It is the mantra of the mantra of every environmentalist out there. And as the “Green” trend continues to grow, with the help of media campaigns and “Green” celebrities like Natalie Portman, it is also slowly enveloping more and more families into its path.

And it can only be for the better.

You don’t have to be a scientist (or have heard of Al Gore or his documentary) to know that our precious resources are being depleted, that the Ozone layer is in trouble, and that our landfills are filling at an alarming rate.

But can one person really make a difference by reducing the amount of waste they produce, reusing materials as often as possible, and recycling plastics and glass?

Yes.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce an average of 4.6 pounds of solid waste per day. Multiply that by, say, a four-person family over the course of one year, and you’ll get an astounding (and incredibly alarming) 6,716 pounds of solid waste!(By comparison, Germany and Sweden produce an average of less than two pounds of solid waste per person, per day.)

Interestingly, the EPA also states that while Americans may lead for waste produced, we also try to make up for our shortcomings by taking the lead in the industrialized world for recycling, with 24 percent of solid waste recycled in 1995 (the most recent year for comparative international data.)

So what is an environmentally-conscious Mom to do?

I’ll admit that before my baby was born, I never really thought twice about the garbage, other than on trash day. Empty water bottles have gone into the garbage bag since the day we moved into our home five years ago because no matter my good intentions, I have never been able to find the time to make the trip to pick up a recycling bin from the city. (I’m still working on that one, I promise.) And we barely ever drink pop, so the lone two-liter of Diet Pepsi is more likely to find its way into a trash bag than into a grocery cart for the 10-cent deposit. (I know, I know. Shame on me.)

But things are different now. I guess you can say, since Eliana has been around, I’ve kind of become an accidental tree-hugger. I’m not ever going to be Daryl Hannah, by any means, but my thinking has certainly changed, and will continue to do so, I am sure.

Where I once thought nothing of disposable diapers and wipes, I now swear by cloth diapers and reusable cloth baby wipes. I make my own baby food, which I know cuts down on the amount of waste I would be producing each day were I to mindlessly toss each emptied jar of commercially-prepared food. We buy in bulk as often as possible at the local warehouse store, which I know also helps cut down on waste output. And even though I still rely on traditional paper napkins, I think that my New Year’s resolution might involve ordering a few sets of handmade reusable napkins .

While I can’t make any radical changes like powering my home with solar energy or robbing a bank to pay for a hybrid vehicle, I do want to incorporate the simple changes that can help me be a little bit greener every day. This way, I can not only do my part to protect our planet, but set a good, and realistic, example for my daughter, as well.

What Simple and Green tips do you have to share? And how do you incorporate them into your family life? Please share, and help us all go a little greener.