5 Easy (and free) Ways to Live More Sustainably

Say no to single use plastics  

According to The Guardian, 1 million plastic bottles are sold globally every minute.  That number is expected to increase by 20% this year (2021).  That means that an estimated 1.2 million plastic bottles will be sold every minute.  An estimated 583.3 billion plastic bottles will be sold this year.  Only 12 percent of those plastic bottles are recycled.  The rest end up in landfills, or in the ocean.  It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to decompose.  Plastic in the ocean is harmful (and at times fatal) to wildlife.

Single use plastic bottles can easily be replaced by glass or stainless steel water bottles.

Walk More

You can help the environment and improve your health by walking more.  If you have to run an errand that is relatively close to your home, consider walking (or biking).  Fossil fuels are one the biggest contributors to global warming.

The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The first R, reduce the amount of waste you produce, but also reduce the amount of items you buy.  Reuse what you already have before buying new things.  Always recycle recyclable items.

Eat local when possible

Transportation of food results in massive amounts of carbon dioxide emissions.  The farther the food comes from the bigger the carbon footprint.  

Some are fortunate enough to live near farmers markets and have access to local produce year round.  Eating local is a great way to eat sustainably.

Compost

Food and other organic waste can be recycled to make compost.  Compost is often referred to as black gold.  Compost can be used to enrich garden soil, house plant soil, or your yard.

According to the NRDC composting has many benefits:  conserves water,  cuts methane emissions from landfills, and reduces personal food waste.

Composting can be done successfully indoors with the proper container.

Cheers to a sustainable 2021!