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Earth Day is coming up, and Verizon Wireless has some tips to help people who are “going green.” Of course, Earth Day is only the jumping off point. In order to make a real difference, we need to undertake these practices on a daily basis, not just on April 21st. Much of the advice from Verizon can be practiced year-round. It might seem like you’re not doing much, but anything you do is combined with what other people do, and that’s what makes the big difference.

1) Recycle your old phone. It’s not doing much damage sitting in your drawer, but it cause serious environmental harm if you dump it in the trash. Plus, Verizon has good intentions with the money to be made off these recycled phones: “With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones and airtime to victims, and provides funding and other contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.” Click here to find out more about Verizon’s recycling program.

2) Paperless billing. Just visit verizonwireless.com/myaccount and select the account option that foregoes mailed paper billing. All of your billing information is kept online, and Verizon makes it easy to pay your bill right from your computer.

3) Unplug your charger — and all unused electrical devices. Even when not in use, any electric device plugged into a wall draws a level of current, called “phantom” energy. It might not be much, but it adds up over time. Of course, this has the added benefit of saving you on monthly energy costs.

They do offer two more bits of advice: Use their BroadbandAccess service so you can “create a mobile office anywhere including your home and save on gas another commuting costs.” But your home broadband connection is good for that purpose, if it’s at all possible (and trust me, working from home rocks).

The other is to download VZNavigator to save fuel when you travel. Of course, you could just use Google Maps or MapQuest before you leave. They also leave out an important fact, which is that when you’re traveling at over 65 m.p.h., you’re burning gas at an excessive rate. So slow down. Now, if I could only take my own advice…

Can you think of any other ways to go green with your cell?

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