I found this information and thought it might be helpful so I am passing it on...

Since an estimated 250 million computers became obsolete in the past five years, recycling e-waste has never been more crucial.  But figuring out how to do it isn't always easy. 

To help the eco-conscious with this dilemma, STAPLES has gotten involved and has launched an in-store e-waste recycling program. 

Drop off home-office equipment (computers, monitors, printers, fax machines) to any store nationwide, no matter where you originally purchased it, and for just $10 per item, the chain will recycle it according to the EPA's standards.

Bring in your extra keyboards and mice, too - they'll take care of those for free.

Hope you find this helpful in getting rid of your old home office equipment and feeling good about doing so.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting that home office organized, contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I love professional organizing because it gives me a great opportunity to use my imagination.  This past weekend, I was working with one of my clients.  She is making great strides in getting her home organized once and for all.

We were working in the kitchen area to make some sense of her plastic containers and her recycling of cans and paper, among other things.

This particular client purchases the cardboard boxes of soda which you can open up on one side and it acts as a dispenser. 

Going through the organizing process with her, we recognized that because her particular apartment complex does not participate in recycling, she is transporting her recycling items in her car to a local drop-off point.  Needless to say, transporting a slew of empty soda cans can be annoying and cumbersome.  

I love to teach my clients to "think outside the box", (to coin a phrase).  We figured out that we could use the empty soda can box/dispenser to fill with empty soda cans to be transported to the local recycling center.  It already has a handle to carry the box, so what could be easier! 

This is a perfect example of how you can take something you already have and put it to use in a different way.  I promised my client I would pass this tidbit of information on to my blog readers.

So, take a moment when looking for a solution to a problem and remember to "think outside the box"!!! 

If you have any great suggestions on how to use something old in a new way, send me an email and tell me about it.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or organizing problems you would like me to address, simply send me an email at info@4abetterspace.com and I will be glad to help.

Enjoy the start of Fall and have a great week!

Yesterday was Earth Day.  Did you participate in any way?  If not, perhaps you weren't sure what you could do to.  It's actually very easy to make a positive impact on the environment for yourself and future generations.

Here are a few Quick Tips For A Better Space that you can start today so you can GO GREEN too!

1.  Stop buying bottled water.  Did you know that some bottled water is actually bottled municipal tap water?  Few people can tell the difference, anyway.  Bottled water is more expensive than gasoline and 250 to 10,000 times more than tap water.   If you do buy some bottles, then be sure to recycle them or refill then at home for your next trip or outing.

2.  Check those faucets.  Office workers alone use enough water every day to fill 17,500 olympic-sized pools!  Much of it comes from leaky faucets.  Here's a statistic - a leaky faucet that fills a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste approximately 3,000 gallons of water a year!  While you're at it, check the outside faucets as well, especially since they were exposed over the winter months.

3.  Use cold water.  When doing your laundry, try to wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible.  Heating water is the #1 energy consumer in many homes.  And while you're at it, use an outdoor or even indoor clothesline to dry your clothes whenever possible.  I always use an indoor drying rack for my delicates and special fabrics.  You can dry them on the line and then just pop them into the dryer on a low setting for a few minutes just to get rid of wrinkles and make them softer.  This will keep the clothes from wearing out and fading so quickly as well, saving you money! 

4.  BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag.  Instead of using the plastic or paper grocery bags the next time you go shopping, bring canvas bags.  You can purchase them inexpensively at most grocery stores these days.  Remember, it takes one 15-20 year old tree to make enough paper for only 700 grocery bags!  And, although plastic is convenient, they are not biodegradable.  They can only be recycled so many times!

5.  Turn off your screen saver; unplug your tv.  The EPA has estimated that using a computer "sleep mode" reduces its energy consumption by 60% to 70%!  So, please turn off your monitor when you are not using it.  At the same time, consider unplugging your tv or using a power strip with a manual on/off switch.  Most tvs, dvd players, game systems and stereo receivers use electricity because they are placed in "standby" mode when you shut them off.  They are not really "off".  However, keep your vcr,dvr or cable box on the regular outlet so it will not lose its programming.

6.  Use a ceiling fan.  Some manufacturers have suggested that a ceiling fan can save up to 40% on summer cooling costs and up to 10% on winter heating costs.  Sometimes, all you need is a light breeze to cool the room in the Spring and Summer and by reversing the fans in the Fall and Winter, you are drawing the heat down to the floor, thereby saving energy. 

You should find these tips easy to implement.  Just by doing these simple things, you to can start to go green!

Until next time, if you have any organizing questions or problems you would like me to address, please send me an email at info@4abetterspace.com and I will be glad to help.

Happy Earth Day!