Second life of… your waste

Every day you hear about global warming, pollution, and all the environmental issues. We can’t stop what already happened, but what we can do, is trying to do our best to not make it worse. The most important here is a consciousnesses and will to change something. Every single person should try to do the best they can to support and protect nature. Waste sorting is not enough anymore!

As a good beginning, let’s change a few simple habits in your everyday routine.

Water

Don’t buy bottled water! It’s unnecessary and extremely harmful for environment. This way you’re producing hundreds of pounds of waste every year.

Do you know that tap water is suitable to drink it straight from the tap? You probably also have a filtered water from your refrigerator. Why you still buying bottled water? If you don’t trust in what you have, you can install an additional filter at your house and enjoy the best quality of water.

Buy yourself a water reusable bottle and take it everywhere with you. Just think, how many plastic bottles won’t land in the garbage! What is more, you will always have nice and fresh water with you. You will stay hydrated and save some money on buying another bottles.

Be conscious about packaging

Reusable shopping bags should be a standard by now. Let’s be honest, you’re trying, but still forgetting about them, aren’t you? Try to work on that and make it your habit.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough anymore. You have to go one step forward and try to be more aware while buying your groceries. When you’re buying fruits and vegetables try to think if you really need to pack them in the bags – sometimes it’s completely unnecessary. When you have to do it, try to use your own, reusable bags. You can buy it or make them by yourself from, for example, old sheets.

Try to avoid pre-packed products. Go to farmers markets and local stores. You would produce less waste and… buy a best quality food. So many advantages!

Single-use is passe

Ok, we all know that throwaway stuff is easy to use and comfortable. Maybe it is, but when you think about all the consequences for the environment… it doesn’t sound this good any more. Our laziness is destroying our planet and…ourselves. Try to think what single-use products you can stop using and replace it with reusable ones. You would be surprised, how many of them you will find. Store bags and packaging we mentioned before. What else? Plates, cups, silverware, bottles, straws, ziplocs, flyers, tissues, paper towels, razors, singe-use toiletries, samples… so many products you’re using every day. This list is endless.

Let’s use a simple example to show this problem and an easy solution.

Your normal lunch for work or… one-day hiking trip with friends. You have snacks packed in plastic bags or paper – often, both of them. Paper towels, napkins and wet wipes. Plastic single-use beverage bottles. Paper plates, cups and so on… And now let’s think about more conscious version. Food packed in reusable plastic or class containers – you will also be sure that it won’t get squished. Beverages in your own bottles. Instead of a roll of paper towels take a small kitchen towel. You can eat straight from the containers, a lot of brands of food packaging are including reusable silverware in it. Can you see the difference? It’s really easy!

Second life of your stuff

Many of the things you’re throwing away could be used again – by you or somebody else. Keep that in mind and think twice before you throw something away. Maybe you can use it for a different purpose? That would protect you from spending money on another thing that sooner or later would finish in the garbage too.

Let’s go trough a few examples. Glass jars – you can reuse it instead of plastic food containers. Old sheets or curtains? Make your own shopping bags. Old furniture? Maybe somebody in your community would like it? Same story with clothes or toys – donate it or post online. It is that easy!

It’s all about your will and conscious decisions

Rules like that are really easy to make them a habit. You just need to want it and make conscious decisions. It won’t cost you anything. Moreover, you can save a lot!

Try to make it your routine and a habit. Don’t bother about other people’s opinion. Share these ideas with others and spread a positive attitude.