Resources Are Precious
in the Virgin Islands
Support a greener St. John
with these eco friendly tips
Photo credit: © Traveling Gal
Conserve Water
- Run dishwasher with a full load of dishes — Instead of rinsing dishes, scrape food off into the garbage or compost.
- Consider the island rule “In the land of sun and fun, we don’t flush for number one”
- Take shorter showers: Turn off water when lathering up with soap and shampoo
- Don’t leave water running in sink while brushing teeth
- Reduce laundry water use by hanging up and reusing bath & pool towels
- Wash full loads of laundry in cold water
- Promptly report running toilets, leaking faucets, etc. to management. Turn off the water supply valve near source if you can.
Conserve Energy
- Consider opening doors and using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning to keep cool. Please close windows and doors when using A/C
- Use the clothes dryer for full loads, or hang clothes to dry.
- Turn off lights, ceiling fans, A/C and appliances when not in use or leaving the house.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
- Hot tubs use a lot of electricity! Only turn on the jets and heat when using the spa. The cover will help retain heat when not in use.
Say No to Single Use Plastic & Dispose of Trash Properly
- Sea turtles and other animals mistake bits of plastic for their dinner. With no way to digest it, these snacks can be deadly for some of our favorite creatures.
- Animals can get trapped in trash that lands in the ocean which is painful and life threatening.
- Bits of plastic that land in the ocean never fully degrade. By 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight.
Do Not Touch Wildlife or Coral Reef
- Be careful when standing or snorkeling that your fins do not hit the coral. This can destroy our beautiful reef!
- The animals on St. John are wild. Avoid injury by giving both land and sea animals personal space.
Use Reef Friendly Sunscreen or a T-shirt
- The chemical oxybenzone found in most commercial sunblock is harmful to the coral reef and marine life.
- Watch out for imposters who advertise as “Reef Safe” – purchase sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium oxide as the active ingredient
Recycling & Composting
- Our landfills are closing in 2020 without a new plan! Try to reduce waste as much as possible.
- Vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and egg shells are green material that are good for the soil and can be composted.
- Aluminum beverage cans can be recycled at various dumpsters around the island. Opt for canned beers or beverages instead of bottles when possible. Drop your clean aluminum cans into the proper receptacle when throwing out trash, or stop by the ReSource Depot on Gifft Hill Rd!
Want signs to let renters know how to “live like a local?”