Ever found a place in nature that made you just drink in the beauty of the natural world? Ever stopped to wonder how many of these special places exist in our rapidly industrializing surroundings? Ever thought of the water, mucky and contaminated, that used to be crystal clear?

According to the Utah State Recycling Center, recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

Knowing this, why would someone not jump at an opportunity to recycle this very newspaper, especially now that recycling is free in Peachtree City?

Recently, an ordinance was passed that requires sanitation companies to provide free recycling for all of their customers. Help the environment and call your sanitation company right away or use some of these other ways to make our world a cleaner, safer place.

Thirty-one percent of trash in 2008 was composed of paper products (from EPA: Municipal Solid Waste Facts and Figures Sheet). People can recycle lots of trash items now, including paper, plastic, and even glass.

Even though people have busy lives, recycling is quite simple. All it takes is requesting a recycling bin from your sanitation company, rinsing out the plastic and glass items, and placing what would be garbage in a bin out on the curb.

Recycling isn’t the only way to “go green”; people can also reduce the trash they make in the first place. When it is possible, buy in bulk instead of individually packaged items. At the grocery store, avoid pre-packaged produce and buy fresh fruits and vegetables. In the meantime, also enjoy a healthier snack.

If a public place or restaurant has cloth towels or air dryers, use those, or, otherwise, simply take one paper towel. Instead of replacing toys or appliances that have broken, try to repair them, saving trash and money.

Many people have attractive tote-bags that clutter their home and aren’t even used. Keep the tote-bags in a family car, so when the check-out lady at the grocery store asks you, “Paper or plastic?” surprise her and pull out your own bag.

Another way to minimize garbage is to reuse potential trash. Make a jelly jar into a drinking cup, and instead of using plastic baggies for lunch, store food in Tupperware. Find a special spot to keep plastic grocery bags, and use them to clean up after your dog, store wet clothes, or line a small trash can.

A cool way to reuse old peanut butter jars is to contain markers or art supplies in them, and while creative energy is flowing, go ahead and make an interesting art project or collage out of more trash or junk.

After a birthday party or gift exchange, save the colorful gift bags and wrapping paper to wrap another gift. When you drop in a coffee shop or café, bring your own mug or cup. Some stores even give a discount for this.

Also, bring a washable water bottle to school or work instead of a disposable one. Disposable, plastic water bottles have actually become one of the biggest problems for the environment. Even though they only just started to become widely used in the 1960s or later, plastic water bottles are the fastest growing area out of all beverages; only about 14 to 16 percent are being recycled versus the about 60 million thrown away each day in the U.S.

As the new year progresses, people should make it their resolution to concentrate more on the occasional quiet places in nature that rely on us to protect and preserve them. People find that they even save money by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

The Girl Scout Law urges Girl Scouts to “use resources wisely and make the world a better place.” People everywhere can join in the effort to save our planet, one newspaper at a time.

Madison Bunker, Ashley Cameron, Theresa Daugherty, Megan Donahue, Erin Gorman, Sheridan Horning, Maria McCranie, Mamie Smith, Taylor Stillman, and Emma Kate Thome

Girl Scout Troop 19163

Peachtree City, Ga.