Not all heroes wear raincoats… but some of them do carry thermos pots, turn in recyclables, and reduce the plastic they use. Start with these steps, and nature will thank you too!
Saving the environment: 8 steps everyone can take
CONTENTS
- SAVE RESOURCES
- SEPARATE WASTE
- RECYCLE
- CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION.
- REUSE AND RECYCLE.
- DEVELOP ECO-FRIENDLY HABITS AT WORK.
- PAY ATTENTION TO FOOD
- TRY TO WEAN YOURSELF OFF PLASTIC.
1. CONSERVE RESOURCES
Most of us don’t realize how many resources we waste every day. It only takes a few minutes to save energy and water! Unplug and unplug your appliances-even a smartphone charger left unattended consumes electricity unnoticed. When buying appliances, choose energy-efficient models-they are labeled A, A+, and A++.
The installation of an apartment water meter will help to save on utilities and at the same time help nature. Additionally, install economical shower heads with a flow rate of less than 10 liters per minute. Load the washing machine fully and set the washing temperature to a low setting – this will help reduce energy consumption by 80%.
2. SEPARATE THE GARBAGE.
People have learned to deal with trash in three ways: they leave it in landfills, burn it, or recycle it. Unfortunately, besides recycling, these methods ruin the environment and are dangerous to our health.
Separate garbage collection helps to recycle what is no longer needed into new things and useful materials. For example, unwanted waste paper is used to make new notebooks and paper for the office, old plastic bottles will turn into colorful children’s slides.
Start small by choosing one or two types of recyclables.
- Choose what’s easier for you to sort or take to recycling or disposal: for example, starting with glass, paper, finger batteries, or plastic lids (how to figure out the labeling). That way it will be easier to remember what shouldn’t go into the general bin.
- Consider a storage location.
Another plus of separate garbage is that you’ll have to take it out less and less often. True, some of it will stay at home for a while. Decide in advance where to put a container, boxes or baskets for such waste, as well as how to compactly stack, tie or flatten the waste. If you’re still having a hard time getting into the habit of sorting your trash, use two bins at first – one for recyclables (easier to separate later) and the one you normally use.
- Create a tradition.
Get the family involved, have a contest, or have an eco day once a month with sorting the trash and getting ready to recycle. Such a tradition will not only bring you one step closer to an eco-friendly lifestyle, but will also be a nice excuse to please yourself and your loved ones.
Batteries should not be thrown away with the rest of the garbage! One battery can poison 20 square meters of soil or 400 liters of water in a body of water. It is better to take them to the expanded recycling collection points, batteries are also accepted in stores “Vkusvill”, “Leroy Merlin”, “Globus”, “Ikea”, etc.
3. RECYCLE.
Separate waste collection leads to the next point in the plan to save nature – recycling. Every year 70 million tons of household waste is thrown away in Russia, but according to Greenpeace only 3-5% of solid municipal waste goes for recycling. Environmentalists have sounded the alarm: if there is no recycling, in 10 years the area of landfills in Russia will be equal to two areas of the Azov Sea!
Identify “useful” garbage and where to take it. Find out where the nearest recycling facilities are (for example, with the help of the interactive Greenpeace map) and designate a separate container in the house so that there is no confusion.
By the way, you can also recycle your old thermos and we will give you a discount!
4. CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TRANSPORT
The healthiest ways for people and nature to get around are walking and cycling. There will also be less damage to the environment if you choose public transportation instead of a car.
But if you can’t do without a car, use the advice of ecologists to help reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.
First, take care of your car not only when something goes wrong: get it serviced on time, change air filters, motor oil and spark plugs. Secondly, try to keep a constant speed and not to exceed the allowable limit – driving at 100 km/h instead of 120 km/h will save 20% of fuel. If you stop for more than a minute, turn off the engine. And maintain the necessary pressure in the wheels: not fully inflated wheels produce more resistance and, consequently, increase fuel consumption.
5. RECYCLE AND DON’T OVERUSE
Reducing waste is just as important as recycling it properly. Today, there are reusable alternatives to almost everything disposable. Buy less of something that will almost immediately go in the trash: replace disposable cups with a thermos or thermos cup, extra-packed foods with those that are unpackaged (use a carrier, your own container, fabric bags). Try not to throw away quality packaging and find a new use for it – it will help to get rid of the need to buy something and throw something away.
The average time it takes to use one plastic bag is about 12-20 minutes. The average time for which it only partially degrades, but more often destroys the environment and its inhabitants on its way – from 200 to 500 years. If you want to help the planet – make some reusable cotton bags or a thermo-bag for shopping.
6. GET ECO-FRIENDLY HABITS AT WORK.
Become an eco-friendly ambassador for your coworkers! Abandon the elevator in favor of the stairs, remember to turn off your computer at the end of the day, and bring reusable lunchboxes and thermos cups with you.
Everyone will be surprised how the office will be transformed if you offer to do the landscaping, start to collectively separate waste into paper, plastic and glass, offer to hold meetings in the nearest park in nice weather – a change of work environment will not only improve the well-being, but also increase productivity.
7. PAY ATTENTION TO NUTRITION
Choosing the right foods can also help reduce your personal ecological footprint. Buy seasonal and locally sourced produce. They require less fuel to deliver and produce fewer harmful emissions. Also, the more processed a product is, the heavier its ecological footprint. Semi-finished and canned foods are considered the heaviest.
Head to your nearest market and, to keep your food fresh even in the heat, bring a practical thermal bag.
8. TRY TO WEAN YOURSELF OFF PLASTIC.
Giving up plastic is unlikely to work completely – too many things around you are made of this cheap material. But you can reduce its consumption and contribute to saving nature. For example, stop buying water in plastic bottles and use reusable stainless steel or glass containers instead.
If you can’t imagine your mornings without coffee to go – come to coffee houses with your own thermal mug. Some coffee shops are even willing to give you a discount on coffee for it. If you’re in a hurry and forgot your thermocup, at least give up the plastic lid and spoon when you buy a coffee to go.