Do all the things you throw away on a regular basis—plastic bags, straws, paper, wrapping paper, cotton buds etc.—make you feel guilty? Does your trash can overflow with stuff between pick-ups? Do you find yourself wishing you could cut back on unnecessary waste but don’t know where to start? If yes, then this helpful guide is for you. Some of the things in this guide might be stuff you are familiar with but still unable to put to practice. We will help you build habits that can make sustainability a part of your daily routine without you having to put too much effort into it.
The trick to using cloth bags
We are sure everyone knows the importance of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Most of us have at least a few cloth bags stuffed in random drawers in our homes. But what happens is that we forget to carry these when we go out shopping and we end up either using a plastic bag or buying another cloth bag which will eventually end up in the same random drawers. The trick to make sure you don’t use plastic bags is to always have a reusable bag with you. When you put away your groceries, don’t just toss your reusable bag in a drawer. Fold it away and put it in your bag, in the dashboard of your car, or next to where you keep your keys in your entryway. This way you’ll always have a reusable bag with you on hand. You can also hang a few on a hook in the kitchen so that when you have to make impromptu grocery runs, you can quickly grab one. Make sure your cloth bags are lightweight and strong.
Reusing whatever you can
Before you throw anything away, take a look at it with fresh eyes. Most of the time, we tend to throw things that can be reused in various ways. Whether it be empty cans or jars or wrapping papers and gift bags, everything can be repurposed and used for different things around the house. You can use empty cans and jars to store spices and grains. You can repurpose them to hold pens or remote controls. The reason most of these jars and cans end up in the trash bin is because they’re hard to clean. To get pesky labels off, immerse empty jars in a bowl of water overnight and then you can simply scrub them off with a steel wool the next day. Did you know that you can repurpose gift bags to make pretty boxes that you can use to store documents and little trinkets around the house? You can find many tutorials on Instagram and Pinterest. Wine and liquor bottles can be used to store oil, as water bottles, and even as flower vases. A great way to ensure that you reuse things and don’t toss them away is to make a list of all the ways you can do just that. It helps to have a reminder on hand.
Small actions
There are many little things you can do to live an eco-friendly life, from carrying your own water bottle and metal straws to mending your clothes.
You just have to put a little thought into it but that is often easier said than done. Don’t try to make drastic changes overnight. Start with one thing at a time. For instance, in the month of May vow to not buy mineral water when you’re out. For this, you’ll have to carry your own water bottle. Invest in a steel or a glass bottle and carry water with you everywhere. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of doing this, pick up another action. Instead of carrying tissues, tuck a small handkerchief in your bag. Wherever possible, choose reusable options. Switching to a menstrual cup instead of tampons or pads can significantly lower your trash volume during your periods. The key here is not to start doing everything at once. Choose one action at a time and once you’ve mastered that move onto the next.
Buy what you need
Most of us buy things without a second thought, and it’s not unusual for us to have multiples of everything, from notebooks and stationery to cookware and bags. Impulse shopping is something that we all succumb to every once in a while. One of the main things you have to do if you want to live a sustainable life is to look into your consumption patterns. Are you buying things because you need them or because you want them? Remember that things start to lose their appeal once you’ve bought them. The thrill only lies in the purchase. When you go out shopping, make a list of things you need and only buy what’s on it. Mend your clothes so that a simple tear or a popped button does not have you running to the store to replace the item. Try using what you have at home before you buy more things. This goes for items like bags, shoes, and clothes, as well as staples like pasta and grains among others. Don’t fall into marketing traps. Understand your needs and only buy things that you know you will use.
