HOW TO REDUCE WASTE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

Climate change has been an ongoing, popular topic of discussion. If you are someone who believes that the Earth is becoming warmer, it can be very scary to see what the news headlines and the United Nations has to say about the issue at hand.

However, there is not enough advocacy on what people should be doing, or can be doing, to reduce waste and pollution. There are simple things everyone can be doing in their daily lives to conserve our environment.

The following are a few examples of what you can do to reduce waste:

Buying a reusable straw, and avoiding plastic ones. Think about how long it takes for a single straw to decompose – about 200 years, according to 4Ocean, a company working to fight ocean pollution. This is something you might use for a few hours, then toss into the trash. If disposable straws were completely cut out of our lives, that would singlehandedly reduce a significant amount of waste. People in the U.S. alone use 300 million or more straws a day, researchers estimate.

Having a reusable water bottle. Not only can it keep your water colder for longer, you can add your own creative touch to your bottle. It won’t crush while in your bag and you don’t need to spend money every time you’re thirsty. It is a good investment.

Bringing your own tumbler, or coffee mug, to your local coffee shop. The tumbler will keep your cold/hot drink cold/hot for longer, and you won’t contribute to the endless amounts of paper waste each of us creates.

Carry reusable produce bags. Thousands of bags can be saved if a single family or person switches to reusable bags. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans use more than 380 billion plastic bags every year, and hundreds of thousands of marine animals die each year from ocean pollution. (Think about how many sea turtles this could potentially save!)

Carpooling with friends. Automobile CO2 emissions are one of the primary factors in climate change. Driving alone is one of the hardest things to reduce, since it is so convenient. However, if you can coordinate rides with friends at least a few times a week, that is one less car on the road each time!

Pack a lunch from home. This doesn’t necessarily mean “meal plan,” but buying in bulk, or even buying snacks or packing leftovers, saves you money and reduces waste when you bring your own reusable containers.

Recycle, by taking your used cans and bottles to your local bottle drop for a few extra dollars. Not only are you helping the planet, but you’re making money while you’re at it.

Avoid over-shopping: Buy only what you absolutely need. It is common to buy and focus on the things we want in our lives, and not the things we truly can’t go without. Organize your belongings by keeping your wardrobe, room and essential items tidy. Get rid of unnecessary junk. This way you know what you have, so there is no reason to buy things you don’t need.

Meantime, refrain from overprinting and using unnecessary paper.

No matter what your views are on climate change, it is undeniable that as humans we create a lot of waste. We know that plastic takes years to decompose. The landfills are overflowing, the oceans are being filled with plastic and waste that is killing sea creatures. Our Earth is being contaminated by our consumerism.

As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” These are just a few of the things you can do to be the change, for the better.