How you can help the environment from home

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Besides recycling, there are many different ways you can help improve the quality of the environment from home. Making these simple changes can make all the difference. (Photo courtesy of Lyric Chassin)

While most of us are staying at home, it makes it hard for progress to be made in improving the environment. People are producing large amounts of waste and using increased amounts of energy, being at home all day long. In order to dwindle the growing amount of waste, we need to be conscious of our choices that we make during these times.

Here are several different ways that you can reduce your waste and help the environment from home:

  1. Compost Bin

A compost bin is an area set aside for organic matter to decompose. These can be started by anyone and be of any size. When you are cooking, you can place left over food material into the compost bin. The surrounding organic matter and other environmental factors will help the nutrients to be converted back into the ecosystem. This keeps food waste out of landfills and creates nutrient rich soil for future use in the garden.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a common principle that many follow when it comes to getting rid of items. With the added term– repurpose– it brings a new meaning to the decision making process. If an item is no longer of use to you, there may be a way for it to help you out in a different purpose. For example, turning old clothes into a reusable mask (See Example Four). This ideal keeps unnecessary waste from being created and offers a new aspect to items that may not have gotten their complete usage.

3. Picking up trash

With all this time at home, maintaining your surrounding areas is important. Just walking around your neighborhood, you can find litter and waste that needs to be picked up. Picking up the trash makes the neighborhood cleaner for you, your neighbors, and the surrounding wildlife that may be affected by litter.

4. DIY Masks/ Reusable Masks

On the occasion that you do need to leave the house, whether it’s for groceries or any other purpose, it is essential to wear a mask. Many people use masks that must be thrown away after they’re worn and potentially exposed to the virus. This creates a large amount of needless waste that will go straight into landfills. This can be lessened by wearing reusable masks made of thick or protective fabric. Some have been creating their own masks at home, which can be a great way to make money at home with the high demand for masks. You can purchase reusable masks from many websites or make your own out of unused fabric and clothing.

5. Shop virtually

Ordering essential items like groceries from online delivery systems decreases the amount of cars driving and also the amount of people at a store. This puts less pollution in the air and supports the prevention of disease. There is also a number of deals offered to online shoppers; you can save money and help the planet at the same time. 

6. Buy local produce

Buying local goods reduces the number of miles that food has to travel to reach your doorstep and you know exactly where your food is coming from. The food is fresher because it takes less time to get to you. Another bonus of buying local produce is that money stays cycling through your local economy, benefiting everyone in your area. Especially during these tough times, it is important to support local farmers whose business has decreased indefinitely. Your purchases could be the thing that keeps their farm surviving.

7. Donate

There are many people in need at all times, but especially right now when access to stores is limited. Donating unwanted items such as clothing and food to thrift stores and shelters can help someone who has no other way to support themselves. This prevents your unwanted items from ending up in the landfill, which just takes up more space and  creates pollution when it is burned.

These are just a few of the many ways you can help the environment from home. Being conscious of your actions and your impact is the first step towards making the world a better place. If we all exercise the methods listed, we can cut down the amounts of garbage and pollution greatly.

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