It is no secret that the world we live on is being suffocated due to our poor environmental consciousness, but it is easier than we think to reverse that negligence. Making the smallest changes in your everyday life can create a big impact that will lead to sustainable change and help to reverse some of the damage that we have imposed over the existence of humankind. Below are some changes to consider making in your life to help keep our planet green!
Throw some reusable bags in your car for when you take trips to Target, the grocery store, drug store, etc. Using reusable bags for shopping can save an immense amount of plastic from being put into landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose. Not only are plastic grocery bags a problem on land, but they also pose a major threat to wildlife. Don't feel like purchasing reusable bags? Extend the life of the plastic bags you have by simply reusing them until they become worn out.
Re-use until you can't anymore! Avoiding disposable products is easier than you think. Use rags or cloth towels instead of paper towels for cleaning purposes, use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, buy reusable soap dispensers, invest in a durable razor instead of a plastic one, etc. If you are hosting a party buy paper cups, straws, and plates instead of plastic ones. That way, when they are disposed of, they are better for the environment than plastic and they will take less time to decompose in a landfill. These simple changes can reduce your weekly waste immensely.
Try composting food waste!
According to the EPA, benefits of composting include:
- Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests.
- Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
- Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.
- Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.
- If you enjoy gardening, incorporating compost scraps into plant soil will help to deliver additional nutrients to new plants.
Not sure what to compost? Here's a list of kitchen scraps that can be composted:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea bags
- Nut shells
- Shredded newspaper
- Cardboard
- Paper
- Yard trimmings
- Grass clippings
- Houseplants
- Hay and straw
- Leaves
- Sawdust
- Wood chips
- Cotton and Wool Rags
- Hair and fur
- Fireplace ashes
Thrift Clothing!
Buying clothes second-hand is a great way to practice sustainability, especially in the fashion industry, which is notorious colossal waste production. Did you know that "in the United States, individuals throw out 60 to 80 pounds of textile waste each year. It can take months and even years for these materials to fully break down in landfills"!
Thrifting is also a great way to curate a unique wardrobe of one-of-a-kind pieces and save a few dollars! If you aren't into thrifting, consider donating your unworn or old clothes to a store that prevents them from ending up in a landfill.
A fun way to reduce waste is by repurposing items. The internet is full of ways to turn items you would usually throw away, like technology, into something that can end up being useful to you. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also saves emissions and greenhouse gases from being used to produce something you now have from repurposing an item.
Even smaller changes such as changing your light bulbs, unplugging electronics, turning the lights off, etc. can create an impact. If every human started creating more environmentally friendly habits, we could make a big difference for the future of our planet.
Credits:
Created with images by Alexas_Fotos - "recup coffee to go plastic cups" • 9159032 - "non woven bags eco friendly bags polypropylene" • rodgersm222 - "environmentally friendly straw straws" • melGreenFR - "compost ecology waste" • Kim - "Retro dresses in a market" • TheDigitalArtist - "pollution rubbish waste"