It Can Be Easy Being Green

By Mary Casey-Sturk, Indian Hill Editor & Fort Thomas Living Contributor

The summer of 2023 had some very hot days and on top of that, the region had smoke in the air from the Canadian wildfires. This, and other factors, led to poor air quality, and that not only affects those with breathing and health issues, but it also affects the environment. Beyond the air that we breathe, there are other things we can all do to help Fort Thomas, and the planet, by “being green”.

Our Air

You may have watched television and print advertisements from OKI (the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments) urging us to “do your share for cleaner air”. This campaign is part of OKI’s commitment to spreading the clean air message. They share the importance of being aware of the harmful effects of ozone and particulate matter pollution, but they also share ways to reduce air pollution. 

Here are their tips to “do your share for cleaner air”, which are particularly important on days when the air quality index is poor.

• Taking the bus (call METRO at 513-621-4455 or TANK at 859-331-8265)
• Carpooling or vanpooling (call RideShare at 513-241-RIDE)
• Riding a bike instead of driving
• Avoid the use of gasoline powered lawn equipment on smog alert days
• Keeping your vehicle maintained
• Combining trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips
• Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m. and don’t top off
• Avoid using oil-based paints and stains
• Save electricity
• Spread the word

For more information, visit www.oki.org or www.doyourshare.org.

Idling Facts

Per the Department of Energy, “Personal-vehicle idling wastes about 3 billion gallons of fuel—generating around 30 million tons of CO2 annually in the United States. Idling the engine of your vehicle when you’re not driving it literally gets you nowhere. Idling reduces your vehicle’s fuel economy, costs money, and creates pollution. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions that contribute to smog and climate change than stopping and restarting your engine does.”

“It is estimated that idling personal vehicles generate around 30 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. While the impact of idling may seem small on a per-car basis, the impact of the 250 million idling personal vehicles in the United States adds up. For saving fuel and reducing emissions, eliminating the unnecessary idling of personal vehicles would be the same as taking 5 million vehicles off the roads.”

Recycling

In Fort Thomas, there is curbside recycling pick-up. These items are typically able to be recycled: plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, steel cans (and lids), paperboard (like cereal boxes), cardboard, office paper, envelopes and junk mail, newspapers, magazines and inserts, telephone books, catalogs, and cartons. If in doubt about an item, check with Rumpke for an up-to-date list of recyclable items.

Campbell County holds a county-wide clean-up event for larger items including appliances, mattresses, and furniture, as well as batteries, electronics, and more. This is held twice annually at designated drop-off locations. Household hazardous waste often has a separate drop-off location and time and there is also a waste tire/scrap metal recycling date. You can even recycle those holiday lights! Visit www.campbellcountyky.gov for more information.

Did you know that non-profit organizations can earn money by picking up trash? The county also runs the Trash for Cash Program. Groups can earn money by collecting roadside litter.

In Your Own Garden

Chuck Keller of the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy spoke about the importance of “being green”.

“Being green is an important topic. You shouldn’t have to do anything extra in order to be green; it should just be part of the daily rhythms of life. For example, plant native flowers, shrubs, and trees in your landscape. They need less maintenance and are pretty drought tolerant. I may water my native gardens once or twice a season. And they are beautiful. We operate the Model Native Garden in Tower Park to demonstrate the beauty and hardiness of native plants” shares Keller.

As for managing weeds. “If you plant things close together then you won’t have much need to weeds” adding, “There are times, though, when we need to spray weeds. If I have to spray, I use a mixture of white distilled vinegar, epsom salt, and Dawn dish detergent. It works! I use it on garden paths and along sidewalk cracks. It doesn’t hurt insects or any other wildlife. Try to avoid pesticides at all costs. Insects and plants are never a problem in a healthy, diverse setting.”

“Being green is more popular than ever. Visit a garden store and you’ll find so many “green” and native items. Being green is simply a matter of being respectful of the world around us.”

Keller shares, “The Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy is charged with protecting our forests and there is an incredible amount of research that shows that when we live among trees our lives are healthier. The oxygen in forests is richer. It has a calming effect as well. And it adds a wonderful quality of life for residents”.

Keller shares more reasons to “be green”. “Just an observation, have you noticed how few bug marks on our windshields when you travel? I remember that we would have to stop just to clean the windshield but not anymore. There is an insect apocalypse going on and if we continue at this rate our very survival will be at risk. Everything serves a purpose on the planet. It’s not here to annoy us. It’s here to help us.” Keller continues, “While we are on the subject, there is a movement to move away from the perfect lawn because a monoculture of anything is not healthy.  The history of the lawn is fascinating and worth falling down that rabbit hole. Garden stores used to include clover in their grass mixes but not anymore and that’s a problem not just for our lawns but for our general physical health.”