with breathtaking views of the mountains.  Indulge in western adventures and ride horseback, fly-fish, and go on a hike or boat, all the while knowing that this resort goes the extra step to reduce its carbon footprint. Sun Ranch donated a ten-year lease to Trout Unlimited to guarantee the waters on the property remain free of irrigation. They also removed all barbed wire so wildlife can roam the grounds, and they used recyclable materials to renovate the main lodge. They consistently purchase their produce from local farmers for daily, fresh meals in the restaurant. Rates start at $1,400 a person for a three-night stay, including all meals and excursions.

5. Lova Lava Land

Lova Lava Land is woman-owned and ran, three-acre, 100 percent off-grid, 100 percent solar-powered eco-resort on Hawaii’s Big Island. In every way possible, they tried to use green, sustainable, and recycled materials in constructing the resort construction. Accommodations range from a complete, round Yurt, to retro, renovated VW Camper Buses, all which feature composting toilets. Visitors can enjoy creative amenities like a lava-rock shower from rocks harvested from their own land, walking tours that highlight the local flora and fauna, and play coconut Bocce Ball. Rates start at $40 per night.

Escaping from your daily life on a relaxing getaway doesn’t have to mean taking a break from the green life. Visit the website of one of these eco-resorts to truly enjoy your vacation, guilt-free.

Perhaps the best way to lower your carbon footprint is to bike to work. Of course public transportation and carpooling do help, but nothing is as good for you and the earth as relying on a bicycle to get around. Biking is a great, low-impact exercise for those of us with damaged or stiff knees, and an awesome way to incorporate exercise into your day naturally. You probably already have a bike—here are a few great accessories for it to make the switch to cycling an easy one!

• TransIt Grocery Bag Pannier, $39.99 Maybe you are still driving to the store (with reusable bags of course) to buy your groceries. Not anymore! A great grocery bag pannier allows you to load up on food and then set the bag solidly on the back of your bike. Not only does this one fit on most standard panniers, it has a reflector stripe for added safety and a strap so you can take it into the store with you. Not grocery shopping today? That’s fine, just fold it up!

• CycleAware Reflex Mirror, $17.99 Nervous about biking in the street? Don’t fear, with a rear-view mirror you will be more aware of your surroundings than ever before. After attaching the mirror to your helmet, bend the flexible wire it is on to hit right in your peripheral vision. The base adheres permanently to your helmet, but the wire and mirror can be removed by ball and socket joints.

• Garmin Edge GPS with Heart Rate and Cadence, $599.99 In addition to guiding your bike route through the built in satellite map, this nifty tool will allow you to upload workouts, courses and saved rides. You can share your data with other GPS users, and automatically measure your speed, heart rate, cadence, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent.

• NiteRider Sol LED Headlight, $129.99 If you work late or like to ride at night, don’t go anywhere without a headlight. This bright light can run for four hours per charge. Just plug it in to your wall and walk away! The charger self-monitors battery levels, so no worries about over charging. It is lightweight, compact, and fits most handlebars.

Depending on how serious you are of a biker and your intentions for your bike’s use, there are endless accessories to make your ride as convenient as a car trip. Bike around, see what you need, and get shopping!

It’s a beautiful thing to see musicians using their fame to create positive change. Five acts in particular have recently made significant strides to make the world a greener place. The following 5 bands are all part of the eco-movement and each of them contribute to that cause in their own unique way (they are also great bands to listen to).

Pearl Jam gave $100,000 to nine green organizations dedicated to climate change and renewable energy. Not only is Pearl Jam pretty generous in their donations but, the band proves to be hands on when it comes to the struggle to protect our environment. Instead of simply making donations, Pearl Jam has developed their own strategy to advance a green lifestyle. “Our Carbon Portfolio Strategy is the newest component of our ongoing efforts to advance clean renewable energy and carbon mitigation,” the group stated on their website.

The Roots are known for their down to earth take on the world attended the Pre-Grammy Jam and Green Carpet Bash this year. The event was organized to educate the public about environmental issues. The Roots teamed up with the organization, Global Inheritance and together they encouraged the use of composting by autographing compost bins and giving them to the public. Also, the band has become involved with the animal protection organization, PETA. “Stop the Violence: Go Veg.” is the name of the collaborative campaign.

Punk idols, Billy Joe, Mike Durnt and Tre Cool of the band Green Day make their stance on eco issues known through more than just their songs. The rockers united with the Natural Resource Defense Council to find alternatives to oil. They’re currently using stylistic YouTube videos as a platform to suggest the use of cleaner cars and biofuels to save oil and reduce oil emissions.

Like most surfers, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson has a deep passion and respect for the planet. The native Hawaiian co-founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. The nonprofit raises awareness about the environment in Hawaiian schools. On top of that, Johnson also hosts an annual festival on earth day, which donates proceeds to environmentally friendly projects. His dedication and generosity is apparent through his contribution to making our world greener.

Not having enough to make huge contributions, the up and coming Grace Potter and the Nocturnals make as much impact as they can by voicing their opinion on the environmental issues at hand. Grace Potter sets the example. “We are really conscious of not traveling in multiple vehicles if we don’t need to…we don’t have a tour bus, but when we do, it will be bio diesel.” The all American blues band has made further efforts through their website. For every concert ticket sold through gracepotter.com, a tree will be planted in a third world country.

It goes to show that no matter large or small, every contribution has an impact. While, the action being taken by these musicians forwards environmental improvement, it is the message that they are sending to our youth that will in the end make all the difference. Stars like these often define what “cool” really is and there’s no doubt that our youth is listening and taking notes about a green lifestyle.

Don’t forget your mother—or Mother Earth—this May 10. Think creatively and green when showing mom just how much you love her. Surprise her with one of these five gifts.

The Plantable Journal: Any eco-friendly mother will love The Plantable Journal, available at for only $25. This unique journal is made entirely of recycled office paper and wildflower seeds. Mom can first fill the 150 pages with her thoughts, prayers, poems, or drawings. Then when the journal is full, mom simply removes the cover, plants it in her favorite spot, and watches the beautiful wildflowers bloom. This creative gift truly embodies creativity and sustainability.

Organic Bath Set: Instead of paying big bucks at the local day spa and releasing toxic chemicals into your lungs and the air, how about providing mom with all the necessary goodies for an at home spa experience? The key to relaxing naturally is knowing that your lotions, soaps, and scents do no harm. Eco-express offers mom an elegant, complete spa box that features sparkling wine and organic chocolate in addition to the organic aromatherapy bath salts, hand and body lotions, and natural loofa. The entire presentation arrives in a reusable, keepsake box.

Flowers (…well not yet): Steer clear of the traditional roses that inevitably wilt and die, and this year, opt to give mom flower seeds instead! A long-lasting gift that cleans the air in addition to bringing beauty, these flowers can also serve as culinary herbs in mom’s kitchen. Mom will love the included eco-friendly bamboo pot—more durable than clay or maple and handmade from all-natural materials. The bamboo pot is more than sustainable with the earth’s resources, it’s also multifunctional. The lacquered lid, when placed beneath the potted snapdragons or lavender flowers, becomes a drainage saucer for the leak-proof pot. The entire package consists of the pot, soil, seeds, and growing directions, and the decorative ribbon is made in the United States from recycled plastic bottles.

Organic Chocolate: You can’t go wrong with flowers and candy for Mother’s Day (as long as you deliver them in person!) Try CocoaVino Persephone Bonbons for mom’s sweet-tooth. These chocolates are organic and fair trade, and are named for Persephone, the daughter of the greek goddess Demeter, respresenting the special bond that only mothers and daughters share. The fresh flavors and time spent together enjoying them are sure to be a hit.

Reusable tote bag: For mom’s many errands and “just in case” items she normally carries in plastic bags (or no bag at all!), help her out with these burdens by purchasing a reusable tote bag! Besides being super hip and must-haves from strolling the local farmer’s market to bringing a lunch to work, a tote bag is a green gift that keeps on giving past May 10. There’s a tote bag perfect for mom’s sustainable and portable shopping needs–make sure check out Ecobags’ massive variety woven, string, and canvas bags made entirely of organic cotton.

Don’t forget mom this year—make that phone call, drop by for brunch, or go the extra mile to give her a gift that improves her world. No matter what you do, one of these gifts will show mom how much you appreciate her and her efforts to live green. Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!

When the 2010 United States Census started campaigning for Americans to get counted, they mailed to each household a letter explaining the forthcoming census paperwork, a postcard reminder to check the mailbox, and the census itself.  Thank you, Census Bureau, for unnecessarily wasting paper and simultaneously annoying nearly 115 million households. Go planet!

Reducing paper mail is an easy step towards living green. Direct mail, bills, advertisements, and catalogs consume huge amounts of paper. Here are five ways to master your mailbox and control the amount of paper you send and receive.

1. Dear “Current Resident,” reduce and refuse direct mail, that is, junk mail. Companies spend more money on this type of marketing than any other, often mailing to a large number of people in an attempt to gain customers and offer discounts. Not only do they waste time and paper, direct marketers invade privacy. There are options to rid your mailbox of this common clutter:

• Write “Refuse” any unopened mail and send it back to the post office. However, this method does not cut off the source.
• Contact the company directly and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
• Visit websites that control your direct mail preferences, such as www.dmachoice.org and www.donotmail.org.
• Campaign for a National Do Not Mail Registry, a “Do Not Call” list for mailboxes.

2. Ask for paperless statements from your banks and other billing services. According to www.payitgreen.org, switching to electronic bills and statements not only reduces paper’s negative impact on the environment, but also protects your privacy by switching to online options. If you have numerous accounts to transfer to paperless, websites such as www.mint.com track multiple accounts online and assist with managing your budget and payments.

3. Ask your employer if you can be paid via direct deposit. You’ll get the money faster and save yourself a trip to the bank. Pay It Green notes that every year, paper checks use over 600 million gallons of fuel and add over 3 million tons of CO2 into the environment.

4. Recycle the paper mail you receive at home. Many municipalities offer curbside pickup of newspapers, junk mail, and other paper products. If not, check out www.earth911.com to find your local recycling center and other green living tips.

5. Do as much mailing as you can electronically. Email is quicker than snail mail and costs nothing. In addition to your monthly bills and payments, consider other ways to cut down on your paper mail. For example, send out electronic “Save the Date” wedding invites, RSVP online, and cancel your magazine subscriptions (you can read all the gossip online, anyways). You’ll also save money on postage stamps!

Clearly, it’s easy to adopt a lifestyle that reduces the paper mail you send and receive. Not only can you thwart the privacy-stealing junk-mailers, but also you save yourself time and money.  Don’t let the mailbox win!

It’s pretty easy being green. At least, that’s what Portland, Ore. would say if you asked. The city at the top of our list definitely makes it look easy. If you don’t have the good fortune to live in one of these earth-friendly cities, try visiting one. Maybe you can take some of their green practices home with you. These are Popular Science’s picks for the greenest cities in America.

1. Portland, Oregon: Talk about progressive. Half of Portland’s power comes from renewable sources and a quarter of the city’s workers bike to work, carpool or use public transportation. They are probably going to work in a green building too; 35 of the city’s buildings are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

2. San Francisco, California: This green city generates some of its power from roof space that would have otherwise been wasted. On the roof of the massive convention center lies an intricate collection of photovoltaic cells that power the center during events and 180 homes when the center is empty. Next, San Francisco will be covering many, many more surfaces with solar cells.

3. Boston, Massachusetts: Yard waste is gold in this green city. A plant is in the works to convert yard clippings and leaves into power and fertilizer. Anaerobic bacteria will feed on the grass and create methane while the leaves will be subjected to heat and agitation to speed up the composting process.

4. Oakland, California: The second California city on the list is a master at green transportation. Their public transportation system relies on a new fleet of hydrogen-powered buses that give off nothing more than water vapor.

5. Eugene, Oregon: The second Oregon city on the list has everyone beat on electricity efficiency. While much of the Pacific Northwest gets its power from hydroelectric dams, Eugene goes a few steps further by getting an additional nine percent of its energy from wind dams and buying back excess power from residents who install solar panels.

By supporting the cities that have entered the green future, we can help the country move forward as a whole. If you see anything here that you think would be possible for your city, ask your political representatives about it. Let’s get every American city on this list!

When breaking the ice with strangers at social gatherings, you want to make a good first impression. Why not doubly-impress with cool eco-facts that show off your smarts and green lifestyle? Here are ten quick eco-facts sure to impress.

1. A laptop is more environmentally friendly than a desktop. It consumes five times less electricity.
2. An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!
3. Walmart is leading the green business evolution, but not “out of the goodness of their heart.” Walmart knows that it’s the future of business. In Germany, people simply stopped shopping at Walmart because of their unsustainable business practices. Now that they’ve gone green, Walmart (and their customers) saves money.
4. Traffic jams cause eight times more air pollution that traffic moving at regular highway speed. Ah, rush hour. Annoying and toxic.
5. There are more roads in our National Forests than in the entire U.S. Interstate Highway System.
6. In Michigan, the only state with a dime deposit on recycled cans, the redemption rate is 95%. Newman and Kramer were on top of this eco-fact years ago:
   
7. Americans represent only five percent of the world’s population, but they generate 30 percent of the world’s garbage.
8. Although the light bulb was invented to help mankind see in the dark, indoor lighting use peaks between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9. The Gutenberg Bible, the first and second drafts of the US Declaration of Independence, and the original works of Mark Twain were all printed on hemp-based papers. Hemp-based paper production saves billions of trees each year.
10. It takes less gasoline to restart your car than it does to let it idle for more than a minute. Furthermore, if all the cars on U.S. roads had properly inflated tires, an estimated 2 billion gallons of gasoline would be saved each year, and gas mileage would improve 3 to 7 percent per vehicle.

You don’t even need note cards for these cool bits of trivia. Hit the keg, grab a handful of (organic) potato chips, and get the conversation rolling with one or more of these handy eco-facts.

Americans love shoes. In fact, there are around seven pairs for every person living in the United States. That’s a lot, especially when you take into consideration the materials used to make up our favorites. Most contain a number of different synthetic and petroleum-derived materials, manufactured in China, that release toxins like the carcinogenic dioxin into the air. Factory workers are exposed to dangerous glues and tanning agents for leather. By buying shoes made from sustainable materials, you will reduce the surprising carbon cost of footwear.

• While Simple Shoes manufactures their shoes outside of the United States, they are committed to using fair labor practices and sustainable materials for their products. Their sandals, casual shoes, sneakers and dress shoes are made from a combination of different recycled and sustainable materials, including organic cotton, recycled car tires and innertubes, hemp, silk, and cork. Their packaging is as minimal as it can get, and all biodegradable.

• Earth Shoes makes casual and athletic shoes from bamboo, hemp, recycled plastic and water-soluble solvents. Their special design, called a “negative heel”, promotes leg strength and weight loss by making the heel of the shoe lower than the thick sole of the arch and toes—in effect, you are constantly walking uphill. This lowered heel is supposed to align your hips and spine, straighten your head and activate your core—so not only are you doing the earth good by wearing these shoes, you are doing you body good as well.

• Patagonia puts a lot of thought into the materials they use to make their shoes, in addition to their functionality. While they still choose to use leather in some of their products because of its extreme durability and protective properties, they reuse hides from the meat industry that would be discarded otherwise. Their tanning process strives to be as earth friendly and safe for the tanners as possible. They offer a line of vegan shoes made with all water-soluble solvents and uppers made from recycled and synthetic materials. They recycle their own rubber scraps into soles, and use Heavea latex, which has an extraction process that is actually beneficial to the tree.

But before you decide to buy new shoes, consider the greenest options of all: shoe recycling. If your shoe breaks, repair it, rather than buying a new pair—it’s undoubtably cheaper. If you really want a new pair, try buying from a thrift store. Plenty of lightly worn and interesting shoes are available at your local Good Will or Salvation Army stores.

Do your best to purchase shoes made in the United States, preferably by union workers. Don’t be fooled by shoes manufactured in the Mariana Islands, however—while they are U.S. Commonwealth, the factories there are not required to pay the minimum wage o their workers.

While it might seem silly to worry about what shoes you wear, we must consider all the ways we can limit our carbon footprint and promote fair labor practices. If each of us recognized our significant contribution to climate change and globalization, then maybe these problems could be resolved.