I am awe inspired by the sheer creativity of the Cuban people. Borne out of necessity, their creativity knows no bounds, and over the past 40 years, cut off from the rest of the world, they have created a culture of reuse, recycling and reinvention on a scale not seen in the rest of the world. It’s sad that the people of Cuba have had to suffer for so many years in poverty because of the politics that most have no control over, but they have created something truly unique and an inspiration to us all as far as recycling goes. They show us what is possible where creative recycling is concerned, and many others, all over the world, are now following in their footsteps and creating beautiful, desirable things out of rubbish. Have a look at these:

Coronation Street is the first British soap to make a feature of recycling bins on the set. Producers of the show have joined forces with Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign to bring the bins into Corrie’s cafe and Roy’s Rolls. Also, a green-wheeled bin for individual households will be featured in the terraced backyards, an industrial recycling bin for cardboard and paper will appear outside the ‘Underworld’ factory, and community recycling banks for food and drinks cans, clear glass bottles and jars and magazines and newspapers will be seen outside the Medical Centre.

While I’m not a Corrie watcher (although I may be tempted to give it a try just to check out the recycling facilities ), I have been known to watch the odd episode of Eastenders, and have often wondered why, if they have Recycle Now posters hanging up in Ian Beale’s caff, they don’t bother making more of an effort and including recycling bins too. I’m glad to see that there’s a soap who have taken the pains to publicise this important issue.

It remains to be seen whether the appearance of recycling bins in their favourite soap will get the Corrie watchers recycling more than ever. But in the meantime, how about the readers of BlogGreen make a feature of recycling in their homes? It’s easier than you think.

An article yesterday by the BBC reports on a survey of drinking habits canvassing 7,500 people across 15 European countries has found that in Britain - as well as Sweden - 82% of respondents are happy to buy a round of beer. And from comments left by readers of the BBC article, it’s clear that “round shirkers” are looked upon with some mirth. The article goes on to say:

For many people the only socially acceptable way to do things is to get a round in.

Fergus Linnane, author of Drinking for England which is published next month, says the buying of rounds plays a part in rituals of bonding and social cohesion.

No-one knows when the practice became popular, but Linnane suggests the idea of keeping up with a certain level of drinking goes back at least to the arrival of the Vikings.

Here’s your opportunity to do good by your drinking buddies as well as some complete strangers on the other side of the world who you’ve never met and probably never will. Get in a round of Mongozo Fairtrade beer, that bring together the ingredients, recipes, brewing techniques and drinking habits from many different cultures. Caring and sharing, that’s what it’s all about.

When you treat yourself to a new lipstick you probably choose it based on the colour, the price, or maybe even the brand. But do you think about the lead content?

In October 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released an alarming report about the lead content of lipsticks. The report found that more than half of the brand-name lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead, although none of the lipsticks listed lead as an ingredient. LʹOreal’s Colour Riche True Red tops the bill for including lead at 0.65 ppm, but even some ‘natural’ brands like Burt’s Bees had detectable lead content.

What are the effects of lead on our health?

Lead has a negative effect on our nervous system, as well as the ability to to cause renal and cardiovascular diseases. The reason why we should avoid even small concentrations of lead is that lead does not break down in the body but accumulates over time. Even small amounts of lead can add up to a harmful concentration.

From the “A Poison Kiss” report:

Exposure to lead can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, impulsiveness, reduced school performance, increased aggression, seizures and brain damage, anemia, and, after long exposure, damage to the kidneys. Lead has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in both men and women, hormonal changes, menstrual irregularities and delays in the onset of puberty in girls.

Pregnant women and young children exposed to lead are particularly vulnerable. Lead easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain, where it interferes with normal development.

Glamour magazine’s June 2002 “Beauty Quickie Tip” repeats a commonly quoted statistic, “Women inadvertently (but harmlessly) eat about 4 lbs of lipstick” in a lifetime. But the latest science shows that no level of lead is “harmless.”

Where can I buy lead free lipstick?

You’re probably safest opting for a certified organic lipstick, and fortunately there are a few brands available these days that fit the bill. Try Lavera, Green People or Nvey certified organic lipsticks.

At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show Michelin unveiled a new tyre that has lower rolling resistance, thereby reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.

It makes sense that while we continue to drive our cars regardless of their impact on our environment, we at least make some effort to limit the damage that they cause. It’s important to check our tyre pressures to make sure that tyres are pumped up enough to lower their rolling resistance. Next time we need new tyres we can enquire about whether these Michelen Low Rolling Resistance tyres are available to replace the ones that we’ve worn out. And we can drive in a way that uses less fuel, an activity known as hypermiling. We can all learn to reduce fuel consumption by changing the way that we drive, here are some tips to get started:

• Calculate your car’s average MPG so that you can start trying to improve it.
• Put some thought into your driving etiquette. By being a courteous driver and being conscious of other drivers on the road, you can reduce the amount of time you spend braking. Once you’ve braked you need to accelerate to get moving again, which uses fuel.
• Don’t leave it until the last minute to brake at a red light. The moment you see the red light, or are aware of a stop sign ahead, take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
• Accelerate gently, this uses less fuel.
• Use your cruise control to keep your driving speed moderate.

And here’s one last eco-friendly suggestion. Your old tyres are now recycled when you’ve finished with them, thanks to EU legislation. Be sure to close the recycling loop by buying products made from recycled tyres. This really cute child’s swing is just one of the beautiful products that are made from old tyres. Other products that are made by recycling old tyres include pencil cases and mouse mats, all-weather surfaces and even new tyres. Or you could take your old tyres home and use them for gardening. A ‘tower’ of four tyres makes a great space to grow potatoes when you don’t have a big surface area.

Are you full of good intentions for living a greener life but just don’t know where to start or what to do? Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has just published a report that spells it all out for us. These aren’t exactly ground breaking ideas, but they’re a useful reminder of where to start. I’ve summarised the goals for your ease of use.Personal Transport

-Use more efficient vehicles: this means smaller cars, bicycles and public transport options.

-Use car less for short trips: walk or cycle if you don’t have far to go.

-Avoid unnecessary flights (short haul): take the train.

Homes: Waste

-Increase recycling: choose products that are packaged in recyclable materials.

-Waste less (food): plan your meals and make a shopping list to avoid buying too much food, and compost your food waste.

Homes: Energy

-Install insulation: you can get a grant to help you pay for this, for details visit the Energy Saving Trust.

-Better energy management: save energy in the home.

-Install micro-generation: solar panels and wind turbines are the way to go.

Homes: Water

-More responsible water usage: adopt water saving habits.

Eco-products

-Buy energy efficient products: from your washing machine to your television set, look for the energy rating and go for the ‘A’.

-Eat more food that is locally in season: grow your own vegetables or join an organic vegetable box delivery scheme.

-Adopt a lower impact diet: eat less meat and fewer processed foods.

There’s plenty here to get started with, and once you’ve achieved all this, stay tuned to BlogGreen for more suggestions on fine tuning your eco-life.

It seems that wherever you turn these days, you’re being handed free energy saving light bulbs. Last weekend was the London Lightbulb Amnesty, and this weekend The Sun is giving away 2 free energy saving bulbs with every paper bought this Saturday. So, that’s Saturday the 19th January 2008, you’ll have to find a participating store (see list at the bottom of this blog post) and get there while stocks last, and your reward will be a Sun branded twin pack of GE 11W energy saving light bulbs with each copy of The Sun purchased.

Once you’ve changed your light bulbs to the energy saving kind, how about taking it a step further and looking at other ways that you can save energy in the home? Here are some practical ideas for saving energy (and money):

1. Close your curtains at dusk - this helps trap heat in your home.

2. Turn down your thermostat by one degree and put on a jumper.

3. Only boil as much water as you need for teas and coffees (or invest in the amazing eco-kettle, I have one and love it).

4. Don’t leave appliances on standby. If it’s too much trouble to go around switching everything off, this little gadget will do it all for you at the touch of a button.

5. Install cavity wall insulation and insulate your loft. Information on grants for insulation are available via the Energy Saving Trust.

6. Buy appliances that are ‘A’ rated for energy. There is plenty of choice these days. Take your pick of dishwashers, fridges, washing machines, and cookers.

7. If your boiler is more than 15 years old, replace it with a more efficient condensing boiler.

8. Wash your clothes at 30′C (and opt for a brand like Ecover or Aquados to ensure that you’re not polluting the planet while you wash).

9. Leave the car at home for short journeys and get walking. It’s good for you as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

10. Switch off the lights when you leave the room.

*Participating stockists for free energy saving light bulbs with The Sun: Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, The Co-Operative, WH Smith, Woolworths, Somerfield, One Stop, BP Connect, McColls, Martins, RS McColl’s, Supernews, Superdrug, Booths, Budgens, Londis, Spar or Costcutter, and a host of independent retailers who are too numerous to list here.

An independent report showing the impact that batteries have on the environment has recently been released by rechargeable battery manufacturer Uniross, with a special focus on the differences between disposable and rechargeable batteries. The report concludes that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on the environment than disposable batteries. That’s a huge difference!

Now’s the time to stop buying disposable batteries, there really is no good excuse not to. Buy rechargeables (don’t forget you’ll need a battery charger too), help the planet, and save some money too. They may be a little more expensive in the short term, but the long term savings are considerable.

Handy battery disposal tip: When disposing of what remain of your disposable batteries, you may like to know that Curry’s stores have a battery recycling point where you can drop your old batteries off. If you throw your old batteries out with your household rubbish you will be adding to chemical contamination of landfill sites.

Although I grew up very aware of environmental issues such as pollution and conservation, it wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I really started to take action and do my bit to help protect the environment. Some of the very first things I did (this was in the days before low energy light bulbs and energy saving devices) was to compost, recycle and buy eco-friendly cleaning and personal products.

My first foray into composting involved a free composter from my local authority and a bucket on the kitchen floor next to the bin to collect the vegetable peelings. It wasn’t a bad system at all, but I can be a bit squeamish about cleaning out the bottom of a bucket after a weeks worth of vegetable peelings have been left to fester in it. It wasn’t until years later when I discovered the good old kitchen caddy with compostable bags that composting really became a pleasure for me.

These days composting is mess free (until it’s cooked and I sieve it and use it in my garden, but that’s the sort of mess that I thoroughly enjoy). Thank you compost caddy, you’re a good friend.

The Mayor of London has teamed up with British Gas and B&Q to give free energy saving light bulbs to Londoners. Apparently 40% of the capital’s CO2 emissions are as a result of London’s households, so in an effort to reduce this, if you take up to two of your old light bulbs into a London branch of B&Q this weekend (Friday 11th to Sunday 13th January 2008), they’ll replace them with low energy CFL light bulbs.

If you don’t live in London, you can still reduce your CO2 emissions by switching to low energy light bulbs, and save some money on your electricity bill at the same time. Other ideas for reducing your energy usage is to close your curtains at dusk, turn down your thermostat by one degree and wear a jumper in the house, and switch off the light when you leave a room.