Environmental issues are commonplace in the world today. Correcting these problems requires support and participation from the public, corporations and industries, organizations, and the government. Most changes have to take place on a grassroots level, no matter what anyone says. Individuals can make a difference. The efforts on a grassroots level is what Recycle Earth is interested in. We believe that our actions today, no matter how big nor how small, will change the world in positive way.
Here are some ways you can help out at a simple grassroots level:
Reduce Your Waste
1. Reduce your purchases.
The less you buy, the less waste you will have to worry about later.
You will have more money to spend on things that really matter (like mopeds and coffee... just kidding.)
2. Reduce packaging BEFORE you buy.
When you go to the store, bring a reuseable bag or two, or three if you think you'll need them. These bags can be anything, but large canvas bags work really well. Using reuseable bags cuts down on paper and plastic bag waste, and consumption of fossil fuels and trees.
Buy products that have less, or less hazardous packaging. A box of fruit rollups, with its triple packaging, is not very eco-friendly. There are many recipes for natural versions of fruit rollups on the internet! A better choice would be something that does not have very much packaging, or that has a package that can be reused or recycled.
3. Reuse packaging when possible. If you can, try to find a use for all of the packages you get. One example is using large boxes (such as the ones that store fruit such as grapefruit) as under-bed storage. They are a lot cheaper than the plastic boxes you could buy at Walmart! Be innovative, too. If the box is too tall, carefully use a sharp pair of scissors to scale it down. Smaller boxes can be made into a variety of things, such as envelope holders for your office, or fun, imaginitive crafts for your children, if you have any.
4. What cannot be reused, can be recycled.
Check around to find out recycling policies for your area. If there are none, or they are in need of improvement, do something about it! Write a letter, or start a petition.
Clearly mark recyclables. Recycle as much as you can!
Recycle your organic matter too. Start a compost heap in your backyard. This heap can be constructed in a variety of ways, but a simple pile off fresh green veggies and dry matter such as grass clippings will do. Composting is a great way to give back to the environment, because instead of being preserved forever in a landfill, your vegetable matter is decaying into rich fertilizer that is natural and nourishing, and far more eco-friendly than store-bought fertilizers. Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, is believed to be even more effective. This is because the worms predigest the organic matter, making the nutrients more readily available to the plants.
Some companies, schools, and stores have recycling programs for items such as cell phones, ink cartridges, and batteries. Take advantage of these programs whenever possible.
If you follow these steps, you should be able to cut your waste production in half.
Reduce Your Energy Consumption
1. Don't drive if you don't have to.
Rethink your preconceptions about driving. Stop thinking of it as your primary mode of transportation; think of it as a way to go places when A) they are very far away (You need a tonsilectomy and the nearest clinic is a hundred miles away), B) The weather is very bad (There is freezing rain and a wind chill below zero, and you have to go to the store to buy a winter coat), or C) Time is of the essence (Your half-sister is about to give birth to quadruplets). Thinking about your car as your BACKUP will make it easier to take advantage of your lovely appendages.
You still don't have to walk. You can ride a bike, or a scooter, or a skateboard, or a donkey... it's up to you. Donkeys don't waste fossil fuels. Cars do.
Get some exercise. You can either pin your beerbelly between you and the steering wheel or show off your buns of steel to the guy behind you. Go ahead, distract some drivers.
Get a more fuel efficient vehicle, as a last resort. Hybrids and such are great for the environment, but not driving so much is even better.
2. Turn off your appliances. If you don't need the light, turn it off. If no one is in the room, turn it off. If you aren't using the appliance, unplug it. Simple, obvious things, all very easy. Just make them habits.
3. CFL POWER! Next time your regular light blows, replace it with a compact fluorescent. These bulbs have come a long way since they were first introduced. They are long-lasting, bright, and very energy efficient.
Reduction is the key to saving the environment. A the saying goes, "Everything, in moderation." Some Americans would do well to learn the value of moderation. All of us are guilty, but if everyone can make some little changes, it adds up, and it can help a whole lot. Signing petitions is rubbish if everyone signs and nobody changes.