There once was a time when the now ubiquitous catchphrase “there’s an app for that” elicited a cynical reaction in me. Perhaps it was because I held on to my blackberry for a little too long (I thought it was easier to type on.) Or, maybe it’s because I tend to be a bit skeptical when it comes to the notion that technology can solve all our problems. Maybe I even thought “hey my grandparents and their parents and everyone before them did just fine without apps or iPhones so I can too.” Whatever the reason… I got over my stubbornness and discovered a whole slew of apps that make my life easier.

There’s several eco apps that are particularly useful and interesting to me, and I think these free eco apps listed below might be helpful to you too.

iRecycle:  Tells you how, where and when to recycle.  You can sort by categories such as automotive, electronics, glass, household, paper and more. The app will use your location, or you can input a specific location and it pulls up resources that’ll help you decide where to take your stuff.

GreenYou : This app helps calculate your carbon footprint and following a brief survey breaks down your impact into four main categories – transportation, housing, food and goods. While it’s just a gauge, it’s interesting to see where you’re doing well and where you could use some improvement. My biggest “footprint” percentage is currently coming from housing – due to a move into a bigger place and higher utility bills. GreenYou also helps create a green plan by providing basic tips and displaying how much CO2/yr they’ll save you.

PaperKarma:  Okay, so I just started using this one. When you take a photo of your junk mail, they’ll contact the company and remove you from their mailing lists. So voila – much less useless, wasteful junk mail! Overall the reviews on this app are really positive. While I do use several services to unsubscribe from crap, I’ve found that some companies just won’t quit so this is a good method.

Farmstand: This one lists farmers markets and produce resources by location. This is especially useful in the spring through fall when farmers markets in the NorthEast are in full swing. You can review produce you’ve purchased and check out what other members are buying and eating.

Dirty Dozen:  This free eco app is helpful for anyone who may not always be able to buy organic but doesn’t want to limit their fruit & vegetable intake as a result. It steers you clear of contaminated produce and will help you determine which fruits and vegetables have the highest level of pesticide residues, and are the most important to buy organic.

Readers, any other free eco apps you recommend? Tell, tell! 

Photo credit: iphonehelp.org

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Beth is a Health and Wellness expert who believes sustainability goes hand-in-hand with self care. She’s the girl whipping up kombucha cocktails at parties, and extolling the benefits of canning vegetables to anyone who will listen. View all posts by Beth Funari