Green Neighbors Program

The Clark County Green Neighbors Program is coordinated by Clark County Public Health’s Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach to assist citizens with developing more sustainable lifestyles and building a strong environmental community in Clark County. Solid waste regional planning and programs are a cooperative effort of Battle Ground, Camas, Clark County, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal, and Yacolt.

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Contact Details

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Bathroom Vent

The average American, according to www.planetclark.com, spends over 90% of their time indoors. To each their own, you may say, but here is something you may not know: indoor air quality can be five times more polluted than outdoor.

As the home becomes more airtight and energy efficient, it needs more effective ventilation to circulate fresh air. Each house traps potentially harmful chemicals like urea formaldehyde or vinyl and other harmful pollutants like mold and dust.

In the bathroom, where excessive moisture easily accumulates, ventilation is especially pertinent. Be sure to run your bathroom exhaust for 10 to 20 minutes after taking a shower. And if you see anything growing that shouldn’t be there, wipe it out with bio-based cleaning products, which won’t affect the secluded bathroom air as much as many scented products.

Medications

Your meds are not meant to be flushed down the drain! They ultimately end up back in the waterways, and they will harm your health and harm your local environment.

Non-controlled substances can be taken to local participating transfer stations, pharmacies, and physicians. Controlled substances can be taken to participating sheriff or police departments. For more information and to find out where exactly you can bring your medications, visit our Unwanted Medication Disposal page.

Toothpaste

It is possible to make your own toothpaste from recipes found online or in books at your local library. Or you can just use baking soda. Check with your dentist office to see if they have any suggestions.

Deodorant

Your deodorant can contain harmful ingredients, such as aluminum or phthalates. One way to avoid these conventional deodorants is to buy green. Check your local natural food store for better choices or you can try making your own with recipes found online.

Shaving

First off, quit fooling around with those disposable razors. Instead, get a razor that will last you a long time. There are many options to choose from at your local department store.

It is also possible to make your own shaving cream. Google recipes online and give it a try!

Green Cleaning Supplies

Get yourself some hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and borax powder. These basic products can make a world of natural cleaning supplies that are effective and not harmful to the environment. Download Clark County’s book of green cleaning recipes to get started!

Soap and Shampoo

There are a couple ways to sustainably get at your essential soap and shampoo needs. Simply, you could go out and buy bulk shampoo and conditioner, which gets you the most bang for the buck. BUT, you could also make your own soap and shampoo! There are lots of recipes online or at your local craft store so check them out and see how you like it!

Sink

Two words: faucet aerator. It’ll cut down on your water use while you do the same. That means not letting the water run while you brush your teeth and filling the basin with water when you shave.

Toilet

The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water — the toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water. Make sure your toilet is a high efficiency model, which uses less than 1.3 gallons per flush. That’s 60% to 80% less than most toilets!

Check out dual flush toilets, which include two buttons or handles to flush different levels of water. Dual flush toilets use up to 67% less water than conventional toilets.

If you don’t plan on getting a new toilet anytime soon, you can reduce your water use with a little gumption. Use a brick or any other similar sized durable object, and place it gently in the tank above your toilet. This will reduce the flow by decreasing the reservoir size.

And believe it or not, you can reuse toilet paper. No… it’s not as nasty as it sounds! Buy recycled rolls of paper. Statistics have come out that say if we replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper roll with 100% recycled t.p., we could save 423,900 trees. That’s a lot of trees for such a small, stinkin’ action.

Bathtub/Shower

A ten minute shower uses as much as 60 gallons of water! It is simple enough to lessen your shower time and save water. For instance, doing a “navy shower”–wherein one rinses, turns off the water and lathers, and rinses again—can use as little as 3 gallons of water. As the Navy would say, stop being so “Hollywood” with your showers!

Also, make sure your showerhead is equipped with a low-flow aerator. Along with your new showering style, you’ll be shipshape in no time!

  • Bathroom Vent

    The average American, according to www.planetclark.com, spends over 90% of their time indoors. To each their own, you may say, but here is something you may not know: indoor air quality can be five times more polluted than outdoor.

    As the home becomes more airtight and energy efficient, it needs more effective ventilation to circulate fresh air. Each house traps potentially harmful chemicals like urea formaldehyde or vinyl and other harmful pollutants like mold and dust.

    In the bathroom, where excessive moisture easily accumulates, ventilation is especially pertinent. Be sure to run your bathroom exhaust for 10 to 20 minutes after taking a shower. And if you see anything growing that shouldn’t be there, wipe it out with bio-based cleaning products, which won’t affect the secluded bathroom air as much as many scented products.

  • Medications

    Your meds are not meant to be flushed down the drain! They ultimately end up back in the waterways, and they will harm your health and harm your local environment.

    Non-controlled substances can be taken to local participating transfer stations, pharmacies, and physicians. Controlled substances can be taken to participating sheriff or police departments. For more information and to find out where exactly you can bring your medications, visit our Unwanted Medication Disposal page.

  • Toothpaste

    It is possible to make your own toothpaste from recipes found online or in books at your local library. Or you can just use baking soda. Check with your dentist office to see if they have any suggestions.

  • Deodorant

    Your deodorant can contain harmful ingredients, such as aluminum or phthalates. One way to avoid these conventional deodorants is to buy green. Check your local natural food store for better choices or you can try making your own with recipes found online.

  • Shaving

    First off, quit fooling around with those disposable razors. Instead, get a razor that will last you a long time. There are many options to choose from at your local department store.

    It is also possible to make your own shaving cream. Google recipes online and give it a try!

  • Green Cleaning Supplies

    Get yourself some hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and borax powder. These basic products can make a world of natural cleaning supplies that are effective and not harmful to the environment. Download Clark County’s book of green cleaning recipes to get started!

  • Soap and Shampoo

    There are a couple ways to sustainably get at your essential soap and shampoo needs. Simply, you could go out and buy bulk shampoo and conditioner, which gets you the most bang for the buck. BUT, you could also make your own soap and shampoo! There are lots of recipes online or at your local craft store so check them out and see how you like it!

  • Sink

    Two words: faucet aerator. It’ll cut down on your water use while you do the same. That means not letting the water run while you brush your teeth and filling the basin with water when you shave.

  • Toilet

    The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water — the toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water. Make sure your toilet is a high efficiency model, which uses less than 1.3 gallons per flush. That’s 60% to 80% less than most toilets!

    Check out dual flush toilets, which include two buttons or handles to flush different levels of water. Dual flush toilets use up to 67% less water than conventional toilets.

    If you don’t plan on getting a new toilet anytime soon, you can reduce your water use with a little gumption. Use a brick or any other similar sized durable object, and place it gently in the tank above your toilet. This will reduce the flow by decreasing the reservoir size.

    And believe it or not, you can reuse toilet paper. No… it’s not as nasty as it sounds! Buy recycled rolls of paper. Statistics have come out that say if we replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper roll with 100% recycled t.p., we could save 423,900 trees. That’s a lot of trees for such a small, stinkin’ action.

  • Bathtub/Shower

    A ten minute shower uses as much as 60 gallons of water! It is simple enough to lessen your shower time and save water. For instance, doing a “navy shower”–wherein one rinses, turns off the water and lathers, and rinses again—can use as little as 3 gallons of water. As the Navy would say, stop being so “Hollywood” with your showers!

    Also, make sure your showerhead is equipped with a low-flow aerator. Along with your new showering style, you’ll be shipshape in no time!

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