Top 20 Ways to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink
Waste effects our environment, including the air that we breathe, the water that we drink and the land that we walk on. If we do not look after our environment we are not looking after ourselves.
Here are 20 ways you can reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink.
- Eco-Brick:
Create your own eco-brick at home. You can create your own outdoor furniture or donate your completed brick to one of the many programmes that can use them. - Re-Usable Shopping Bags:
Use a re-usable shopping bag made from recycled materials or fabric. Don’t waste money on single use, disposable bags which are environmental dangerous and create unnecessary waste. You can even make your own shopper bag from old clothing, be sure to wash them often.
Bring them with you when you shop, travel, and when packaging food! - Coffee:
Buy a re-usable coffee cup. Re-usable mugs are easier to travel with and are more effective at keeping your coffee warm, not to mention you will save money and will stop the pollution, as most vendors offer reduced prices for using your own mugs. - No Straws:
Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If you must use a straw, then purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw. - Sweet Wrappers:
Skip on individually wrapped items, specifically food in snack packs or single-serving containers. Purchase sweets packaged in paper or glass. - Stainless Steel Water Bottles:
Fill a re-usable water bottle and carry it with you always.
Reuse water bottles, coffee mugs, and plates too! Skip the plastic or paper and get yourself some reusable and refillable utensils. - Take Away:
Bring your own container for take-aways or your restaurant leftovers since many restaurants use Styrofoam. - Plastic Lighters:
Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters or invest in a refillable metal lighter. - Squeeze Your Own Juice
Make fresh squeezed juice at home or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It’s healthier and better for the environment. - Shaving
Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor. Disposable razor blades are encase in plastic. - Chewing Gum:
Give up gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, aka plastic. - Reuse Paper:
One way you can reduce, reuse and recycle is by utilizing paper products to the maximum capacity. Double side, or even half page print, when printing. Keep old boxes for storage and use both sides of the pages for notes.
Make shopping list on your recycled paper or old envelopes and print on both sides of the paper. - Turn Off Lights:
Whenever possible do not turn on the lights in your house. The more energy we use, the more electricity is needed. Invest in energy saving lightbulbs to reduce your footprint. - Turn Taps Off:
There is no need to have water running all the time when brushing your teeth, turn off the taps. Open the tap when you need to rinse and when you need to wet the brush. - Do Not Overcharge Your Electronics:
Excessive charging utilizes excessive energy. By charging your devices overnight they stay on charge, using electricity, even though they are 100% full. - Donate:
Instead of throwing out old and not used material, donate them to charity. More re-usable shopper bags can be created to reduce the plastic waste.
Repurpose old things like using old tee shirts as cleaning rags or food containers as storage containers for other things like office supplies. - Composting:
Start composting in the kitchen and garden. Food scraps and leaves and grass cuttings can be composted into fertilizer, helping the soil and creating new growth. - Boxes Instead of Bottles:
Often, products like laundry detergent come in cardboard which is more easily recycled than plastic. Make informed choices while shopping to help reduce your waste.
Purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging. - Cleaning:
Make your own cleaning products that will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles. There are many recipes available online for organic and earth friendly cleaning and beauty products or shop online at stores like Faithful to Nature. - Lunches
Pack your lunches in reusable containers and bags such as Stasher Bags. Also, try opting for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups. These are healthier for you and the environment.
Here is a list of some items that can be recycled:
- Cardboard
- Aluminium cans
- Paper
- Newspaper
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic Bags
- Metal
- Magazines
- Glass bottles and jars
Remember, you can also recycle leaves, grass, sticks, fruit and veggie trimmings, coffee grounds, newspaper and with the right compost setup, even meat, bread and cheese.