How many times have you thought, “I’ll just throw all my trash into one container instead of separating it”?
Trust me, many people have. Imagine how great the contribution could have been if they all did.
Here are some not-so-obvious ways you can protect the world around you.
Plastic
Did you know your lids can save human lives? Some initiatives collect your lids and turn them into a secondary raw material. Later, they sell them to processing plants, and the earnings go toward covering the medical expenses of disabled children and adults.
In countries like Germany, there is a system called Pfand. It’s simple: bring recyclable bottles and get a deposit as a discount at grocery stores.
If you have many plastic bags you only use once, use them as trash bags or donate them as well. However, it would be best if you could get a tote bag and bring it with you every time you go grocery shopping.
Important note: not all plastic types are recyclable, so you’d better check every time you want to donate it. If non-recyclable items get mixed with all recyclables, the entire batch will not be recycled. Over time, you will remember which numbers are recyclable and which are not.
Daily life
If you are a coffee lover, why not make your habit environment-friendly? Some coffee shops give you discounts when you order drinks in reusable coffee mugs.
Donate unwanted clothes to the Red Cross. The money it gets from selling these clothes goes to fund emergency aid, disaster relief, and community programs. Just find the locations of containers online and bring your items. Similarly, you can reach out to second-hand shops and ask if they can accept your clothes and give you a shopping discount.
The same applies to books. Participate in book crossings hosted by bookstores, coffee shops, and shopping malls. Donate books to your local library to support free knowledge exchange.
Opt for paper bags when there is such an option. They break down easily in a couple of months, while it takes hundreds of years for plastic bags. When thrown away, there is a lower risk for animals to find them and mistake them for food. Moreover, paper bags are just aesthetically pleasing.
Instead of wasting food, save it for later if it is still good and you can either reheat or defrost ir. To reduce spending, do meal planning. Never force yourself to finish a meal–share it with your neighbors or friends.
Consume only what you need. Do not buy five lipsticks just because they are on sale–you are probably not going to use all of them before they expire. Always look at clothes composition labels: fast fashion clothes wear down pretty quickly.
Many people think their actions do not matter, but in reality, if everyone did at least one task, they could have generated an impact on an unprecedented scale. It would change the world for the better.
Even if you did not consider doing these things before, trust me, you should give them a thought. A change always begins with you.
What do you do to protect the environment? Share your tips down in the comments! Together we will make a positive change.
