As a continuation of the City of Cleveland's New Year’s Resolutions series - Director, Kristin Hall shares tips & tricks to being greener in 2020 and updates that the City is doing through the efforts of Sustainable Cleveland.

Waste Reduction

• Stop using disposable bags. Get some reusable bags. Local resource: Cuyahoga County Bring Your Own Bag campaign.
• Participate in local resources for composting: Rust Belt Riders, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, and Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District.
• Pay your bills online, opt-in for paperless statements. Not only is it greener, it’s a sanity saver.

Food & Beverage

• Plant a simple backyard garden. It’s good to remember where our food originates, and it doesn’t have to be huge or complicated.
• Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market. Local resource: Edible Cleveland List of Farmers’ Markets.
• Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.

Energy

• Switch your lightbulbs to energy efficient types.
• Conduct your own home energy audit.
• Consider putting solar panels on your home. Local resource: Cuyahoga County Solar Co-op.

Mobility

• Drive the speed limit, and combine as many errands as you can in one trip.
• Go With Greener Modes of Transport - Sustainable travelers may opt to travel by train rather than a plane; air travelers can purchase carbon offsets, which support emissions-reducing or sustainable-energy projects.
• Seek Out Eco-Friendly Accommodations - book hotels that avoid single-use plastics; travelers can look for evidence that hotels are contributing to environmental and community projects, using renewable energy, sourcing products locally and avoiding food waste.

More Tips for Going Green at Home

• Make your own household cleaners. Local resource: Green Yards and Healthy Homes Recipes. Green Yards and Healthy Homes Booklet.
• Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden. Local resource: City of Cleveland Rain Barrel Program.
• Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Repurpose old towels and t-shirts and cut them into small cleaning cloths.

Copyright 2020 - City of Cleveland Mayor's Office of Communications and Sustainable Cleveland.