5 Small Steps you can take today to be More Eco-Friendly

This planet is the only planet we have, and we haven’t exactly been treating it right. There is no denying that we are in a climate crisis. With the large amounts of waste humans create, and the pollution constantly being pushed into the air, it is a wonder the planet hasn’t kicked us off already. But if you are looking for steps to be more eco-friendly, so that maybe you can make an impact, keep reading.

It is obvious that individual humans are not creating the biggest impact on the environment. There are multiple studies that have found that large corporations and industrial plants are creating most of the waste and pollution. Legislation and government control are needed to fight this(so vote). However, it would also be unreasonable to just give up. To not do anything individually because it feels pointless. Because if everyone did that, we would end up like the people in Wall-E, living in space because there is no room down on earth due to all the trash.

And, this is in no way to say that people must be perfect. I am definitely nowhere near perfect. Sometimes, I recycle the wrong things. I’ll forget to turn the water off while I am washing the dishes. It is a massive process that I have been working on since I was in middle school, and I still have a long way to go. But if there is something I can do to save the beautiful planet we are living on, I am going to try.

So, this list isn’t going to be the manual to being a perfect environmentalist. I just want to talk about some small steps you can include in your day/week/month, to make even the smallest difference. Every drop in the bucket counts, right?

Just to be clear, this post is coming from an American point of view and a privileged point of view. I know a lot of other countries have laws in place forcing proper recycling and other environmental rules. Unfortunately, that is not true where I live. And I know sometimes, people are in places where recycling and other small steps to be more eco-friendly are impossible due to resources or access. These are just things I do in hopes of helping, even if only a little bit.

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1. Recycle the right way

Recycling is a pretty obvious answer to helping the environment. The Big 3, reduce, reuse, and recycle, have been ingrained in our minds since elementary school. At least in America, it has. But a lot of people don’t actually know how to recycle properly. Unfortunately, you can’t just throw all your paper, plastic, and glass products into the recycle bin and hope it works.

Did you know you have to rinse out all recycled items from food and drink residue?

Are you aware that any items with mixed materials (plastic and glass) can’t be sorted properly at plants, therefore can’t be recycled?

Did you know even if it has the recycle symbol on it, it might not belong in the curbside bin?

There are so many rules and regulations that aren’t made clear to the public, so the best bet is to research the recycling plants in your area, to see what you can and cannot put into your bins. Most areas have websites dedicated to this information. There are also places to drop off certain waste, such as plastic grocery bags and batteries, that can’t go in your regular bins. I urge you to search and find these locations. It will keep more waste out of the landfills.

Wishful recycling is less effective than informed recycling.

Wishful recycling is less effective than informed recycling. When I look at my waste, I wish it could all be recycled. That would be awesome. However, if I were to throw it in the recycling bin because I wished it was recyclable, I would contaminate the whole truck full, and it would end up in a landfill.

2. Reuse as much as you can

The less waste we create, the better. Because landfills are already overflowing, and something has to give, or we will be living in trash land, everything made from trash. It would be quite smelly.

So, I try to get as many lives out of items as I can. Those plastic grocery bags you get, reuse them at the store until you can’t anymore then use them as trash bags or packaging materials for shipping. Use old jars to store snacks or drinks or use them to create adorable decor for your home. Pinterest is your best friend on this one.

A lot of products have many lives outside of their intended use, you might as well take advantage of them. It will save the planet and it will save you money in the long run. It’s a win-win situation.

3. Make purchases in store

Look, I am with you, I absolutely love online shopping. And I still do it too! Like I said earlier, I am not perfect. But, if you think about the impact online shopping and fast fashion have on the environment, it is a little scary.

As soon as a purchase is made, it is printed on a small sheet of paper. Your item is then packaged in plastic or cardboard and sent off. As it is traveling to you, the planes, boats, and vehicles are using a lot of gas, the pollution entering the atmosphere. Finally, your item gets to you, and there is a chance the packaging won’t get recycled due to contamination, or if it is in a poly-mailer, it can’t be recycled. Not to mention, if you are ordering fast fashion, the amount of waste and recourses that went into creating that piece of clothing was already high.

That’s a lot going into one purchase. So, if you have the ability whatsoever, go to the store and pick up that book you have been wanting to read, or that adorable shirt you saw online.

Of course, I say this with a package headed my way right now. And I say this as a person with the physical and financial ability to do so. But if you can, think about picking it up in-store.

4. Buy second hand

Speaking of all the resources that go into making and sending the items we purchase, another way to help the environment, and your wallet is to buy second-hand. One of my favorite things to do is go to the local thrift shops in my area and search through their book sections. I am a huge reader, and I love the feeling of buying a new book, but my bank account doesn’t necessarily agree. So, when I shop second-hand, I am able to grab a whole bundle of books, at a much cheaper rate. Plus, it didn’t require any new production, and a lot of thrift shops donate some of their proceeds to charity. It’s another win-win situation.

I know a lot of people also love thrifting for clothes. It’s like a massive scavenger hunt, trying to find pieces you like. I normally head right for the book section, but I do like to peruse the clothing section from time to time. I have found some of my favorite sweaters from thrift stores.

Honestly, it is a lot more fun going to a thrift store than it is a department store. And better for the environment.

5. Cook at home

Another thing I am not perfect at, but something I am striving for. I know it is much easier, and sometimes cheaper, to just pick up some food on the way home after a long day of work. But just like retail, restaurants create quite a carbon footprint.

To help, do some meal planning. Prepare ingredients for a couple of easy meals, so when you get home all you have to do is throw it in the oven or on the stove. There are so many different recipes online and on Pinterest. It is more fun to cook for yourself, healthier, and better for the environment. But trust me, I won’t judge you if you want to pick up dinner from that restaurant around the corner. I do it too!

If you do want to eat out, support your local restaurants. They often buy much of their produce locally. It lessens their carbon footprint, and you get to support a local small business!

If you are looking for some meal ideas, try this pasta salad recipe for a refreshing lunch!

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Taking steps to be more eco-friendly is a long process, and it can be a little disheartening when we hear all the news about climate change on our planet. For a while, I gave up trying. Anything I was doing felt like nothing compared to the massive amounts of waste being created each day. It took me a while to realize that trying my best was all I could do, and if we all try our best, we might just be able to make a difference.

It can make a world of difference!

Let me know in the comments below what steps you take to be more eco-friendly!

Thanks for reading!