Teach your children how to recycle.
Most items in your trash can be recycled by dropping them off at the Anchorage Recycling Center located at 6161 Rosewood, or in Eagle River at the Anchorage Regional Landfill. Both locations have collection bins for newspaper, mixed paper (most of the junk mail you receive), corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and glass bottles. In addition, steel cans, magazines, and plastics can be accepted at the Anchorage Recycling Center, with other public drop-off bins located at different sites around town. Currently, Anchorage Refuse has a pilot program for curbside pickup of recyclables, and private services can be hired for those very busy parents.

All materials collected are either manufactured locally into new products or sent to the Lower 48 for reuse. In Anchorage and the Valley, local businesses recycle old tires, glass, newspaper and organic matter into new products. Thermo-Kool for instance, turns locally-generated waste newsprint into such products as: cellulose insulation, hydroseed mulch, animal bedding, and other saleable products.

Adopt a section of trail or road to keep clean.
This activity is very rewarding for both parent and child. It is especially satisfying when you focus on a location that you especially enjoy or frequent regularly. Growing up in rural Michigan, I have fond memories of my mother organizing a neighborhood group effort to pick up trash along our country road. Everyone pitched in, including us kids, filling a pickup truck full of glass bottles, cans, and trash. Luckily, Michigan soon passed a bottle bill, and it worked wonders. We never had a truck full after that!

Go organic with your lawn.
In protecting your child’s health, it is also vital to limit their exposure to chemicals. Without thinking, Americans apply 80 million pounds of herbicides, pesticides fungicides to their lawns each year. This has almost doubled since 1964! Numerous studies have documented the many adverse health effects associated with lawn-care products that contain pesticides such as 2,4-D and MCPP.

Make it your child’s science project for the summer to learn about organic care of the lawn. Squirt weeds with lemon juice and vinegar, control pests by introducing “good” insects such as ladybugs, or use natural Chrysanthemum-derived pesticides. I was even able to convince my landlord to use a gluten product available in Anchorage for controlling dandelions. All of these efforts will yield peace of mind as your children (and pets) play in your backyard.