Originally published in April, 2015. Updated April 2020!

Happy Earth Day!  

I look forward to this day every year because I am a dyed-in-the-wool tree hugger from the liberal bastion of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

 I’m always looking for ways to have a lighter footprint on the Earth!  

There’s a rich connection between doing things that can help save the environment and getting organized all at the same time!  

Here are 6 super simple eco-friendly and green organizing tips and ideas this Earth Day (and really every day, since every day should be considered Earth Day):

Go Paperless!

1.  Convert your paper magazine subscriptions into digital versions.  

No paper, ink, or energy resources used to print and ship the magazine to you with the digital zine.  

The digital version may be more convenient too since you won’t have to deal with a stack of magazines in your home.

2.  Cancel those magazine subscriptions and borrow the magazine from your local library – the paper version or check to see if you can borrow the digital version from your library system instead.

3.  Get your name off of junk mail lists and save paper and time!  

Check out my post about how-to de junk mail your life here.

4.  Consider bookmarking that yoga schedule you found online instead of printing it out.  

Again – time and money saved with one less sheet of paper to handle.  

Of course this suggestion is also good for other things that can be printed – menus, sports schedules and the like.

Divert Clutter from the Landfill

5.  Donate, sell, or give away items you no longer want.  

Check out details for dealing with kid clutter.

Live with less!

6.  Buy only what you need (i.e. buy less!).  

It’s a win-win for your home, wallet, and the environment when you simply consume less.  

No more spending money on things that you really don’t need, leaving more resources available for others who do need it.  

Every single item in your home takes time and energy to maintain and deal with.  

Give yourself more time by simply having less.

What Earth Day related tips for getting organized would you add?

Over to you!

If you like this post, do me a favor and leave me a comment below on your favorite tip in the post and subscribe to my newsletter.  

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Want more organizing solutions?

If paper in your life is out of control, and you’re interested in tackling this project yourself, then check out this self-paced paper organizing guide!

It walks through the same steps I use with each of my in-person organizing clients to get them organized in a non-overwhelming and highly effective way.

Sorting through clutter in your home can be overwhelming with the right tools to keep everything straight.

This set of printable sorting and decluttering cards is just organizing aid you need to help the process go smoother.

Want to make some cash for your clutter?

This guide helps you earn more for your stuff and sell it faster than you’d otherwise be able to!

The tips and tricks helped one of my clients earn $3500 from used kid clothes and toys in about 6 weeks!